27 Monday

It was time again for Herbology class, but everyone was all abuzz about the previous day's events with Katie Bell. Word around the halls was that she'd been taking the necklace to Professor Dumbledore and had been compelled to do so, but couldn't remember by whom. She'd been sent to the Hospital wing and wasn't expected to recover anytime soon.

Now everyone was talking about her and the implications something like this might have for the rest of the school year. Professor Sprout, having shown up minutes before was desperately trying to get class in order but finding it hard to field everyone's questions.

Noelle, facing her own fears about it all, turned her attention to the snurgaluff plants lined up on the tables, remembering that, for today's lesson, they were meant to help their partner extract the pods hidden inside each one. Donning gloves from a nearby table, Noelle waited for Sprout to get everyone's attention.

It finally happened and everyone simmered down, putting on their own gloved and splitting off with their partners. Noelle looked longingly across the room where Paul had been partnered up with a Ravenclaw girl. Then she looked to her own partner. Draco. She inwardly groaned and made her way over.

Draco leaned over and whispered to her as Sprout began talking over what each pair would do. "I heard about your fight with Crabbe and Goyle Lestrange. You would do well not to mess with your fellow housemates."

She pursed her lips in annoyance. "I'll do as I please Malfoy. They were being idiots and I told them as much."

He frowned. "Perhaps you didn't hear me correctly. See, our families are close, the Lestranges and Malfoy lines. It would do well if we were both on the same side and working towards similar goals."

Noelle started to shoot back a response but paused. He seemed almost afraid in that moment, vulnerable. As though something were weighing on him and he genuinely wanted someone on his side. Still, Noelle couldn't see past his nature, and the trouble he and his friends caused with innocent students.

"Sorry Draco, but it's not going to happen."

He looked angry, but the Professor had just clapped her hands and sent each pairing to their station. Because of her conversation with Draco, Noelle wasn't entirely sure what they were supposed to be doing. She looked around out of the corner od her eye, trying to get clues from the others. Meanwhile, Draco dove right in.

The others were carefully having one person reach in slowly and steadily while another had their wand at the ready. Draco, however, reached in quickly with both arms, muttering about ignorant classmates. Noelle reached out to stop him in time to see thick spiny tendrils shoot out of the innocent, dead looking stump, and begin swiping at him. Everyone else in the room turned to gawk and Noelle flashed back to the week she'd fought with the venomous tentacula. This time, however, the attention was on Malfoy.

While the boy shrieked in surprise and Sprout rushed to pull him away, Noelle darted in and reached into the pot herself, taking advantage of the plant being preoccupied. At the very bottom of the pot were several green pods like the one they'd been shown the week before. She pulled them free and backed away.

The room quieted as Malfoy was freed and the class became aware of everything that had transpired. Professor Sprout, after looking the boy over, nodded approvingly to Noelle and the snurgaluff pods she held in her arms.

"It certainly has been an interesting year so far with you Ms. Lestrange. And this, class, is why you have a partner when dealing with this plant."

While most of the students applauded her, Draco glared daggers in her direction. If he hadn't liked her before, he certainly didn't now.