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Silence

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It has been three days that Harry when on the errand. During these three days, almost entire Gryffindor, no, the entire Hogwarts students noticed the sudden change of personality in certain redhead. He didn¡¯t talk to anyone anymore. And when he did, it was either wrong-mouthed or very sarcastic. He didn¡¯t practice Quidditch anymore nor play his favorite game of Wizard¡¯s Chess.

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People who cared about Ron were very worried, but there was nothing they could do. They talked to Hermione to find out what was wrong with him, since she was his best friend, but she knew exactly what was wrong with him. And she knew that she couldn¡¯t do anything about it, because she was a part of the problem. She was worried that if she tried to do anything now, he might¡¦ explode...

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If there was a one good thing that happened during those three days, it was the fact that Malfoy wasn¡¯t around to piss Ron off. Gryffindors heard some Slytherins say that Malfoy rolled down the staircase while it was changing its course.

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It was Monday and Harry wasn¡¯t back yet. Nevertheless, his friends still had to attend the classes.

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Double Potions was their last subject of the day, of course, with Slytherin. Professor Snape was about to start his lesson when Draco Malfoy entered the dungeon.

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¡°I¡¯m sorry, Professor. I just came from the Hospital Wing.¡± Draco spoke in soft and weary voice.

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¡°I understand, Mr. Malfoy. Now, take your sit.¡±

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If it were students from Gryffindor or any other houses, Snape surely would have taken at least 5 points from their houses. And if a student talked back to him about the unfairness that would cost them another 5 points. But it was a Slytherin, and Draco Malfoy of all people, so everything was excused.

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However, the truth was that Snape¡¯s potion classes were getting easier to bear. Snape hardly gave out any unfair detentions, unless he was in extremely bad mood, that is.

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¡°Today we¡¯ll make Stunning Potion. When this potion is used in strong degree it could even kill. However, we aren¡¯t going to make it that strong. For I don¡¯t want any accidents,¡± Snape glared at Neville, ¡°happening in my classroom. Now, take Notes. The ingredients are five drops of Mandrake¡¯s essence, nine pieces of roots of Devil¡¯s Snare...¡±

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¡°Professor Snape.¡±

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¡°Yes, Miss Granger.¡± Snape answered without even turning around from the black board he was directing his chalk on.

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¡°I thought Mandrakes were supposed to undo the stunning process. How come we use it to make Stunning Potion?¡±

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¡°That is an excellent question, Miss Granger. Mandrake is indeed main ingredient in making potion to revive people from being stunned, however, its property do change, which is depended on what other ingredients are added. It this case, it is Devil¡¯s Snare that is doing the reversion. Five points to Gryffindor.¡±

Group of Gryffindor and some of Slytherin students stopped their quill to stare at their Professor, because he did something very strange to their opinion. He actually GAVE point to Gryffindor! But they had to push aside their awe, for the chalk on the board was moving very fast.

After a while of quills scratching scrolls, Goyle tickled Malfoy¡¯s hand with his quill.

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¡°What?¡± Malfoy whispered and turned his head.

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¡°Did you hear?¡± Goyle slowly spoke.

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¡°Hear about what?¡±

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¡°About Weasley.¡±

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¡°What about him?¡± Malfoy was getting impatient at the slowness of his companion.

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¡°He changed.¡±

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¡°Do I have to ask you before you speak each sentence? Just say everything in a paragraph!¡± Malfoy growled under his breath so that Snape can¡¯t hear it.

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¡°Okay. He¡¯s acting weirdly since Saturday. He doesn¡¯t hang out with his muggle friend Granger. He doesn¡¯t laugh anymore as he used to. Remember his annoying laugh that he always does? Well, this is one good change. And he doesn¡¯t look at Slytherin with disgust anymore. To be exact, he doesn¡¯t look at anything with any emotion. It seems like his emotion is stolen or something.¡±

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¡°Are you sure?¡±

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¡°Yeah, I mean entire school knows about it.¡±

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Draco was thinking about it for a while, but his thought was interrupted when Professor Snape called his name to be partnered with Ron Weasley. For some reason, the potions master of Hogwarts is known for pairing up such a non-idealistic team to work as a group.

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Usually when this kind of pairing happened, Ron showed his disapproval and displeasure in his attitude and expression. However he didn¡¯t react at all this time. He quietly gathered his things and moved across the classroom to take the empty seat beside Malfoy. All the students in the class glanced at them like a crowd watching a bomb that could go off at anytime. But nothing happened.

