Chapter 3- Open seats, Open hearts
Harry was only half listening to the conversation the others were having about the unity projects. The other half of his mind was watching and thinking about Slytherins. To be specific, two Slytherins. He had seen Malfoy as he talked to Myra Potter. Had seen him run his fingers through his hair as he said something to her, a sexy leer on his mouth. Harry was happy to see her scoff at him, before she moved to talk to some other Slytherins. He couldn't help but feel pain at the way that Draco was acting toward her.
Harry started as Ron poked him on the arm. "W-what?" he asked, jerking up.
"Geez mate," Ron said smiling at him. "Where've you been? We asked if you knew anything about the new girl Myra Potter."
Harry shook his head. "Nothing. But why would I know anything more about her? I've never seen or heard of her in my life, same as you guys." Hermione rolled her eyes at this, her I-know-something-you-don't look in her eyes.
"Well Harry, in case you didn't notice her last name is POTTER. Doesn't that mean something to you?" Harry shook his head no, and opened his mouth to say something. "And no Harry it isn't a coincidence that she has the same last name as you." she interrupted him.
Dang! He thought, is she physic? "I've studied the family trees of all the pure-blood wizarding families, including yours up until your father and mother. Your father's Grandmother's sister moved to America. Myra came from America, and-"
"Wait!" Ron interrupted. Hermione shot him an angered look that he missed. "How do you know that?"
"Geez Ron! Were you listening to anything Dumbledore said?" Ginny scolded. Ron shook his head, looking sheepish.
"Well she is...so obviously she's somehow related to you, Harry. It's just bad luck she's in Slytherin." Hermione said kindly. Harry yawned; right now he wouldn't care if Snape was his cousin. He just wanted to go to sleep, it had been a trying day and he knew their first day of classes would be worse.
The others started on the topic of Slytherin, while Harry looked around the hall. It was basically empty, just a smattering of students at each table except for Slytherin. Harry squinted to see that there was only one person at that table, he sat alone. Harry elbowed Ron in the ribs. "Yah?" Ron said turning towards Harry.
Harry lowered his voice to a whisper so the others around them couldn't hear. "Look at the Slytherin table...and be discreet about it!" he added as Ron whirled around to openly glare at that table. Ron pulled himself back and looked sideways that the table.
"Who's that?" Ron whispered to Harry. He squinted trying to see the lone figure better.
"Blaise Zabini." Harry answered. "He's alone. Why do you think he's here?"
Ron thought for a moment before saying, "probably to spy on us for Malfoy, you know those two are friends. Or he's helping Malfoy to plot something sinister. Either way it's nothing to worry about right now." with that and a helpful pat on Harry's arm, Ron turned to Hermione to announce that the rest of the hall was basically empty and they should go to bed. As Ron was arguing with Hermione about Prefect protocol, Harry looked sidelong at the Slytherin table.
Deciding he must know what Zabini was up to, he looked directly at Zabini. He found Zabini looking straight at him, before he quickly looked away. Harry could have sworn he saw a slight smile on Zabini's lips and a pinkish tinge on his cheeks. What's he playing at? Harry thought. He was saved from any unholy thoughts about Blaise Zabini (obviously due to lack of sleep...obviously) by Ron poking him...again.
Harry wrenched his eyes from the Slytherin to turn and look at Ron. "Don't worry about him." Ron muttered, shooting a look at the table. He got up and stretched, looking at his watch. "Well guys, seems to be time to go up. Who knows what classes we'll have to struggle through tomorrow." At Ron's words they all nodded and rose to their feet to leave.
As they exited the Hall Harry didn't notice the figure rise and follow them. Someone else did. They did not look back.
Back in the Slytherin boy's dorm room Crabbe stood watch over Draco's bed. The boy was writhing in his bed, his head twisting and turning, a steady flow of muttered words coming from his mouth. It was 4 in the morning.
Pansy rushed into the boy's dorm, Goyle following on her heels. "What happened? Goyle comes barging into my room at 4 in the morning claiming that something's happened to Draco. So what's wrong?" She said furiously, looking at the two.
