A/N: Thank you for all of the favorites, follows and reviews! It means a lot to me! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter.
Both Hermione and Ginny were in one of their Muggle classes, which left Harry and Ron alone in Herbology with the Slytherin, with Draco Malfoy. A long drawn out sigh escaped Harry's lips as he entered the greenhouse, giving Ron an eye roll when he saw the Slytherins were already there.
As if I weren't already miffed, now I have to deal with Malfoy. Harry thought to himself. While Harry and Ron got settled, Professor Flitwick was flitting about the greenhouse, setting out various herbs, plants and roots for the students. Briefly the young boy wondered what they were going to be making.
"Welcome!" The Herbology Professor said with a smile on her face. She was clearly excited for today's lesson, but as she started to explain what they would be doing in todays class, Harry felt his stomach drop.
Once again they would be working with another house, much to Harry and Rons horror. Harry looked over to Ron and saw that his face was quite pale. There was nothing worse then having to work with Slytherins, especially Draco and his group of "friends."
Harry took a quick glance at the Slytherin table and saw that Draco looked quite forlorn. Gone was the usual cockyness that always seemed to radiate from him. The person across the greenhouse was a shell of his former self. Which was to be expected considering that for as far as Harry knew, after the war the Malfoys had gone into hiding, Mr. Malfoy having lost his prestigious position at the Ministry. Unbenounced to Harry, Lucius Malfoy was working for the family business Malfoy Apothecary. He was sure that Hermione would know what had happened to the family, he would have to ask her the next time he saw her.
Despite the fact that Malfoy looked like someone had just kicked his puppy, he still expected the Slytherin to act just as rude to Harry as ever.
"We want to foster a positive relationship between all the houses." Sprout explained, trying to rally a better response than the groans she had received for pairing Slytherin's with Gryffindor's. Harry expected to have to find his own partner for whatever they would be making.
"We thought it would be best to pair up the students in a few of their classes so everyone could get to know one another better. And I will be picking the partners for this potion." The Professor explained, which prompted Harry to pray that he wouldn't get stuck with Malfoy. She went about pairing Slytherins with Gryffindor, and when Harry's name was called he couldn't help but feel dread in the pit of his stomach, Malfoy still hadn't been given a partner.
"Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy." Sprout called out, which prompted Malfoy to flash a small smirk at his remaining friends. It seemed that despite all that had happened Malfoy still enjoyed tormenting Harry.
The raven haired young man could feel his heartbeat accelerate as Draco Malfoy came over to join Harry at his table. Ron had been paired with a Slytherin whose name Harry didn't know, and he looked at his best friend, giving Harry a wide eyed stare. Ron was just as shocked as Harry to find that Draco had been paired with him.
Kill me now. Harry thought, suppressing a groan. "Well Potter, it looks like we'll be working together." Draco drawled, his old personality starting to come back to life. It looked like he just needed to be near Harry to become his old self again. Harry had wished he had chosen to say the solemn, sad young man he had been a few minutes ago.
"Today you will be making a Hate Potion. It is a potion that shows the taker's worst traits and habits." Sprout explained. Harry wasn't sure how he felt about the potion. The Herbology Professor explained that they would be both taking the potion, one at a time. At least Harry would be able to learn what Draco's worst traits and habits were. But Draco would also learn what Harry's worst traits and habits were. He slightly shuddered at the thought of Draco knowing how stubborn Harry could be, as well as how impulsive the Boy Who Lived could be. Harry often let his emotions get the best of him, and frequently acted before thinking.
A sigh escaped his lips as he turned to speak to Malfoy. "Looks like it." He said, trying to keep his voice calm. Draco merely chuckled at Harry's words, and opened his textbook to find the Hate Potion. Harry did the same, scanning the list of ingredients needed. It didn't look too hard.
"I'll prepare the first half of ingredients, you do the second half." Malfoy commanded. Harry didn't have a problem with that, but he fact that Malfoy had ordered him to do it annoyed him to no end. "Sure.." Harry said through gritted teeth. He fixed the ingredients to the recipes instructions, putting them in his cauldron at the right time.
