Chapter 2

Mr Richard explained how organic chemistry was applied in manufacturing useful medicines and antibiotics. It was a powerful tool in the field of pharmacy. He stood before the board and wrote a molecular formula with the black marker he took from the table placed behind a considerable distance from the white board.

"Can any of you tell me what compound this molecular formula represents?" Mr Richard queried; pointing towards what he just wrote with the marker.

Hermione rubbed the back of her head to try and recall the name. As far she could remember, she had seen it in one of the books of organic chemistry. The problem was that she read a lot of books. At times, information would get jumbled in her brain. It was very difficult to recall such hard-core knowledge. While she was racking her brain very hard; Draco's hand already shot straight up in the air.

"Yes, " Mr Richard said; giving his full attention to Draco.

"C17H21NO4 generally represents a powerful drug called cocaine, " he replied; standing before his seat.

"Very good, " Mr Richard complimented; his eyes glowing with ardent adulation for his answer.

"What is your name? " Mr Richard asked; walking around the table.

"Draco Malfoy, " Draco answered; maintaining direct eye contact with Mr. Richard.

"Mr. Malfoy, Can you show us how this compound is derived?" Mr. Richard inquired, walking towards the array of seats of students.

Draco nodded and walked up to the white board. He took the black marker from Mr. Richard before his right hand lingered on the big milky slate. His hand stilled for some fleeting seconds before writing down some very complicated chemical equation which Hermione recognized as the biosynthesis of the tropane ring starting with L-Glutamine; something that was derived to L-ornithine plants.

Hermione wondered how any normal person could remember to balance such complex chemical equations unless they worked on them on a daily basis. Draco was always good at math and chemistry. But the fact that he also knew such formulas to powerful sedatives prickled the back of her mind. She would surely get back at him for the sarcastic words he spat out at her earlier in the morning. She was waiting on pins and needles for this class to end.

"Well done, Draco, " Mr Richard praised; placing a hand on Draco's back in clear appreciation.

"You do have an incredible knack in chemistry," he went on; taking the marker from Draco's hand.

"You can get back to your seat, " he said; motioning towards Draco's seat.

" I want you guys to write a brief report on the importance of organic chemistry in Pharmacy, " he declared.

"You will get three weeks for it, " he said; clearing his throat.

He went on to explain how exothermic and endothermic reactions were crucial in biosynthesis. Hermione took notes to study all of these so that she could answer them like she had always done before. She felt she had gotten rusty due to the holidays. It was something she took pride in.

After fifty minutes, the bell rang signaling the end of their class. All the students got up from their seats. Hermione's eyes darted around until they fell on the tall guy with silver wavy hair walking out of the classroom with his black bag slung over his shoulder.

Hermione managed to reach Draco with her bag just after he exited the classroom. She stood a few steps away from him.

"You seem to know a lot about powerful drugs like cocaine, Malfoy, " Hermione remarked; raising both her eyebrows at him.

"What do you mean, Granger?" Draco hissed back.

"It is kind of weird that you remember such complex chemical equations."

"Are you involved in some illegal business of cooking meth by any chance? " Hermione questioned with the sole intention of cracking jokes at Draco's expense of black humor. She had no idea that he would be severely offended.

"Granger, Don't you have trigonometry class to catch ? " Draco asked; his fists clenching and unclenching in a fiery surge of indignation.

"Mind your own business before you poke your nose into others, " he warned; his nostrils flaring at this point.

"Get the hell away from here before I do something that both of us will regret, " he growled; pointing a threatening finger in Hermione's direction.

Hermione was not intimidated by his threats. She held her chin high and flipped her pony tail over her shoulder before replying

"I certainly will," she huffed.

"I have no interest in giving myself a migraine by looking at your arrogant infuriating face, " she responded before turning her back on him and taking big strides towards her trigonometry class.