"Well," Crabbe spoke up, "He woke us up about ten minutes ago, yelling and screaming like he was being tortured. Then we find him writhing in his bed like he's having a seizure. Just look at him." Pansy looked at him. She had seldom heard him say that much at once. He must really be worried.
She looked at the boy in bed. Hmmmm...she thought. "Looks like he's having a nightmare. Though I've never known him to have them before. I think we should try and wake him." She reached down and shook Draco gently by the shoulder. He did not wake, he kept on flailing around. Like a beached whale, she thought. She shook him harder, and then harder still. Finally, fed up with this taking so long, she smacked him on the shoulder and punched him in the ribs.
He woke up screaming, gasping for air. To his surprise there were people around his bed. He squinted and could just make out the hulking figures of Crabbe and Goyle. The third person had long hair, so he deducted it to be Pansy. "Wha- happened?" he asked groggily, "w-why ya all 'ere?" he blinked his eyes sleepily up at them.
Then he remembered. The Nightmare. Draco groaned, and the three looked at him in concern. "What was it Dray?" Pansy asked, "A nightmare?" Draco nodded his head, trying to remember what it had been about. But it was all leaving his head, like smoke through the air. All he could remember was there was blood...LOTS of blood. There were those blasted razors there as well. And then there was HER. There was always HER.
Draco looked around at the group gathering his bed, noting who was missing. "Did I wake you?" he asked, wondering how the other boys in the room could still be asleep if he did.
Goyle nodded while Crabbe grinned. "Well," he said, "with the yelling, muttering, and screaming...not to mention the flailing around, it was kinda hard not to wake up." Draco shook his head, scowling at Crabbe for making fun with him. Although he knew Crabbe was just being a good friend he still had to keep up his outward appearance.
Draco looked at the other beds whose curtains still were closed. "Then how come Nott, Winters, and Blaise are not huddled around my bed in concern for my well being?" he joked.
Pansy was the one with the answer. "Well we all know Winters could sleep through a hurricane, Nott really couldn't care...even if he was here, and Blaise began taking his potion again. So really anything you do can't wake those three." Draco nodded. Of course he knew Liam Winters was the best at sleeping. He was even better than Weasley, and that was saying something. And Nott not caring wasn't a surprise either; it was general knowledge that he hated Draco with an unrivaled passion.
Draco sighed and rolled over, looking at the clock. It was 4:30. "Get back to sleep you guys, sorry for waking you. It won't happen again." And with that he rolled onto his side and pulled the covers over his head.
Pansy rolled her eyes and Crabbe and Goyle exchanged looks. "Bloody pride." Pansy muttered as she turned to leave. "See you two at breakfast." she went to the door, "Oh and Goyle, make sure you knock next time." She turned on her heel and left the room, banging the door behind her.
Crabbe and Goyle nodded and lumbered over to their beds. There was a moment of silence. "So what did you see?" Crabbe asked to the darkness next to him.
Goyle groaned, "Oh shut it." But he smiled into his pillow, thankful for the darkness to cover his blush. The room lapsed into silence, soon interrupted by their identical snores. Even Draco slept on.
Harry found himself staring up at the red curtains above his head. It was a few minutes to seven, and no one else was up. Whereas every other boy in his dorm liked to get as much sleep as possible, Harry actually liked waking early. It was peaceful in the dawn, and it gave him time to think.
When his snitch-clock chirped 7 he decided to get up and get ready for the day. Of course that meant getting everyone else up so they wouldn't be late. Harry shook his head thoughtfully. How they could waste the beauty of the morning and be so difficult to get up was besides him. He just didn't get it.
The first to be woken up was Ron. Ron could easily sleep the day away if he was able to. But once he was up the others would quickly follow suit. He opened Ron's curtains, letting in the early morning light. He shook Ron lightly, then harder, then even harder still. Then he resorted to his final measures. He pushed Ron out of bed.
"Oi!" Ron yelled from his spot sprawled on the floor. "What'd you do that for!" Harry laughed at the sight of him. With rumpled hair, disheveled pajamas, and sleep still in his eyes it was impossible for him to sound mad, as hard as he tried. Not wanting to be the only one awake, Ron ran to all the other boy's beds, drawing back the curtains and unceremoniously kicking them each out of bed.
