Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.
Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar.
dragonsprincess: Well, to anyone but Draco (who feeds him) and Lucius (who scares him) Noctowl is a "bloody vicious bird" ... it's not just Theo. And I'm just about to start on GoF.
dstrbd child: You know, I'm not kidding/lying here, I am also ambidextrous. Admittedly, my left-handed writing is a lot less tidy, but that's just due to lack of practice. And I'm sorry the chapters aren't as long as you'd like, but that's just how they are.
Akuma-sama: Yay! Thank you *adds that to the list of "quotes to use", under Theo's name, for OotP*. See how meticulous my notes are? hehe.
Ever thought about how Draco managed his classes without his right arm? Well, here's your answer - as I said last chapter, he's ambidextrous. Oh, and someone asked for more Peeves, so here he is in this chapter.
Chapter 6 - Extra Credit
I was rudely awoken the next day, by sunlight streaming in through the suddenly opened curtains. I pulled the sheets up over my face, but then Madam Pomfrey's annoyingly shrill voice started calling, "Wake up, Mr Malfoy - rise and shine!"
I groaned, "Go 'way."
"You're going to miss Potions class if you don't get up right now." she warned.
That woke me up. "Did you have to open those curtains?" I protested, while wandering behind the screens and starting to get changed.
"Yes." she replied tetchily.
When I returned to the bed, it had been re-made and there was a tray of breakfast on it. Madam Pomfrey was writing something on a notepad and as soon as I had finished my breakfast, she ran a series of medi-check charms on me, most of which I didn't see the point in. Finally, she wrapped my arm up in bandages, and put it in a sling - I am not usually a hypochondriac, but this could be very useful. "Can I go now?" I asked irritably.
She gave me a glare, before sighing and nodding, "Yes, you can go. Just remember I want to check up on you after dinner today."
"You already told me that." I said, before grabbing my bag and making a hasty exit.
I arrived late for Potions, but Snape turned a blind eye.
Pansy fawned over me, in the annoying way that only she can manage, while Snape calmed the class, "Settle down, settle down." I smirked, secure in the knowledge that he'd never have done that if a Gryffindor had arrived late.
I quickly got out my cauldron and started setting up my ingredients at the same desk as Potter. The arrogant Gryffindor git had been getting away too easily without my presence for the last two days, so I planned to torture him. And Weasley, as well. I grinned viciously at the two, who were too busy already cutting up their potion ingredients to notice me until I decided for the indirectly annoying approach - turning to face the teacher, I asked, "Sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm -"
Without even looking up, Snape interrupted me, saying, "Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him."
"There's nothing wrong with your arm." Weasley growled at me.
I smirked, "Weasley, you heard Professor Snape, cut up these roots."
Muttering what I'm sure were obscenities, but I couldn't make it out, Weasley took the roots and started hacking at them with a knife.
"Professor." I called, glancing up to see that Snape was looking at me, before saying, "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir."
Snape stalked over to our table and glared over Weasley's shoulder, before saying, "Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley." Weasley tried to protest, but Snape easily scared him into complying.
"And, sir, I'll need this Shrivelfig skinned." I added, trying not to laugh.
"Potter, you can skin Malfoy's Shrivelfig." Snape said idly, before continuing on his way around the classroom.
Potter was less than pleased. He was livid. Now to make it worse. "Seen your pal Hagrid lately?" I asked.
"None of your business." Weasley snapped, trying to concentrate on the roots he now had to salvage.
"I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer. Father's not very happy about my injury -"
"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury." Weasley interrupted.
I chose to ignore him - he's not worth paying attention to, so I continued, "- he's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, you know. And a lasting injury like this, who knows if my arm'll ever be the same again?"
"So that's why you're putting it on. To try and get Hagrid sacked." Potter said angrily.
"Well ... partly, Potter. But there are other benefits, too." I paused long enough to glance at the ingredients on the table and choose the least desirable job to give Weasley, before adding, "Weasley, slice my caterpillars for me."
