Chapter 6: Potions
I walked into Potions class and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that the Professor was late, again.
I took my usual place besides Harry and Ron. Harry was telling me about his plans to become an Auror but I was not really paying attention. I was too distracted watching Malfoy a couple of rows behind us, and trying to decipher what he meant by I should be afraid of him.
Finally, Professor Slughorn walked into class and everyone went silent.
"Right, today we will be brewing Pepperup Potion. Can anyone tell me what it's for?" he asked.
I immediately raised my hand answered, "It's used to cure the common cold, Sir."
Oh gosh, I learnt this during First Year. It's so simple! Professor Slughorn is always doing the simplest of potions. It's times like these when I kind of miss Snape. At least with him there was a bit of a challenge.
"Correct, Miss Granger. Now, I would like all of you to brew this potion in pairs."
Pairs? Why would we need a partner to brew one of the easiest potions ever? Ugh, I could do this with my eyes closed. I don't need a partner. Nevertheless, hopefully I get someone good.
"Right. So…Potter and Brown. Weasely and Thomas. Zabini and Finnegan. Parkinson and Goyle. Longbottom and Crabbe. Granger and Malfoy…"
I didn't need to listen on because my jaw dropped open and I was in utter shock.
Malfoy?
Of all the people I could work with, I get freaking Malfoy?
I saw him sitting lazily at his desk as everyone moved around. He just sat there staring at me expectantly.
He wanted me to go over to him.
Ugh.
Grudgingly, I stood up with my textbook and made my way to him. I passed by Ron who muttered 'good luck'. I simply glared at him.
Easy for you to say, you got Dean.
I slammed my book onto Malfoy's table.
"Get up. I am not doing this by myself." I snapped as he continued to just sit there.
"What? A simple cold potion too complex for you, Granger?" he smirked.
"Complex? Oh please, Malfoy. I could do it blindfolded in my sleep. But that doesn't mean I still do all the work and you get the credit. I'm not going to let you take advantage of me like that." I retorted.
"Fine, fine Granger." He muttered, standing up and flipping over the textbook.
"Get the ingredients. I'll set this up." He ordered.
"I will once you run that by me again, this time more politely." I replied.
"Oh don't start all that with me, Granger. Just go get the bloody ingredients!" he demanded again.
I seethed at him.
He thinks he can just order me around like some House Elf?
"No. Ask me politely or get the ingredients yourself." I smirked.
He stopped setting up the cauldron and walked up to me, towering over me by a couple of inches.
"Don't mess with me. I asked you to get the damn ingredients. So just get them. The faster you get the ingredients, the faster we can finish this and the faster I can get away from you, filthy Mudblood." He sneered.
That did it.
"What is your problem, Malfoy!" I asked loudly, but not too loudly so as to avoid attracting attention.
"My problem? What is your problem? You're the one who can't just do what you're told!"
"Would it kill you to just say please and use a civil tone with me?"
"With you? Yes, it would! Now shut up and get the darn ingredients, Mudblood!"
"Don't call me that, you horrid, incorrigible DeathEater!"
"DON'T…don't ever say that word again." I spoke harshly and quietly, shaking with rage.
It was weird how nobody had heard our blowout.
Probably because the class was quite noisy with chattering and laughing and bubbling sounds, and we were right at the back.
"Why, Malfoy? I'm just calling you what you are." I shrugged.
"Do not make the mistake of thinking you know me. You don't know anything about me." He said in a low voice.
His face was inches from mine and he was staring down at me intently. His eyes were piercing right through me. It was like he was looking into my soul, and it freaked me out.
He backed away slightly and turned back to the cauldron with a sad and pained look on his face. For a minute I almost felt sorry for him at how broken he looked. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, closing his eyes. Finally, he looked up.
"Just get the ingredients, Granger. Please." He whispered the last word and I stopped for a second as I felt there was a double meaning behind that word. He said it almost pleadingly.
I nodded meekly and went over to the cabinet of ingredients.
Throughout the rest of the lesson, we didn't speak at all. Surprisingly, he was really efficient and good at brewing the potion and we finished earlier than the rest. Professor Slughorn came over to inspect our potion and said that it was the best of the class.
After lesson, we just parted ways and avoided each other as much as possible for the rest of the day.