Hidden Pain

Chapter 2: Loads of Letters

Draco yawned as he entered his Potions class but he quickly stifled it with his hand. He wanted nothing more than to go to his room, crawl in bed, and go to sleep. Sighing, he dumped his bag on the desk next to Goyle and slumped down in his seat. Today had been a hard day; McGonaggal had taught them a new charm and wanted them to write a 3-foot essay on its affects and importance. On top of that, Flitwick had assigned them a research project on a particular spell. Finally Potions had arrived; at least that would be an easy class.

As soon as Snape strode in, the class went silent. Gryffindors quieted immediately not wanting to lose points of the first day of school. Snape walked swiftly to the front of the class and turned around when he reached his desk.

"As you all know, this is a NEWT Potions class. Any silly or foolish behavior will be taken to your Head of House at once. This is an extremely arduous and tedious class. If you feel that you cannot put up with the stress then I suggest that you transfer," said Snape silkily.

"So, the first order of business is to see who can name these potions," said Snape throwing the cover off a set of vials. Each vial had some potion bubbling in it. "You shall be studying the effects and properties of these 4 potions until Christmas."

"Who can tell me what these 4 vials contain," said Snape pointing a long finger at the first vial.

Naturally, Hermione's hand was the first to go up. Rolling his eyes, Draco blew out his breath.

"The first vial is Veritaserum. It's the most powerful truth potion in the world," said Hermione dutifully.

Draco opened his bag and took out his parchment and quill. What would his dear father say if he found out that his dear son was falling behind in his classes? That would be another case that deserved a suitable punishment. The thought of his father made his blood boil. Automatically, his blood was asking for the knife and his body was aching for the feeling of pain. Forcibly, he pushed his thoughts out of his mind as he obediently copied down the notes.

"The second vial contains Polyjuice Potion," said Hermione. A blush rose to her cheeks as she recalled her second year. Next to her Harry and Ron were covering their laughter with a hacking cough. "The Polyjuice Potion is used if one wants to transform into another person. However, it's only effective for an hour per dose."

"The third vial had Amortentia. It's the most powerful love potion. There are antidotes but the use of this is strictly prohibited unless needed most urgently."

"And the last is Felix Felicis. It's called the Lucky potion for short. Just a small drop will make your day go perfectly," finished Hermione.

Snape stared at Hermione for a second.

"Very good Miss Granger. Rather remarkable even if I say so myself. Take 15 points to Gryffindor," said Snape coolly. Hermione blinked her eyes and shook her head slightly as if she misunderstood what Professor Snape had said.

Draco glared malevolently at Hermione, feeling as if he had been punched in the stomach. Sneering, he turned back to his notes.

"The first potion, you and the partner that I assign will need to brew will be the Veritaserum. Along with it, you will need to write a brief report describing the affects, the steps needed to make it, the benefits, the drawbacks, etc. In this 2-hour class, I expect you to have concocted a reasonably powerful truth potion," instructed Snape.

As Snape looked around the room, surveying the class, he noticed that all the Slytherins were on the left side of the room while all the Gryffindors were on the right side of the room.

"I have your groups assigned,' said Snape whipping out a piece of parchment.

"Silence," he snapped his black eyes glittering as the class groaned.

"Mr. Potter and Miss. Scotts," he started. "Mr. Potter please move next to Miss Scotts."

Harry, who wasn't grumbling, gathered his articles and moved next to Sierra Scotts. Sierra was one of the few Slytherins who didn't delight in ridiculing Gryffindors. It was widely known that she had a huge crush on Harry. Sierra had long flowing blond hair up to her shoulder blades and big baby blue eyes. Smiling briefly, Harry put his stuff down and sat next to her.

"Mr. Weasley and Mr. Goyle," said Snape smirking.

Cursing under his breath, Ron sat next to Crabbe but sat himself as far away as possible. Draco sat in his barely able to control his laughter. All throughout the pairs, he found it increasingly harder to contain his laughter. Then he heard something that made his laughter die immediately.

"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger," announced Snape, folding his parchment.

Draco felt as if someone had punched him. Him and the Mudblood? Him and Miss-know-it-all? He must be dreaming.

"Um, excuse me professor," said Draco raising his hand, "for a second it sounded as if I was paired with Granger."

"You are," said Snape silkily.

Draco stared at his desk in shock. He blinked a couple of times and then shook his head lightly.

"Mr. Malfoy, it might be more productive if you moved over there next to Miss Granger," said Snape silkily. Draco opened his mouth to argue but as his professor stared at him dangerously, he quickly picked up his stuff and reluctantly sat next to Hermione.

Narrowing his eyes, Draco stared as Snape waved his hand causally at the blackboard. Immediately instructions appeared upon the board behind him. Draco huffed as he saw Hermione sit up primly in her seat looking at Professor Snape earnestly. God, she annoyed him so much. Just her presence, the air of perfection that she gave off annoyed him to no end. How was he going to survive with her next to him annoying him to no end for 2 hours?