As I added the caterpillars that Weasley had reluctantly cut up for me, my potion turned a bright shade of green. I was just starting to grin triumphantly, when I heard Snape's voice, not far away, all-but-yelling, "Orange, Longbottom!" I immediately looked up to see what was going on, in time to see Snape show everyone just how neon-orange Longbottom's feeble attempt at a potion was. "Orange! Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours?" I started smirking - the poor boy was beginning to shake with fear, "Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed?" Longbottom's bottom lip was trembling like he was about to start crying, "Didn't I say plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice?" now his eyes were watering, and the pathetic look almost made me feel sorry for him - the important word in that sentence is almost. "What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?" as Snape finished his tirade, it looked like one good insult would finish Longbottom off and he'd run screaming for the hills. It was all I could do not to give that last insult, mostly because Snape mightn't like it if I stole his glory.
Of course, Hermione just had to show off, "Please sir, please, I could help Neville put it right -" she started.
Snape was having none of it, as he interrupted her, "I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger. Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."
I turned away from the spectacle, to continue work on my own potion - it was almost ready now. As I stirred in the last of the finely cut daisy roots, I heard one of the Gryffindors - the Irish boy - talking to Potter, "Have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning - they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted." I looked up, paying close attention to this - I wanted to know what Potter knew about Black.
"Where?" Potter and Weasley both asked.
The Gryffindor boy, whose name I don't remember, leaned forward conspiratorially, and I had to strain my ears to hear him, "Not too far from here. It was a Muggle who saw him. 'Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she 'phoned the telephone hotline. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone."
Weasley gave Potter a strange look, "Not far from here ..." he said darkly. Then he saw that I was watching, "What, Malfoy? Need something else skinning?"
Yes, your nose, Weasley, but I just couldn't be bothered with my arm in this state. "Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?" I asked, honestly trying to find out exactly how suicidal the idiot was.
"Yeah, that's right." he said, and I actually couldn't tell if he was kidding or not.
Now I just wanted to be annoying, and since I'm so good at it ... "Of course, if it was me, I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him." If I was a Gryffindor, that is.
"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" Weasley asked irritably.
"Don't you know, Potter?" I asked, deliberately pretending Weasley wasn't there, even though it was his question that I was answering.
"Know what?" Potter asked - I now had his complete attention, albeit he was probably trying to think of what object was best to hit me with now.
I laughed - I hadn't really thought he'd be kept in the dark about it - the Ministry must think precious Potter is too delicate to tell all the dark secrets to. "Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck. Want to leave it to the Dementors, do you? But if it was me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself." from a safe distance, by means of an Imperius curse on some expendable idiot - probably Goyle - but I would want revenge if anyone had done something like that to my family.
"What are you talking about?" Potter snarled, but even if I had been planning on answering him, I didn't get the chance, because Snape decided to start talking. He did test the potion on the toad, but it lived ... Granger lost house points for Gryffindor, even though Snape had no real proof that she'd helped Longbottom.
* * *
As I walked - no, dawdled - up to Transfiguration class, after lunch ... I had a medical excuse for being late, and I planned to make full use of it ... I was apprehended by a cursing and swearing Peeves, "What's little Malfoy doing out here, eh? Lost your way?" he cackled, obviously looking for someone to annoy.
"I know exactly where I'm going, thanks." I said, in the sarcastic tone that says 'I don't want to talk to you, you twit'.
Peeves spun upside-down and floated in my way, face-to-face with me, "Aww, you're not being very nice - I wanna play."
"Play with the Weasleys." I snapped, sidestepping him.
"No." Peeves said impudently, grabbing my bag and trying to lift me into the air by it. I reluctantly let him lift the bag, without me.
"Who pissed you off?" I asked.
Peeves pulled a face, "Loony Lupin."
"I know the feeling, now give me my bag back - it's got my botched Defence homework in it and I want to be able to annoy Lupin ... I'm sure you remember what I tried to do to Lockhart?" I said, lying through my teeth about the homework, which I hadn't been given in the first place.
Peeves suddenly grinned and tossed the bag at me. I caught it with some difficulty, considering I only had one working arm, "Have fun. Let me watch." Peeves cackled, before zooming off down the corridor, bouncing off walls as he went. That poltergeist was more trouble than he's worth, sometimes.
