Title

Among the Serpents

Chapter 8

By

Adrienne Black

Harry woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. He was still feeling a bit drunk, nothing a quick spell couldn't fix. He cursed Halloween for occurring on a Tuesday, and cursed Snape even more for have a class at 8:30am.

Harry brought himself to roll out of bed, feeling a large draft as he unwrapped himself from his sheets. It was then that he found himself completely naked, and while some men slept starkers, he was not one of them. He turned around to see a glimpse of fiery red hair poking out of his bulky comforter. If anyone had been in the room to see him, they would have thought Harry's expression was quite odd, for a look of sheer concentration painted his features. He could not for the life of himself remember how Ginny had gotten into his bed, and that was something a guy usually remembered.

Well not remembering the fact did not make it any less of a fact, and Harry felt resigned to accept it (it's not like it hadn't happened before) and left the room to take a shower. Twenty minutes later, at 7:56am, Harry had finished showering and reentered his dormitory to find Ginny up and dressed, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of his mirror putting on make-up. She turned her head, watching Harry as he put on his uniform.

"So, Harry… I know we weren't able to talk yesterday night… but I think we should now…"

Harry knew where this was going. He also knew that any guy with half a brain and fully-functioning hormones would face a mountain troll for the chance that Ginny was about to give him. He also knew that two weeks ago he would have been across the room already, hugging her and telling her that she was the one. But it was not two weeks ago, it was now, and now he did not feel that way, although he wasn't sure why. So what should he do? Date Ginny, knowing fully well that he wasn't fully committed to her, or let her down easily, and admit to himself that there was a disturbing reason for his sudden shift of desires.

"Your right, Gin, we should talk…"

Hermione's woke up, at 7:56am the very same morning with a mop stick poking into her armpit and a sponge flopping up and down on top of her head. She was groggy, to say the least. She felt like she had slept forever, but had gotten no sleep. Well, wouldn't anyone after spending a full night sleeping on the floor of a broom closet? She groaned, smacking the sponge off of her head and lifted herself up using a nearby shelf. Her legs were asleep--how perfect.

After walking around in a circle for a good two minutes the circulation had returned to her legs and she was able to make her way to her dormitory. She was eternally thankful that everyone was still in the Great Hall for breakfast, as she didn't encounter anyone or anything but a suit of armor. She muttered the password and the portrait sung open with a growl from the lion.

She quickly threw on one of her altered uniforms and a black and green striped head band, tied at the nape of her neck. She had only four minutes to get to class by the time she ran out the door, muttering the spell for her make-up and hair as she ran down the corridor, headed toward the dungeons. She was crunched for time, and unlike most Slytherins, she wasn't granted lenience for her tardiness from Snape. With a minute to spare, Hermione sprinted into the classroom and took her seat in the back of the room. Turning to her right, where she had expected Draco to be sitting, she found an empty seat. She scanned the room, spotting Draco sitting next to Blaise. His expression was half apologetic for not sitting with her (clearly he hadn't expected her to show up) and half furious.

She couldn't really blame him. For Merlin's sake she couldn't have been found anywhere last night, and Draco probably thought something despicable of her.

The bell rang just as Potter dashed into the room. Technically he was on time, but Snape grinned evilly and swept over to Harry's seat.

"Well, how nice of Potter to join us. Thought you'd roll out of bed to grace us with your presence? Typical. 20 points from Gryffindor for tardiness."

Potter's fists clenched and his face started to get red.

"But I was on time!"

"Were you, or were you not in your seat when the bell rang, Potter?"

"No. But I was in the room!"

"That just isn't good enough Potter. The rest of the class managed to be in their seats when the bell rang, so how is it you could not?"

"Malfoy's been late loads of times, you've never taken points from him!"

"20 more points from Gryffindor I think." With that Snape turned on his heel and headed toward the chalk board. With little flicks of his wand directions appeared in bright white letters.

MEMORY POTION
-Main Ingredient: Joberknoll feathers
1. Fill cauldron with 7 liters of Acromantula blood.
2. Simmer for 23 minutes, 18 seconds.
3. Add 3 grams of thinly diced Gurdyroot.
4. Stir seven times counterclockwise, 2 times clockwise.
5. Heat until liquid turns a hazy green.
6. Stir in 2 mL of pixie saliva-Potion will steam immediately.
7. Add Bobuter puss dipped Joberknoll feathers.
8. Stir for 37 minutes clockwise. Liquid will be dusty orange is executed properly.

A filled vile of the potion will be expected on my desk at the end of the second period for a grade.

Snape turned to the class "You may begin." and sweep away to his office. Some may think it unwise to leave a group of teenagers of opposing houses in a room with magic wands and poisonous ingredients, but Snape did not.

"40 points, Potter. That's harsh. I guess we know who won't be winning the House Cup this year eh?"

"Mm, but then again Gryffindors don't cheat. I don't suppose you know anything about that."

"You mean about losing? No, can't say that I do."