There were many surprised squawks, yells, grumbles, and a yelled "Ouch!" from Neville at this. Ron just smiled and went to his trunk to get his stuff. There was retaliation. From somewhere near Dean's bed there came a pillow, flying through the air at, what he hoped to be, Ron. It hit Harry squarely on the chest. Another Pillow came from Seamus's bed, whacking Neville in the head as he attempted to get back up. He went down again.
Soon the air was full of pillows, socks, and hats as a full-scale battle had begun. Harry, laughing, dodged a red knitted hat, ducked as a pillow flew over his head, scooped up his stuff, and ran to the door. He sidestepped a well-aimed pair of gloves, threw open the door, and threw himself through it. As he closed the door he heard a solid THUMP! as something hit it.
Smiling as he thought about how much he'd missed his friends over the summer, Harry made his way to the Prefect's bathroom. As he jogged through the doorway he smacked into someone. Well actually two someones. He saw the shock of bleach-blonde hair of the first someone, as well as a drawling voice in his ear whisper, "Watch where you're going Potter. There are other ways to touch me besides running me over you know."
Harry was slammed into the wall and he fell sideways. From his vantage point on the floor Harry could see the hair and voice belonged to Draco Malfoy (any surprise there?) and the other someone was Blaise Zabini. Now the second someone was advancing on Harry slowly, so he quickly scrambled to his feet.
Blaise stopped, raising one eyebrow at Harry. Then he smirked...and kept walking forewords. Harry cursed himself for not bringing his wand. He was just going to the showers, how was he supposed to know he'd run into Malfoy. Harry mentally punched himself for being so stupid. And now because of his stupidity it looked like he was going to get the crap beaten out of him. As Blaise put one hand against the wall on either side of Harry's face Harry's eyes widened. He wondered if there'd even be enough of him left to send to the Hospital Wing.
Then he had an entirely different thought altogether. I wonder if anyone could smell as good as Blaise does, and if anyone could have as beautiful eyes. Harry! He yelled at himself, you're about to get beaten up and all you can think about is the color of his eyes? The other side of himself retorted, But they're very pretty eyes! and was promptly slapped into silence.
As these thoughts were swirling around in Potter's head very similar in nature thoughts were going around in Blaise's. When Potter looked up at him Blaise's face was closer, his mouth hovering over Harry's ear, his eyebrows still raised mysteriously. He breathed over Potter's ear and Potter shivered. Oh! Blaise thought, he liked that...hmmmm...
"Blaise!" Draco hissed, "People are coming!" So Blaise did the only thing he could do.
He hissed, "This isn't over Potter!" punched him in the stomach, slapped him in the face, and kicked his shin. Then Blaise turned sexily (yes you can turn sexily...or at least Blaise can) and started after Draco.
Harry stood there, stunned. It was all going so well and then...that. He growled at himself, this is why you never trust Slytherins...and by GOD HARRY! Stop thinking about how good he felt standing that close. As Harry entered that bathtub he was beating himself up mentally.
As the hot water calmed him Harry actually felt a bit at ease. At least he didn't get beaten up. It could have been much much worse; he could be severely bruised and bleeding right now. Yes, Harry decided as he got dressed, today was going to be a good day. He'd already got past an encounter with Malfoy virtually unscathed and he couldn't wait for his new classes.
When he got back to the tower Harry found the others waiting for him in the common room ready for breakfast, so down they went.
Upon arrival in the Great Hall Harry scanned the Slytherin table, eyes settling on Blaise and Malfoy. They seemed to be arguing about something, but they were keeping their voices low so Harry could not catch any of what was being said. He scanned the rest of the table, noting Myra was not there yet.
Turning his back on the Slytherins Harry brought his attention to the table before him. He was rewarded a laugh at the pile of food on Ron's plate. Ron scowled up at him. "What?" he asked.
"Hungry, aren't you?" Harry replied, grinning at his best mate.
