The-Boy-From-The-Future
Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Harry Potter or other associated characters and ideas.
A/N: Erm...there's something not quite right with this chapter, it's kinda forced, but it was the best possible in the circumstances...exams, exams, exams. Do forgive :o)
Chapter 3
The Potions classroom was exactly as James remembered: dark, gloomy and filled with an assortment of peculiar ingredients lining the walls. However, as the rest of the class filed in, he noted with amusement and slight concern that the other three houses distanced themselves from Slytherin, a clear border apparent.
With a glint of mischief in his eye, James suddenly hauled his cauldron over to an empty desk that sat well over the border, dragging Draco, who had been sitting next to him, along.
"James, what do you think you're doing?" hissed Draco, his quick reflexes rescuing a falling jar of ingredients.
"Moving," said James shortly as he pondered the pros and cons of hissing back at Draco in Parseltongue.
"We don't sit here; Slytherins sit over there," said Draco as he indicated the spot where they had previously sat. Blaise and Pansy were observing James' antics with mild amusement.
James just shrugged. "If you're uncomfortable, I'm fine working alone, really. You can work with Blaise and Pansy."
Draco stared at James, his eyes narrowed. Then, without another word, he huffed and started to unpack his equipment. James just threw him a triumphant smirk.
The door flew open with a bang and Harry and Hermione half-ran in, already apologising. James watched as his father blushed crimson upon realising that the Potions professor was, for once and most probably for the first time, late.
Harry and Hermione took a table next to James and Draco, albeit on James' side, and had just finished unpacking their ingredients when Professor Snape stormed in, looking absolutely livid; his black robes billowing around him. Taking in the attentive class, he snarled and waved his wand at the board with a parting order of, "Get to work!"
James raised his eyebrows and looked questioningly at Draco, who just shrugged and simply started scanning the instructions for the Euphoria-Inducing Potion that they were making that day. James frowned at the professor who sat at his desk, furiously marking essays; he pitied whoever was unlucky enough to have an essay marked by Snape in a temper.
However, he soon busied himself with his potion, chopping and mixing the ingredients meticulously. Next to him, Draco was following the instructions on the board to a tee and so was slightly distracted when he noticed James stirring the potion counter-clockwise when clearly, there were no instructions to do so at all.
"James, you do realise the instructions say you should be stirring clockwise, not counter, don't you?"
James nodded, but didn't move to correct himself, instead saying, "Yep, that's if you want to stir clockwise thirteen times. Stirring counter-clockwise means I stir half as many times, but since it's hard for most people to get the half exact, the number of stirs is doubled and reversed to make it easier to remember."
Draco gaped at his new housemate and only turned away when his potion turned a very wrong shade of grey. But he needn't have worried, as James took one look at Draco's potion, another quick look to ensure that their professor was still at his desk, and then threw three dandelion petals and a pinch of crushed daisy root in. The potion corrected itself.
Unfortunately, James' happy smile was wiped off when Professor Snape suddenly loomed over the pair and smirked into James' cauldron, then peered into Draco's.
"Mr Schwarz," he started nastily. "I did place rather high hopes on your brewing skills; however, I find myself disappointed. I daresay even your…father made a better attempt."
James clenched his fists under the table, but Professor Snape wasn't finished yet. He'd obviously had a less desirable start to the morning and was intent on taking out his frustration on someone. Unluckily for James, his table was first in line, so he bore the brunt of the professor's ire.
"And now you attempt to sabotage Mr Malfoy's potion so I don't notice the inadequacy of yours? Evanesco," he said savagely, ignoring Draco's protests and sweeping away to inspect the Blaise's potion.
James looked at his now empty cauldron and sighed. A touch to his arm made him look up. Draco stood there, his eyes pleading to James for forgiveness and James grinned slightly.
"Don't worry; he didn't like me the minute he set his eyes on me. I was rather expecting something like this anyway." Turning back, James started to pack away his things, leaving Draco to bottle his own near perfect sample for marking.