* * *
Transfiguration class. I arrived two minutes late, and lost ten points for it. McGonagall was glaring at my arm as I got out my book, parchment and quill. "Today, we will be taking notes on the legalities of the Animagus transformation." she said sternly, "Although you cannot attempt such advanced Transfiguration until your seventh year, the third year syllabus requires that you know some of the theory." she then began to dictate notes, which I wrote down fairly easily, left-handed.
She kept giving me odd looks, through the whole lesson.
At the end, she set us homework to research the laws surrounding the Animagus transformation, and a two-foot essay. I was just about to leave, when she called to me, "Mr Malfoy - may I speak to you for a moment?"
I turned around quickly, "I'm sorry I was late for class today, Professor ... Peeves -"
"I am not concerned with your tardiness, Mr Malfoy. You have already been disciplined for that. I am more concerned with you abnormal interest in today's lesson - you usually daydream in my class." she said.
"I always pay attention, Professor ... I just looked like it, for once." I said ... it was a bit impudent, yes, but it was the truth.
She glared at me for a moment, "And why did you decide to appear to show an interest?"
"I want to learn the Animagus transformation, eventually." I admitted, "I think it's cool." I kind of hoped she'd take that as a compliment that I thought she had a cool ability.
"I am surprised, Mr Malfoy. I hadn't thought you would be the type to want their Animagus."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"What I mean, Mr Malfoy, is that you cannot choose what animal you become. You must accept an animal that suits your inner nature."
"So your tabby cat means what?" I asked, grinning.
She glared at me, before actually smiling, "If you wish to take such an interest, I would be willing to give you some extra tutoring in that direction. You would still have to wait until your seventh year to begin the actual transformation, but I could help you learn more about it." Wow ... I had just made my teacher-nemesis take an interest in teaching me without shouting ... that was a neat trick.
"I'd like that." I said, smiling.
"I will give you the names of a few books to read, and a note to get one of them from the restricted section, on the condition that you are the only one to read them." she said, eyeing me like a hawk. I nodded to show I accepted this condition. "Two of these describe the different spells involved in the Animagus transformation, and the third is a book on what different animals mean to the wizard's personality." she said, writing down and then handing me a list of titles, "And I warn you." she added, handing me a permission slip to get one of them from the restricted section, "That the charms in that book -" she tapped the permission slip I now held, indicating she meant the book from the restricted section, "- are all beyond any fifth year, let alone a third year, and you would only hurt yourself to try them."
I nodded, "Thank you, Professor." I said, wondering how rare it must be for someone to take such a specific interest as this, if she's keen to let me do this extra reading ... or maybe she's trying to salvage what in her eyes had previously been a hopeless case. Snape would never try something like this for anyone barely passing in his class.
* * *
When I returned to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey wasn't there. I carefully tried to move my hand - it worked fine and it had stopped hurting. Damn. Now I wasn't going to get the sympathy factor, and Father would be mad as hell if he found out I'd made such a fuss over something that had healed this easily. Besides, I wanted to get that stupid oaf fired for setting a monster on a student.
So, when Madam Pomfrey returned and asked me to move my arm, I deliberately only twitched my fingers, like I had done before when it really wouldn't move properly. She tutted, obviously annoyed, "It should be fine now. I don't see anything else I can do besides wait for it to heal itself. Is there any pain?"
"Yes." I lied.
"Well, I'd like you to return to see me, at this time every day, until it is properly healed. I can give you some painkiller potions to take." she bustled over to a cupboard, which she unlocked and removed a small bottle from. She re-locked the cupboard and returned to me, handing me the bottle, "You can take one teaspoon of this no more often than twice a day. If you take any more, it will cause pain rather than ease it." I nodded putting the bottle away in my pocket. People seem to be trusting me with dangerous things a lot, today - what did I do to appear trustworthy? I want to know, so I can get more for it.
And I should remember to slip three teaspoons of this potion to Higgs, sometime, just for the vengeance factor.
