And if we dream - Draco Malfoy/ OC

Chapter 11- Vanilla

Summary: Like some magnetic force, like some unbreakable bond she was drawn back to him again and again. And now, staying away was an inconceivable notion. "Always." she murmured, one hand finding his, the other tangling into his platinum hair, "Always."

-….-

I'm re writing it to my story so the dialogue is not that same as it is in the books or films in the scenes you may recognise =]

-….-

Harry and Ron were late. Again.

Avery had expected as much, that they had been on time to lesson yesterday, the first day back to lessons had been a miracle and it seemed only right that they should return to their normal ways now. She could feel Hermione fuming beside her where she stood watching the new potions professor, Slughorn she knew, tinkering away with some vials she hadn't paid any attention to, his nasally voice droning on about the days work. He was even more tedious than Snape, Avery believed, shocked to find herself almost missing the greasy haired Slytherin sympathiser. She noticed, though, with some satisfaction that the Slytherins in the room didn't seem to happy with the teacher change. Their annoyance made it just a little better she guessed. She suppressed a small grin as she noticed Malfoy slouched angrily against a desk, his lackeys around him. Before she had barely moved her eyes away Slughorn turned towards a noise at the door and who else but Harry and Ron standing awkwardly in the doorway. She heard Hermione sigh in annoyance beside her and shook her head fondly.

"Harry, I'd been starting to worry" Professor Slughorn said, "Who is this?"

"Ron Weasley sir." Ron mumbled with a charming grin, resolutely ignoring the muffled comments from the Slytherin side of the room, "I'm well bad a potions, I probably shouldn't even be here. Menace I am."

Avery choked on her laughter as Harry physically stopped Ron from leaving the room at the same time the professor rebuked the red heads feeble attempt at leaving the class permanently.

"Actually sir," she heard Harry's voice say, "We haven't got our books yet."

"Not to worry," Slughorn replied, "The cupboard is full of them. Get what you need."

Avery noticed a ripple of annoyance run through the crowd of students, a few of which had been told off for forgetting various books and equipment this lesson. Sometimes Harry's fame wasn't the most well liked thing in Hogwarts. As the two boys disappeared into the cupboard Slughorn questioned the rest of the class as to what he had made on the table before them. Avery grimaced, whatever it was it didn't smell too fresh. Of course Hermione was the first, and only, student to raise her hand with the answer. "Yes miss-"

"Granger sir."

"Of course Miss Granger- please tell us, what is this?"

Hermione slowly moved forward, inspecting the contents of each cauldron and began to quickly and efficiently list of each one. Harry and Ron emerged from behind and a silently as possible slipped into the circle, Rons form moving to Averys left.

"It's the worlds most powerful love potion," she heard Hermione say as she refocused, "Rumour has it that when successfully made, which is extremely difficult, it will smell different to each person, depending on what attracts them, for example I smell, freshly mown grass, parchment and spearmint toothpaste." Avery found herself once again wishing she had Hermiones brain capacity, having already forgotten most of what she had said before the love potion.

"Well done miss Granger, would anyone else like to step forward? How about you?" he pointed to a shy Slytherin girl in the back who shook her head quickly.

"You?" he asked, pointing towards Avery who nodded wearily.

"Avery Greenwood," she supplied before questioned as she stepped towards the mixture, breathing in deeply, "I smell, burnt wood, a hint of, of roses, vanilla, parchment."

"Well done." the professor said as she returned to her place in the group, "Now of course this potion cannot cause real love, just powerful infatuation, or obsession." He replaced the lid quickly, "Of course it is the most powerful potion in this room."

"What is in that one sir?" a voice questioned.

"Ah yes," Slughorn said, as if he had forgotten the last one, a small tear drop shaped vial hanging from a clamp, "This."

Whether or not he had meant to add the mysteriousness to his voice Avery didn't know, but her interest was peaked, as it seemed was many others.

"Felix Felisis." he named it, and Avery found her eyes widening, lips moving to form the words 'liquid luck' as Hermione said them aloud.

"Correct. Almost impossible to make, tricky to do, but when made correctly you will find that all of your endeavours succeed. At least until it wears off of course." he explained, carefully removing the vial from the clamp.

"This is what I offer to you today. A prize if you will. To the student who manages to brew an acceptable draft of Living dead in the next hour. Only one student has ever managed to claim this prize, so I wish you luck. Page ten of your books. Of you go!"

Avery smiled, rushing to her seat like all of the others in the room, all of whom were eager to have the prize, she wasn't awful at potions, acceptable enough to make it into the class at least, she could do this, she just had to pay attention and concentrate. Surely it couldn't be that hard. Right?

-….-

This was ridiculously hard Avery realised as her Sopophorus bean slipped from her knife for the fourth time. She noticed with a little satisfaction that even potions heavy weights like Malfoy and Hermione were frowning over their ingredients. She noticed, with some shock, Harry drop in his bean with a triumphant smile.

"How did you do that?" Hermione hissed over the table.

"Crush it." Harry said almost wondrously, consulting his borrowed text book again.

"But it specifically says to cut it." Hermione argued.

