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Millie and I collected our thing's and exited the Great hall. We chose to go around the end of the table and avoid walking behind Pansy who

didn't appear to be completely recovered from that rather nasty, Blistering Boils hex . The boy's stayed a discrete distance behind us. I noticed

people were still staring. They were standing around in little group's and pointing. Apparently many wizarding children were born in barn's,

because I was taught pointing was rude. It would seem that they missed that owl . I was also struck by the fact that in the crowded corridor. All I

could see was a wall of people and I was getting pushed and shoved and knocked into. Until my head started to ache a bit where I had hit it last

night. So finally I grabbed on to Millie's arm and just aloud her lead the way, that seemed to help. We finally made it. Millie and I found a

spot .She had wanted to sit in the back with the other Slitherins but I convinced her to sit in more neutral territory in the middle. The class was

noisy and unruly as usual. Harry was toward the front. He gave me a small nod when he entered Ron was sitting with him where I would have

normally liked to have been, but Ron had a sour look on his face . So, still in a mood then. That made me glad I was, where I was, and I didn't

have to listen to him whinge, and put up with his sulking.

XXXX

Professor Flitwick brought the class to attention. " All right class that's quit enough, settle down please he said in his squeaky voice. This is

seventh year advanced Charms. That means we will be covering many complicated charms. I expect all of you to pay close attention. Many of

the things we will be covering will be on your NEWT'S. Today we will begin work on a more complicated version of the Wingardium Leviosa

charm. The more complicated form offer's more control to the caster. Making it more useful where care is required. We will be breaking this

lesson up into three part's. We will start with an object for the first lesson. Then we will move on ,using your partner sitting in a chair for the

second and for the third your partner will be standing. So mastering control will be very important." He said. He then preceded to demonstrate

the modified spell and wand movements. He then announced that he had already paired the team's, this was never good. The whole class moaned.

Harry and Draco.

Blaise and Seamus.

Ron and Crabbe. ( There was justice in the world )

Millie and Parvati.

The list went on until I was finally paired with Neville.( Ok so the worlds not completely just after all.)

Well at least Neville is passable in charms. I thought. So with that we set to work. Due to all the drama of my summer. I hadn't had time to go

over my books like I usually do. So as a result I was having a bit more trouble mastering the charm work than normal. Neville to his credit was

doing well and I was beginning to think that this wouldn't be so bad after all. Even so by the end of the class I had a raging headache and I

wasn't feeling at all well. All seventh year classes were double periods due to the more complicated subject matter so after class it was time for

lunch. I waited for most of the student's to file out before I headed for the door I didn't feel like getting pushed around anymore at the moment.

Once I made it into the hall I spotted Harry waiting for me. " Hey Shorty have lunch with me ? " He asked. I couldn't help but smile . " Why Mr.

Potter are you asking me out to lunch what would the neighbor's say ? " I said . Harry just laughed and we walked to the Great hall together

just like old times.

XXXX

When we finally arrived I was nearly tackled to the ground by an excited Ginny. My head was throbbing and I was feeling every single bruise I

had acquired yesterday, but I had missed my friends and this was the first time I had gotten to eat with them all since everything had changed I

didn't want to ruin it by complaining. So we sat in our regular places. Everyone ,except Ron ! Was attacking me with every kind of question from

the normal one's like," What's the Heads dorm like ?" To odd one's like." Are your parent's evil ? " I tried to be gracious and answer them all

to the best of my ability but it was starting to get ridiculous after a while it wasn't just Griffindore's anymore. There were Ravenclaw's and

Hufflepuff's as well. I was feeling claustrophobic and my head had gone from aching to splitting. I was so glad when it was over. I hadn't been

able to eat much of my lunch and I was sorry I had eaten as much as I had, my stomach was churning. I just wanted some fresh air. Double

Potions was next and all I wanted to do was crawl back to my room and slip into something more comfortable. Like a comma ! I finally said my

good bye's and left the table only to stumble over Ron's boat foot planted directly in my path, luckily Harry caught me before I could land on

my face. Harry turned and yelled at Ron. " What is wrong with you ? " Ron's only response was. "Guess she need's to watch were she's going. "

And stalked off slamming into my shoulder as he passed. " OUCH !, Thanks Harry !" I said. " Not a problem, Ron's just jealous of all the

attention your getting . " He said. " Come on I'll walk you to Potions . " " Thanks ! " I said.

