Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Hermoine was hurrying to Potions, for which she was slightly late having got a bit lost in the library. Snape gave her a withering look as she entered breathlessly and went to the nearest empty desk.
"Very kind of you to join us, Miss Granger," slithered Snape. "And where, pray ask, are your grotty little friends?"
"If you mean Harry and Ron, I'm quite sure I don't know," replied Hermoine, meeting the gaunt teacher's harsh gaze levelly. "I am not their keeper."
"Whatever," muttered Snape, sweeping around and going to his desk. "Now, on with the learning," he announced before launching into a long list of combustive potions and methods of handling them with care. Despite her dislike of the teacher, Hermoine never missed an opportunity to expand her already impressive knowledge and began to take careful notes.
Across the classroom, paying less attention to Snape's dictation, sat Draco Malfoy. He was staring at Hermoine with his trademark scowl etched across his smooth young face. Filthy Mudblood, he thought. Always studying and learning stuff, but she'll never wield the power of a true wizard. The object of his inward abuse looked up for a moment and happened to catch his glance, and he imediately looked down, surprised by his own sudden embarrasment. She is pretty cute, though...
Hermoine, too, looked down. Why was that creep always staring at her? She risked another glance, but he had returned to his work. She nudged Parvati Patil, and whispered, "Psst! Is Malfoy blushing?"
Parvati peered closely at the vampire-haired lad, then whispered back. "He is, too." She whispered it to Lavender Brown, who was rubbish at keeping things quiet.
"Hey look everyone, Draco's blushing!" she cried out.
Everyone pointed at Draco and laughed, which just made him blush deeper. "I am not," he snarled. "Malfoys don't blush."
"Pipe down, you little scragends," shivered Snape. "Get on with your work. Brown, go and stand outside."
"But Sir," objected Lavender.
"Shut up!" screeched Snape. "A year's detention, and a thousand points from Griffindor!" He drew out his wand, and students around Lavender scattered fretfully. "Obliviamo!" he cried impressively, and Lavender disappeared with a loud thunderclap. "Right," snapped Snape, "anyone else?" He looked around murderously, pretending not to notice his favourite student Malfoy flipping the bird at Hermoine and Parvati. "Good. Then on with the-"
But just then the bell rang, and everyone ran away.