I didn't realize how bitter I sounded when I said, "Yes," but at that point, I was reliving memories I had vowed to erase from my mind. Apparently, I had broken those vows like an unfaithful bride.

Every sense and feeling of disappointment washed over me in those few seconds. I was practically clutching onto nothing to save myself from clinging back to Malfoy.

Jordan looked at me almost sympathetically – I looked at the ground.

"I'm sorry to remind you—"

"—No, I'm fine. Really." I let out a small sigh, and looked at him, my head tilted to the side.

As the rest of the students filed out of the Great Hall, a few seventh years nudged Jordan and called him on. He glanced after them, and then looked back to me. "I'll talk to you later, Bianca – kind of gotta go now. See you later."

I gave him a little half wave, and frowned as he walked away.

It was like I was in a swimming pool, he was the lifeguard . . . and he'd walked away right after he pushed me in the water.

----------------

"Very good, Woods," Slughorn commented, picking up my potion and taking a sniff at it. "Disgusting, which is exactly what I'm looking for. That deserves an O."

I let out a breath. "Thank you."

He drifted over to Hermione, and stirred at her cauldron. "Good Heavens, what is this?" He coughed, and back away from her cauldron.

"Oh, did I not make it right?" She asked frantically. Ignoring her, Professor Slughorn walked over to a group of Slytherins (double Potions with Slytherins – how worse could this day get?) She leaned over the side of her cauldron, just as it bubbled up and exploded in her face.

She shrieked.

"Hermione – are you okay?" I got up, taking off my cloak, and helped her wipe the potion off of her face.

She looked at me, and blinked. "What is that stuff?"

I guess I was staring at her kind of oddly, because she asked, "What?"

"You look a lot different." In fact, she did look different. Her skin was flawless – perfectly clear – but a violent shade of red.

Hermione rubbed her face. "Professor Slughorn, what does that potion do?"

He walked back over to the two of us. "Oh dear—"

"—Sir, wasn't that an exfoliator?" I asked.

"Yes, I believe so . . . but considering Miss Granger did not properly stir her potion, it must have had some other affect on her." He took out a piece of parchment, and scribbled something on it with a quill. "Miss Woods, please escort Miss Granger to the Hospital Wing – I'm not sure what that potion has done to her."

She looked at me. "Is it really that bad?"

I didn't answer her – she'd find out soon enough. She shuffled to her feet uncertainly, and followed me as I lead her to the Hospital Wing.

"Hello Madam Pomfrey," I said as Hermione and I walked through the doors of the Hospital Wing. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," she replied. Her back was to me, and she was writing something down at her desk. "Do you happen to need something?"

"Oh, yes," I said, glancing over to Hermione. "We had a little accident in Potions."

She turned around in her seat, and when her eyes set on Hermione, she let out a small laugh. "Oh, I've seen this one before." She clicked her tongue, and gestured Hermione over to a cot.

"Is—? I don't know . . ." Hermione trailed off as Madam Pomfrey handed her a mirror.

Hermione let out a gasp.

"It's alright, hun. I'll get your pretty little face back to its original color in less than an hour."

Hermione let out a breath. "Okay." She was silent.

"Oh, she'll be okay. Send Professor Slughorn my regards—you may be on your way now. Thank you for escorting her here." Madam Pomfrey nodded to me briefly, and then got back to brewing something to heal Hermione's face.

"Okay . . . see you, Hermione." I walked out of the Hospital Wing, and headed back for the Potions room in the dungeons. I was almost there, just a few more corners to turn, when I almost ran over a boy helping another boy walk.

"Oi – wotchit!"

I blinked, backing up. "Oh, Malfoy." Just using his name made my heart do a back flip. But of course, my heart was never a gymnast – it ended up tripping, falling, and failing.

He groaned, still gripping onto the boy by his side.

"What happened to him?" I asked, glancing at the boy. His eyes were closed, his skin was pale, and his clothes looked half-way burned.

"He got in the way of an explosion – knocked him straight cold."

I let out a sigh. "I'm guessing you need some help taking him to the Hospital Wing? You don't look like you're handling well."

"I am so," he argued.

"Okay – if you say so." I smirked, crossing my arms.

He rolled his eyes. "Fine – get on the other side."