"Oh shove it Zabini."

Hermione raised her head from her notebook as the two boys hurled insults at each other. How petulant. Shaking her head she went back to work and in an hours time she had produced a flawless Memory Potion. She poured some of the orange liquid in to a vile and brought it to Snape's desk. Snape, who had recently returned to the classroom and was grading papers raised his head and nodded. Before Hermione could turn around Snape began speaking to her.

"Congratulations are in order, Miss. Granger." Snape started stiffly. "It's not often that the Ministry chooses an intern so early into the year." He nodded again and went back to work, leaving Hermione with the strong sensation of his imminent dislike.

"Thank you Professor." She replied and walked back to her seat, receiving many stares from her classmates.

Soon after, the rest of the students began to frantically vile their potion in time for the bell as Hermione read her Transfiguration textbook in the back of the room. When the bell finally rang Hermione was slow to get out the door, but with no avail, because coincidentally so was Draco.

"So… an internship at the Ministry? Congrats.. It's too bad you won't be doing it." He chuckled as they walked into the corridor.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm going to do it Draco, it's an amazing offer. I'd have to be daft to turn it down."

They had stopped walking now and were in the middle of some random corridor.

"Don't be ridiculous. Purebloods don't work in the Ministry."

"What are you talking about? Your father works there!"

"No, he does business there…he doesn't actually work there, no purebloods do. Unless you're a spy, and even then you have to be stationed by my father." He replied matter-of-factly.

"Well this is just ridiculous, isn't it? I'm not going to argue with you over this internship, it's a big deal to me and you will support me Draco, if you know what's best for you." She turned on her heal an walked away.

Why couldn't he just be happy? McGonagall had said that she was the first Hogwarts student to receive this opportunity since Gwenog Jones. So what purebloods didn't work in the ministry. She wasn't exactly a pureblood anyway was she?

And she'd sooner announce her heritage than spy for Draco's father. She knew what he was planning, and she knew it would never work. Lucius Malfoy was (not unexpectedly) trying to become Minister of Magic. One would think that after two Death Eater accusations the Ministry would wise up to Lucius's true loyalties to himself, but it seems they fancied thinking the man was a saint. And of course the constant support and praise of the many pureblood families in the wizarding world did nothing to hinder Lucius's ego.

Hermione sighed deeply, as she realized she would never be able to accept the internship in the Department of Mysteries.

Later that day Harry sat down for lunch in the Great Hall. Who knew the day after Halloween could be so eventful for him? The little red head who woke up by his side this morning was now his girlfriend. That sounds romantic sure enough, but the story wouldn't be so cute if anyone knew what was racing through his head.

Here he was, envy of every Gryffindor, and he had the nerve to be unhappy. How long had he wanted this? Two years, three even? And yet…

At this moment one Hermione Granger would walk through the big oak doors leading into the Great Hall, looking rather glum. Harry watched her sit down by Draco, kissing him unenthusiastically on the cheek. Harry clenched his fists.

Someone was tapping him on the shoulder now.

"Hey Harry." It was Ginny. She slid an arm over his shoulder as she sat down and kissed him, letting her arm fall to his thigh. "How were your classes?"

Harry replied that they were good, and carried on a simple conversation of pure small talk. Perhaps if Ginny was not so swept away with happiness she might have noticed his eyes glancing furtively to the Slytherin table.

Hermione glanced across the Great Hall just in time to notice little Weaslette slide next to Potter and kiss him. She raised an eyebrow to herself. So Weasley had finally convinced Harry to date her. It only took her six years. She smirked to herself, he looked positively miserable. It appeared as though he wasn't even trying to seem happy--big mistake.

She glanced to Draco, who was drinking some smuggled in butterbeer, and reached for his hand. She didn't know why she felt the need to be so affectionate to him today, especially after he smashed her dreams about the ministry.

She slid closer to him and brought her lips to his earlobe and began whispering… questionable thoughts into his ear. Her hand released his and moved to his inner thigh, her thumb massaging the skin in a circular motion. She giggled into his neck, and glanced across the hall. At that moment Hermione's eyes met Harry's and held them for what seemed like ages. His features were filled with a mixed expression of disgust and despair which made Hermione feel absolutely dreadful.

Her heart was racing now, but not because of passion and not for lust. She let out a gasp as a most appalling (but true) thought hit her square in the forehead. Draco, whose hand was across her stomach gave her a quizzical look.

"What's wrong babe?" he asked breathlessly, in a tone that told Hermione he didn't really care.

"N-nothing.. I have to go."

Quickly, Hermione rose from the table, knocking over her goblet of pumpkin juice (which the table absorbed almost instantly). She walked so quickly out of the Great Hall she might as well have been running.

As the oak doors closed behind her she found a wall to lean against and sunk to the floor. She was breathless and it took quite some time before she caught her breath. When she did she rose and made her way to her dorm room, praying that Draco wouldn't follow her, and hoping even more that Harry would.