Chapter VII

Getting started

"So how do you like Hogwarts so far?" Esme gabbles excitedly, as Hillary and Daphne on either side of her eat in an almost glum silence. Pansy's chattering with Malfoy further down the long table, but I don't think he's listening. He hasn't looked at me all morning. Why the hell is it driving me so crazy?

"Uh-yeah. Yeah it's not bad." I say hurriedly, managing to grasp the conversation. I was kind of distracted by Malfoy's shirt. He's rolled up his sleeves, exposing his creamy forearms, where tendons snake up his arm, his muscles devastatingly obvious even though he shows no signs of tensing. It was hard to look away.

"Not bad?" Esme chirrups, cocking her head to one side, which irritated me so much. She wasn't cute like a puppy- why waste her time trying to act like one?

"No, it's great! It's just…" Search for something…anything! "Homesick. Yeah I'm starting to miss my parents."

"It's been one night." Daphne points out. I shrug morosely, like some sad little mummy's girl who'll wet her bed when she's away from her comfort blanket too soon…

"Yeah…um…but I like the toast here!" I babble, taking a bite, so I don't have to talk further. They raise their eyebrows but drop the subject.

"Seen any boys you like the look of yet then?" Hillary asks dully, but nevertheless a glint of interest appears in her eyes. Pansy immediately grows quiet (a sight to behold) and her eyes rest on me. I try not to go red.

"They have yet to impress me." I tell her, hoping Malfoy will get the hint. I hear a noise come through his nose, like a laugh, and he shifts slightly.

"Miss Charm." The tapping on my shoulder helps me to realize that I should be turning round at this point. It's Snape, and I immediately assume he's here to flirt, but he simply hands me a piece of parchment.

"Your timetable."

Phew…! So no letchy leerings this morning, then.

"It seems you have double potions first. I look forward to your conscientious work..."

Then again…

Luckily he walks away, but I notice everyone trying to contain their smirks.

I take a look at my timetable, and notice that nearly every lesson is crossed with the Gryffindors. This helps me relax a bit. When I came into the hall and caught sight of Ron and Hermione tucking into their food without me, not even noticing me (Fred and George certainly did) I felt a twinge of something…something like homesickness but for my friends. It comforts me that at least we'll be in lessons together, so I won't be completely alone with the Slytherins, even though I'll probably have to act like an asshole to them.

But right now, I concentrate on how to get a seat next to Malfoy…

As we enter the dungeon, I try to look as if I've never seen the room before, even though the dread automatically washes over me. My new friends immediately head for the front seats, and I realize I've never sat at the front before. If you sit at the back, you're less likely to be caught getting help from Hermione. I catch sight of a smaller, more secluded desk in the corner, still on the front row, but more private. I see Malfoy head for it, and Pansy follow.

Bollocks! Quick, get in there before it's too late!

Trying to be inconspicuous, I head over to where they're already getting their quills and ingredients out, Pansy gabbling away and Malfoy re-rolling up his snow white sleeves.

"Hey, Pansy?" I ask, trying to seem meek and vulnerable. Like it would even stir a sense of pity from that zombie…but it's worth a try.

"Yes?" She sounds a bit irritated that I'm interrupting them.

"I don't really have any ingredients..."

"Over there." She says harshly, pointing to the store cupboard.

"Um…" I glance over my shoulder and look back, trying to contain my impatience, "Where?"

She doesn't bother to repress a sigh, "Wait here, I'll get them for you." Slowly she rises out of her seat, her eyes on me the whole time, and strides off to the cupboard.

Acting quickly, with my heart pounding I take her seat and start to unpack my potions book. Malfoy watches me, resting his temple against his fist, not with anger, indignance or disbelief, but with silent curiosity. I hear Pansy's growing footsteps and feel a punch of excitement.

She slows to a stop in front of us, her arms full of ingredients. I feel my heart beat pick up even more as I look at my cauldron in silence.

"What are you doing?" She demands. It takes a second for me to look up into her face and see anger, indignance and disbelief. No curiosity. She's simply pissed.

"I couldn't find a seat." I say innocently, blinking my big eyes and frozen to the spot. She glances around the room and sees that there are over ten free seats.

"What are you talkingabout-?"

"Miss Parkinson, take a seat so we can begin." A dangerous hiss sounds behind her. She turns to Snape and opens her mouth to protest but I guess she realizes it won't get her anywhere. She saw Snape leering at me at the breakfast table- who does she think he is going to favor?

With an angry noise from her throat, she seizes her things and slams them onto a desk three tables down. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear Malfoy looks amused.

Snape sets us a complicated potion, silencing the Gryffindor's protests that we haven't studied this type of potion making with the threat of detention. The Slytherins stay silent, almost smugly. Malfoy sits back doing nothing, which surprises me because he's always been infuriatingly good at potions, still having not spoken to me at all. I stare at my cauldron blankly.

With a swish of a cloak, Snape slides past, his wand half hidden underneath his sleeve, and suddenly there is potion bubbling with life and magic before I can even blink.

I stare at it, wide eyed, and look to Snape, who smirks as he continues to stride past the other Slytherins, who look awfully relaxed for such a challenging assignment. I notice that the students whom he has already passed are sitting back in their seats, with potions the exact same colour and characteristics as mine mulling in their cauldrons, ready to be corked.

Knowing already what I'm about to see, I turn and watch my fellow Gryffindors struggling to control the frothing of their own remedies, furiously skinning various ingredients with sweat on their brows and desperately flipping through their books for any sign of help, completely unaware of what's going on because they are too immersed in their uphill battle. I don't expect Snape to help them out, and I'm right. When he passes the last Slytherin, he turns and heads back to his desk, smirking to himself.

That BASTARD… I knew he favored his own house, but to this extent? No wonder Slytherins always soar through his classes, he does all the bloody work for them!

Hoping beyond hope, I turn and scan the room for good old Hermione. Thank god, she's stirring her own potion that looks just as satisfactory as mine. I feel a surge of pride. She's the best in the class, as usual.

"Thank god for Snape, otherwise you'd be sitting with an empty cauldron all lesson." Malfoy said calmly. Electric currents scatter through my body, fizzling to my fingertips.

Perfect. With a whole lesson with nothing to do ahead of me, it's my chance to finally draw Malfoy in…

I smile and turn to him.

"Sorry, what's your name again?"