"Listen up," commands Madam Sprout, as she stands with the first year Slytherins and Ravenclaws. "Today we're using the severing charm to cut Moly." She looks over at Draco, whose eyes are downcast in thought, "Pay attention, Malfoy. I know you'll appreciate this." She addresses the entire class again, "If you're afraid of soil, plants, or water you can also use the levitation charm to place them into the baskets beside you."
The class erupts in laughter, and Draco grumbles as he hears an orange haired Ravenclaw mutter to a friend, "Afraid of water and dirt. If someone were, that'd be terribly sad wouldn't it?" Her friend nods with a smile in total agreement.
"Now, now, quiet." After the murmuring fades she continues, "It's better to use the severing charm, as it's been proven that a plant will grow back faster with its use. As the Moly flower in front of you has exceptional properties, which can help create potions meant to defend against the effects of dark enchantments, it's important we get enough up to the school." Draco looks down at the potted flowers before him. They held petals of either pure white or vibrant snow-blue. "I'll give you a quick demonstration, as you won't learn the severing charm in your Charms class until next year."
After the demonstration the students are left to their own devices, and Draco looks down at the flowers. They're actually kind of pretty for a plant, but if we cut them then they will die.
"Come on, now. We don't have all day."
Unfortunately, this is an individual assignment, so Draco will have to sever them himself. As he mutters the incantation he remembers the brown, frosted leaf he had picked up the week prior, but when the light green beam shoots from his wand the thought is forgotten. The light is even more beautiful than the plant.
After the first pot is done and the flowers are placed in the basket, the teacher instructs the class to place them on a different table and take more from another table. At some point during the lesson Draco hears the brown haired Ravenclaw girl, who's on his right just after Harry, comment, "What's that from?"
He sees her looking at his arm. The sleeve had fallen down to his elbow during the incantation, revealing what's left of the bruise his father had unknowingly given him, and he quickly covers it up before glaring at her, "Earlier today one of your lot decided to knock into me with a big, hard book. Wasn't looking where she was going, apparently. I'm lucky that's all that happened."
"Oh. I'm sorry," she says, completely genuine, before looking again where the bruise would be if the sleeve didn't cover it. "There's this lotion that uses aloe vera. It helps with anything from sunburn to rashes to bruises." She looks back up with a sorry smile, "Madam Pomrey should have some."
Draco shakes his head and looks back down at the cut flowers, before he begins to place them within the brown wicker basket. He hears Harry respond for him, "Thank you." and after he's done speaking to her Harry whispers to him. "I've been with you all morning, and I haven't seen you get knocked into by anyone."
Draco mutters, "What's your point?"
Harry licks his lips, "Nothing. I just don't understand why you needed to make her feel bad like that."
"It's simple." He finishes with the flowers before looking at Harry, "When you make someone feel bad or tell them it's their fault, then they'll be quiet and stop asking questions." He turns back to the basket, "Really. I wasn't even thinking. It just came out." He feels Harry touch his shoulder, but before he can ask anything Draco says, "Don't touch me." With that Harry lets go, and Draco offers to take both of their baskets as Harry had done previously.
After the class finishes the professor announces, "Now, you're free to leave." Immediately, a hoard of students gathers to the greenhouse exit, but she continues, "Anyone looking for extra credit is free to stay and help me transplant the Moly, so we may yield more of a harvest next time they bloom."
Harry sees Draco lingering behind, "Aren't you coming?"
He shakes his head, "I think I'll stay for the extra credit."
Goyle comments, "Are you sure that's a good idea? You just skipped out on lunch yesterday. Do you really want to do it today too?"
Actually, I'm perfectly fine with using this as an excuse. "Considering I'm failing, yes I'm sure." The words leave his mouth a little harsher than he had meant, and even he's a little surprised by it.
"You're failing," Harry softly comments in surprise.
Draco huffs, "Don't act like you didn't look at my grade. You heard them all laughing today like it's some kind of inside joke. 'Poor, little Draco is afraid of dirt.'" He spats, "It's pathetic. Just wait until my father hears about this."
