"Those who paid attention will know the groups you are in today-
Hermione rolled her eyes internally, Snape had told them it'd be the week after but of-course he pushed it up. Slimy git indeed. He continued droning on in his toneless voice full of hateful energy.
"...will be given the same score. If no one is sent to the infirmary," a small pause, "That's right, we are all looking at you Longbottom," Hermione discreetly patted his back, his ears had gone beet red, his spatula shaking in his hands.
"I will allow a single group of three. Now, 15 seconds to sit with your partner or you will all work alone" bellowed Snape, turning dramatically, robes sashayed behind him as he unlocked his ingredients cabinet.
"Potter is that Mr. Weasely's striking red hair, Ms. Grangers undeniably bushy hair, or has the golden trio once more assembled?"
It was evident why Snape would say it, Harry had only paired with Ron or Hermione at times. Who would help Neville. Snape's face was impassive but he took a moment to gather his wits. The room was a mix of green and red, silver and gold. Not a single Slytherin was paired with their own housemates.
"Mr. Zabini has Salem's dear champion in any way forced you to be partnered with her, sorry him?" he snarled, his snide grin returned. But Hermione could see his eyes looking apprehensive. This very act, of mingling houses, was a form of rebellion. Minor, but rebellion indeed. She could understand why Snape felt the hesitation, unease. Another part of her found it ridiculous, What does he think? We're holding all Slytherins at wand-point?
"I like the challenge Professor," replied the dark haired italian with smug ease, flashing Snape an award winning evil grin.
Snape gave a surreptitious nod, if Hermione would guess, he found himself at a loss of words. "What potion will you make?" snarled Snape once more, eyes boring in Harry's.
Harry kept a neutral face, as he spoke with required politeness "The Calming draught, Profesor Snape."
They had three levels of Potions, the draught being the hardest to a simpler pepper-up. An O or EE could be achieved on the first two, and an A on the last one. Or so Nott and Hermione predicted using empirical statistical data.
The pair -easily the nerdiest of the bunch- were more than happy to use more complicated Arithmetics than they needed to make the groups and decide which group would make what potion. There was no minimum % of Ts or OOs, but only a single student in the past had scored an OO+, for making a better potion than their peers. In the lion's den; only Hermione scored EEs or Os. Parvati scored EEs, the rest scraped by with As or less. Parvati was paired with the only half-blood Slytherin, Tracy Davis. The rest had had some form of private classes and could hold their own. Except Crabbe and Goyle. That was the hugest fucking anomaly. To satisfy Snape's ego, they'd relented a single group had to fail. Or he would fail everyone for trying to "trick" him into giving the Gryffs a fair score. Easily-Reluctantly- Crabbe, Goyle & Weasley were sacrificed.
Snape clicked his tongue, likely an insult in tow, but couldn't throw it as it meant Zabini would be victimised too. How could he dare say a word against his precious snakes? Hermione allowed a quick grin before schooling her features.
1- Calming draught
2- Shrinking potion
3- Pepper-up potion
Snape was turned to the board, as he cast non-verbals for the chalk to write the three potions.
"Longbottom I'll jot you down for the pepper-up? Or would you rather make a boil cure, I'm sure if it's good enough I'll refrain from a T..." snarled their adult teacher.
"Actually Profesor, Longbottom and I will also make the draught," Snape turned back, robes following him close behind. He squinted between the two, Neville and Nott.
"Very well, I wish you luck , I would hate to see you grade fall below O for a frankly idiotic partner," he snided icily, fixing Nott an unimpressed half-scowl. Lesser men would have trembled and changed groups, Nott stood his ground.
"We will try our best sir," answered Nott evenly. Neville's knuckles went white gripping the wooden table. Hermione found herself wincing for him.
Snape nodded stoically again, and really took in all the students. He subconsciously took half a step back, Hermione's grin returned, let the revolution begin!
Snape slammed a scroll on his desk "Very well, fill in your groups here, your potion, brew it and hand it in within a month," he enunciated as he once more sashayed into his office, at the door, he added "Don't forget the antidotes, any potion without an antidote will not get higher than E" as he slammed his office shut.
The students looked around, to their friends and housemates in worried glances. It was Draco who walked up to the scroll and jot down something, he then passed it among tables. Hermione peered down at it
He is still watching us, ACT NORMAL, brew, we will talk later
Hermione smiled at that. It was highly possible Snape had a one way mirror, or a concealed wall or any number of hundred other possibilities joining his classroom to his private quarters.
The students gathered ingredients and slowly began brewing. The usual chatter was significantly reduced as interhouse friendship was severely hindered, especially between their particular houses. Infact, Draco was the first snake Hermione had spoken more than three words with. The tension was palpable. Made heavier by the dark atmosphere of the dungeons style classroom.
Do you think we can talk or... she began writing
Draco shook his head. Putain she wrote back, he smirked. His eyes lit up
He took his quill and wrote just below her
What if we gave every-
-one a Scroll and charmed it?! She jutted in between
He rolled his eyes but nodded. With a small whisper he had replicated their scroll and passed it between Nott and Longbottom, working just opposite them on the same work table.
