A/N: Well ... after a long, long time of not writing, I've decided to give it a go. I know, I know, I've probably lost all of my faithful readers, if I had any ... but I'm trying to get back on track, and hopefully this chapter will help, even though I'm not really sure where to go from here ... I need ideas! IDEAS!



*Obsessions*

Chapter 4 ~ Mysterious Man

"Mr Malfoy...switch seats with Miss Granger," the slimy git tells me. "Malfoy, you'll go with Potter. Granger, you'll go with Bulstrode."

I sigh with relief at the fact that I won't have to work on the antidote with Malfoy. Researcher or not, I know that it'd be too much to work on an antidote with him. I, of course, would prefer Malfoy to Bulstrode any day, but as my father always told me, if you want something badly, and you long for it, preparation is always necessary, as well as a very well thought-out plan.

I know that by ignoring him the second I put a foot into these disgusting and cold dungeons, I gave him the satisfaction he needed. After all, I know I see him eyeing me as well. As Snape tells me that I have to go work with Bulstrode, a manage an encouraging smile at Harry, gather my books, and cross over to Malfoy.

Now, after all, the plan is to ignore him. Try to let him know that he's not in my mind. But as we cross paths, me making my way towards that brute Bulstrode, and him making his way over to Harry, I can't help but throw my glance at him. But the reaction of his was completed unexpected.

A sweet smile is implanted on his face, and although the lips forming that curved shape are definitely his, the smile looks strange on him, and I knew why - smiling at someone, a Gryffindor and a 'Mudblood' no less, wasn't something that Malfoy did every day. Eyes wide, I feel as though I've frozen in my tracks, and then comes the brushing of his arm against mine. I can feel my skin tingling as his right arm brushes upon my right arm as he walks past me. This is not the way it's supposed to happen, I think to myself, as I finally make it towards the cauldron Bulstrode and I are to be sharing.

"Hey Mudblood," Bulstrode hisses at me, as I turn my glance not towards Malfoy again, but to the board at the front, where Snape was writing the instructions with several flicks of his wand. Ignoring Bulstrode always came naturally, especially since the second year when one of her cat hairs made me turn into a cat for several days.

"I said, hey Mudblood," she hisses again, stretching out the words 'hey Mudblood'. Again, I ignore her. Instead, I take out a few beetles from their jar, and take out a knife - beetle parts are necessary in this antidote, I tell myself as a mental note.

"I said -- " Bulstrode begins. But I'm too quick for her. Snapping my head towards her, I throw her a dirty glance and whisper, "I always knew that your intelligence was limited, but I wasn't aware that the only two words that you're capable of speaking are the words I least want to hear. So, if you don't mind, I'm going to work on this antidote, and I hope that meanwhile you will keep your mouth shut."

This time, Bulstrode's eyes were wide. I wasn't sure if it was because she was shocked of my comeback, or if it was because she didn't understand a word of what I said, but either way I didn't care, and at least she wasn't saying anything more. I knew the beetle were reduced to a very fine powder, but as the flame underneath the cauldron began to intensify, I couldn't help but think of Malfoy's actions. A smile, and a casual brush of the arm. What on earth was he playing at? Yes, researching does have its twist and turns, but I didn't expect a completely different character as soon as I began my inspection.

Seeing Snape stand up from his desk for his regular inspection, I quickly throw the powder from the beetles into the cauldron, letting it sit with the other ingredients. He passes by without a word, although judging by his pursed lips, I could tell that several insults with threatening to fly out of his mouth. He walks on to Harry and Malfoy, and immediately I feel sympathetic towards Harry. Always having to endure Snape's torture, and Ron always speculating that although Dumbledore trusts him, he believes Snape is still a Death Eater.

Shaking my head softly, I continue to observe the cauldron which would soon become an antidote, while turning my head slightly to hear the insults that Snape was saying to Harry.

"My, my, my, Mr Potter, I would have expected better work on your part," Snape said with a sly voice, observing the cauldron. "And letting Malfoy do all the work? I thought someone in Gryffindor would be only too brave to try an attempt to make an antidote himself!"

