Later, Blaise and Draco headed to Potions class. They were still a sight to see (Pansy had shrieked, and Daphne had covered her eyes). But everyone knew why they weren't going to the Infirmary. That would mean admitting that they'd been fighting.

They were supposed to simply glamour the wounds and let them heal on their own (or heal them themselves). And people wondered why Marcus Flint looked like such an ogre! Mean bastard never could get a healing spell to work right.

Besides, it wasn't as if they were going to be seen by the whole school. Daph was a fine healer, and Draco could always give her a new quill in appreciation. You know the sort, made with his own father's peacock feathers. Memorabilia, in other words. The high regard of House Slytherin was worth quite a bit, if you knew how to turn it your way.

They had timed it so that Granger and Potter were already there. Granger looked up first, of course (Potter was busy laying out ingredients for all of them, and thus was still trying to count to four*)

Granger gave them a long look, and then said firmly, "No blood in this potion, or you'll have to answer to the Professor." Looking at Malfoy, she asked, "Were you thinking of trying three chicory roots instead of two?"

Draco spoke up then, saying "Two of course, but with three stirs counterclockwise and a pinch of moonstone."

"Expensive, that." Granger said, turning back, "I'm not about to try a drop of dragon's blood, though that would certainly work. Kneazle whiskers, two apiece."

Harry Potter had by this point stopped counting, and had looked up, his face going pale at the garish blood-flaked faces of both Slytherins. Malfoy found it easy to read the hamster wheels in Potter's head - It was not entirely unexpected to see Malfoy beaten, but Zambini? He went out of his way to hide in the background. Harry's bright eyes then found Hermione, seeming shocked that she hadn't made more of a deal about the thrashed boys.

Harry's mouth fell open then, and his bulging eyes were topped by a crooked eyebrow of consternation. "Do you guys want to go to the infirmary?" He asked, and Malfoy knew it wasn't out of real concern, but out of a subtle need to show concern because people were hurt. Even if Potter was generally in the habit of not thinking of Slytherins as people. Draco Malfoy paused at that thought, and considered I'd better encourage him along that way, then...

Both Draco and Blaise had turned to Harry, and were watching him like he had a second head. Because if they'd wanted to go, they would have just went. "Erm, sorry, nevermind." Potter said quickly.

"We have work to do," Blaise said, and managed to sound kinder while saying it than Draco had ever sounded in his life.

*counting to four, four times, is more difficult than you think - particularly when the measures don't tell you automatically that you're at four. Malfoy, however, means it as an insult.

[a/n: Well? I'm off to write another potions lesson (for Read the Last Page First). It will be... different.

Hermione, who is normally known to mother injured students, figured she'd just save herself the abuse.]