Thanks to people who reviewed!!! -.- gah, I drag this out too much.... but they are just so cute! I can't help it! XD Mmm the plot is moving along though! Never fear! (I ah, am, however, slowly loosing my writing muse... -.-;;;) Please review! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 7

By lunchtime, Blaise Zabini had been sent to the infirmary to get his skin checked out, and sent back with a jar of ointment to rub on his rashes.

"It seems there is some sort of protection on the hexes," Madame Pomphrey said, "the ointment will stop the itching, but I still suggest you talk to your Head of House and find out who did this."

But he didn't need to find out who it was; he already knew. When Blaise arrived at his first class, Transfigurations, with proper attire, the loudest laugh came from the Slytherin side, from a boy by the name of Draco Weasley. The blonde was cackling like a maniac, sliding off his chair in the process and hanging on to Harry Potter's shoulders to avoid a nasty fall. Potter, while trying to calm his hysterical friend, turned his head away to hide his smirk. Blaise had scowled, his face as red as an apple, and sat down silently.

By lunchtime, Blaise Zabini was just about ready to cry to the professors. Slowly, he made his way up to the teacher's tables, and stopped timidly in front of Snape.

"Mr. Zabini," the potions master didn't even look up, "we will discuss your dilemma after class."

"But Professor," he started, "potions class isn't until the end of the day!"

"I am aware of that, Mr. Zabini. You may return to your table now."

Dejected, the boy shuffled back to his seat. He was vaguely aware of the fact that Draco Weasley had begun laughing again.

"Draco," Harry patted the blonde on the shoulder to calm him down, "don't you think you're taking this too far?"

"No way!" The boy smirked gleefully, "from the looks of this, we probably don't even need to plan a prank for them to come crawling to us." Suddenly, he noticed the twins leaving their table, "be right back, Harry."

"Alright." He followed Draco with his eyes until he noticed that Ron, at the Gryffindor table, was doing the same. There was a mix of anger, confusion, and sadness on the redhead's face, two of which disappeared when he noticed Harry staring at him, leaving only anger.

Harry dropped his gaze and slowly finished his meal.

Five minutes later, Draco returned. There was uncertainty in his eyes, but the determination this morning stayed, and Harry gave him a soft smile.

"How did things go?"

"We'll have to wait to find out," was the reply.

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The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. Zabini had run off to the infirmary several times when the humiliation became too much. Ron had glared at Harry and Draco nonstop, leaving Harry uncomfortable and Draco depressed. Hermione Granger had participated excessively in all her classes. Professor Snape had ridiculed Harry.

"He hates me, I tell you. I don't even know what I did to deserve it!" Harry fumed when they entered the dorm. Beside him, Draco gave an encouraging smile.

"Just hang in there, he'll turn around."

The Boy-Who-Lived glared, "you're just saying that because you like him. Don't try to deny it, I saw that look on your face." He clasped his hands together and put on a puppy face, all the while pleading with an awful falsetto, "oh, PLEASE Professor, teach me more about potions! I can't wait until the classes start!"

Draco rolled his eyes, took a pillow and whacked Harry with it. "I do NOT talk like that."

Harry stuck out his tongue and went to his bed, putting away his cloak. There was a moment of silence then he began quietly, "you don't think he's dangerous, do you?"

Draco thought for a moment.

"No," he said finally, "I doubt Headmaster Dumbledore would hire anyone dangerous, especially since YOU are here." At that Harry gave him a look. Draco shrugged. "Dad always tells us about how Dumbledore is the greatest wizard alive. I'm sure he would have noticed something if Professor Snape was trying to kill you. Although," he wrinkled his nose skeptically, "he doesn't look all that powerful to me. Way too happy."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What, powerful wizards can't be happy?"

Draco shook his head. "Not that. I just expected him to be more... majestic. Distant. Stern." Harry nodded skeptically, eyebrow still raised. "Huh. So... snobby?"

The blonde laughed, "does sound like that, doesn't it."

They gathered some books for studying (Draco suggested looking over potions for tomorrow) and prepared to go to the common room when the door was kicked open.

"Weasley!" Skinny stomped in, followed by his thugs. "Professor Snape orders you to remove your hexes."

"Yeah?" Draco drawled, "Make me."

Zabini's cheeks puffed out, turning red, and he screamed, "Weasley! Snape said to send you to him if you refuse to remove them!" He huffed a bit then sneered, "you're in trouble now!" He and the thugs began laughing, but their joy died at the sight of Draco's careless shrug and smirk.

"He probably wanted to compliment me on a job well done." Draco sneered back, then set his books on his bed.

Harry stood beside him and asked softly, "Do you want me to go with you?"

The blonde shook his head. "You go ahead and start, I'll catch up."

"You'll be fine." Harry patted him on the shoulder, a protective look on his face.

Not sure if it was a question or a statement, Draco gave a curt nod regardless, and walked out of the room.

Harry turned to glare at Skinny and thugs, who wilted a bit under the stare. "If you three try anything funny," he warned, "I'll personally make sure you suffer for it." The door slammed shut behind him.

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"Come in, Mr. Weasley," Snape said at the knock.

"I was told to see you, sir," Draco said with perfect posture and aloofness.

Snape's raised an eyebrow at his composure, then he held up a tiny bottle of silvery liquid. "Do you know what this is, Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes, sir."

Silence.

"There is a suspicion that a certain Slytherin first year possesses the recipe to this potion and is able to brew it successfully. Would you like to correct this assumption, Mr. Weasley?"

There was a moment of hesitation, then Draco lifted his chin a little higher stubbornly. "There is no error in that assumption, sir. My brothers taught me the first time, but I am able to reproduce it on my own."

"You understand the complexity of this potion, do you not, Mr. Weasley? If one single ingredient is missing, the effects can be catastrophic."

"I know, sir."

Snape waited for more, but nothing came. He set the bottle down and stood up from his desk. "I teach this potion to my second years, Mr. Weasley, and even they don't have the audacity to try it on their own." He stared intently at Draco but found nothing but a mask of calm. "From the fact that you were able to create a potion of that level at your age, Mr. Weasley," the corner of his lips twitched up once, "it seems your abilities are above that of your peers."

Draco's eyes widened with surprise, and his mouth fell open.

"I look forward to your performance in class. You are dismissed."

The blonde gawked for a split second, then asked on impulse, "that's it, sir? I thought I was called here because of Blaise Zabini...?"

"Mr. Zabini?" Snape quirked an eyebrow, "I merely called to compliment you on a job well done."

At that, the boy stifled a snort, bowed curtly, and left.

...tbc!