What the Snitch and Pitch Decide
Talon McGreggor
Chp 4-- "However, problems will arise," said the Pitch to the Snitch
He'd been acting strangely all through class. Usually the Slytherins were full of snide comments, especially during Care of Magical Creatures. But today Draco Malfoy remained quiet.
"That was strange," Harry said nonchalantly as they walked down the lawn back to the castle.
"Yah." Ron's reply. Hermione nodded. Something seemed to be on his mind. He looked troubled. And there were faint dark smudges under his eyes.
'You were looking that closely?!?'
No! she screamed back to that voice.
'Yes.'
Yes. she agreed, albeit reluctantly. The potions room slowly came into view.
'Where did the walk go?'
The cold of the classroom sent shivers up her arms. The musty smell affronted her senses after so much time in the great outdoors. She followed Harry and Ron past the rows of desks to the back. They gave into idle chatter in the wait for Snape to enter the room.
"And that dive when he went for the snitch…--" Harry's voice; reliving the Cannon's game.
'Every other player does it, Mudblood. Everyone does it!'
'Why is his voice in my head?' She shook it as if to get rid of any further offending Malfoy thoughts. But they persisted.
'Every eye out there was on me because of you.'
'Ugh. Go away.' Tingling sensations of heat crept up her neck. Her palms began to sweat. 'I shouldn't begin to feel guilty for doing my job! Why does he care if every eye's on him? Any other day he'd love it.' She fought the feeling vehemently.
However it didn't help matters to see Draco walk into the room. His usual saunter and 'I'm better than you' attitude were still not back. He didn't smile or make crude, sick jokes with the rest of the Slytherin jerks. In fact, he looked down right surly. His eyes were downcast and he looked about to sneer any time now. What was up?
Malfoy took a seat next to Pansy just in time. A rather snarky Snape strode purposefully into the room. "Exhibit A…" The class' attention followed his hand to the front table where magically appeared a large white cat. It seemed like a normal feline, but one eye was red, and green foam was pouring from its mouth. It was in a relaxed immobile state on the table. A few students laughed. Snape looked at them. Their laughs were muffled quickly.
"Who can tell me what is wrong with this cat?"
They knew better than to laugh a second time. Snape frowned and paced a bit faster at their ignorance. The bottom of his robes whipped around his ankles in a fury.
"This cat has been subject to a potion…"
"We don't study potions on animals," Draco muttered.
"Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy. I didn't quite catch that." The Potions Master must've been in a terrible mood. He turned on his heel and sent the blonde boy a scathing glare. Draco rolled his eyes and continued glaring at the desk. Snape continued, "I hardly think your words have anything to do with this lesson, Malfoy. And next time do not bring your petty problems in with you. We don't need your lip."
Ron snickered slightly. Hermione cast him a strange look.
"Exhibit B…" Again they followed his hand to the table. This time a broken brown bottle appeared. "And C…" Now, a silver spoon. The tip was rusty and colored with a blood red liquid. "A two foot essay will be due next class. You will tell me what happened to the cat and how each exhibit contributed to the problem."
Pens scratched on quills.
"D'you know what's wrong, 'Mione?"
She whispered quickly, "Yes, Ron, I do."
"Well then why didn't you say anything?"
"Because it wouldn't have mattered."
"Like bloody hell!" His voice rose at the prospect of writing twenty four inches worth of essay.
"Shhh!" Hermione glared daggers. The last thing she needed was Snape's foul attention on them.
"Miss Granger!" She looked to the front of the room. He wasn't there. Something in the corner of her eye. Snape was standing beside their table, baring down on them. "I suggest next time you help your incompetent friends outside the classroom. Ten points from Gryffindor!"
As he moved away from their table Hermione caught Draco giving his usual smirk.
'I can't believe I felt guilty!"
But the smirk didn't last long, and Hermione noticed that too. Despite herself, she continually checked on him every five minutes.
"'Mione!"
She quickly snapped back to reality. Her hand was raised, poised over their perfectly simmering cauldron.
"Watch what you're doing!" Harry reprimanded. "You nearly botched the whole job!"
Hermioned flushed pink. "Sorry." She accurately added the correct amount of chopped pickled toad's liver to their rather complex healing potion.
A moment later…
BAM!