* * *
End of chapter 6
Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar.
dragonsprincess: Well, to anyone but Draco (who feeds him) and Lucius (who scares him) Noctowl is a "bloody vicious bird" ... it's not just Theo. And I'm just about to start on GoF.
dstrbd child: You know, I'm not kidding/lying here, I am also ambidextrous. Admittedly, my left-handed writing is a lot less tidy, but that's just due to lack of practice. And I'm sorry the chapters aren't as long as you'd like, but that's just how they are.
Akuma-sama: Yay! Thank you *adds that to the list of "quotes to use", under Theo's name, for OotP*. See how meticulous my notes are? hehe.
Ever thought about how Draco managed his classes without his right arm? Well, here's your answer - as I said last chapter, he's ambidextrous. Oh, and someone asked for more Peeves, so here he is in this chapter.
Chapter 6 - Extra Credit
I was rudely awoken the next day, by sunlight streaming in through the suddenly opened curtains. I pulled the sheets up over my face, but then Madam Pomfrey's annoyingly shrill voice started calling, "Wake up, Mr Malfoy - rise and shine!"
I groaned, "Go 'way."
"You're going to miss Potions class if you don't get up right now." she warned.
That woke me up. "Did you have to open those curtains?" I protested, while wandering behind the screens and starting to get changed.
"Yes." she replied tetchily.
When I returned to the bed, it had been re-made and there was a tray of breakfast on it. Madam Pomfrey was writing something on a notepad and as soon as I had finished my breakfast, she ran a series of medi-check charms on me, most of which I didn't see the point in. Finally, she wrapped my arm up in bandages, and put it in a sling - I am not usually a hypochondriac, but this could be very useful. "Can I go now?" I asked irritably.
She gave me a glare, before sighing and nodding, "Yes, you can go. Just remember I want to check up on you after dinner today."
"You already told me that." I said, before grabbing my bag and making a hasty exit.
I arrived late for Potions, but Snape turned a blind eye.
Pansy fawned over me, in the annoying way that only she can manage, while Snape calmed the class, "Settle down, settle down." I smirked, secure in the knowledge that he'd never have done that if a Gryffindor had arrived late.
I quickly got out my cauldron and started setting up my ingredients at the same desk as Potter. The arrogant Gryffindor git had been getting away too easily without my presence for the last two days, so I planned to torture him. And Weasley, as well. I grinned viciously at the two, who were too busy already cutting up their potion ingredients to notice me until I decided for the indirectly annoying approach - turning to face the teacher, I asked, "Sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm -"
Without even looking up, Snape interrupted me, saying, "Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him."
"There's nothing wrong with your arm." Weasley growled at me.
I smirked, "Weasley, you heard Professor Snape, cut up these roots."
Muttering what I'm sure were obscenities, but I couldn't make it out, Weasley took the roots and started hacking at them with a knife.
"Professor." I called, glancing up to see that Snape was looking at me, before saying, "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir."
Snape stalked over to our table and glared over Weasley's shoulder, before saying, "Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley." Weasley tried to protest, but Snape easily scared him into complying.
"And, sir, I'll need this Shrivelfig skinned." I added, trying not to laugh.
"Potter, you can skin Malfoy's Shrivelfig." Snape said idly, before continuing on his way around the classroom.
Potter was less than pleased. He was livid. Now to make it worse. "Seen your pal Hagrid lately?" I asked.
"None of your business." Weasley snapped, trying to concentrate on the roots he now had to salvage.
"I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer. Father's not very happy about my injury -"
"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury." Weasley interrupted.
I chose to ignore him - he's not worth paying attention to, so I continued, "- he's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, you know. And a lasting injury like this, who knows if my arm'll ever be the same again?"
"So that's why you're putting it on. To try and get Hagrid sacked." Potter said angrily.
"Well ... partly, Potter. But there are other benefits, too." I paused long enough to glance at the ingredients on the table and choose the least desirable job to give Weasley, before adding, "Weasley, slice my caterpillars for me."