I snap my head towards the cauldron that Harry and Malfoy are working at, and I see that while Harry is crushing his own beetles, Malfoy was sitting there and yawning. Letting Malfoy do all the work? A large laugh was threatening to come out of my mouth, followed by an insult to Malfoy, but I knew that it would probably earn me an insult and probably a detention in the presence of Snape.

Sighing, I look towards my watch, seeing there's over twenty-five minutes to go. I feel like groaning with impatience, but I know that would probably earn me another insult, and maybe even a detention if Snape was in a bad mood. Instead, I throw my head towards Bulstrode and mutter, "Are you just going to sit there little dimwitted like you usually are, or are you actually going to help?" Startled, she murmurs something underneath her breath before providing a liquid for the potion.

Hopefully, this will all be over in a minute, I tell myself. Of course, it ends up dragging on for what seems to be an hour, before Snape finally says, "Everyone, turn towards your antidotes. If performed successfully, you will see a light silver mist floating from it. If you pathetic excuse for potion brewers actually managed to have a light silver mist floating from the cauldron, please fill up a vial with it, and I will test it soon."

Smiling with happiness that I managed to make the antidote (with Bulstrode's little assistance), I fill up a vial before looking around. Crabbe was working with Ron, and together they managed to make something that had yellow steam billowing from their cauldron. Shaking my head with some disappointment, I see that Harry and Malfoy managed to have a dark grey mist rather than a silver one, but that Malfoy was still pouring some of the antidote into the vial.

Standing up, Bulstrode has the immediate impression that she should stand up as well. I hiss at her to sit down, preferring to go up there alone, and I had the vial over to Snape. He gives a few moments' glance at it, before labeling it with 'Granger and Bulstrode'. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Malfoy bringing up his own vial. Approaching ever closer, he looks over at me and manages yet another smile. Startled, I finally muster a smile in reply, although all the while I think, Who is this mysterious man? Who took over Malfoy and made him smile like that? When he smiles he actually looks ... a little friendly.

"Miss Granger, you may sit down," Snape reminds me, as Malfoy heads back to his seat. My cheeks stinging from some embarrassment, I make my way back towards my seat next to Milicent Bulstrode, and as soon as Snape is certain that I have sat down he says, "I want you to give a glossary on every ingredient used in this antidote, and its use in this antidote. Those who haven't copied down the list of ingredients can receive a large zero, which I will only be too happy to give." With a wave of his wand, the instructions vanished from the board, and she could hear Neville sighing and muttering about how he couldn't receive another zero.

"Class dismissed," Snape says through his tight lips. I gather my books yet again, this time determined not to look up at Malfoy as I approach Harry and Ron, who are complaining about the amount of homework they have. This time, it works -- out of the corner of my eye I see him staring at him, watching my every move, but I know I can resist. With a slight smile of amusement, I wave to Harry and Ron, although knowing that my research is far from complete. I will get to know Malfoy, and who he really is, in every possible way that I can.


A/N: Wow, I guess have a withdrawal from writing for so long, I managed to muster up a really long chapter! This is partially because this wasn't written in school, since school is now over, but I think it was also because I'm testing out my writing skills again ... I haven't written in a while, and I know their probably really crappy (my writing, that is), but I would still like to thank everyone who has written a review:

KAOS - I'm an err ... goat eating chicken? But, goats are so large and chickens are so ... small. But err ... yes. Thanks for the review!

HURRY AND CONTINUE IM DYING HERE!!! - Hopefully you're not dead yet, since I realize it's been months since I've written, but I hope this chapter will satisfy you!

ningyo megami - Aww, thank you!

Tina - Yup ... Hermione is Malfoy's angel ... I couldn't really think of another nickname, and I think it's better than Mudblood! Thanks!

CrazyCat - Thank you very much indeed!

Tolkienrocks - Aww, you love all my stories! I'm truly touched and do not worry, I will be updating my other fics shortly!

AND IF YOU WANT EVEN MORE....THEN YOU MUST....MUST....


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Chapter 5 will be up soon!!

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