Avery shrugged and crushed her bean with the side of her knife, noticing that it died easily, and crushed the liquid innards into her potion. "It works." she told Hermione quietly, with a 'just go with it' shrug. Though Hermione had already turned back to her own book.

Avery continued to read from her text book, every now and then glancing around the room as a small explosion sounded or somebody screamed. She turned her attention back to her own potion as it began to bubble over angrily. She stepped back, praying silently to Merlin that it would not explode. Luckily only a small pop sounded and as she returned to her place she noticed that her potion had crystallised. "What the?" She poked the top layer with her wand and squeaked as the contents smashed into millions of tiny crystal pieces. "I'm out." she said sadly to the people around her table who were glancing at her, laughing. Except Hermione who was looking more and more angry at her potion.

Slughorn didn't even bother to test her potion when he came around the tables, though he spent minutes gushing over Harrys with words like "perfect, wonderful."

It came as no surprise to Avery when Harry won the liquid luck. Though it bloody well should have. Harry had never completed a good potion and now he had won this almost incomparable prize. She clapped reluctantly, which was better than the Slytherins who made no move to congratulate at all. Harry's smile though, was infectious and she found herself proud of him, she hadn't seen him so happy in a long while.

They left the potions room subdued, sweaty and tired, except Harry who seemed rightfully excited and unfazed. Hermione's hair stood bushier than usual, her usual composure missing. Ron walked beside Harry, beaming, "That was bloody brilliant mate! How'd you do that?"

"I dunno mate, just followed the book."

Avery noticed, as the Slytherins filed from the room, that Pansy Parkinson's front was covered in a gloopy sludge, Blaise, who nodded towards Avery, had his normally neat robes slung over his arm and Malfoy, though his hair was as usual immaculate, had dark rings around his eyes and his lips turned downwards.

"I dunno how you did it mate." Ron continued, "I really don't."

Harry grinned, "Luck I guess. Come on, try outs after class, keep concentrating."

"It's amazing isn't it?" Hermione said to Avery as the boys moved away, "They turn up late, get free books and then Harry brews the best potion. Its just-"

"I know Mione. I know."

-….-

"Lets sit here." Hemione said, casting a quick drying spell on the damp bench, "We'll get a clear view of the entire pitch this way."

Avery nodded and dropped her bag beside her, sitting down on the uncomfortable seat, noticing Hermione send a small wave towards Ron.

She watched in excitement as Ginny weaved in and out of the other players, and Ron blocked every shot, as did McCormack on the opposite side whom Avery noticed kept glancing over at Hermione. She heard the audience gasp and turned back to Ron's side, where she saw him hanging from his broom. "Oh no." she groaned.

"Come on Ron!" she cried along with a few others, clapping as he pulled himself back into position, "He's doing great Hermione." she comforted her tense friend beside her, who seemed focused on the other keeper as the ball shot towards him. Avery frowned as the boys broom shot to the side and the ball flew through the hoop.

"Hermione!" she scolded, "Was that you?"

Hermione shot a small smile in her direction. Avery could stop herself from barking a laugh as Ron blocked another shot. "I'd never believe you to pay dirty 'Mione."

-….-

"I didn't think I'd get that last one." Ron grinned from his seat on the sofa, "It looked like it was going past but- I got it.- y'know, he's got a thing for you Hermione. McCormack has."

"He's vile." Hermione stated, not once raising her eyes from her paper. Avery knew what Ron said to be correct, she had seen McCormack staring, she also knew Hermione to be right, there was something sleazy about the boy.

"No I haven't!" Hermione snapped at Harry who had said something whilst Avery was thinking, "If you had a shred of self respect you would hand the book in."

"What's this?" Avery asked, feeling as if she had missed something.

"Didn't I tell you?" Hermione asked, Avery shook her head no, "Harry won that potion challenge because he cheated. The book has alternative notes in it."

"Really? Can I see?" Hermione rolled her eyes as Harry handed the book to his red headed friend.

"Property of the half blood prince, who names themselves that?" Avery mumbled, flicking through the pages full of scribbles and alternative instructions, "What is sectumsempra?" she asked.

"That's what I asked Hermione." Harry replied, "I've never heard of it before."

"Neither have I. For enemies." Avery mused handing the book back.

"He wont hand it back Hermione." Ron said, "He's top of the class, Slughorn thinks he is a genius I reckon."

Hermiones glare silenced anything else that was to be said though Avery grinned at Harry from her position, telling him with her eyes that if she were in his position, she would keep it too. Harry, knowing full well her meaning grinned back.

-….-

"Don't you want to know at all?" Hermione questioned as they trudged their way through the snow, Averys boots sinking into the tresses, heavy, "You've had that book for weeks and not even tried to find out who it is."

"She's right mate, you sleep with the bloody thing, aren't you curious?" Ron asked.

"I don't sleep with it."

"Yeah you do."

