Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing except my own character, Muirgeann le Fay (Merissa Lovey), and all else belongs to the esteemed Ms. Rowling, who I thank most heartily for creating such a universe for all of us to enjoy and explore.
...
"Oh, I'll be glad when it's time for their holiday." I sighed as I stood from my desk and stretched, rubbing a spot on my back that was trying its best to hurt. I'd best go check on Malfoy and Granger, I thought, making sure my bun was secure. I do hope they prove me right. They'd make a nice couple and it would make such a statement if they were to be together. I heard friendly laughter as I approached the classroom and decided to listen from outside to check their relationship more fully.
"You can hardly like Professor Snape so much. He's so mean to everyone." Hermione commented, her voice cheery despite her apparent disbelief.
"He's not so bad, Granger. Sure, he isn't always the kindest to Potter or other Houses, but he still gives out House Points. He's better than Profesora Lovey, surely. She's the worst teacher there is when it comes to punishing students." Malfoy responded.
"She's better than Umbridge was, at least. She would do well to give out points, of course, but she could be far worse." Hermione argued vaguely, clearly defending me in name only. "Let's not fight, though, Malfoy."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Granger. You're my favourite person in the school." Malfoy admitted. Somehow, I can almost see his smirk.
"Thank you, Malfoy. You're my favourite as well." Hermione replied, clearly impressed by his statement. Well, time for me to leave. I don't need to hear this refuse. I headed toward the teacher's lounge, conjuring the last few papers I needed to mark. I walked into the door and paused, seeing Snape there, and turned back around.
"The teacher's lounge is accessible to more than one professor at once." he informed me drily. Is this his way of offering me a truce? I went into the room and took a seat at the opposite end of the table. "Don't sit too close, Lovey."
"Wouldn't want to get in your way." I replied coolly. I picked up the first homework parchment and began marking it quietly, listening to the wind howl outside. "Sounds like it's going to storm."
"Bright observation." he commented quietly. I shot him an irritated glance, but kept quiet as I worked through my stack of parchments. He can want a truce as much as he wants, but he won't get one so long as he keeps insinuating I'm an idiot. "What potions are your students working on now, Ms. Lovey?"
"The ones that they would have been on according to your usual syllabus, currently. It seems we're in a week that our two syllabi coincide." I informed him evenly.
"Indeed. Surprising considering your schedule has no logical order to it." he commented. I took the insult tranquilly, desiring peace.
"Not all good things are logical, Severus." I retorted. "Take love, for instance."
"Does it seem to you that I have great experience with such a connection, Ms. Lovey?" he asked quietly, his eyes narrowed and angry. Looks like I struck a nerve. Good. "That seems more like the life of a girl of your age."
"Ha! Me and love, Severus? I refuse to be introduced to such a vile entity." I announced with a sharp laugh, continuing to glare at him for trying to turn my words back against me. He glared back for a moment before a cough in the doorway sent me to my feet, gathering my papers quickly as I made my escape. "Good evening, Minerva."
"Good evening, Merissa." she replied confusedly, standing just inside the room as I fled. You're a coward, Muirgeann. No doubt about that.
...
"I can't wait until Friday." Ron whined as he stared at the Transfiguration homework we'd been assigned. "I want it to be the holiday already."
"It's only four days away, Ronald. You'll make it." I informed him, hardly looking up from the Defence Against the Dark Arts essay I was writing.
"Hermione, can't I just copy your homework?" he asked, his voice grating on my nerves.
"No, Ronald. Do your own homework." I replied decidedly.
"But you let Harry copy your homework all the time!" he protested.
"Yes, that's because Harry is very busy working with Dumbledore to save the wizarding world from darkness. You are busy with nothing more than consuming as much food as humanly possible." I said, supressing a smirk. Offended, Ron walked off with a string of curses. Smart and articulate. He could do a lot to learn from Malfoy. I jumped at my thought, shocked that I would think something nice about Harry's enemy. It's all Lovey's fault for making us communicate so often. It's a miracle I'm not dreaming of him yet.
"Why the sour look, Hermione?" Harry asked, taking the seat Ron had vacated earlier.
"Just thinking, Harry." I sighed. I watched him pull out his homework and frowned. "Do you have time to get it all done, Harry? You know I'd let you borrow mine again."
"I don't have to see Snape tonight, so I should have plenty of time. Thanks, though, 'Mione. I don't know what I'd do without you." he told me, smiling. I smiled in return while I thought. So he has been having some kind of scheduled meetings with Snape. I knew there was something unusual going on when Harry kept sneaking off. I wonder if it was more of that learning to protect your mind business. It still seems rather silly to me.
"Oh, I'm going to be late for working on the potions for Profesora Lovey. I'd best go." I realised aloud after glancing at the clock.
"See you later, Hermione." Harry said, not looking up from his papers. "Try not to go mad from an hour with Malfoy."
"Like he could drive me mad." I retorted, rolling my eyes as I headed out the door. I went to the classroom and found that it was empty. Good. He must be running late more than me. Smiling at the thought of a few quiet minutes alone, I pulled out the parchment of instructions Lovey had written and began reviewing them to see what I needed to do to my cauldron next. Some armadillo bile and a pinch of peppermint will finish the ingredients. Then I just have to stir it clockwise ten times and anti-clockwise twelve before it's done. I worked on it quietly, glancing toward the door when it was finished to realise Malfoy still hadn't arrived.
"Miss Granger, Profesora Lovey asked me to tell you that your potion-making is cancelled this week. She said she would like you to focus on your studying, as there are several examinations before the holiday." McGonagall informed me after a few more minutes, standing in the doorway.
"Oh. Thank you, Professor." I replied, surprised to find that I was disappointed. I enjoy these little evening potion sessions. It's so quiet and peaceful here and Malfoy's so easy to get along with. I trudged up to the library to find a book in order to cheer myself up. No one's company is quite as good as a difficult read, though. Nothing can beat that.
...