Ron grinned back. "Absolutely starved." he shot back, digging into the food on his plate. Laughing to himself Harry filled up his plate, much more modestly portioned than Ron's. He glanced up to see McGonagall handing out the schedules. As he got his, Harry heard Ron groan. He looked up questioningly.
"Potions this morning, followed by Transfiguration, then Divination this afternoon. And of course we finish with the creepy professor last, just bloody perfect." Ron groaned again, looking like he'd just been told he had to live with the giant squid.
His look got even more woeful as Hermione added, "And all but Transfiguration with the Slytherins. Oooohhhh! That'll be loads of fun with Trelawney." She gave them the look. "Now you'll wish you would have dropped that class for Arithmancy."
Harry looked at his schedule trying to think of what was worse: Divination with the Slytherins or Arithmancy with Hermione. It was a close battle. He was so engrossed in said mental battle that he didn't notice the worried looks and whispers one Slytherin was giving him.
"I hurt him." Blaise wailed, "I hurt him. Why'd I hurt him? Oh he's gonna hate me forever!" Blaise looked like he was going to cry, so Draco quickly intervened.
"He is not going to hate you forever Blaise. And you hurt him because you had to. If someone would have seen you snogging Potter..." Draco said, trying to sound comforting and strict at the same time. It did not work.
"But I didn't have to HURT him. He hates me. It's done, over! He hates me!" Blaise continued to wail, shooting worried looks at Potter.
"He looks perfectly fine to me." Draco remarked. Just then the door to the Great Hall opened. "Quick!" he hissed at Blaise. "It's her, move over and quickly!"
But instead of moving over Blaise just uttered a strangled, "He hates me!" and buried his head in his arms. With no other option Draco turned to his other side.
"Could you?" he asked sweetly, motioning scooting over.
Pansy purred and said silkily, "Oh anything for you Drakey Darlin'." Draco winced at the nickname and glared at her.
"Don't you ever call me that...again!" he snarled at her, glaring daggers. Realization dawned on her slip of tongue. She paled and her face turned grave. As She quickly moved over she mouthed "I'm sorry". Draco nodded back at her in forgiveness as a girl slid into the seat shed just vacated.
"So," Myra said to him, "We meet again Draco Malfoy."
Draco nodded, "Indeed we do. So, what do you think of the dorms thus far? Are they to your liking?" he asked smoothly. He wanted to hurry this conversation along. He could see McGonagall approaching with the schedules.
"Well," Myra was saying as she tossed he hair over her shoulder, "The common room is quite nice, as well as the dorm rooms...but I don't really think the other girls like me." She said with a smirk. "Not that I care."
"Yeah, well they're just jealous. You are a Potter after all." Draco said with a gleam in his eye. Kissing up to girls almost always worked.
At the mention of Potter Blaise groaned and buried his head back in his arms. Draco could have sworn he heard a muffled "He hates me!", but he couldn't be sure. Myra turned to look around Draco at Blaise.
"What's the matter with him?" she asked Draco, nodding her head at the still moping Blaise.
"Love problems." Draco replied with a snigger, "anyways wh-" he started to say, but was interrupted by McGonagall coming down the table with their schedules. When Myra got her schedule he looked over her arm at it. To his surprise she was in none of his classes besides divination. "Why aren't you in any of my classes? Normally all Slytherins are together." He asked her, hoping there was a mistake with her schedule.
"We don't have the same classes as you do in the States." she replied smoothly, "I'm a bit behind, so I have to take all the standard classes with the younger students." she gave a disgusted look at this prospect. Draco laughed. Well this was a major unforeseen roadblock in his plan of seduction. Well, he thought, you'll just have to make each moment count with her. And hope her hotness will cancel out her lack of knowledge, or else she won't be fit to be Princess, a little voice in the back of his head reminded him. He pushed the voice back with a snarl.
Around them the great hall was emptying. Myra got up and gathered her stuff. "Well Draco," she turned to him, "see ya around." and with that she exited the great hall. Draco looked after her and mimicked Blaise, burying his hands violently in his hands. Pansy smacked him hard on the shoulder, causing him to raise his head up and shoot her a glare.