As James placed the final ingredient jar into his cauldron, he caught a quick flash of black in front of him as Draco casually tossing a withered substance towards Harry's cauldron. The green-brown strip hit the slightly too runny potion with a soft splash, but Harry's head was turned as he borrowed a quill from the person behind him and Hermione was at the front of the classroom, handing in her sample. Draco simply tossed James a nasty smirk and indicated to Harry's cauldron.
The potion had started to hiss and spit, grey smoke curling lazily from the cauldron. Harry turned around, his face contorted in horror and he was just about to raise his hand to get Snape's attention when the professor turned around and took note of the extremely hazardous situation that was unfolding in front of him.
"Potter!" bellowed the professor. "Everyone, out, NOW!" he continued as he strode over to the now smoking cauldron, his wand in his hand.
The entire class moved swiftly into the corridor; the heavy wooden door firmly closed behind them. No one said a word as they stood there, waiting apprehensively for a muffled explosion. No doubt the professor's already simmering temper would be taken to new levels with an apparent mistake as serious as that.
And they weren't disappointed.
"POTTER!" he thundered as the door flew open with a loud bang a few minutes later. All the students leapt back in fright. Professor Snape strode out, a look of absolute fury on his face, the tips of his hair singed and curling, a shiny burn on his cheek and half the sleeve on his right arm gone.
Harry, who had been standing with, or rather attempting to hide behind Hermione, cringed.
The professor's nostrils flared and two pink splotches appeared on his pale cheeks.
"I want you OUT of my Potions class Potter. I don't care what the Headmaster says; you will not set foot in this classroom again."
James could tell that Snape was only getting warmed up.
"You foolish, clumsy, dunderheaded oaf; you could have killed or maimed most of the class including yourself…two – no, three hundred points-"
"It wasn't him, professor," said James, cutting his Head of House of in the middle of a very impressive tirade.
Everyone around him blinked. Draco had abandoned all former poise and had his mouth hanging open. Hermione frowned and Snape turned to face James, who stood between Blaise and Draco, a look of determination on his face.
"Really, Mr Schwarz?" said Snape silkily. James gulped hard.
Why did I have to play hero and open my big mouth? It's not as if Dad knows who I am … now he'll think it was my prank and then I'll get kicked out of Potions.
Nevertheless, James looked Snape straight in the eye and confidently said, "Yes sir. I…I threw a whole daisy root into Potter's cauldron…I thought it'd be…erm…funny." His voice trailed to an indistinct mumble that swallowed the last few words. However, Snape still managed to catch what he said.
"I see," he said shortly. Then, turning to the rest of the class, he dismissed them, informing them that their books would be beyond rescue and that they should receive replacements by dinner.
"Schwarz, stay behind," said Professor Snape in a glacial voice.
Draco shot James a look of apology that was mixed with utter confusion before he turned and left, Blaise and Pansy at his side. James could only close his eyes and prepare himself for the impending explosion.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"I do not care for liars in my House, Schwarz."
James stood in front of Professor Snape's desk, his head bowed and his hands clasped in front of him. He remained silent.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" said Snape, his voice still icy and foreboding.
James raised his head and opened his mouth to speak, but kept his eyes on the desk in front of him. "I'm sorry Professor," he said meekly. "I didn't think the reaction would be so violent; I don't know what came over me."
Snape stared calculatingly at the boy who stood in front of him, before flicking his wand at the door, which shut firmly.
"Potter, you will tell me the truth unless you prefer to explain to your housemates why Slytherin has lost one hundred points in one evening and as a result is in third place behind Gryffindor and Ravenclaw."
James' mouth dropped open before he grinned wryly, realising that Snape had caught up with the weakness behind his lie. Well, it was good while it lasted, he thought.
However, he still spoke with great reluctance.
"It wasn't me. Someone else-"
"Will I be correct in assuming that the 'someone else' was Mr Malfoy?"
Surprise flashed over James' face. "They really disliked – I mean dislike each other that much, don't they?" said James with realization. "I mean, to create such a violent explosion; if you hadn't seen it…" James trailed off.
