CHAPTER 4
(Draco's POV)
For the last few days I've spent my time working on the library. I've been researching about the ingredients stolen from Professor Snape's office. I already have a suspect on who's been stealing the ingredients, but I'm not quite sure if I should keep it to myself or report it to Professor Snape.
It's quite hard to focus in Potions today because the suspect I've been investigating is in this very room.
"The ingredients stolen from my office also have the ability to brew a wisdom potion, but it requires great skills for a wizard to brew it."
"I knew it!" I mumbled.
Granger's the only one with the intention to brew such potion. She's probably trying to get that bloody title of hers back. Professor Snape must know about what she's planning to do.
Professor Snape left the dungeons abruptly after our lesson so I have to sprint in order to catch-up with him, so I could tell him about my suspicion about Granger.
"Professor!"
I stopped just in front of him panting.
"What is it, Mr. Malfoy?" He said emotionless.
"I already know who's behind the stealing of ingredients." I said still catching my breath.
"Very well, who is it then?" His voice was still emotionless.
"Granger, sir." I answered. "She's the one planning to brew the 'Intell Ravven', the wisdom potion, to get her bloody title back."
"Mr. Malfoy, I suspect a Professor's behind all this. Besides, the ingredients can only produce very complicated potions. Students like you and Ms. Granger are not capable to brew such potion."
"But-"
"Do you have any supporting evidence?"
"None." I gritted my teeth.
Professor Snape grunted as he walked away.
(Hermione's POV)
"How much of it is ready?"
"Eighty-nine percent." I respond at Ginny's question. "It would be ready for an hour."
She nodded.
"Ginny, you better go get dinner." Ginny shook her head in protest. "Go on without me, I'm not hungry after all."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay, I'll see you at the commons."
She left the dungeons so I could concentrate on my potion. Finally, this potion will be ready in fifty-five minutes. I've spent this week brewing this potion. It is very complicated to brew, especially for a student. Fortunately, I have Harry, Ronald, and Ginny to help me. Soon enough, I'll be reclaiming my title.
(Draco's POV)
"Can you believe it?! He didn't believe me." I whined. "He's supposed to believe me! He's the head of Slytherin, he's supposed to favor us!"
"He has a point, you know." Zabini retorted. "It could be a student in the influence of the Imperius curse by a professor."
Scowling, I snatched my bag from my lap. I found no sign of my wand so I checked the pockets of my robes. My wand's not in there either.
"Blimey, I must've left my wand at the dungeons."
"You better fetch that bloody wand of yours before someone else does."
Without another word, I stood up and straightly went out of the hall.
(Hermione's POV)
"It is ready." I muttered to myself.
I transferred the potion into a glass phial. I definitely do not know what is it with me, but I felt so unsure about the potion. As if I don't want to take it anymore. I raised the phial to have a closer look on the potion. I heard footsteps coming from the staircase approaching the dungeons.
"Filch!" I thought. With no hesitation, I took the phial up to my mouth and drank the potion, leaving none of a drop.
The feeling was very different. There was a cold sensation that shifted down my throat and my heart begins to pump harder. For a moment, I felt like I'm no longer capable of breathing. I closed my eyes for a second and inhaled very deeply. I hid the phial just in time when the door swung wide open.
(Draco's POV)
I made my way to the dungeons as hasty as I could. Unfortunately, the dungeons are located at the far end of the castle so, I have to sprint up to get there in a flash.
When I reached half-way of the stairs down to the dungeon, I noticed that the flap was slightly gaping so I tried a peek inside but I didn't catch a sight of anyone. So I swung the flap open.
"Granger?!" I questioned deviously. "What the bloody hell are you doing down here?"
"N-nothing, I, I just fetched a piece of parchment where I listed my assignments." She said without cutting her gaze at me. "How about you? What's your matter?" She benevolently asked.
"None of your business." I said sternly.
I scowled at her before I retrieved my wand and left awkwardly. Granger acted quite peculiar when I spoke to her. But it's not like she's hiding something. She seemed so hurt when I replied to her. As if I called her a 'mudblood', which I did not. Is she really that melodramatic these days? Or maybe just the effect of Weasley dumping her.
"Pathetic." I wittered.
"Why are you telling me this anyway?" Zabini catechize.
"Cause it's damn awkward."
"You find Granger being kind awkward? Is that a problem to you? Just forget it; you don't care about her anyway, right?"
I didn't respond. He's right. I don't care about her. But why am taking it seriously? I hate her because of everything she is, I am absolutely disgusted because she's a mere mudblood, and I despise her because she always outclasses me in every examination. This can't be happening to me again.
Without even looking at Blaise I stood up from the love seat and went to the boys' dorm short of words. I grabbed a towel folded just atop my trunk and entered the bathroom. I cleansed my face and paused to stare at myself in the mirror. I dried my face drenched in water and shifted my eyes back at the mirror. I let out a very long sigh without piercing my stare at the mirror.
"Draconis Lucius Malfoy." I said in a low voice. "You hate Hermione Jean Granger."
