CHAPTER 6

The Slytherin Table was, as a rule, a quiet one. They didn't have much chatter at most meals, and even less at breakfast since none of them were really morning people. Draco was idly steering some black coffee, and Pansy was admiring her reflection on the back of her spoon, while sipping some pumpkin juice. Crabbe and Goyle were both attacking their breakfast with heartfelt longing, shoveling eggs and bacon into their large mouths.

Draco glanced in their direction and made a face.

'Calm down guys.' he said, with a grimace. 'I could see right down to your pancreas that time.'

They grunted and slowed down the shoveling. Pansy put away the spoon and rewarded Draco with her full attention. Before she could open her mouth, however, Draco commented.

'What's up with your hair, anyway? It looks like a nest.'

Pansy looked horrified. 'Draco! It's a French twist! I tried it out the other night and Blaise said he liked it.'

Draco rolled his eyes. 'He would. Where is he, anyway?'

'Who, Blaise?' Pansy asked idly, stroking her ivory cheeks.

'Yeah. He isn't down for breakfast, is he?'

She shrugged. 'I don't own him. He could be anywhere for all I know.' She patted a hair into place, and then said. 'Draco is that Granger's reflection I see in my spoon.'

He shook his head. 'You're not all that ugly.'

'Draco, be serious! The Weasel and she are coming here! What could the bitch want?'

'Aw, Pansy,' Crabbe said, gulping some juice. 'You're just pissed 'cos she made a fool of you at the ball.'

Pansy's face suffused with anger, but before she could comment, the two Gryffindors had walked up to them.

'Well, well, well,' The Weasel said, loudly. 'Look, Hermione. It's a slug!'

And he pointed at Draco, who wheeled around angrily.

'Watch it, Weasel, or I might just decide to hex you.'

'Oooh, I'm so scared,' Weasley said, his eyes widening. 'Big baby Malfoy's twying to hurt me…'

There were two seconds of ringing silence. Then, Draco clenched his fists and rose slowly.

'Say that again, Weasel,' he said, poisonously, 'And I will hex you.'

Ron checked to see that none of the teachers were watching, and then pulled out his wand.

'Who goes first, Malfoy?'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hermione had no time to be nervous.

The moment Ron pulled out his wand, she drew the little bottle of veriatserum from her pocket, and uncorked it. All eyes were on Ron and Draco, the Slytherin's faces mottled with anger. Nobody was watching her as she tipped the little phial over Draco's glass.

One…two…three…

She counted the glimmering drops as they fell into Draco's pumpkin juice. The juice shimmered for a moment, and the returned to its dull orange color.

She glanced up quickly. Nobody seemed to have seen her. A heated argument was going on between Draco and Ron.

'At least my hair isn't that color!' Draco was saying. His voice was high pitched. Hermione could see that Ron had huffed him up quite a bit.

'No way, Malfoy.' Ron said, eyes wide. 'With your hair, nobody'd be able to make out any difference when your sixty.'

Malfoy's mouth opened, but before he could said anything, Hermione chided 'Ron!' and grabbed his arm.

'Be quiet,' she told him.

'You should thank your stars, Weasel,' Draco sneered. 'The mudblood saved you.'

Hermione whirled around him quick as a flash. 'Watch your mouth, Malfoy, a bat might fly in. I came to tell you that Professor Sprout wants to see you in Greenhouse 3.'

Malfoy took a swig of his juice. 'And what makes you think I'm going?'

Hermione could hardly suppress a grin. 'An opportunity to bunk classes, Malfoy. I thought you'd be tripping over yourself to get there. Come on, Ron. The smell around here is becoming unbearable.'

And looking pointedly at Malfoy, she walked off with her best friend.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

'What a bitch,' Pansy said, spitefully. 'The nerve she had, coming here like that.'

'I know.' Crabbe said, and went back to his breakfast.

Pansy turned to Draco. He was looking thoughtful. Slowly, his eyes seemed to glaze over.

'What are you thinking about, Draco?' she asked, concernedly.

'I'm going to Greenhouse 3.' he replied, mechanically.

'What? I can't believe you! Just because the mudblood told you to?'

'I want to bunk class.'

Again his voice seemed automatic. Pansy looked a little freaked.

'Draco are you sure your feeling all right?' she asked, concernedly.

'Of course. I will be going now.'

And he swung himself off his seat, and headed to Greenhouse 3.

AN- It's really short, and I'm sorry guys, but I'm going to update WKSW now…. please review and I'll love the lot of you.