Two:
Hermione's eyes darted around the Great Hall nervously; she was worried about Harry. Ron however sat beside her shoving food into his mouth and looking completely at ease.
I stared down at the plate of food in front of me, suddenly losing my appetite. I suddenly found great fascination in the Slytherin table where Draco Malfoy sat. He wasn't touching his food either, but was instead having a staring contest with some mashed potato.
As if feeling my gaze he looked up, his cold grey eyes boring into mine. Startled, I looked down and began shovelling as much food as I could into my mouth.
"Slow down Liv! You'll choke!" Hermione scolded me as she watched in disgust before turning and watching as Harry made his way into the Great Hall.
His nose was bleeding heavily as he walked towards the Gryffindor table. Quietly, he sat beside me, unaware that almost everyone in the Great Hall had stopped eating to stare at him.
Ron was first to speak, "what've you done to your face?" Ron's eyes widened as Harry reached up to touch his bleeding nose, before bringing his hand back down and leaning forward, "I'll tell you later." He muttered, his eyes flickering to the Slytherin table for a brief moment.
"Tergeo," Hermione whispered pulling out her nose and cleaning up the blood on Harry's face.
After dinner in the Great Hall and Dumbledore's welcome back speech, everyone slowly began to leave and head of to their common rooms. Hermione had gone ahead, leading the first years to the Gryffindor common room while Harry stayed behind pretending to re-tie his shoe lace.
Ron hovered behind him so being the good friend I am, I decided to leave the two and walk to the common room alone, what a bad idea that was.
"Miss Hewitt!" I spun on my heel quickly and turned to face the walrus like teacher, Professor Slughorn. He waddled towards me, huffing and puffing as if he had just ran a marathon. As he reached me, he placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to steady himself.
"I do hope you have decided to continue Potions this year as you are so talented at the subject." He said, removing his hand from my shoulder and smiling down at me.
"Well sir I was—"
"Nonsense!" He shouted waving his hands in the air, "it's settled; I shall go speak to Professor McGonagall about changing your timetable... in the meantime; you get yourself a good night sleep."
Its official...I really hate Professor Slughorn.
I watched as he waddled away before making my way back to the Gryffindor common room.
"Looks like you've got an admirer, Ron." I nudged Ron in the ribs, pointing at Lavender Brown who sat at the Ravenclaw table staring at Ron. Hermione let out a huff of agitation as Ron smirked before sitting down at the Gryffindor table.
I groaned as Professor McGonagall made her way down the Gryffindor table handing out time-tables.
"Why are you so glum?" Ron asked in-between spoonfuls of porridge. "Professor Slughorn spoke to me last night about continuing with Potions... he thinks I actually want to do the bloody subject!" I growled banging my fist against the table.
Hermione looked ecstatic as I said this, "I was hoping you would continue!"
"Now Miss Hewitt...Professor Slughorn tells me you wish to continue with Potions." Professor McGonagall said as she handed each of us our timetables, looking at me through her tiny square glasses.
Instead of saying anything I just nodded my head while Hermione beamed at me from across the table.
"Good, good." She mumbled, "Miss Granger, here is your timetable, you best hurry if you want to get to Ancient Runes on time." As soon as McGonagall had given Hermione her timetable she was gone.
After studying my timetable for a while, I realised I had a free period along with Ron and Harry. So we all made our way back to the common room, Ron fiddling with a Fanged Frisbee Hermione had taken of a fourth year.
I stopped just as we reached the Fat Lady, stopping and opening my bag. "What did you forget?" Harry asked as Ron sighed.
"My timetable..." I grumbled, looking back up at them, "I'll be back."
As I reached the Gryffindor table I stiffened; the only person left in the Great Hall was Malfoy and he seemed to be watching my every move.
"Damn it Olivia, you are a Gryffindor, not a coward!" I whispered to myself as I reached the spot where my timetable lay. Grabbing it I stuffed it in my bag before turning, only to crash into Malfoy.
"Watch it Hewitt!" He snarled as I dropped my bag, books and quills scattering all over the floor. "You shouldn't stand behind people when they don't know your standing there!" I shot back, crouching down and shoving everything back into my bag.
"You shouldn't stalk people like that..." I mumbled under my breath, of course Malfoy had to hear. As I stood up hoping my bag wouldn't break he raised an eyebrow, smirking, "just tell Potter to stop snooping around."
"Or you'll break his nose again?" I asked, watching in amusement as Malfoy's smirk turned to a look of surprise before turning to a glare. "He told you..."