As I added the caterpillars that Weasley had reluctantly cut up for me, my potion turned a bright shade of green. I was just starting to grin triumphantly, when I heard Snape's voice, not far away, all-but-yelling, "Orange, Longbottom!" I immediately looked up to see what was going on, in time to see Snape show everyone just how neon-orange Longbottom's feeble attempt at a potion was. "Orange! Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours?" I started smirking - the poor boy was beginning to shake with fear, "Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed?" Longbottom's bottom lip was trembling like he was about to start crying, "Didn't I say plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice?" now his eyes were watering, and the pathetic look almost made me feel sorry for him - the important word in that sentence is almost. "What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?" as Snape finished his tirade, it looked like one good insult would finish Longbottom off and he'd run screaming for the hills. It was all I could do not to give that last insult, mostly because Snape mightn't like it if I stole his glory.
Of course, Hermione just had to show off, "Please sir, please, I could help Neville put it right -" she started.
Snape was having none of it, as he interrupted her, "I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger. Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."
I turned away from the spectacle, to continue work on my own potion - it was almost ready now. As I stirred in the last of the finely cut daisy roots, I heard one of the Gryffindors - the Irish boy - talking to Potter, "Have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning - they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted." I looked up, paying close attention to this - I wanted to know what Potter knew about Black.
"Where?" Potter and Weasley both asked.
The Gryffindor boy, whose name I don't remember, leaned forward conspiratorially, and I had to strain my ears to hear him, "Not too far from here. It was a Muggle who saw him. 'Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she 'phoned the telephone hotline. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone."
Weasley gave Potter a strange look, "Not far from here ..." he said darkly. Then he saw that I was watching, "What, Malfoy? Need something else skinning?"
Yes, your nose, Weasley, but I just couldn't be bothered with my arm in this state. "Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?" I asked, honestly trying to find out exactly how suicidal the idiot was.
"Yeah, that's right." he said, and I actually couldn't tell if he was kidding or not.
Now I just wanted to be annoying, and since I'm so good at it ... "Of course, if it was me, I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him." If I was a Gryffindor, that is.
"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" Weasley asked irritably.
"Don't you know, Potter?" I asked, deliberately pretending Weasley wasn't there, even though it was his question that I was answering.
"Know what?" Potter asked - I now had his complete attention, albeit he was probably trying to think of what object was best to hit me with now.
I laughed - I hadn't really thought he'd be kept in the dark about it - the Ministry must think precious Potter is too delicate to tell all the dark secrets to. "Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck. Want to leave it to the Dementors, do you? But if it was me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself." from a safe distance, by means of an Imperius curse on some expendable idiot - probably Goyle - but I would want revenge if anyone had done something like that to my family.
"What are you talking about?" Potter snarled, but even if I had been planning on answering him, I didn't get the chance, because Snape decided to start talking. He did test the potion on the toad, but it lived ... Granger lost house points for Gryffindor, even though Snape had no real proof that she'd helped Longbottom.
* * *
As I walked - no, dawdled - up to Transfiguration class, after lunch ... I had a medical excuse for being late, and I planned to make full use of it ... I was apprehended by a cursing and swearing Peeves, "What's little Malfoy doing out here, eh? Lost your way?" he cackled, obviously looking for someone to annoy.
"I know exactly where I'm going, thanks." I said, in the sarcastic tone that says 'I don't want to talk to you, you twit'.
Peeves spun upside-down and floated in my way, face-to-face with me, "Aww, you're not being very nice - I wanna play."
"Play with the Weasleys." I snapped, sidestepping him.
"No." Peeves said impudently, grabbing my bag and trying to lift me into the air by it. I reluctantly let him lift the bag, without me.
"Who pissed you off?" I asked.
Peeves pulled a face, "Loony Lupin."
"I know the feeling, now give me my bag back - it's got my botched Defence homework in it and I want to be able to annoy Lupin ... I'm sure you remember what I tried to do to Lockhart?" I said, lying through my teeth about the homework, which I hadn't been given in the first place.
Peeves suddenly grinned and tossed the bag at me. I caught it with some difficulty, considering I only had one working arm, "Have fun. Let me watch." Peeves cackled, before zooming off down the corridor, bouncing off walls as he went. That poltergeist was more trouble than he's worth, sometimes.