XXXX

We made it down to the dungeon class room without further incident and again. I was faced with where to sit. Finally I decided that I should sit

with the other Slytherins at lest in Potions. I was Head Girl I needed to set an example and be friendly with everyone. Besides I didn't want to sit

next to Ron and the only other open space was next to Neville and I wanted to live. So that's how I ended up stuck next to the Head Boy. " If I

didn't know any better Loyce I would think you were beginning to have a bit of a crush on me. Not that I would blame you after all. " He

babbled. " Look at me. Oh wait, you already did. Well that explains why you're here and not sitting with Potty, though just so you know. I draw

the line at sitting on my lap. " Draco said with so much pomp and arrogance if Snape hadn't walked in I don't know that I could have held back

the violence that was itching to burst out of me. Thought's just kept running though my mind of all the thing's I could say to him if I had the nerve.

That's right Malfoy. Keep it up . Keep it up and I'll vomit on you, you idiotic ameba.

You hairy goat sniffer . You troll love child. You reeky vampire belch. You stinktaculous piece of bellybutton lint,

but my impressive train of thought was cut off when Professor Snape began his class.

XXXX

" This is seventh year Potions, Your presence in this class is a privilege, NOT a right. " He took a moment to look at Harry, Ron, and Neville in

turn before continuing. " Failure, disrespect and misconduct will get you a one way ticket out of my class consider yourselves warned. "

He said in a sharp deep and deadly hiss.

" The potions we will be brewing this year are DANGEROUS ! They are COMPLEX ! And they will require more than

one person to successfully brew . So you will be partnered with the person sitting next to you for the remainder of the year." No ! My mind

screamed . I don't want to be paired with the Albino Crotch Critter ! I already have to share a dorm with him, isn't that punishment enough ? I

thought . Sadly this was Snape and he would brook no argument on anything, ever, so there was no point complaining. I was doomed to this

vapid nightmare for the rest of the year ! My mind sobbed for my horrendous miss fortune, but on the outside I think I managed to look only

slightly put out. Ten point's to me I thought. " The Potion we will be working on is called, ' Sparkling Whit ! ' It is extremely difficult to brew and

will take a month to complete. If brewed correctly the drinker will experience a permanent increase in overall intelligence and if brewed

Incorrectly. The drinker will experience varying degrees of decreased intelligence. Depending on how badly the potion was botched.

Though some of you may not notice any difference at all . " He said looking at Neville who shrank just a little. I felt bad for

him. That was really mean, but this is Snape after all. " Like the Felix Felicis, potion, Sparkling Wit, may only be taken once in a life time. "

With that he spun and with a wave of his wand the instructions appeared on the board.

" BEGIN ! " He said. Every one jumped into action.

XXXX

Looking over the list of ingredients I went to the cupboard as Malfoy set up. I felt the room move a little as I hopped up. I held onto the table

until it passed before moving to the cupboard . Luckily no one noticed. Everyone of my step's vibrated painfully through my whole body and I

was glad Snape's class room was dark, cold and quiet . I don't think I could have handled Transfiguration right now. I collected the item's I

required and headed back to my work station where Malfoy was already starting. As much as he annoyed me. He was good at Potions I knew that

with him as my partner I would at least get a good mark. He placed several item's in front of me to chop and I set to work. After a while of this I

noticed him looking at me. " What ? " I snapped. " What's wrong with you ? " He asked. " Nothing is wrong with me. " " Your not bossing me

around and you look funny. "He said. I glared at him " Thanks a lot, lady's man. For your information. I just want to get this over with . So if

you don't mind I have work to do. " I whispered angrily. Draco left it at that and went back to work, but he kept shooting glances my way every

so often. The room was moving again as Snape was making his rounds. I tried to focus on my work and block everything else out but,

it was getting more and more difficult to remain standing as the room tipped dangerously. I finally had to grip the table and hope it passed before he got

to us. That was the position I was in when he came up behind me. " Miss Loyce has the table offended you in some way ? " He asked in his deep

silky voice. Normally I would have felt dread at the sound of his voice behind me, but today, all I noticed was that I didn't like the way I could

feel the vibration of his voice in my chest, and I further didn't like the smell of rich spices that I had come to associate with the Potion Master.

I didn't answer. I just kept my eyes locked on the table in front of me and held on. " Miss Loyce look at me ! " Snape demanded. I knew he was

Serious. Professor Snape was always serious and so tried to turn while maintaining my hold on the table. When Professor Snape grabbed hold of

my chin to look at my face and threw off my balance. My eyes lolled to the side and I felt my legs giving way, but I couldn't stop it and I

didn't care. Professor Snape grabbed my upper arms to stop me from falling unfortunately he grabbed me right where my arm was badly bruised

from being grabbed to ruffle several time's over the last day or two." Aahh ! Your hurting ME ! " I cried out getting a little shrill at the end.

That snapped me back to attention. Snape set me down on a bench Harry was there in an instant . " What's going on ? What did you do to her ?