"No weakness." she whispered to him. "See Nott, he's watching you. He wants Myra as well and he'll do anything to get her. And I mean anything." Draco snorted at her words and turned to put his head back down. Panay caught his shoulder and wrenched him around to face her. "Do not underestimate Nott, Draco. He's been second in command to you for three years. He's been harboring resentment and revenge. And now he has his chance. Watch him Draco and eradicate him. We must survive." she hissed at him, watching his face intently.
He nodded. "And to survive we must get to class on time." he agreed. He got up and pulled on Blaise's elbow. "Come on Blaise! We've got to get to class." Blaise shook his head. Draco rolled his eyes at Pansy and played a winning card. "Potter's going to be in potions."
Draco spotted Potter and his friends leaving their table. "And he's leaving right now! If we follow we'll have enough time to make a scene, and THEN you can talk to Potter yourself." Draco whispered, grinning when Blaise poked his head up looking hopeful. The grin quickly morphed into a sneer when he saw Nott staring at him.
"You think?" Blaise said to him hopefully, beginning to get up.
"Yeah." Draco said, "Now hurry or we'll lose him!" So Blaise raced out the doors, with Pansy and Draco arm-in-arm strolling behind.
Ron groaned when they got to the dungeons and he saw the trio behind them. Between the Slytherins, Snape, and potions Ron was not happy. Harry just hoped that Snape would get there quickly before something like the scene that morning could occur.
During the walk to the dungeons Draco had been going over a plan in his head. There had to be some way that he could distract and humiliate Weasel and the Mudblood so that Blaise could have a moment with Potter. And why are you helping them get together? He asked himself. Uuummmm...because Blaise is a major ally and you need him in order to regain your status? He quickly, if not entirely truthfully, answered himself.
As they approached the potions room Malfoy heard Ron groan. Oh good, he thought, the weasel's already scared. It should be easy enough to provoke a fight. When passing by the weasel Draco made sure to collide shoulders with him, knocking Ron's books out of his hands. Draco knew it was a novice move, but it got him the reaction he needed.
"Why don't you watch where you're going Weasel." Malfoy drawled, sneering at Ron. Ron's face turned red as he made a move to get at Malfoy. Malfoy snickered at his feeble attempts as Granger pulled Ron back. It was so easy to make Weasley angry, and Draco took great pleasure in it. It would be harder to get to Granger, but Malfoy had to try.
He leered at Granger, "Why don't you ditch scar-head and the half-wit and come join the big boys?" He said casually, leaning sexily (he hoped) against the wall. Hermione opened her mouth to reply scornfully when Draco made his move, making sure to time his movements perfectly.
He closed the gap between him and Granger in two strides and put a finger against her lips, silencing her. EEEEEWWWWW! he thought, I'm touching a MUDBLOOD! he'd make sure to thoroughly wash that finger later. He leaned over her and whispered in her ear, "You needn't say anything, why don't you show me?" he knew he'd done the right thing when he felt himself being grabbed and thrown against the wall.
As Ron was pummeling Draco and Hermione was trying to drag him off, Blaise had managed to situate himself so he stood next to Potter. He leaned closer and breathed lightly over Harry's ear. To his joy, the breath was rewarded with a small shiver coursing down Harry's body. Harry looked up into Blaise's eyes. They really are pretty eyes, Harry thought, before mentally whacking himself. He really needed to stop this, his head was getting sore.
Blaise leaned closer and Harry began to wonder if he was really all that bad of a guy. Luckily he was spared the completion of that thought by a sudden turn of events in the scene going on before them. Crabbe and Goyle had arrived. It looked like Crabbe had punched Ron in the nose, which was now bleeding heavily. Crabbe and Goyle pulled Draco to his feet and resumed the look that nothing had happened.
To Harry's despair it was then that Snape decided to come strolling down the hallway, robes billowing dangerously. (and yes robes can billow dangerously if worn by the right people) He took in the scene and asked the unavoidable question, "What the devil is going on here?"