Nott eyes it critically for a second before he too snarled his lips,
Copy and pass on? They'd all known the charm to magically copy notes
I'm surprised you knew this charm Granger
She stuck out her tongue, and continued plucking lavenders petals.
Please- I've been passing notes since first year
No she hasn't
What's this?
Hello children
And several messages scribbled on at once.
STOP! DM and HG have charmed this note so we can all communicate without you-know-who realising.
You-y who?
Snape! Vincent! -DM
Yes, please leave your initials and only write if you really must. And at least pretend to be working so HE doesn't realise -HG
Wicked Mione!
Ronald Initials!
This is a waste of time -BZ
Agreed -DG
First and foremost : burn the paper before class ends
Sorry to interrupt, wouldn't it be wiser to keep the scroll and re-use it for future classes-TD
…
Respond in Y/N -HG
A mix of Y & Ns filled the sheet. Safety was a principal concern.
Let's burn it for now, Granger and I will find some extra charms to ke-
Snape was shocked, he would've thought cacophony or the students would at least chatter now that he was out. His charm must have expired. Inspired by muggles, he'd charmed the grey cement wall to keep an eye on his class, with an amplified sound system. He brusquely opened the door. The wooden door slammed on the wall causing the students closest to jump in startlement, the rest however were bent over their texts studiously, preparing their ingredients. His godson was writing something, he stopped and flashed Severus a quick grin before resuming.
Snape walked to his desk at the front of the classroom and fixed the students in a frown. They continued to work in silence, Granger as usual took extensive notes. He heard some murmuring at their table and turned his head towards their table, eyes pretending to read some Potion first year papers.
"Mumbling mumbling antidote?" it was his godson, he'd seen Potter and Draco have a few one offs, he' thought nothing of it. Why and how had he agreed to suddenly work with Potters insufferable sidekick?
"Focus mumble mumble Draught" she replied just as bossily,
"We mumble mumble Pepper-up" he answered back
Her eyes lit up as she jumped a little and pulled out her quill for a hasty note. Severus had to credit his clever god-son, the antidote for the pepper-up was the calming draught with a few select ingredients from the sleeping draught. It was essentially in the syllabus, just double the work needed to brew both potions in the time they would usually get to brew one, but that's very well why they were in teams.
"Draco mumble mumble trick"
Draco fixed her a moment before nodding filled his eyes. Snape rushed to his desk and began actually grading homework. Focused on 'teaching', hating Potter and quietly investigating the mess of a thing the tournament was, he'd clearly missed when Draco and young Miss Granger had become cozy.
An hour in, Snape couldn't handle the silence, apart from Granger and Draco's little work-related mumblings. He constantly felt like pulling his hair out. He dismissed them, allowing the extra classroom next door to those who needed and dismissed the lot.
He surveyed their worktables. Most groups were at various stages of part 1 of brewing the calming draught. His best students; Draco and Theodore, had already begun a second potion, likely the antidote. Blaise and Daphne had cut ingredients in preparation for the antidote. He reached for the sole lingering piece of paper and found the list. He scanned it ever with a frown, but curious.
Brown-Bulstrode : calming draught
Patil-Davis : calming draught
Potter-Zabini : calming draught
Longbottom-Nott : calming draught
Granger-Malfoy : pepper-up
Thomas-Greengrass : calming draught
Finegan-Parkinson : calming draught
Weasley, Crabbe & Goyle : pepper-up
What was the blond spawn and the swot playing at? Severus vowed to pay a closer look, he had after all promised Lucius to take care of his son. It was not at all out of curiosity. Draco was, by NO means him, he was merely a spoiled brat who likely got off Granger. Making some political statement, or get to his Father in some way.
A few weeks later Severus found the time to strike; so to say.
After another woefully silent class; with no cauldrons exploding or Potter losing his shit, or really saying anything out of line, to entertain. Had the BWL inhaled some acid, gone loopy? Where was his fierce temper landing him in detentions? And quite frankly disgusted by how often he pictured Ms. Patil naked. After nearly five months of prim behaviour, and no reaction from Potter, he found himself tired of their one-sided banter. He asked his precious god-son to stay back.
"Is this about summer classes Professor? Has Father sent you a letter?"
NO! No, "Indeed Draco, I'm beginning to make my timetable and wanted to confirm a weekly, if not bi-weekly class,"
The blond smiled genuinely "Thank-you so much Professor, we all really appreciate it" as he began retreating to the door.
Say it, say it. Severus got his opening when Draco turned back "And Professor, thank-you for your yuletide gift,"
"Of-course, Draco, how is the group work getting along?"
"Well sir,"
"I saw you chose N.3?"
Draco controlled his grin, he didn't realize his godfather had the inuine ability to state the obvious!
"We figured the trick professor, the antidote to calming draught is the pepper-up, but technically, the pepper-up's correct antidote requires a mix of calming and sleeping draught, so it'll be harder work,"
Salazar's hairy balls! That had totally escaped Severus, he'd added the antidote...just because he could.
"I see, y-you are aquainting yourself with Ms. Granger?"
"Yes sir," replied the blond godson vaguely.