* * *
Transfiguration class. I arrived two minutes late, and lost ten points for it. McGonagall was glaring at my arm as I got out my book, parchment and quill. "Today, we will be taking notes on the legalities of the Animagus transformation." she said sternly, "Although you cannot attempt such advanced Transfiguration until your seventh year, the third year syllabus requires that you know some of the theory." she then began to dictate notes, which I wrote down fairly easily, left-handed.
She kept giving me odd looks, through the whole lesson.
At the end, she set us homework to research the laws surrounding the Animagus transformation, and a two-foot essay. I was just about to leave, when she called to me, "Mr Malfoy - may I speak to you for a moment?"
I turned around quickly, "I'm sorry I was late for class today, Professor ... Peeves -"
"I am not concerned with your tardiness, Mr Malfoy. You have already been disciplined for that. I am more concerned with you abnormal interest in today's lesson - you usually daydream in my class." she said.
"I always pay attention, Professor ... I just looked like it, for once." I said ... it was a bit impudent, yes, but it was the truth.
She glared at me for a moment, "And why did you decide to appear to show an interest?"
"I want to learn the Animagus transformation, eventually." I admitted, "I think it's cool." I kind of hoped she'd take that as a compliment that I thought she had a cool ability.
"I am surprised, Mr Malfoy. I hadn't thought you would be the type to want their Animagus."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"What I mean, Mr Malfoy, is that you cannot choose what animal you become. You must accept an animal that suits your inner nature."
"So your tabby cat means what?" I asked, grinning.
She glared at me, before actually smiling, "If you wish to take such an interest, I would be willing to give you some extra tutoring in that direction. You would still have to wait until your seventh year to begin the actual transformation, but I could help you learn more about it." Wow ... I had just made my teacher-nemesis take an interest in teaching me without shouting ... that was a neat trick.
"I'd like that." I said, smiling.
"I will give you the names of a few books to read, and a note to get one of them from the restricted section, on the condition that you are the only one to read them." she said, eyeing me like a hawk. I nodded to show I accepted this condition. "Two of these describe the different spells involved in the Animagus transformation, and the third is a book on what different animals mean to the wizard's personality." she said, writing down and then handing me a list of titles, "And I warn you." she added, handing me a permission slip to get one of them from the restricted section, "That the charms in that book -" she tapped the permission slip I now held, indicating she meant the book from the restricted section, "- are all beyond any fifth year, let alone a third year, and you would only hurt yourself to try them."
I nodded, "Thank you, Professor." I said, wondering how rare it must be for someone to take such a specific interest as this, if she's keen to let me do this extra reading ... or maybe she's trying to salvage what in her eyes had previously been a hopeless case. Snape would never try something like this for anyone barely passing in his class.
* * *
When I returned to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey wasn't there. I carefully tried to move my hand - it worked fine and it had stopped hurting. Damn. Now I wasn't going to get the sympathy factor, and Father would be mad as hell if he found out I'd made such a fuss over something that had healed this easily. Besides, I wanted to get that stupid oaf fired for setting a monster on a student.
So, when Madam Pomfrey returned and asked me to move my arm, I deliberately only twitched my fingers, like I had done before when it really wouldn't move properly. She tutted, obviously annoyed, "It should be fine now. I don't see anything else I can do besides wait for it to heal itself. Is there any pain?"
"Yes." I lied.
"Well, I'd like you to return to see me, at this time every day, until it is properly healed. I can give you some painkiller potions to take." she bustled over to a cupboard, which she unlocked and removed a small bottle from. She re-locked the cupboard and returned to me, handing me the bottle, "You can take one teaspoon of this no more often than twice a day. If you take any more, it will cause pain rather than ease it." I nodded putting the bottle away in my pocket. People seem to be trusting me with dangerous things a lot, today - what did I do to appear trustworthy? I want to know, so I can get more for it.
And I should remember to slip three teaspoons of this potion to Higgs, sometime, just for the vengeance factor.
* * *
End of chapter 6