Harry knew what would happen next. Ron would say it was Malfoy's and Crabbe's fault, they would deny it and blame Ron, Snape would take house points, and Ron would end up with at least a detention, if not more, for fighting. Then Harry had an idea. He looked at Blaise next to him, looked across the hall at Malfoy, and then made eye contact with Ron.
"Please sir," Harry said to Snape, "It was an accident. Ron tripped and hit the wall head first. I think his nose might be broken." Snape raised an eyebrow at Harry and turned to look Ron over. Ron was gaping at Harry. Was this betrayal? Harry shook his head slightly, hoping that Ron would understand. But Ron was too slow.
"That's not what happened at all!" Ron basically shouted at Snape. "Crabbe punched me in the face and slammed me against the wall!" He looked furious.
Harry spoke up, he only had one more chance to save Ron from impending doom. "Professor, his collision with the wall must have addled his brain. He's not remembering correctly, he should go to the hospital wing." Harry silently prayed that Ron would keep his mouth shut. Snape looked doubtful, but nodded his head nonetheless.
"If your head is that addled then you should go to the hospital wing. I don't expect you to be in class." Ron left, giving Harry a wondering glance as he did. "I'll explain later," he mouthed at Ron. Ron nodded and hurried down the corridor before Snape could change his mind.
Snape glared at the rest of the students lined up outside the classroom. "All of you get inside! We have wasted enough time already. You all must stay after if you do not finish in time." He pointed through the doors, "Now get inside to the seats you had last year. And no dawdling!" with that Snape swept into the classroom, the students hurrying in behind him.
In the rush to get inside Draco caught up to Blaise and gave him a quizzical eyebrow raise. Blaise shook his head, looking forlorn. The students filled into their seats. Draco took his seat two rows down at the very left hand side of the room. There was one cauldron with two chairs. In the name of unity they were working with partners.
Pansy and Blaise took their spots next to each other in the table in front of him, while Liam and Knott did the same behind him. Crabbe and Goyle were in the next row over, last row down.
Across the room Harry was taking his seat next to Hermione. Ron usually sat in front of them with Seamus, and Dean and Neville in front of them. Harry watched as Snape strode to the front of the room and twirled his wand at the chalkboard. That days lesson appeared.
"Novus reproba falsus vita. New life. This is a simple potion that holds great power. It does not create true life, it only gives the illusion of life." Snape looked out of them, making sure everyone was paying rapt attention to what he was saying.
"There is also another affect of this potion besides the illusion of life. Can any of you tell me what it is that makes this potion so powerful?" To no one's surprise Hermione's hand went up first, followed shortly by Draco's. Snape's lip curled as he called on Granger.
"It is also a love potion sir. It gives the illusion of love and beauty to one individual." Malfoy smirked as he heard her answer. For once Granger was wrong.
"That is true Granger, if only partially correct. Who can tell me what Granger said that was incorrect, and correctly state it's property?" Draco's hand went up and he smiled. "Draco?" Snape called on him.
Malfoy took a deep breath. "Whereas love potions cause the illusion of love, obsession, or infatuation, Novus reproba falsus vita only reflects love that was already there, strengthening it and making it visible." he said with a smirk at Hermione.
Snape nodded, "Exactly." he twirled his wand again and a list of ingredients appeared. "You will find everything in the cupboard, those of you without partners must continue alone, you have an hour and thirty minutes starting now." He sat down at his desk as a flurry of activity started up.
Draco carefully got out his ingredients and started chopping the radishes. Unlike most potions, the majority of the ingredients in this potion could be found in any kitchen. It was a few of the rare ingredients that made it truly spectacular.
Malfoy's mind wandered as he cut up ingredients and added them to his potion. He looked over at Harry and Hermione who were talking intently. Wishing he could listen in, Malfoy turned back to his own potion. The next part of this was the trickiest. You had to be especially delicate with the ingredients or else the whole mixture would be useless.
Malfoy carefully dropped in two mermaids tears, stirred twice clockwise. It turned clear, just as it was supposed to. Now he set his timer to wait twenty minutes. He looked up to watch Pansy and Blaise. Pansy was doing most of the work while Blaise was sitting looking morosely at Potter. He really is a hopeless Slytherin, Draco thought, laughing softly. It was lucky for him his family had such high standing in the wizarding world.
