Chapter Two
Potions class was one of Draco's favorites. Prof. Snape was the head of Slytherin house and as the potion's teacher; he gave them a lot of slack. It, however, was one of Harry's least favorite classes. Every year the Gryffindors and Slytherins were in the class together. Snape seemed to have a particular dislike of Harry and took every opportunity to show it. Just like today. Harry entered a bit late, Colin Creevey was harassing him about some pictures he took at the quidditch match yesterday. He just couldn't shake the kid and it caused him to be a smidgeon tardy. He tried his best to sneak in undetected but of course, that didn't work.
"Well, well, Mr. Potter decided to join us, class. Everyone please make note of the entrance of the illustrious Harry Potter. All bow please." Snape gave a contemptuous little bow and the Slytherin students followed suit.
"Have a seat there by Mr. Malfoy. Maybe he will be able to teach you something today, since he is far superior to you in potions. Oh, and ten points from Gryffindor of course" Snape pointed a long sallow finger at the empty chair to Malfoy's left. Crabbe usually occupied the position. One glance to Draco's right at Goyle and Harry decided that maybe he had ate him.
"What kept you, Potter? Someone use a stinging spell on you?" Draco sneered, elbowing Goyle.
"No, I was just signing photos of my superior catch of the snitch yesterday for a few fans."
Draco actually laughed at that and Harry raised an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything else as Prof. Snape began the days lecture. It appeared they were going to be talking about love potions today.
"Love potions are strictly against Hogwart's rules, but they are rather common in the wizarding world, of course. Most of the time though, the one who uses it on another ends up unhappy with the results. After a while, it dawns on you that they don't really love you at all. This is where the Scintillating Solution comes into play. If you need to break a love potion, you must use a scintillating solution to counteract it. Today we will be making this solution." Snape rattled off the ingredients and the students got to work.
"You better take note, Potty. I would imagine you will be using lots of Love Potion in your future." Draco said with his usual sneer.
"Yeah right, Malfoy. I could have any girl I want. Girls love guys with mysterious scars."
Malfoy choked down a laugh and almost spilled his lilylivers. "Not when it's covered by a mess of a black mop!"
"Like you would know anything about love, Malfoy…unless you count Pansy." Both boys looked over at Pansy Parkinson. She looked exactly like a pug and she blew a kiss at Draco when she saw him looking at her.
Draco shivered and said, "I will have you know I could have any girl in this school. I could make anyone fall in love with me. Just look at me!"
Harry eyed Draco's long silvery-blond hair and gray eyes. He didn't see anything too impressive there. "Yeah, right. Any girl, aye?"
Draco leaned back in his chair with his hand entwined behind his head and repeated "Any girl."
Harry's green eyes lit up with a mischievous spark. "Okay, let's put your money where your pointy mouth is. I would bet against it."
"Oh really, well then, what are the stakes, Rotter?" Draco sat up in his chair with an arrogant grin.
Harry thought for a second and then replied, "If you fail, which you will being the ugly Malfoy git that you are, you have to wait on me hand and foot for two weeks."
Draco did laugh this time, "Like that would ever happen. I have quite a pull with the ladies. Let's see, when I win, and I will since I am the best looking guy in the school…you have to…hmmm….you have to be my house elf for two weeks. That even includes the towel for attire. Fitting since you saw fit to trick my Father into releasing Dobby."
Harry wasn't too worried about losing, good thing- since he didn't think the towel for his sole source of clothing would impress his teachers much. "Alright, seems we have a bet. Now we just have to pick your unlucky victim."
"You mean the luckiest girl in the world."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Yeah, that's what I meant alright."
"How about Millicent?" Draco asked. Harry looked over at the Slytherin girl and was reminded again of an old hag.
"I wouldn't even do that to her." Harry said with a shutter.
"Well, then, how do we pick the lucky winner of this fine specimen?" Draco asked, but then he answered his own question, "I know! I'll drop my personal notebook in the hallway when we leave this class and the first girl to bring it to me is the one that I will woo and make fall in love with me….then dump her like a nasty boogie, of course."
Harry looked doubtful but agreed, "How long should this take you? This impossible 'wooing' of one of our fine young ladies?"
Draco smiled, "Well, I could probably have her eating out of the palm of my hand in five minutes if I turn the charm on. But, I don't want to make it too easy. How about a month?"
Harry looked thoughtful for a minute, "That'll work, that means it will be over with right at Christmas. Perfect time to have a slave around to cater to my every need. Better tell your Mum you won't be home for the holidays."
Draco just jeered at Harry and said they'd see at the end of the month. He added that neither of them could tell the girl, of course, or the tattler would automatically forfeit the bet.
Harry nodded in agreement and made his own addition to the rules, "Oh, and no love potions, Draco. No magic at all."
Draco smiled evilly, "Don't worry; I won't be needing any magic."
Potter laughed this time. What a vain git!
Right after class, Harry followed Draco out of class and watched as he dropped his notebook in the middle of the floor. They both stood back on opposite sides of the hall and waited for someone to pick it up. Students kept kicking it around. First, Lavender Brown's shoe shoved it down the hall, and then Blaise Zambini sent it scooting further down the corridor. Draco sat down on his hunches just in time to catch a glimpse of someone bending down and picking it up. He couldn't see who it was though. He stood up and saw Potter shaking his head "No, no, no!" at him while motioning that the bet was off.
Draco finally saw who had picked up his book and gave a wicked grin, and mouthed 'Yes, yes, yes!" Potter looked really upset, this was going to be fun.
Ginny saw the item from some distance away. No one else seemed to be paying it any attention. It looked like a muggle wallet; her father would be ecstatic. When she got closer, it was actually a small notebook. She bent down and picked it up. It had a fine black leather cover, with an emerald snake embroidered on it. She knew it belonged to Malfoy. She had seen him scribbling things down in it when he wanted to make sure he tattled some tidbit of information to his father or Snape.
She started to toss it back down onto the floor, but against her better judgment decided to return it to him. He did, after all, pay Harry a compliment yesterday, and seemed almost human doing it. She supposed she could do the grown up thing and give him back his tattletale book.
Hmm, there he was at the end of hall. She could see his hair shimmering in the candlelight that lit up the corridor. She followed the flow of students moving to their classes patiently. No reason to hurry when one was just going to the lion's den.
She walked up to him and wondered at his silly grin. What was that all about? He looked like Crookshanks after she ate a big rat.
"Here, Malfoy. I think this belongs to you. I found it lying at the other end of the hallway. I didn't steal it from you so don't start with your petty accusations. I just found it and thought I would be nice and return it…" What was she doing? Just shut up, Ginny, she thought to herself. Who cares what he thinks anyway, and besides, he hadn't even said a word yet.
"Hey, thanks…ummm…its Ginny right? That was quite nice of you to return my book. How bout I walk you to your next class to show my appreciation?" Without waiting for a 'yea' or 'nay', Draco put his hand on her back and started moving her out of the hallway. He looked back at Potter and puckered his lips at the back of Ginny's head and made kissing motions. He mouthed, "This is going to be fun, thanks Potter!"
Harry tried to reach them, but Malfoy was too fast. What had he done? Ron was going to flip his freaking wig! And poor Ginny!