CHAPTER TWO: POTIONS PARTNERS
It wasn't until the next day that Hermione noticed Draco again. She had hated him more than usual after the incident on the train, though was perhaps not as angry with him as she was with Ron, who she had learned left to Seamus and Dean's compartment the day before instead of patrolling the train.
Professor McGonagall was handing out timetables and the sound of Harry choking on his cornflakes woke Hermione up from her reverie.
"Potions first thing in the morning?" he cried miserably. Hermione guessed Harry wasn't too excited on the prospect of having a class with Slughorn, the latter having found out Harry was not, in fact, a potions genius.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, it'll be a tiny class like last year," Hermione said absent mindedly, looking over at the Slytherin table. Draco was petting the eagle that had delivered him his usual package of sweets from his parents. Hermione realized he did this often, though she had never noticed, and looking up at the gloomy enchanted ceiling, she wished she had thought to put her hair in a plait.
IIIII
"Settle down, settle down," Slughorn said happily at the animated potions class. Hermione closed her book and put her attention to the front of the class, where a cauldron of what she was certain was Polyjuice Potion bubbled. She stared at Professor Slughorn and thought back to her first class with him last year, where she had identified the potions at the front of the class, one of them being a love potion. Draco had been in that class…
"Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy," Professor Slughorn beamed.
Hermione flooded with panic that flushed through her like lava. Had Professor Slughorn somehow read her mind and knew what she had been thinking? But that was absurd. Hermione grimaced in horror. Had she said something out loud about Draco by mistake? Hermione blushed to her roots and now looked like she had been holding in her breath for a week.
"Erm.." she said, and looked over at Draco, who seemed very happy with himself. Hermione's panic grew.
Class was dismissed and Hermione immediately rounded on Harry and Ron.
"What just happened?" she snarled, her face still projecting heat.
"You were just paired up with Malfoy to work on making a Polyjuice potion," Harry said, grimacing at Hermione as if she had frog spawn all over her face.
"For a month," Ron added.
Harry patted Hermione on the back and said, "At least…" and then trailed off, realizing lamely that nothing could put a positive spin on the situation. Hermione tried to hide behind her hair and separated from the two of them to make her way to Arithmancy.
IIIII
It was now Thursday and Hermione was beginning to feel deep seated anxiety. She knew she would have to begin working on the Polyjuice potion if she wanted to hand it in completed and on time. But she also knew she was required to work with Draco, and every time she thought of going up to him, to somehow suggest they should get to work, her pulse quickened and she had the overwhelming desire to sit down.
Finally at lunch she told Harry and Ron she would have to speak to Draco. They threw her sympathetic looks as she got up from the bench in the Great Hall and crossed to the opposite side, where her partner was sitting.
Hermione took a book out of her bag so that she'd have something to do with her hands, and walked over to Draco. He looked up, saw her, and looked as though he was trying to fight back a grin.
"Granger," he said smoothly, before hiding his mouth behind a cup of black coffee.
"Malfoy. Er, hi," Hermione began, while Slytherins on either side of Draco snickered. Hermione ignored them. Pansy Parkinson, who was sitting on Draco's right, threw Hermione a vicious look.
"I think we should start the project for Potions together. It takes a month to do and there's no point wasting any more time."
Draco took a sip of coffee and squinted from how hot the dark liquid was.
"Alright," he said impassively.
"Good luck trying to make a potion with that book, Granger," Pansy sneered, pointing at the book Hermione was holding. It was her Ancient Runes textbook. Hermione's cheeks turned cherry red and she opened her mouth to reply but she was interrupted by Pansy, who said, "Do you think you need that book to break open some code? Because I think it's obvious that Draco isn't interested."
Draco ignored Pansy. His eyes had not strayed from Hermione's, and he said, "How about tomorrow? We have a free period after breakfast since Slughorn's supposed to give fifth years career advice. We can meet at the library." Pansy's jaw dropped, though Draco was not smiling. Hermione nodded and left the Great Hall, relieved to feel her face going back to its regular temperature.