"Harry hates telling me stuff because he'll know I'll blab... I figured it out by myself." I told him before shoving past him a triumphant smile dancing across my face.
"Looks like I won't be able to do Snape's detention." Harry said grinning as he stared at the letter from Dumbledore in his hands. "Knowing Snape he'll probably just reschedule..." I pointed out as we arrived in the dungeons.
"You think Slughorn will be anything like Snape?" Ron asked, staring into the classroom like he'd rather be anywhere but here, I can't blame him though.
"Honestly Ronald, I don't know what your problem is." Hermione replied before trudging into the classroom. I couldn't hold back the snicker as I followed Hermione into the classroom.
"Ah, Mr Potter! I'm so glad you'll be joining us!" Slughorn exclaimed as Harry entered the class, Ron in tow.
Taking a seat next to Hermione I watched as Slughorn waddled around to the back of the classroom, grabbing two battered looking books and handing one to Ron and Harry. Slughorn then marched back to the front of the class, walking over to a potion near the Slytherin table.
"I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at," he began pointing towards the cauldron which bubbled furiously, "anyone tell me what this one is?"
I turned to look at Hermione expectantly, she always knew.
Of course, her hand shot high into the air before anyone had even looked at the potion. Slughorn himself seemed a bit shocked at her enthusiasm but pointed a fat finger towards her, "its Veritaserum sir. A colourless, odourless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth..."
How she knew that I had no idea... it's probably why her hairs so bushy.
Slughorn then moved onto the next potion closest to the Ravenclaw table, of course Hermione's hand was waving around in the air before he even asked the question.
As Slughorn made his way towards the last potion Hermione's hand was already in the air. "It's Amortentia..." She told him, even though he probably already knew.
"It's the most powerful love potion in the world." She continued, her hand dropping to her side again. At these words, every female in the classroom seemed to straighten up in their seats, each trying to get a whiff of the love potion.
"It's supposed to smell differently to each of us—according to what attracts us," at this I suppressed a scoff, "I smell freshly mown grass, and new parchment—"
Hermione stopped there, turning pink and staring down at the table.
My attention was diverted from what Slughorn was saying however as I studied the love potion in front of me. I could smell old books, roses, fresh cookies and... apples?
"Liv, why are you blushing?" Hermione asked quietly as Slughorn told the class what was in the final cauldron. "It's the Amortentia..." I muttered, glaring at the love potion that bubbled dangerously closing to the edge of the cauldron.
I seemed to have dazed off because as I started paying attention Slughorn was saying, "—to make a decent attempt at the Draught of the Living Dead. The person who does best will win little Felix over here. Off you go!"
I should really pay more attention and not get so sidetracked.
By the end of Potions I had managed to make what I thought was a descent looking Draught of the Living Dead; Slughorn thought so too... until he saw Harry's.
It was Saturday evening and Harry had just left to go have his private lesson with Dumbledore, making sure he tucked his potions book safely into his bag and out of reach of any curious people, manly Hermione.
I sat at a desk trying to get as much homework as possible done. Hermione and Ron sat in the armchairs by the fire, Hermione curled up in a ball reading a book and Ron gazing at the fire with great interest.
"Do you think I'll have enough time to head out to the library and grab a book before curfew?" I asked Hermione as she came over to inspect my homework.
She grimaced, "you're leaving it a bit late Liv... but I guess if you're quick." As soon as the words left her mouth I had already grabbed my bag and darted towards the portrait hole.
I managed to make it to the library with fifteen minutes to spare.
Madam Pince snarled at me as I entered the library, obviously somebody thought they weren't going to have to deal with any more annoying teenagers tonight!
Ignoring the ill tempered librarian I made my way over to an aisle of books. My eyes scanned over rows and rows of books, still nothing. About to give up and admit defeat I turned and slowly walked out of the aisle but a figure moving around in the back of the library caught my interest.
Draco Malfoy was leaning against a table at the back of the library, his grey eyes investigating a book he held in his hands.
I'm surprised; I thought he couldn't read, but it just goes to show, don't judge a book by its cover... or a wizard... I don't know.
As I peered at the book he held in his hands, I could just make out the title; A Guide to Dark Arts.
Interesting...
"I know your there Hewitt..." Draco called out, not looking up from his book. He finally looked up just as I stepped out from my hiding spot, his right hand tugging down the sleeve on his left arm quickly.
"What, there's no books labelled, The Dark Arts for the Stupid?" I joked, but I don't think he really knows what a joke is, not from the scowl that made its way onto his pale face.