Severus stared at him, urging him to continue, but he did not.
"Is this in any case as a result of the rumours of her heritage?" Oh yes, his prime detective skills had landed him on that rumour.
Draco simply looked at the floor.
"Draco, you must understand the rumours hold no truth, she is, in no way related to the Auror Shackelbolt."
"I understand,"
"Draco, you'll have to elaborate,"
"Sir she's not bad to look at, and not with a hippogriffs anus sized brain other Gryffindors have,"
Why was Draco twisting words, what was he trying to say? Did he..? Fancy Granger, Merlin what were the chances!
"These things rarely end well-tread carefully Draco,"
"I will Professor, thank-you for your counsel,"
Draco left his classroom hurriedly. For the first time, Snape realized he was more out of the loop than he would've liked. He conjured an invisibility charm and followed his godson.
Only a few paces and he heard the annoying know-it-alls voice.
"Not bad to look at?" she taunted, raising a brown brow.
"Merlins left tit..you heard it all?" exclaimed his god-son
"You left the door ajar crackhead…"
"Well, what did you think of the hippogriff comment?"
She giggled, shoving him playfully "I'd protest but you're half right anyways, Lavender's being a right pain in the fanny,"
Severus nearly fanned himself at the vulgar choice of words his best no, general goody-two shoes student threw out,
"What'd the bint do now?"
"It's not just her, P-"
"Sshhh-" Draco stopped suddenly and pulled her in an empty classroom,
"Draco!" she mock-reprimanded
"You know how I get post-Potions…" he sniggered
She giggled, "I know, that's why I waited-up dunderhead" she said, licking her lips.
The door slammed shut, and locked before Severus could enter. But he had heard and seen enough, he heard Granger giggle more, and his heart skipped a beat- a moan?
Severus took a theatrical step back from the door. His precious precious godson? And Hermione bloody Granger? His mind-short circuited as he stormed back to his dungeons. Lust-filled boys. No wonder his house decided to play nice for the lions, for the sake of a puberty induced Draco. Still! Granger? Severus reprimanded himself on missing the tell-tale signs. He saw it often enough in sixth and seventh years..but Merlin! Fourth years?
Were it any other teacher they would've interfered or acted. Lest the 'bully' of Slytherin corrupt the innocent Gryffindor princess, Snape let them race down their own dooms.
/
The guise of their friendship tricked the powerful Legimens, they were in fact just snacking imported dark-chocolate and orange pastries Narcissa had sent him. It was the only form of sweet Hermione ate - her parents being dentists and all.
"Is Potter coming later?" Draco asked her, comfortably settled on a chair, legs sprawled on the desk ahead of him.
Hermione glanced at her watch "In 5 I reckon,"
"So I finally get to join in these secret lessons?"
"Please, you know very well what we do,"
He raised an eye-brow "Potter told you?"
"Saw more than heard if that's what you meant,"
"Sneaky,"
Unluckily for Hermione and Harry, Parvati and Draco were natural Occlumens, so would only join their lessons once the golden trio - two-thirds of it - had covered the basics.
"Malfoy you need to create a fake scenario rather than shut me out,"
"And why is that Potter?"
"He's right Malfoy, it's more effective." butt in Hermione
"You actually fool the attacker," added Parvati
"Yes, I got that Patil"
She rolled her eyes "Wanker" she muttered,
Harry entered Draco's mind once more Hermione being his keyword
At first he only saw a pure white flash, Draco's block. Harry began withdrawing, when the setting turned dark, after the sudden light it looked pitched dark. He saw Draco holding hands with Hermione, laughing as they walked in some nondescript school hallway. He was re-creating the scene Snape had witnessed, Suddenly they turned through a door. This time Draco was aroused and she was kissing him. They both shuffled out of their clothes and he dropped Hermione in the large poster bed. The plush richness indicated it might be his room. At the sound of her moaning Harry pulled out.
"Well, you stayed longer than I'd anticipated Potter," grinned Draco. Harry made a puke face
"That was low Malfoy" grumbled the embarrassed fourth champion,
"Tit for tat, Potter,"
Harry considered him a moment before he flashed him a tentative smile.
"Well?" asked Draco
"Not bad for the first time, there's inconsistencies, you start at school, end up in what I assume is your bedroom?"
Draco nodded
"Do me," said Harry
"Umm Potter, hate to break it to you-"
"Dick, enter my mind"
Harry showed him an innocent memory of snogging Parvati in Hogwarts grounds, behind the greenhouse.
"I know you enough to know it was made-up."
Not a single member of the student body, tri-wizard tournament and all that shite, had ever seen more than a chaste kiss on the cheeks from Godric's newest raven haired couple.
"See the emotions? The scare of someone finding us, the thrill of touching? You need more emotional engagement to your memories, often several jumbled emotions," Draco considered Harry's advice, as he continued speaking "And the closer the construct is to reality, the better,"
"Like that's happened before, but not in that setting, on that day?" questioned the blond.
"Exactly, maybe you find some memory with another bint, and stick her face on it," chuckled Harry
"That's perverted Harry, even for you," Although Draco did join in the Boy-who-lived laugh.