Chapter 2
The fifth year Gryffindor and Slytherin students sat in Potions class later the next morning, while Snape watched like a hawk. It was a new game he had started, which he liked to call 'Verbally Attack the First Student that Screws Up'. So far, the students were doing pretty well. But that didn't mean he couldn't make up an excuse to call out one student in particular. "Malfoy!" Snape called. Draco looked up to see the Potions Master beckoning to him. "I wonder what Malfoy's done this time." Harry muttered to Ron. "Probably something stupid." Ron murmured back. "No. Stupid is Crabbe and Goyle's department." Harry said, nodding vaguely in the direction of the pair. Crabbe sat in front of a smoldering cauldron while Goyle smacked the back of his head and said "Too many Lacewings!". Draco made it to the front of the dungeon. Snape grabbed the back of his shirt and swept off into a small back room. "Why do you suspect Snape's dragged Malfoy into his office?" Dean asked Harry and Ron. "Dunno. Maybe he's in trouble." Harry replied.
Snape sat at his desk, Draco across from him. "You're probably wondering what this is about." Snape said, as if reading Draco's mind. Draco nodded. "I need you to keep an eye on Siniva." Snape said. "Keep an eye on her?" Draco repeated, questioning this. "Yes." Snape replied. "I don't think an eleven year old needs a babysitter." Draco said. "Not like that. I'm just worried about her. I want you to make sure she's doing ok. I can't watch her all the time." Snape told him. Draco nodded again and spoke. "I understand what you mean. I'll do it." Snape stood and nodded back. "Thank you." he said. Snape indicated to the door, signaling to Draco that he was dismissed.
After Potions class ended, the fifth years flooded out from the dungeon like a pack of animals. Crabbe and Goyle stood by Draco's sides, Goyle still mad at Crabbe about earlier. "I can't believe you blew up that potion!" he said. "I told you, Longbottom bumped into me and I spilled the lacewings!" Crabbe argued. "Draco, whose fault was it that our potion blew up?" Goyle asked, trying to get a third party's opinion. "I think you should both shut up about this." Draco responded, glancing around the corridor. He spotted Siniva standing a few feet away, staring at one of the portraits. "You guys go off to lunch. I'll catch up." Draco said, waving Crabbe and Goyle away. They turned the corner and stalked off to the Great Hall. Draco walked over to Siniva and stood next to her. "Hey." he said. "Oh, hi." Siniva replied, breaking eye contact with the portrait. "Having a staring contest with a portrait, are you?" Draco wondered. "No, no. He was just telling me about the First Wizarding War. I just asked what had happened to his ear..." Siniva replied. "Yeah, it's best not to ask these guys questions like that. They tend to launch into stories. It's never just a quick answer." Draco informed. "Excuse me, young man, but I am not boring!" the portrait suddenly said. "Not boring. Stories." Draco said, this time louder. "Oh, you want to hear a story?! Excellent! I'll tell you about the time I contracted Dragon Pox. What a fine Christmas that was." The portrait continued to speak, even though Draco had swept Siniva off. "So, how are you liking school so far?" he asked. "It's good, I guess. I just wish there was less homework." Siniva answered, shrugging. "That's how I felt my first year. Once we're farther into the year, you get used to it." Draco said. "Really? Great. Because History of Magic is so dull." Siniva said. "The year will go by quickly. You won't have to bother with that class for long." Draco informed. "That's good to hear." Siniva replied, sighing. "Are you ok?" Draco wondered. "Yeah, fine. It's just that sometimes I find it a little hard to breathe. It's something that I've had since I was a baby." Siniva replied, shrugging. She and Draco continued walking to the Great Hall.