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¡°If you are done staring and Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley, why don¡¯t you get back to work?¡± Noticing the unusual quietness in his dungeon, Professor Snape told the students. With that comment, everyone set to work, and leaving Ron and Draco alone.

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Draco was rather surprised that Ron took the seat without any complaint and willingly. Normally, this kind of pairing meant war. Soon, Draco took his position and disclaimed.

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¡°Okay, Weasley. Since we have to work together; therefore I¡¯m in charge. I¡¯ll purify the Mandrake¡¯s essence, and you will cut the roots of Devil¡¯s Snare. Any objections?¡±

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Ron looked at Draco with such a cold air around him that could have driven any first graders running away in fear. And his eyes, which usually contained fire in it when he was looking at Draco, looked colder than any stone or ice.

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Draco shivered, involuntarily. It was so unexpected reaction to come from Ron. He¡¯d heard that Ron had been acting weirdly, but he didn¡¯t expect anything like this. It was like; some very cold person who has a mighty wall around him had taken a Polyjuice Potion to make him look like Ron Weasley.

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Ron seemed unaware of startled Draco. He merely nodded and grabbed some roots to cut, to prepare their potion. Draco decided not to tempt with Ron today.

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Both of them were working in silence for a while, and then Draco was trying to get something that was on Ron¡¯s table. He reached for it, and during the process of doing so, his hand lightly brushed Ron¡¯s hand. Draco looked at Ron. Ron was very concentrated in his work that he didn¡¯t even care who just touched his hand. Draco took the chance to examine the redhead.

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Ron was tall and well built. His hair was just as fiery as before, but now their bore icy aspect within each strand. His face wasn¡¯t pale, but fair. Most of freckles disappeared as he grew older, but some remained. And his brown eyes seemed to have bluish tint in them, which he didn¡¯t notice before. He wasn¡¯t a child anymore. Well, he acted like one just a few days ago, but not now. Draco decided that he liked this new Ron better than the old one.

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¡°Are you done with that Mandrake¡¯s essence?¡± Ron spoke, breaking Draco¡¯s thoughts.

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¡°Hmm? Oh, yes. Here.¡± Draco gave him the bottle of the Mandrake¡¯s essence. Although, he gathered it after filtering it several times, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. So who knows what went in there given that he was looking thoroughly at Ron. But did they ever care about their potions when they worked together? Never.

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Now, Professor Snape was walking in the aisle to check the students¡¯ potions. Some were too thick, some were too watery, and some were not even the right color.

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¡°Miss Granger, I¡¯m very disappointed in you.¡± Snape told her in grave tone. Hermione was glad that he was in one of the good-day mood. At least, she won¡¯t get a detention.

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¡°And Mr. Longbottom, you should try harder to catch up in my class. You might not be able to pass O.W.L at this pace.¡± Professor told Neville who was Hermione¡¯s partner for that day, who gulped hard at that comment. Then Snape walked across the room to check on Ron and Draco¡¯s potion.

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¡°Hmm. It looks very nice and color and texture. Mr. Weasley, would you mind if I ask you to test the potion?¡± Ron once again just nodded, and took a sip of that yellowish potion. He stood very stiffly, just like when given a Full Body Bind, for about 20 seconds, and then potion wore out.

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¡°Excellent. This is the best potion of the day. Twenty points for both Slytherin and Gryffindor.¡± With that, the class was dismissed and every one rushed out of the dungeons. Ron was one of the first to get out of the room, and Draco was following closely behind. Hermione saw them and wanted to stop them before anything worse could happen but a hand gently tugging on her robe stopped her.

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¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hermione. I should have asked you before I put those roots in to the cauldron.¡± Neville told Hermione, very apologetically.

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¡°Oh, it¡¯s okay, Neville. You don¡¯t have to worry about it. Everybody make mistakes.¡± Then she quickly scanned her hallway, but they were nowhere to be seen.

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¡°But, Hermione, you don¡¯t make mistakes.¡± Hermione gently sighed at that comment.

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¡°I do too, Neville. I¡¯m only human. Believe me, I make mistakes...¡± And those are big ones at that too. Yes, big indeed.

Oh, where are you Harry? Hurry back...

We need you...

I need you...