"Follow these instructions very carefully. Even the smallest addition can turn it into a lethal poison. I'd rather you use less than more. If you use less, only the strength will be affected. Not the potion itself. The ingredients will be found in the usual place. You have two hours. The report will be due next week," said Snape.

With a swish of his robes, he sat behind his desk surveying his class carefully. As rude and cold he had been towards his classes, he did care about his students, even the Gryffindors, and made sure that life-threatening dangers did not happen. As he sat, his eyes fell upon Potter. As usual, whenever he laid eyes on Harry a flow of hatred rushed through his body. Every time he laid eyes of Harry, James came to his mind. And along with it, hatred and venom. Minerva's comment that she said at breakfast wafted into his head, "Harry is not his father." He would never tell her this but she was right. Harry wasn't his father and he had treated Harry the way he wanted to treat James. But maybe it wasn't late to act civilly. He had no intention of being overly chummy, but maybe he could be as nice as his other professors.

"Malfoy," asked Hermione, "would you rather light the fire and get the cauldron or get the ingredients?"

Draco just leaned back in his chair and surveyed the class who were busily getting the ingredients and preparing their cauldron. Soon, only Hermione and Draco were the only ones in their seats.

"Malfoy," growled Hermione, "which one do you want to do?"

"Malfoys don't work. You bring everything and then we'll see what has to be done," said Draco arrogantly.

"Well in here you will work," snapped Hermione. Her face was turning crimson. "I don't care if you're a Malfoy or not. If you don't help me, I will bloody curse you into next week!"

"Oh, did Miss Perfect just say bloody? I must be hanging around you too much," drawled Draco. He lazily got up and went to get a cauldron.

"The nerve of him," muttered Hermione running to the cabinet. After gathering all the necessary ingredients, she returned to her table where Draco was lounging around and looking through her backpack.

"Malfoy," screeched Hermione carelessly dropping the ingredients on the desk. "How dare you look through my backpack? Don't you have any sense of respect?"

"I don't give respect. I need respect. Especially from Mudbloods like you" drawled Draco still looking through her backpack.

Hermione blinked as Draco lashed out at her. Stunned, she could only stare at him taken aback. Sure he had called her that many times, but she never thought he'd say it in front of a teacher. Sneering, he got up and started reading the instructions on the blackboard. Not to be undaunted, Hermione quickly snapped out of her shock, blinked back her tears, and started making the potion.

. & .

Two hours later, after a lot of fighting and name-calling, Hermione and Draco finally finished their potion. After they were done, both turned away from each other and did their own activities.

"Ok, there are 15 minutes before class ends. Your potions should be in its final stage. I am going to come around and choose the 3 best ones. The best will go into my personal safe for usage in the future," said Snape standing up.

Slowly Snape went around the classroom, students looking at him hopefully for any sign of approvement. However, as usual, Snape's face remained emotionless as usual. Until he reached Hermione and Draco's sample; his eyebrows rose and he nodded very slightly.

"Everyone return to their seats," said Snape coldly. "The overall quality was poor. However, because this is such a difficult potion, one of the most difficult, the sample that will be graded will be after the paper is due. There were 3 that were passable."

Snape walked over to Pansy's and Dean Thomas'. "This is a very weak truth potion but nonetheless, it will serve a decent purpose. They didn't put much of the ingredients but have done a passable job."

Next Snape walked over to Harry and Sierra. "This is a very good truth potion. It is not the most powerful potion concocted but it has the tenacity that the Ministry likes to use."

Snape nodded to Harry, who was looking as if Snape had grown 3 heads. "Excellent job Mr. Potter, Ms. Scotts, take 15 points each."

Harry grinned as Snape passed by. He was in complete shock; Snape had never lauded his work let alone give him points. Shrugging, he smiled at Sierra as Snape walked over to Hermione and Draco's cauldron.

"This is superb. This potion is the most powerful that can be made by a wizard. This is the best trial that has come in all my NEWT classes. Excellent, simply excellent Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy. Take 20 points each. Miss Granger, go over to that cabinet and take out the biggest flash available and fill it to capacity," said Snape.

Hermione flushed and practically bouncing with excitement, ran to the cabinet and did as Snape told. Draco rolled his eyes.

"For your reports, I want a very detailed research on Veritaserum. It should be 5 feet long. The partners that you worked with today shall be your partners for this project and for the rest for the year," said Snape coolly.

Hermione gasped in shock and Draco's mouth fell open. He had to be dreaming. The bell rang and Hermione was out of her seat, pursing her lips unhappily. Draco got up, kicked the leg of the desk, and walked in a fury up to Snape's desk. He had half a mind to tell Snape what he thought of his arrangement. But as he walked up, Snape looked up and shook his head.

"I know what you are going to say Mr. Malfoy. But I am not changing any pairs," said Snape coldly.