"What would happen?" Harry asks hesitantly.
Goyle loudly interrupts, "We should get to lunch. You coming, Harry?"
"Yeah. I'll be right there." He waits for a moment to get an answer from Draco, but after the moment's over it's clear he's not getting one.
When the professor calls them over Draco comments, "You should go. I have work to do." and with that Harry leaves.
Half way through lunch the other extra credit students had already left, but Draco really needed to get his grade up. So, he stayed for the remainder of the hour, and the teacher didn't even ask him about lunch. It was good and peaceful, actually, but for some reason, even after washing his hands multiple times, he still feels dirty. He swears he can feel the invisible mites and bacteria crawling on his skin, making it nearly impossible to concentrate during his afternoon Charms and Transfiguration classes.
Now that the day is done, Draco is relieved to be able to steal himself away into the dorm's bathroom shower. He knows it's impractical, that there's no way anything other than his hands and arms could have become dirty, but he just needs to get it off. I need to get it all off. As he breathes in the steam of the piping hot shower, he scratches everywhere: his arms, his face, and his shoulders. It had to have been the longest shower he's ever taken, and when he finally feels clean enough he steps out.
He takes a towel to reveal the center of the mirror. Looking into it he sees his ghostly white skin has turned into a pink-tinged pale yellow, and examining further he notices a dark, red line running down the top of his arm. It must be from the nail that chipped during Herbology.
There's a knock and Goyle asks, "Draco. Are you alright in there?"
"Yeah," Draco calls back, before he shuts the shower off. He usually lets it run a little while, as it makes people less suspicious of all the time he's taking, but clearly this time his shower had taken even longer than he would usually let it run. "I just need ten more minutes, then I'll be out. I promise."
"There you go making promises again. What are you doing in there?"
Draco shakes his head and licks his lips, knowing he had to say something honest for him to believe anything he could say. Looking in the mirror again, he realizes the truth wouldn't be that bad, "I got cut in the shower. I need to take care of it."
After a pause Goyle asks, "Do you need anyone to help you?"
"No," Draco answers as he wipes the cut with the towel. "It's not that bad. I'll be fine."
After getting dressed he hurriedly takes the eye cream, hair gel, and nail concealer from his bag. Technically, your hair is supposed to be completely dry before adding the gel, but he's never had an issue before. He puts the eye cream on afterwards, and then he grabs the nail concealer. Nail de Perfecto. Got imperfect nails? Not anymore. He'd have to cut them later when they'd hardened a little, but for now this would help cover his imperfections. Sadly, that doesn't include chipped nails.
After a few minutes there's another knock, "Are you done in there?"
"Yeah. I am." He puts the products back into his bag, before he opens the door.
"So, where's the cut?" Draco lifts his long sleeve to reveal the long line, and Goyle takes a look at it. "You didn't put a bandage on it."
Draco shrugs, "I couldn't find anything, so I just cleaned it up."
"Come on." He drags Draco back into the bathroom, "With your little problem this might just bleed through your clothes, and I know you don't want that." Draco stays quiet as Goyle immediately finds the kit beneath the sink. "How did you manage to do this, anyway?"
When Draco's handed the healing ointment he puts it on, "My nails chipped during Herbology while we were replanting, and I have a thing about dirt."
"Yeah. I was going to say, it looks like you cleaned yourself sore."
"That's what usually happens." He sees the different shapes of band aids in the kit and opts for a long, vibrant green one. It didn't fit perfectly, but he figures it's good enough.
After a moment Goyle asks, "Why didn't you tell me you were failing Herbology?"
Draco looks back at him, "Why didn't you tell me Professor Ghost was being such an ass to you and that you're about to fail his class?"
He looks away and into the sink, "I didn't think you'd care."
Draco puts the kit away, "Yeah. I can relate." and they each give one another a solemn look before heading back out to their living space.
- I don't have much to say for this chapter. This chapter kind of contained situations where if you were to see them, then you may not know what to think. I do think, however, that the last bit where they both thought the other wouldn't care is a bit touching and that some people may be able to relate. Let me know what you think. There haven't been a lot of responses.