Harry couldn't help but glance at Draco to make sure he didn't mess up on his half of the ingredients. If they weren't done correctly it would mess up the whole potion, which could be disastrous. "You're supposed to grind those up, not cut them." Harry pointed out, trying to keep his voice even. Draco glared at him, and was about to open his mouth to speak when his eye's looked down at the book. He was indeed supposed to grind up the ingredient he had on the table. "Oh...You're right." Draco said, his laced with disappointment. He had wanted to prove the great Harry Potter wrong, but he had failed. The raven haired young man had been right. With this blow to his ego, Draco finished preparing the ingredients in silence, a shroud of forlornness once again surrounding him.
It didn't take too long for the potion to finish brewing, as Harry had bought one of the best cauldrons on the market, that insured that it could brew potions quicker than any other cauldron.
"After you Malfoy.." Harry said, giving the blond haired young man a smirk. Draco glared at him, grimacing before taking a goblet and dipping it into the brew. He gulped the nasty smelling potion in one go, face screwing up at how gross it tasted.
Harry watched him for a moment, wondering when the potion would take effect. He thought it best to ask Malfoy about his worst traits, as he wasn't sure if the Slytherin would start spilling his guts about his worst traits. "What are your worst traits?" Harry asked, doing his best to keep his voice calm, devoid of the fact that he was actually really happy to know what Draco's worst habits and personality traits were.
Draco swallowed, trying to fight the effects of the potion, but it was useless. He found himself ready to tell Harry Potter all of his worst characteristics. "I'm quite selfish." He started, giving Harry a whole backstory about how being an only child to a prominent and wealthy pureblood family as well as the fact that he had been given anything he ever asked for. There had only been a few instances when his parents hadn't given him what he had asked for, and he had grown bitter over it for a while before sulking around the manor for a while more before finally getting over it. "I need to have everything my way." Draco explained. If Malfoy had been a Muggle the phrase 'My way or the highway' would have been used quite often. "And I will do whatever it takes to achieve that." Draco said, wondering if he would spew any more of his negative traits to someone one whom he had once considered his arch enemy and rival. "I am quite proud, valuing family and blood over anything else. The Malfoy's were...are, a great, and powerful family, and I am proud to be one. I think that those that have Muggle blood in them are beneath me and should not be treated as equals. Muggles are inferior to us in every way and should be treated like second class citizens." Malfoy wanted to stop, praying that this was the last thing he would tell Harry.
Harry was speechless, although it wasn't anything shocking, it was still very odd hearing Malfoy admit his faults outloud. After a few minutes of silence the boys had concluded that the potion had worn off on Draco, which was a relief to the Slytherin.
Without saying anything Harry took his own goblet and filled his cup with the potion. Here goes. Harry took a big swallow of the drink, grimacing at the foul taste of potion. He blinked a few times, feeling words start to form on the tip of his tongue.
"I'm very stubborn." Harry explained, telling Draco about all the times where he wouldn't listen to others advice, especially from his friends. Hermione had always warned him not to do one thing or another, or that he should work on his homework. But he never listened to her, especially in their earlier Hogwarts years when Hermione tried to deter Harry from breaking curfew. "I am also quite impulsive, frequently acting before I think. And it has gotten me into some tough spots." Harry told him, going into detail about the various times he had chosen to think before acting.
Harry's face had paled once he had finished speaking. He had told Draco his biggest flaws, and he felt horrible about it. But for once there wasn't a smirk, or scheming glint in the Slytherin's eye. Infact Draco Malfoy looked quite somber, he too not saying a word as the rest of the class finished spilling their guts to each other. The two former enemies cleaned up their work station before settling back to their respective sides so they could end the class and head to lunch.
"That was bloody horrible." Ron said, shaking his head as they left the greenhouses and headed back into the castle. "Made me lose my appetite." Ron said with a groan, which actually caused Harry to crack a small smile.
"I'm sure you'll be ok once you see all the food." Harry said, patting his friend on the back. "And it wasn't that bad for me." He admitted, surprised at the words that had come out of his mouth. It could have been worse, and for that Harry was grateful it hadn't been a strong potion. He couldn't help but mull over the traits of Draco, he actually pitied the boy for becoming a spoiled brat. He wondered what it would have been like if Draco had been raised in a more tolerant home. Harry was glad to see that Draco had at least matured a bit since the last time they had been in school together. He almost seemed like a different person.