" He demanded. " Mr. Potter, ever the hero, twenty points from Griffindor get back to your table or it will be detention as well ! " Snape spat .

Harry started to argue but the sound of there bickering had me whimpering. They both stopped to look at me." I think I need to lay down. " I

whispered. And I fell over on the bench of coarse hitting my head in the process," ow ! " I said . " Mr. Malfoy put a Stasis Charm on your potion

and escort the head girl to the hospital wing. " Snape ordered, and resumed walking the class room . It wasn't long and Malfoy was crouched

down in front of me. " Can you stand up ? " He asked me. I nodded a little but I didn't want to move. Soon Malfoy was pulling me upright the

room looked like a discotech. He pulled me to my feet and I put an arm around his waist. He hooked his arm under my other arm and off we went.

XXXX

We made it to the hall when out of no where. It occurred to me Lucius Malfoy ! He escaped his jail sentence back at the end of fifth year due to

a technical error by an Auror. It was even expunged from his record. Harry had been beyond livid. Maybe it's just my head but, Knowing the

things I know now, I wonder if that wasn't Dumbledore's doing.

" I need to sit down ! I think I'm going to throw up ! " I told Draco rather urgently. I liked the floor it was cold. I

felt much better down here. Then all to soon I was being lifted up. Draco was carrying me to the hospital wing. How weird I thought.

We finally made it to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey was there in an instant. " What now ! " She said. Draco told her the heal didn't

stick. As he put me down on the nearest bed. Madam Pomfrey took immediate offence . " I highly doubt that Mr. Malfoy ! " She started

running tests and found it in no time. I see the problem ." Head injury's are funny things they don't always show them selves right away." ' So

what's wrong with her then ? " Draco asked. " Nothing serious easy enough to fix. " She said in her brisk tone. " I see she also has a few nasty

Bruise's . I didn't see last night. I will take care of those as well. " She said and shooed him away. After pouring several vile tasting potions

down my throat and applying a liberal amount of bruise cream to my arm and my leg's where Ginny had kicked me in the carriage I was feeling

nearly human again. She gave me a flannel to put over my eyes and I was a asleep in an instant. I only faintly heard Harry and possible Ginny

some time latter, But then they were gone again so Madam Pomfrey must have sent them away. When I finally woke up I was tired but other than

that I was feeling much better. Madam Pomfrey must have evil power's of perception or something because she was out of her office to check

on me the instant I sat up." Well your looking better . How do you feel ? " She asked as she ran more test's.

" Fine just hungry. What time is it ?" I asked. " Well you appear to be alright now. It's eight O clock so you missed dinner. I will just have a

house elf bring you up something. Once you eat it all. I want you to give me your word that you will return to your room and go strait to bed. "

She said in a stern voice. " I will. " I told her. She seemed to be deciding if I was trust worthy or not before she turned and called the house elf

and ordered dinner for me. I ate by myself and when I was done true to her word I was aloud to go. She sent me with a dreamless sleep potion

and a headache potion for tomorrow just incase.

XXXX

I had just made it into the hall when I was immediately joined by Blaise Zabini. " I was just coming to see if you were alright. " He said in a soft

voice. " Oh, Madame Pomfrey said I could go but I'm supposed to go strait to bed. " I told him." I see. " He said with a small smile. " Did she

happen to say if it was alright for you to have an escort back to your room ? " " She didn't say anything about that. " I said as my brain finally

caught up to what he meant. I felt stupid I could feel my face getting hot. He was doing it again. Making me feel stupid. He just smiled at me, and

took my hand in his much bigger ,warmer one. My cheeks were so red I think I might of been able to glow in the dark. I couldn't believe it. I

was holding hands with a boy. A handsome popular boy. Oh my goodness, I hope he can't hear my heart, it's to loud. How embarrassing. We

walked back slowly, in comfortable silence both of us just enjoying the feel of holding the others hand. It was nice, ok so maybe he's not so bad

Sometimes, when he's not laughing at me, I thought. All to soon we were at the portrait of the two lover's and he like a perfect gentleman said

the horrible pass word saving me from further embarrassment.

I really need to think up something horrid to change it to next month to get Draco back for this I thought.

So that is where he left me. Heart pounding cheek's red. I couldn't even look him in the eyes . I just gave him a soft

" good night . " He smiled and gave a small chuckle, it sounded nice and he whispered back. " Goodnight. " and he was gone. I now understand

why girls squeal when they're excited. if I had less dignity I might have considered it, But I am Abigale Loyce and I am not, some silly

screaming girl. So I suppose I will have to settle for grinning like a moron. Much more dignified !

XXXX