Friday was Potions in the morning. Generally, the most evil time of the week.

At least according to Harry Potter. He sometimes suspected Hermione liked the class.

He'd gotten to class nearly late, only to find Tracey Davis and Lavender Brown squaring off.

This was not what is known as a good sign, no.

Particularly when Goyle and Crabbe were on hand, and Ron and Seamus were on the other side, both sides crusin' for a brusin'.

Harry stood a step out of the doorway, and he felt someone nudge him out of the way. He didn't look, this situation needed dealing with - only the mad fought in the Potions classroom. There were always volatiles in there.

Harry Potter to the rescue, Again.

Where the fuck was Snape, anyway?

Hermione bustled in, slung her arm across his shoulders, and whispered, "Come sit in the front with me."

Harry shot her a curious look, but started up the classroom. Almost immediately, the Slytherins in the back started giggling (well, with Malfoy it was more of a guffaw, and Nott simply snorted). Harry kept moving - probably Malfoy had said something.

Wait. Was Hermione leading him through the warzone? Harry thought, pausing for a moment. Yes, yes she was - and Harry'd be damned if he'd let her get hurt because he wasn't following.

As they passed through the tense atmosphere evaporated. Giggles were heard - not just from Tracey and Daphne, but also from Lavender and Parvati. Harry wanted to look behind him, or ask Hermione what had just happened -

But just then, Snape arrived.

Expressionless Snape strode to the front of the classroom, but Harry had the oddest feeling that even Snape was amused. No reason for the feeling, just a hunch. But Harry believed his hunches.

Still, it was potions class, and there was No Talking In Potions Class.

As they were leaving the classroom, Harry was turning to Hermione to ask what that was all about, when Hermione yanked him into an old classroom, slamming the door.

"Here!" Hermione said, and with an audible rip of spellotape, a piece of parchment came off.

Pansy's writing was clear as day on it:

My mother said the Dark Lord entreated the goblins for an alliance. He was turned down flat. Apparently Mr. Malfoy heard the Dark Lord wave it off, saying, "The next time, I'll bring friends."

Harry frowned, "But, how did she get that onto my back? Wouldn't... someone have noticed?"

Hermione smirked, flipped the parchment over.

On the other side, it said, "Kick Me."

[a/n: of course Snape was laughing about that. He'd have been laughing much harder if he'd realized Pansy was defusing a fight with it, though.

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