He turned around to watch Knott and Liam, who seemed to be having quite a lot of difficulty. Their cauldron was sparking and boiling, purple steam pouring out of it. Knott seemed to be yelling profusely at Liam, who was shaking under the assault, apologizing for whatever he had done.
Draco jumped as his timer rang. Quickly, he put in two pinched of fairy dust. The potion fizzed and turned a clear, bright blue. Draco smiled, perfect as usual. Now came the two hardest stepped: the flying horse feathers and the liquid silver.
Draco looked around at the other students. None of them seemed as far along as he was. Even Granger and Potter seemed to be having trouble. Their cauldron was smoking slightly and Hermione was muttering to herself as Harry looked dejected.
Harry was having trouble focusing. All he could think about was the Slytherin who sat only a few seats away. He looked up at the boy to see him slip his arm around Pansy's waste. Pointless, Harry thought, absolutely pointless. He's playing with your mind, wanting you to look like an idiot. Watch your back Harry, he told himself sternly, don't believe a word he says or anything he does.
Looking at the ingredients, Harry put in the mermaid tears. Unfortunately Hermione's back was turned. She spun around and caught his wrist, but not until two drops had already spilled out.
"OH HARRY! I already added those!" she wailed as their concoction began to boil and smoke slightly.
"uh oh..." Harry whispered as Hermione tried to put things right, muttering all the while. He looked up to see Blaise whisper in Pansy's ear, making her blush, and put his hand on her arm.
Blaise had seen Hermione take Harry's wrist and a surge of jealousy washed over him. She was holding on way to long, that wrist should belong to him, that wrist will belong to him. Whoa Blaise, he thought to himself, don't go all protective on me. It's just an infatuation, yeah, just an infatuation. You'll get over this, you'll get over this, you'll get over this. As if to prove himself that fact, Blaise put his hand on Pansy's arm. She looked at him funnily, eyebrows raised.
"Jealousy is the key to success." he whispered in her ear, glancing over her head to look at Potter. Potter was staring at them. Good, Blaise thought, let him see. It's merrily an interest, nothing more.
After witnessing this exchange, Draco smirked to himself as he got out the feathers and carefully dropped two in. They sizzled as they hit the liquid and quickly dissolved, turning the liquid a light green. Draco always loved this part. This was when the real magic happened, and when it's final property was truly shown, for just an instant.
Draco unstoppered the vial of liquid silver. He was tipping it foreword when he heard a whisper behind him. It was Knott.
"Bet you're happy SHE isn't here 'eh Draco." Draco stiffened, making Knott laugh softly. "Yeah I know about her. I wonder what she'd do to you if she saw you and Myra. Maybe she'd leave you. I'd love to get my hands on her and that body. She was a fit little bitch wasn't she Draco? Course you wouldn't know would you?" Draco saw red and was ready to kill Knott when Snape interrupted his thoughts on how to murder him without getting too much blood on his robes.
"Add you final ingredients and bring a vial of it to the front." Snape said. Draco sighed, all the anger draining from him as he dropped in four pearl drops of silver. There was a white flash of light, golden smoke formed hearts in mid-air, and the potion turned a pale silver, absolutely perfect.
Draco looked back at Knott and smiled, Knott's look was murderous. His potion had shattered the glass vial when they had put it in. Draco dipped the vial in, careful not to touch any of the silver liquid.
Harry looked down at their watery, light gray potion. He'd seen the bright flash of light and the golden smoke where Draco was. Of course that prick had to get it perfect. It was all the Slytherin's fault that he had ruined their potion.
Harry looked up from his fuming to see Malfoy heading his way. Malfoy was two feet away when it happened. Malfoy tripped. His potion went sloshing out of the vial and...all over Harry's robes.
To Harry's amazement, golden roses started sprouting all over the spot where the potion had landed. Along with it were tendrils of golden smoke. The smoke traveled across the room, to the person it was destined for. Two pairs of eyes followed the smoke. Only one knew the true meaning of it.