It was true, Avery thought, Harry hadn't seemed to put the book down since he had found it in the first week and had been reading it non stop in his spare time. For weeks he had used the book in lesson and every single potion he had attempted had been perfectly successful. Avery had even found herself watching Harry in a few lessons and trying her best to copy his movements, she suspected he knew too because sometimes he would move slower and move his ingredients into clearer view. Secretly of course, Hermione would never agree. She was still angry that he used the book at all, though loyal as she was she would never tell anyone and risk Harry being in trouble. All they needed was fir it to get back to McGonagall and anybody who knew would be in detention for weeks. Avery just thought it lucky that Snape no longer taught them that lesson, he would definitely suspect something if useless Harry Potter suddenly became the potions expert he was charading to be. It was strange, seeing professor Snape in the DADA position, his dark brooding image seemed out of place in the brightly lit room, though he taught them well, the curriculum that seemed perfect for their year group and age group and Avery didn't think she had learned as much since Lupin, or Dumbledore's army, though she had been more of a teacher in that scenario.

"Well I was curious." Hermione continued, "So I went to the-"

"Library." the three listening friends said in unison.

"What did you find?" Harry asked interest piqued.

"Nothing." Hermione spat as if she were disgusted with her inability to gleam information, though Avery guessed she probably was, "there was no references anywhere, absolutely nothing."

"That sucks." Avery mumbled, eyes following Slughorn ahead of them as he invited what had to be the third person for drinks, another who subsequently turned him down with some half hearted excuse. Avery could almost sense Harrys hero complex settling in. "Anyone for butterbeer?" he questioned.

"Definitely." Avery exclaimed, "It'll be much warmer in the three broomsticks."

And it was, Avery was glad to see, immediately hearing Slughorn chatting away to a group of people at the bar, thankful he wasn't alone like Harry had worried. Harry heaved a sigh of relief and led them towards an empty table in the back.

Harry moved to remove his jacket, staring unblinkingly towards the entrance. Avery turned to see the receding shock of blonde hair inside one of the doors. What was Malfoy doing here? And alone it seemed. She vaguely heard Hermione ordering drinks as she took off her own winter jacket and took her seat.

"Is that your sister?" Avery asked at the same moment that Ron groaned.

"Oh they're only holding hands." Hermione admonished, "And snogging."

"Id like to leave." Ron said angrily.

"Oh hush Ronald. What if she looked over here and saw you snogging me, would you expect her to walk out?"

Avery found an awkward silence fall across the table and was thankful when the potions professors voice sounded loudly above them. "Harry my boy!"

"Wonderful to see you sir!" Harry replied, shaking the only slight inebriated professors hand, "what brings you here?"

"The three broomsticks and I go much further back than I would care to admit!" he replied cheerfully, sloshing his drink to the side, the contents tipping over the females. Hermione jumped and Avery jumped back, pushing her chair back with a scrape. "All hands on deck Granger." the professor laughed, ignoring Avery's spluttered protests.

"I'm going to go and wash this off." she said to Hermione, gesturing to her shirt where it seemed the majority of Slughorns drink had landed. Hermione nodded that she had heard.

Avery sighed and made her way towards the rest rooms, ignoring the questioning look that Ginny and her new beau sent her way as she moved past them. She stepped into the brightly lit room, and clapped her hands around her pockets in search of her wand. She groaned, realising she had left it in the pocket of her jacket. Avery settled for the muggle way and pulled some toilet roll out of one of the cubicles, dabbing her chest and stomach with it, and binning the wads after. The tissue didn't do much except leave small bits of tissue on her wet t-shirt. She figured she would have to brave the stares again and do a drying charm in the public place of their table, hoping she wouldn't have to take her top off to do so, if that were the case she would have to come to the bathroom again. Her legs felt too heavy and tired from the snow to do so.

She glanced at herself in the mirror, leaning over the sink, her pale cheeks were still flushed red from the snow and indoor heat. Her hair was wet under the black hat she still wore and her shirt was soaked. She wouldn't be winning any beauty pageants today she knew. It didn't matter that she didn't necessarily know what a beauty pageant was.

On her way out of the bathroom she found herself halted by a broad back.

"Merlin!" she cried, cursing her luck that day.

"Watch it Greenwood." a haughty, familiar voice sounded.

"Malfoy." she sighed, resigned to yet another bad thing happening to top it off.

"What happened to you?" was the question she was not expecting.

"Slughorn happened." she mumbled, glancing towards her table where the aforementioned professor still stood with Harry.

"Useless oaf." the Slytherin grumbled.

"He's not." Avery found herself immediately answering back.

"You're attire speaks another story."

Avery frowned and moved to step around him but found herself asking, "Are you wearing perfume?"

"Excuse me?"

"You smell like vanilla." she replied absently, toying with the hem of her still wet t-shirt.

"Whatever Greenwood," Malfoy answered with a raised eyebrow, effortlessly whipping his wand from his blazer and muttering a spell. Avery immediately felt her clothe dry and looked down, shocked that she hadn't been deformed in some way at the Slytherin princes hand.

"Why'd you.."

"Wouldn't want one of your useless friends disfiguring you now would we." was the response she received before he turned and flounced from the tavern. As the door closed behind him she realised that in her astonishment at him actually being, dare she say it, nice or helpful, she had forgotten to ask him why he was here in the first place.

-….-

Thanks for reading! More up soon!