Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters all belong to J.K. Rowlings. My imagination belongs to me, which is where this story came from. I did have a great deal of help from my sis.
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Power in All Its Glory
Chapter 3: A Little Fun with Malfoy
Hermione watched Professor Snape as he stalked through the classroom. The air around him seemed alive with electricity. She marveled at the way he was able to make them all feel: Fear, anger, desire. All right well, maybe she was the only one who felt the last one.
It had been two weeks since she had told him she love him. Since that time, he had been avoiding her. She wasn't hurt, really. She knew he was not the type to openly show his feelings. She was also his student. She knew that until she graduated he would continue to keep her at a distance.
Of course, a small part of her worried that maybe he did not care for her at all. She quickly dismissed that thought. There was no sense in thinking negatively.
Hermione Granger had always worked hard to accomplish what she wanted. She was not a quitter. So what if he completely ignored her. What did she expect? Did she expect him to declare his love for her in front of the whole potion's class?
As she thought this, she imagined him rushing over to her to the surprise of the entire class. She could picture him taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. Staring into her eyes, he would announce his love for her and pull her into a kiss. Hermione let out a sigh.
Unfortunately, it was a rather loud sigh.
"Miss Granger." The velvety voice woke her from her reverie. "Since you obviously know everything there is to know about potions, I am surprised you even bother coming to class." She looked up into his scowling face.
"Yes, sir ... I mean, no sir." She wasn't sure how she was supposed to answer.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor. Now, pay attention!" He then stormed back to the front of the class.
She was surprised she got off so light. She noticed he avoided giving her detention.
She heard snickering from the Slytherin section. Malfoy was smirking at her, obviously enjoying her discomfort.
Hermione fumed. She hated Malfoy so much. She gave him an evil look. He smirked once again and turned back to his cauldron. Hermione thought of all the things she could do to cause him pain.
As if on cue, his cauldron started shaking. Malfoy backed up in surprise. Everyone turned to watch as the cauldron suddenly erupted and ashes spewed everywhere.
Malfoy stared at the offending cauldron. His hair and face were covered in soot. The black particles were a stark contrast to his light blonde hair. As the class began laughing, Malfoy turned and glared at Hermione.
"You stupid Mudblood!" he sneered at her.
"Silence!" Professor Snape took command of the class. All the frustration from the last few weeks seemed to spur him on.
"I will have order in this class!" He glared at Malfoy and then at Hermione.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger. You will both have detention tonight!"
Hermione tried to protest that she did not actually do anything but it was to no avail. Professor Snape just ignored her and yelled for the class to continue working on their potions.
No one noticed the satisfied look on Neville Longbottom's face.
At first, he just wanted to cause a little mayhem, get back at Malfoy, and assist Hermione in getting detention (and alone time with Snape). Malfoy having detention too, changed things.
However, an idea had already started forming in his mind. This was not just any idea but a plan that would cause Snape and Malfoy a great deal of mental anguish. He acknowledged that it would also cause Hermione some pain.
Well, he thought, love hurts. She will just have to deal with it.
Just as he had learned to deal with it for the last two years.
