::::::-------------
Chapter Five: First After Lunch
::::::-------------
"Oh, God," groaned Hermione at breakfast on Monday morning. "Do you know what we've got today?"
"What, 'Mione?" asked Ron through a mouthful of toast.
"Double Potions first thing, with guess who?"
"The Slytherins," moaned Harry and Ron simultaneously.
"Correct. After Break, we're teaching a class of First Years and History of Magic. First after Lunch we're teaching a class of Sixth Years-" Hermione paused, "- including half the Slytherins."
"Damn it!" cried Ron. "Why are we always stuck with the Slytherins? I mean, it's like someone stuck a 'We Love Slytherins' sign on us! All the time, Gryffindor and Slytherin, Potions with Slytherin, going to the toilet with FLIPPING Slytherin!"
At that point, Hermione managed to silence Ron's rant with a sharp kick to the shins. "Be quiet," she said. "There's nothing we can do about it."
"Yeah, Ron," reasoned Harry, "they probably know all these hexes already."
Ron finished his toast in a silent fume, occasionally emitting a grunt of fury. Harry and Hermione were glad when their friend finally slammed down his goblet and stormed out of the Great Hall.
*****
" . . . Don't worry, Draco," said the letter. "Just do what the instructions say and it'll be all right. DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE PLAN. If you're caught, act like you're in a trance. Mudbloods teaching Purebloods about magic! This takes the cake as the most outrageous thing Dumbledore's done yet. And of course Fudge won't hear a word against him!
Good Luck
Lucius Malfoy"
Draco folded the letter and put it in his pocket. His face was paler than normal. It would be sweet to punish Granger, he thought, but this? Perhaps the Dark Lord was losing his touch . . . A far greater punishment would be to curse Potter, make him do something incriminating . . .
The Malfoy heir strode up the steps to the Great Hall. He had spent all of Lunch contemplating the letter and his stomach rumbled angrily as he passed the laden table, but he could not afford to be late. He could not miss his chance.
At last Draco found himself outside the classroom. A sneer curled his lips as he spotted Weasley gazing longingly at Granger. Potter was, as usual, in the front. He unlocked the classroom door with a wave of his wand and the class entered.
"Enjoy it while you can, Potter," muttered Draco, "because your Mudblood friend could be the death of you!" An insane snigger fell from him, causing some people to stare.
*****
The class passed off peacefully enough. Harry taught a Shield Charm, and everyone had it mastered by the end of class. Hermione set homework ('A foot-long essay on the importance of self-defence') while Ron did a final test of everyone's Shields. Harry was already suspicious. Neville's class hadn't listened at all, and they were First Years. Malfoy hadn't said a word all class. In fact, he was actually writing down his homework. Harry felt a rush of pride. 'Malfoy is really sickened!' he thought happily.
Hermione volunteered to lock up while Harry and Ron went on to Transfiguration. Draco was lurking in the shadow of a coat of armour as the girl hurried along the corridor. He stepped out just as she was passing. "Good class, Granger," he smirked. "You're not a bad teacher - for a Mudblood."
Hermione was shocked. "How dare you call me that!" she cried.
"What are you talking about?" he asked in mock offence. "You called yourself that horrid name! Imperio!"
Hermione felt her mind clear as a familiar voice in her head said, "Say 'I'm a Mudblood', say it." There was no point resisting, she thought. "I'm a Mudblood."
"You see?" said Malfoy sweetly. "That wasn't so hard!" The voice then told her to hurry on to Transfiguration, so Hermione obliged. Draco clapped his hands. It was so easy! "Excellent," he said. "Herbology!"
Chapter Five: First After Lunch
::::::-------------
"Oh, God," groaned Hermione at breakfast on Monday morning. "Do you know what we've got today?"
"What, 'Mione?" asked Ron through a mouthful of toast.
"Double Potions first thing, with guess who?"
"The Slytherins," moaned Harry and Ron simultaneously.
"Correct. After Break, we're teaching a class of First Years and History of Magic. First after Lunch we're teaching a class of Sixth Years-" Hermione paused, "- including half the Slytherins."
"Damn it!" cried Ron. "Why are we always stuck with the Slytherins? I mean, it's like someone stuck a 'We Love Slytherins' sign on us! All the time, Gryffindor and Slytherin, Potions with Slytherin, going to the toilet with FLIPPING Slytherin!"
At that point, Hermione managed to silence Ron's rant with a sharp kick to the shins. "Be quiet," she said. "There's nothing we can do about it."
"Yeah, Ron," reasoned Harry, "they probably know all these hexes already."
Ron finished his toast in a silent fume, occasionally emitting a grunt of fury. Harry and Hermione were glad when their friend finally slammed down his goblet and stormed out of the Great Hall.
*****
" . . . Don't worry, Draco," said the letter. "Just do what the instructions say and it'll be all right. DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE PLAN. If you're caught, act like you're in a trance. Mudbloods teaching Purebloods about magic! This takes the cake as the most outrageous thing Dumbledore's done yet. And of course Fudge won't hear a word against him!
Good Luck
Lucius Malfoy"
Draco folded the letter and put it in his pocket. His face was paler than normal. It would be sweet to punish Granger, he thought, but this? Perhaps the Dark Lord was losing his touch . . . A far greater punishment would be to curse Potter, make him do something incriminating . . .
The Malfoy heir strode up the steps to the Great Hall. He had spent all of Lunch contemplating the letter and his stomach rumbled angrily as he passed the laden table, but he could not afford to be late. He could not miss his chance.
At last Draco found himself outside the classroom. A sneer curled his lips as he spotted Weasley gazing longingly at Granger. Potter was, as usual, in the front. He unlocked the classroom door with a wave of his wand and the class entered.
"Enjoy it while you can, Potter," muttered Draco, "because your Mudblood friend could be the death of you!" An insane snigger fell from him, causing some people to stare.
*****
The class passed off peacefully enough. Harry taught a Shield Charm, and everyone had it mastered by the end of class. Hermione set homework ('A foot-long essay on the importance of self-defence') while Ron did a final test of everyone's Shields. Harry was already suspicious. Neville's class hadn't listened at all, and they were First Years. Malfoy hadn't said a word all class. In fact, he was actually writing down his homework. Harry felt a rush of pride. 'Malfoy is really sickened!' he thought happily.
Hermione volunteered to lock up while Harry and Ron went on to Transfiguration. Draco was lurking in the shadow of a coat of armour as the girl hurried along the corridor. He stepped out just as she was passing. "Good class, Granger," he smirked. "You're not a bad teacher - for a Mudblood."
Hermione was shocked. "How dare you call me that!" she cried.
"What are you talking about?" he asked in mock offence. "You called yourself that horrid name! Imperio!"
Hermione felt her mind clear as a familiar voice in her head said, "Say 'I'm a Mudblood', say it." There was no point resisting, she thought. "I'm a Mudblood."
"You see?" said Malfoy sweetly. "That wasn't so hard!" The voice then told her to hurry on to Transfiguration, so Hermione obliged. Draco clapped his hands. It was so easy! "Excellent," he said. "Herbology!"