Snape nodded, but also added, "I do not think that Mr Malfoy has quite the same grasp on Potions that you do. He was most likely unaware of the reaction that resulted from his actions. He and Mr Potter have always sought to embarrass the other, but I do not think he would purposely try to inflict any serious injuries."
He noted the thoughtful look that briefly flashed across James' face before dismissing him, too. However, just as James reached the door, he called out, "Three weeks of detention Schwarz, starting from tomorrow evening at seven. You will meet me in the Potions classroom."
James stiffened as he heard the punishment and he almost spun around, a scathing retort on the tip of his tongue. But he caught himself just in time, and although his eyes were slightly narrowed, he turned slowly, nodded respectfully and left, taking care to close the door quietly.
Seated in the office, Snape regarded the closed door with a raised eyebrow. Perhaps he takes after his mother, he thought. Yes, that must be it.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
It was at the end of the day, during the lull between lessons and dinner that Draco saw, or rather, heard James again. He had had lessons with some of the other Slytherins but chose not to work with them, instead partnering with Ravenclaws when necessary.
"MALFOY!"
The loud and extremely annoyed voice rang through the Slytherin Common Room. The students there all looked up to see James enter, his face an emotionless mask except his eyes, which were narrowed and flashing. His wand was in his hand.
Draco looked up from where he was seated, at the back of the room. All survival instincts told him to flee, but pride demanded he stay. James, having caught sight of Draco's distinctive hair, swiftly made his way over to him. Draco's eyes widened and he quickly retrieved his wand from the table in front of him. Blaise and Theodore, who had been sitting next to Draco, wisely moved away.
James glided over to the dimly-lit corner and sat down, his long legs casually stretched out in front of him. He twirled his wand between his fingers and cocked his head.
"Best way of locating someone; bellow out their name and they're always certain to respond somehow." He continued to stare at Draco, but didn't make any moves to hex the other boy. Confused, Draco frowned and lowered his wand slightly.
James still did not move, seemingly content to observe Draco, who was starting to fidget under the intense stare. Then suddenly, still twirling his wand, James spoke.
"Did you know that would happen?" he asked.
Draco blinked. He shuffled slightly before hesitantly saying, "Sort of," before he quickly added, "But I didn't know the reaction would be that violent, honestly."
James' stare intensified, and Draco felt a slight probing tickle on his mind, which withdrew after only a heartbeat. He used legillimancy on me! thought Draco, his eyes widening before he blinked and turned away.
After another long moment of uncomfortable silence, Draco looked up to see James grinning apologetically at him.
"Sorry Draco," said James. "I just had to know if you were telling the truth. Look, the only reason I helped Potter was because it was clearly not his fault; you chucked the daisy root in, after all and he almost got chucked out of the class. I knew Snape wouldn't take points away from Slytherin, and he already doesn't like me anyway, so maybe it wasn't a win-win situation, but I didn't really have anything to lose," he explained.
Now it was Draco's turn to be silent as he thought over James' words. James didn't say anything; instead he pulled a book out of his robes and started to read. Draco eyed the wand that was still tucked in between the book and James' hand and took in the boy's relaxed position.
"James," started Draco. James looked up from the book.
"Hmm?"
"Look, I'm sorry for nearly killing P- on second thoughts; I'm sorry for nearly causing injury to the class, most specifically to you, as you were the nearest person to Potter's cauldron, well, apart from Potter. It was meant to be a joke, it wasn't malicious. Sorry James. You're not so bad, besides, don't really want you going around and confirming all those rumours about Slytherin, right?"
Draco was strangely tongue-tied. He wasn't used to apologizing but he knew that this time, he was most definitely in the wrong.
James regarded him for a moment before finally saying, "Okay Draco, you're forgiven." Draco managed to produce a confident smirk, but it was wiped off his face because James' wand was raised and a smug grin on his face. Draco's eyes widened and he hastily moved to avoid the bright jet of light, but he wasn't quite fast enough.
All in the Slytherin Common Room burst out laughing as a smirking James Schwarz hightailed it out of the Common Room, pursued by a Draco Malfoy who was decked out in full dress robes, albeit red with gold polka-dots, wand brandished and curses flying.