Chapter 4 (Draco's Decision)
"Settle down… Settle down class… Today we are going to study the salient characteristics of a flooton… Well, can anyone tell me what a flooton is?" said Professor Sprout as she entered the room.
Neville's hand shot up into the air and was trying to get the attention of their Herbology teacher. He was proud since this was the only subject where he got astounding marks.
"Ok, Neville. What is the answer, if you must?" asked Professor Sprout.
"Well, A flooton is a green creature covered with mossy hair full of dandruffs. The white colored-powder known as dandruff is then used as floo powder," Neville droned on.
Professor Sprout smiled, "Well said Neville and for that I give five points to Gryffindor."
At the back of the class, sat Hermione who was twirling her locks of hair around her fingers absent-mindedly. Harry noticed this and tried to get the attention of Ron, "Psssst… Psssst… Ron!" Ron, who was staring lazily at their Herbology teacher, sat back up suddenly and gave a small yelp in surprise, attracting the attention of Professor Sprout. Professor Sprout raised her eyebrows questioningly. Ron quickly averted his eyes and turned to looked at Harry. He whispered, "What? You didn't have to scare the hell out of me…"
"Listen, have you noticed any change in Hermione lately?" Harry said, trying to ignore Ron's tone of voice.
"Huh? What? Hermione? Yeah… I mean she always recites right? She didn't even answer the question of Sprout," Ron replied.
They weren't able to continue their conversation since Professor Sprout already caught their attention.
"Ahem… As I was saying, divide yourselves by twos and start extracting the floo powder from the flootons. Time starts now," said Professor Sprout.
Harry and Ron became partners. Crabbe and Goyle were partners. Neville was with the new student, Thomas. Parvati and Lavender were together. Pansy, well, she tried to make Draco her partner but failed miserably and so she just joined another girl from Slytherin. Only Draco and Hermione were left partnerless.
Professor Sprout saw this and so she said, "Since both of you haven't got a partner, why don't you stay together and work on the project?"
"But Professor…" they both said.
"No buts." their teacher snapped.
Draco and Hermione snarled at each other. "Well Mudblood, guess I'm stuck with you," he said.
"Yeah. And I'm stuck with you ferret boy!" she said.
"Whatever, just shut up and do the project," said Draco.
Even if Draco and Hermione were partners, they both worked independently then one time when Draco wasn't looking, Hermione deliberately set her pot of flootons on fire and abruptly shrieked saying, "Draco! What do you think you're doing to my Flootons?" she said in an extra loud voice for the professor and the other students to hear.
"Huh? What are you talking about, mudblood?" he said cautiously.
"Stop acting as if you're innocent! Professor, did you hear what he called me?" she moaned, pointing at Draco, as if on the brink of tears.
"There2x child. I'll get you another pot," their teacher patted Hermione on the back and hugged her. Professor Sprout didn't see however, that the person she's embracing was now smirking and pointing her middle finger up at Draco as she muttered under her breath, "Fool…"
"Hey Ron! Did you see what I just saw?" Harry said, still recovering from the shock. He nudged Ron on the arm.
"Huh? Yeah… I mean did you see the look in Malfoy's face? It was hysterical! Whoa… Wait, I need to register this in my brain so I'll never forget this wonderful day… Wahoo! Hermione, you just brightened my day! Way to go Herm!" Ron whistled loudly.
"Look here Ron. I mean, even I would surely want Malfoy to get in trouble but this is crazy! Its Hermione were talking about! Look at her; she's not the Hermione we know. Sure she hates him as much as we do but Hermione would never do that let alone set fire to her own project!" Harry said weakly.
"Ok… Ok… I get your point! But you have to admit, that sure was funny!" Ron laughed.
Professor Sprout's grip on his arm was getting more painful by the second but Draco didn't mind. He was confused. He was not even sure of what he felt at that time. All he knows was that something was wrong, very wrong.
Draco made up his mind, 'I'm going to get to the bottom of this. A challenge she wants, a challenge she'll get. I'm not going to just sit down and let her ruin my image! I have a reputation to maintain. This means war! Well Granger, get ready… because you're about to face your worst nightmare!' he smirked.
At long last, they reached the office of Professor Snape, head of the Slytherin House. Professor Sprout knocked until Snape opened the door, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Professor Sprout, what brings you here may I ask?" Snape let out a loud yawn.
"Sit down2x," Snape said, flicking his wand to produce two chairs. "Well?"
"Draco here ruined the project of one of my students. They were working in one table but when Ms. Granger wasn't looking, he set fire on her pot!" Professor Sprout said.
Snape looked at Draco with an amused expression on his face, "I assure you Professor Sprout that there must have been a misunderstanding. This kind of accident might have been the fault of your clumsy student, Ms. Granger. After all, Draco here has had no such record of misbehavior in my account. My pupil wouldn't do that, would you Draco?"
"No sir, I wouldn't…" Draco said truthfully.
"I rest my case," Snape sneered.
BAM
The door closed loudly, caused by Professor Sprout's swift departure. She tried her best to reason unto the deaf ears of Severus Snape but she couldn't make him inflict even the slightest punishment upon Draco. She didn't believe that a troublemaker like Draco Malfoy wouldn't do something bad to an innocent girl like Hermione.
"Whew… Glad that's over with. After all, I really didn't do what she thinks I did," Draco said, finally relieved. He looked into Snape's eyes and what he saw was pure skepticism. There was a smile though playing upon the lips of the professor.
"Draco, Draco, Draco… If you want to pull a prank on Ms. Granger, I only have one advice. Try not to get caught next time, ok?" Snape said after Professor Sprout left.
"Move along now. You mustn't waste your time when you can put a good one over Potter and his so-called friends." Snape winked at Draco.
Draco stood up silently and went out the door that was held open by his house head.