"HERMIONE!" She waved the fumes out of her face. They stunk like rotten eggs. And dog turds. Gross!
"I'm sorry, 'arry!"
"Tell that to Snape!" he choked.
Snape stood behind her. "Yes, Miss Granger, pray tell the whole story. You'll have more than ample time during your week's detention with me. Tonight! 8:00!"
Hermione slammed her head on the table, now clear of smoke. Why did she have to screw up the potion on Snape's worst day?
By the end of the hour, however, slightly less than half the class had a week's detention. She wasn't the only one who screwed up among the back-talkers and cheaters. The Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms would be slightly less crowded this week.
"Gee, I'm sorry, 'Mione," Ron began on their walk to lunch. Hermione gave him a questioning look. He continued, "You have to serve detention with Malfoy."
"What?"
"You didn't notice?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Well I guess I couldn't after we had to start over the entire potion!"
"It was the highlight of the class!" Ron's spirits were unaffected by his friend's tart reply. "He added bat's blood when it called for essence of dragon's heart! Can't believe you didn't smell it!"
"Like vinegar and gasoline," smiled Harry.
Hermione rolled her eyes. A week's detention with Malfoy. And half the rest of her potions class. What fun she would have.
***
Draco's mood did not improve at dinner that night. Not only would he be serving a week's detention from his own head of house!, but Hermione's voice would not leave his thoughts. The prat Mudblood teased and taunted him every time he turned a corner. Accusing him. With each disgusted face that met him walking down the halls, it accused him. And now he would be serving detention with her. Joy. Detention with the school know-it-all. He imagined the damn girl already completed Snape's essay. It seemed his problems kept mounting and mounting.
He scowled down at his buttered corn. It stared back, expressionless. Figures.
***
Lavender, Parvati, Millicent, Pansy, Draco, Dean, Seamus, Crabbe, Goyle, and Hermione stood silently in front of Snape's desk. It was 8:01. Finally, he looked up from grading homework and regarded the students like they'd just come in.
"I have varying tasks for the lot of you. The punishment shall fit the crime." His piercing black eyes landed on Lavender and Parvati. "The girls…" He glanced at Millicent and Pansy, "All the girls are to report to Filch, whose careful eye will oversee the polishing of the Great Hall's floor. He has informed me there will be no talking."
Hermione thought this was fine. She didn't have any trouble keeping quiet.
"Thomas, Finnigan, Crabbe, and Goyle will accompany Hagrid to the forest. He will have tasks each night."
"And what am I to do, Professor?" All were amazed Malfoy had the gall to think himself in high favor with Snape enough to speak out of turn.
"You, Mr. Malfoy," his name came out a blatant sneer, "will be brewing potions for the week until you learn to do it right. You are dismissed."
The males and females split respectively to their destinations. Dean and Seamus had matching unsure looks. Hermione gave them a reassuring glance that Hagrid would take care of them.
"Just one moment!" Hermione stopped in the doorway. Snape's voice cracked the air like a whip. "Granger, you're to remain with me as well. In case you haven't noticed, you and Mr. Malfoy have the similar disability in the handling of ingredients."
Hermione turned back into the room. What was she? Not female? He'd said all girls…But those were the ways of Professor Snape.
"Follow me, my two incompetents," he swiftly left the room in a swirl of cloak. They traversed with due speed. "You will be brewing a different potion each night in this room…--" Snape unlocked a door to an assumably unused classroom. It had been transformed into a miniature potions laboratory. "You may leave after you bring your successful potion to me." He all but pushed them into the room and let the door fall shut.
Draco and Hermione stood facing each other. Malfoy sneered. Hermione simply looked disgusted. She could easily produce potions each night. Whether she could survive with Malfoy was an entirely different matter.
((A/N: Apologies if this seemed a bit short. I know it only had three scenes. And probably its share of typos. But I was determined to finish it! And I did! Well, the chapter anyway…. What Snape said, "Exhibit A…" and a large white cat appearing was a huge joke between me and my sister. So credits to her for the idea when I was in desperate need of one. Thanks Ju! Hmmm…I think that's all to say for now. Can you believe it? A chapter without quidditch! Some may find it amusing that I had trouble writing the word "snarky" without my word processor shutting down. I eventually found a way to do it. Please review! More's a'comin'!
`Talon))