Draco threw his hands up in the air. What was wrong with the world? Cursing, he turned his back of his favorite professor and after grabbing his bag, left for the library. He needed to get at least one essay done before he crashed.

. & .

Four hours later, at 8 o'clock, an exhausted Draco climbed through the door to the Head's Room. He had just spent four hours in the library writing his two essays for class. He dropped his bag next to the door. He needed to sleep before he cracked. His eyes half-closed he staggered into the common room and leaned against one of the couches.

"Malfoy," started Hermione coldly.

"I'm not in the mood for it Granger," snapped Draco walking haphazardly towards his room.

"I just wanted to say that there's an hour before we have to go patrol the corridors," said Hermione stonily.

"Yeah whatever. Wake me up in 59 minutes," said Draco too tired to care.

He opened the door to his room and closed it collapsing on the opposite side. Then he saw something that drove all his sleepiness out the window. Something that caused his eyes to open wide with surprise, shock and something like fear. He froze against the doorframe for a moment, staring in horror. Sitting on his dresser was a letter. It was stamped with a green stamp, which had the letters LM stamped on it. It could only be from one person.

Scrambling up Draco grabbed the letter. His heart beating fast, his fingers quickly opened the folded letter.

Draco,

I know that you remember our conversation in the beginning of the year. You recall that I have spoken with his "Majesty" about some projects that you can work for him. Tell me when your first meeting is after Christmas's Hogsmeade and I will work things out. I know that you will happy to serve him.

Lucius

Draco crumpled the letter and yelled in anger. The line was killing him. That exactly what hurt; his father knew absolutely nothing about him. Every single line was an order that was implicitly stated. And where did that leave him to feel what he wanted or to do as he liked? Where did that leave room for his desires? His wishes? Breathless, he pulled out his silver handled knife and brutally dragged it across his left arm. Sliding down the door, he held his arm and reached for his wand. Sighing, his eyes closed he felt his heartbeat slow down and peace slowly take over momentarily before sealing the cut.

Draco then staggered over to his bed and collapsed on the sheets. His eyelids slowly flickered shut as sleep took over. It was like this that Hermione found Draco an hour later.

"Malfoy," said Hermione prodding Draco.

Draco simply pushed her hand off and continued to sleep. Hermione sighed and blew her breath out.

"Malfoy," she screamed. Draco yelped and sat up.

"You," he snarled. "What the hell do you want?"

" We have to go patrolling right now," yelled Hermione. "I told you that an hour ago. It's going to be nine o'clock now. And by the way, there's something red near the door. Is that some juice or something?"

Draco blanched and panicked for a second. Some of the blood must have fallen to the carpet before he sealed it. Fortunately for him, the thought went away from Hermione's mind as quickly as it had entered. Draco groaned and swung his legs over the bed. Hermione was tapping her foot, crossing her arms looking at him reproachfully as she waited by the door.

"I'm coming ok," he snarled. "Can you please get your Mudblood body out of my room."

Hermione blinked at him. "Fine," she said coolly, "I'll be outside the dorm."

Draco swore as Hermione left. For the first time, he had gotten a dreamless sleep. And Mudblood Granger had ruined it as usual. He slowly got up and tried smoothing his overly wrinkled clothes. Swearing, he left it and went to meet Hermione outside.

. & .

"Finally," snapped Hermione. "It's only been the first day of duty and you're already trying to bail out. Why are you so tired anyways? Did you not sleep last night? What were you doing?"

"It's none of your business what I do or when?" snapped Draco. He internally groaned and rubbed his hand against his head. His head was killing him. On top of that he had to spend an hour with this Mudblood next to him.

"It is important especially if it's going to get in the way of the duties that you agreed it," retaliated Hermione.

The pair was walking down a dark deserted corridor. It seemed that students were in their dormitories busy with homework or other activities.

"Granger," said Draco after 45 minutes of idle walking, "this is boring the bloody crap out of me. There's nothing interesting today. There aren't any snogging brainless idiots to catch. I'm going to go back."

"You will do nothing of the sort," yelled Hermione. "You agreed to this when you became Head Boy. You are nothing but a lazy, good for nothing arrogant man."

"You are nothing but a filthy Mudblood who thinks she knows everything," yelled Draco.

"At least I'm not going to become a Death Eater like you," hissed Hermione. She started to turn around in a fury when a hand pulled her roughly back. The next she knew she had been pulled to face Draco and was staring in his eyes.

"Don't even think about talking about things that you don't even know about," hissed Draco.

Hermione was at a loss for words. His eyes were burning with anger and looked dangerous. But behind the anger Hermione could see pain and hurt. Pain and hurt? She never thought that a Malfoy could feel those emotions. Draco pushed her away roughly and stormed up the halls leaving Hermione behind staring behind him shock etched upon her face.

A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews. Next chapter will be updated soon.