Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Chapter Four

Saturday was pretty much ruined for Harry. By the end of the day, most everyone knew all about the whole Hillary-in-the-stair incident. By Sunday, he wanted to die. By Monday, he'd hit rock bottom.

"Hey Potter," A Slytherin girl smirked as she passed him in the courtyard. Harry looked up from the Quidditch book he was reading. "Meet me by the stairs, would you?" Her friends laughed as Harry's face turned a shade resembling puce. They briskly walked towards a group of Slytherin boys at the other end of the courtyard who were watching with curiosity and confusion. They obviously hadn't heard yet.

Harry's gut twisted. The Slytherin boys were none other than Draco Malfoy and his crew. He immediately shoved the book into his bag and forced himself not to look at Malfoy's ecstatic face.

As he weaved through the crowded corridors, he heard various comments regarding the "Little Stair Episode."

He sped up, getting to the dungeons as quickly as he could. He never thought Potions class would be seen as a sanctuary for him. For Satan, maybe, but not Harry.

"Mr. Potter, how kind of you to join us." Snape sneered at him. "I would have thought you'd be at the stairs." Harry rolled his eyes. "Five points from Gryffindor." Harry closed his eyes, as if cursing his stupidity, but really he was rolling his eyes where Snape wouldn't see them. "Take your seat."

Harry went to slip into his usual chair at the table he shared with Ron and Hermione, but someone was already there.

"Oh, I'm sorry Harry!" Hillary went to pick up her books. "I forgot you sit right here."

"No, that's okay. I'll just sit here today." He took the empty seat next to her. "Hm." He said, studying his new portion of table. "Apparently, someone named LE really loved Quidditch."

Snape stood up. "Pupils…and delinquents-" the Slytherins in the room snickered. "-we have a new student in our class today. She's a Fifth Year, but she's been deemed 'Advanced.'" He motioned towards the door.

Ginny Weasley bounced through the door, her braided pig-tails swinging around her shoulders. "Hi!" She waved at the Gryffindors in the back of the room, one of which waved back. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were too dumbstruck to do anything but stare.

"Get in groups of no more than three." Snape ordered them.

There was a scraping of chairs as people rearranged themselves. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at Hillary.

"Have I been voted off the island?" She smiled.

"Sorry." Hermione shrugged. "I'll be the one to leave if you want."

"NO!" Harry and Ron shouted.

"Potter! Weasley! Do I have to arrange the groups for you?" snapped Snape. "Then be quiet."

Ginny scurried over to the table next to theirs. Hillary turned around and asked "Hey, do want to work with me?"

"Sure." Ginny's face lit up.

"Brilliant!"

The two immediately put all their books on the empty chairs, and Ginny heaved her second-hand cauldron onto the scorched, scratched table, which hit the slab of wood with a resounding clang.

"The potion you're going to make in your groups is called," He waved his wand at the board. "Veritaserum." The word and instructions appeared on the chalkboard. "Begin."

"Isn't that really hard?" Ginny whispered.

"I don't know, I only just found out this all existed a month ago." Hillary answered in a low voice.

"Um…let's just wing it."

"Sounds good."

"Really?"

"I don't know, I only just found out this all existed a month ago."