A Vacant Expression Chapter 2
A.N: Can't believe I already have followers – thank you all so much! Enjoy and don't forget to review
"Ah yes, Harry Potter. Our new – celebrity" Snape said softly
Draco glanced at Harry who was sitting next to him with a tranquil expression on his face.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making" Snape started, "I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach".
At these words his dark stare swept over the half of the room containing Gryffindors; they shrank into their seats.
After a moment of oppressive silence he barked out "Well get to it! Instructions on the board"
Stools were hurriedly pushed back and the group of first years all crowded to the potions cupboard in the corner of the room.
When Draco returned to his seat he saw Harry still sitting there.
With a glance around to make sure no one had noticed he hastily prodded him in the side
"Harry, get a move on!" he whispered urgently
"Hmm?" came the unintelligible reply
"C'mon, Snape will take points" Draco persisted
"Don't be ridiculous Draco" Blaise, who had returned to his seat, drolly retorted "Snape never takes points off his Slytherins"
"Well, we don't want there to be a first! Especially on the first day of classes!" Draco insisted
"So, guys, what are we doing?" Harry asked serenely
He was met by two incredulous stares.
"Weren't you listening?!" Blaise exclaimed
"Shh, we don't want Snape to hear!" Draco said worriedly.
But it was too late for that, as the man swept over to them
"What don't you want me to hear?" he inquired smoothly
"Erm, nothing sir" Blaise replied uncomfortably
"Oh, but surely you wouldn't want to hide anything from me would you, Zabini" Snape purred, "especially when this is your first day of classes"
After a small pause Harry came to the rescue
"Oh I'm sorry sir, it's all my fault" he said "You see, as I don't know much about the wizarding world, Draco was worried that I'll fall behind"
"Well, Mr Potter, thank you for that enlightening piece of news. It is very kind of Draco to be looking after his own" Snape replied whilst pinning Draco with a piercing stare.
"Yes sir" Harry smiled.
With this, Snape swept away and two of the three breathed a sigh of relief.
"But seriously Harry" Draco said after a moment, "why weren't you listening?"
"Hmm.. I'm not sure.. I faze out a little every so often I guess" He said with a pleasant look on his face.
Draco let this go without any more interrogation, but stared at Harry with a shrewd look on his face.
"Haven't you every got that habit checked out?" Blaise asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"Oh no" Harry answered "I wouldn't want to bother anyone."
With this passing comment the two boys exchanged a look of confusion and promised themselves they would look into this more.
…..
When they left the Potions classroom, Harry was stopped by a girl with extremely wild hair,
"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger. You're Harry Potter, I've read so much about you. I'm a muggle-born you see and I was just so interested by everything. I'm in Ravenclaw you see-"
Draco cut her off with a sneer marring his features
"Lets go Harry. She's just a mudblood" he said
Hermione looked hurt at this and her lip trembled.
"Don't be silly Draco" Harry said kindly "It's lovely to meet you Hermione, perhaps you'd like to accompany us to dinner" he asked.
"Ooh yes, I'd love to!" She exclaimed, her previous exuberance back in full force.
At this Draco stuck his nose in the air and flounced off.
"Nice one Harry" Blaise said "It's going to take some apologising for Draco to forgive the fact you undermined him"
Harry scoffed at this "Don't be ridiculous. Hermione seems a lovely person. He'll like her soon enough"
At this Hermione beamed with happiness and skipped after him as they made their way to the Great Hall for dinner.
…..
Harry sat down at the Slytherin table with Hermione and Blaise.
"Honestly, Potter, what were you thinking bringing a mudblood to the Slytherin table?!" Draco pompously said.
"Don't be silly Dray, she's fine"
At the nickname Draco turned slightly pink, 'hmph'ed and turned away.
"I can leave if you want?" Hermione said sadly
"Nonsense" Harry replied, "Tuck in"
Albus Dumbledore sitting at the Head table breathed a sigh of relief. He was worried that the power which surrounded Harry as it had with Tom Riddle would be cultivated into something bad in the presence of Slytherins. But, now Harry was friends with a muggleborn he was not too worried. There did seem something odd about the boy, but he was not prejudiced which was a relief in itself.
Professor McGonagall leaned over to the Headmaster,
"He has a great talent in Transfiguration the boy. Inherited from James I think"
"Ah, so he is doing well then?" Dumbledore questioned
"Why yes" Professor Flitwick squeaked "Once I got him to pay attention he managed to float his feather with ease. Like the Granger girl"
"Getting him to pay attention?" Dumbledore said looking confused "Wasn't he already?"
"Oh yes, that happened in my class too" Professor Spout added "Right little dreamer you've got there. Sweet little boy he is too."
Dumbledore looked curiously at Harry at this piece of news, but brushed it off with a benign smile on his face.
A/N: Thank you. Review and follow!