Chapter 7 From Potions to Dark Arts
A couple of days later in Advanced Potions class, several Durmstrang students joined them. Amongst whispers and gasps, Draco strutted in with his hair in three inch tall thick punk spikes, but wearing his school uniform. Professor Snape frowned at the sight of him. "Well, well, it seems the circus is in town. However, I suggest that no one stop to stare." Professor Snape proceeded to pass out blank orange parchments to each student. "You are going to take a test that will get progressively more difficult with each question you answer correctly. The next test question will appear on the paper once you have completed the previous one. If you answer a question incorrectly or fail to answer it within ten minutes, the test will end. At that point, you may leave. Unfortunately, this will be used as an assessment only."
Somberly, everyone picked up their quills and began. After the first hour, every fifteen minutes or so a few more students left. After three hours, only Draco and Hermione remained. "You both may take a quick break and return."
After they freshened up and before they returned, Draco sized her up. "You were at the top of your class at Hogwarts. I checked."
"Does that upset you?"
"Not at all," he replied with a smug smile. "I enjoy a little competition."
Three hours later, Draco put his quill down in defeat and quietly exited. "Congratulations, Miss Granger," Professor Snape drawled. "Since I'm teaching Potions for the Durmstrang students as well as several Dark Arts classes, I need some assistance. If you like, you may be teacher's assistant for my potions classes. That was the purpose of this assessment."
"I would like that very much. Thank you."
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When she left the class, Draco waited for her outside the door. "Congratulations," he said. "It's past dinner time. Would you like to accompany me to the kitchen?"
In the kitchen, they fixed their plates. As she looked at the mound of food on his, she laughed. "I'm a growing wizard."
"You can't get too much taller can you?"
"I'll be as tall as my father, since I only have an inch to go." He dug in. "Since Professor Snape is the best potions professor ever, the students here signed up for his classes well before he arrived. They haven't replaced the last potions teacher since she retired last year. Professor Snape's arrival was very fortuitous." He resumed his meal. "So you and I are at the top of the heap. Either we can study together and ensure we both remain at the top, or we can sabotage each other." Seeing her reaction, he laughed. "Relax Hermione, I'm joking. If we join forces, we can be unstoppable."
"That would be nice. I just find it hard to believe that you don't resent my heritage."
"Honestly, I'm not one hundred percent convinced that everything I've heard isn't wrong, but I know most of it is. However, I'm going through the motions so I can judge for myself. By going to school here, I simply haven't been around your kind. No matter what though, I don't think anything should be done against your kind." He chewed a couple bites. "Are you going to hold my honesty about that against me?"
"No, I prefer the truth."
After they finished, he looked over the desserts. "Would you like some chocolate cherry chunk ice cream?"
"Love it," she answered. "May I ask you a personal question? But you have to promise not to get offended?"
"As long as it's not politics, ask away."
"How did you get your scar, not that it's bad or anything?" Now, she hoped he wouldn't think she didn't find him attractive.
"Well, I can tell you a story which would be far more interesting than the truth and it would impress you – OR – I can tell you the truth which is not impressive, and you might think I'm an idiot."
"Maybe I'll be more impressed by the real you. Try me."
"I found out that my father was a fantastic climber as a child. So as a six year old wizard who wanted to impress his father, I decided to climb to the pinnacle of Malfoy Manor. About two-thirds the way up, I lost my footing and bounced off various overhangs and such until I hit the ground. Since it was my father's watch, he ran out to me. Because I was afraid of getting in trouble, I wailed and wailed. My injuries weren't that bad but I bled a bit so my father took me to the hospital. A lot of nasty rumors circulated, though. Many people believed my father hit me, but he didn't, he just yelled. Once he had calmed down, he teased me about being a better bouncer than a climber." Draco took a few bites of ice cream. "So are you impressed, or do you think I'm an idiot?"
"I'm impressed that you made it two-thirds of the way to the top, and I don't think you're an idiot." With that he smiled and took a few bites of ice cream. "You have plenty of faults I'm sure, but idiot isn't one of them."
Instantly, he looked up to find her smirking. "You got me."
Once they finished, he escorted her back to her room. "Does the hair scare you at all?" She shook her head. "How about intimidate?" Again, she shook her head. "I guess I'll have to try something else. Goodnight, Hermione."
"Goodnight." Too bad, you didn't ask if I found your hair hot.
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The next day for Dark Arts, Professor Snape handed out the same orange sheets of paper. "You know the drill."
After seven hours, Hermione put down her quill in defeat and quietly left. Outside the classroom, she patiently waited for Draco. "Dinner?" she asked.
Together they went to the kitchen and ate dinner. "So you're the new TA for Dark Arts?"
"Yes," he replied. With a wicked gleam in his eyes, he grinned mischievously just like he did on the train. "I excel at Dark Arts, one of the benefits of being a Dark Wizard." Unable to tell if he joked or not, she ate quietly. "Don't worry Hermione; I'm a dark wizard with standards. Speaking of dark wizards, but imbeciles, whatever happened to the idiots on the train, Crabbe and Goyle?"
"They were expelled last year for skipping classes, and for inappropriate behavior."
"I'm not surprised."
"You shouldn't call yourself a dark wizard. It isn't right."
"If I say that I am proud of my pure-blood traditions and of my family heritage and want it to continue, people think I'm a dark wizard. If I admit that I'm ambitious and use cunning methods to get what I want, I'm a dark wizard. Also, I take revenge upon my enemies, yet another trait of a dark wizard. Why fight fate?"
"Well, I don't think you're a dark wizard."
"Careful Hermione, if you insult me, I'll get even." Draco smirked. "So tell me your story, Hermione."
"Both my parents are dentists in the Muggle world. However, they were thrilled when they discovered I was a witch, and they support me completely. Since I do well in school, I thought about becoming a professor or a librarian since I love to read. I like a lot of Muggle hobbies and ……I'm a conformist."
"You're fine just the way you are: conformity and everything. What Muggle hobbies do you like?"
"I play tennis and swim. Tennis is definitely Muggle only."
"I'm familiar with some Muggle sports. I practice Kung Fu to help center myself, long story."
"Also, I like a lot of Muggle music, mostly techno and pop."
"I like Muggle music too, but the kind with a little more bite."
After strawberry shortcake, he escorted her to her common room. Lightly, he kissed her cheek, lingering just long enough for his warm breath to tickle her. "Goodnight Hermione," he whispered.
Over the next few days, as Professor Snape's TA, Hermione helped grade papers for the more junior classes. Accordingly, Draco did the same for Dark Arts. On Tuesday and Friday afternoons, Durmstrang offered an extracurricular class unique to their school that caught several Hogwarts' students' attention: Dark Arts Combat. The Friday afternoon class was left open for any Hogwarts' and Beauxbatons' students who wanted to attend.
On the sign-up sheet, a few warnings displayed before anyone could sign: "Taught by a dark wizard who uses drastic and unusual techniques. Not for the faint of heart. Cast at your own risk." With warnings like that, who could resist?