AUTHOR'S NOTE: Another book chapter, ladies and gentlemen.
DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Harry Potter.
Professor Slughorn burst into the Potions classroom punctually, and turned to the class. He noticed the Zabini twins standing together, with Draco, and he greeted them enthusiastically, shaking both of their hands. He then noticed Harry standing beside his usual bunch, Granger and Weasley, and some kid names Ernie. He waved at the class to sit. Adrienne sat between her brother and her betrothed, Melanie sat on the outside beside Blaise.
"Now then, now then, now then," Slughorn repeated to get the table of four Ravenclaws to end their conversation. "Scales out, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potions Making…"
As the class pulled out their needed materials, Potter said something about not having a book, and because he was the 'Chosen One' got a book, as well as her best friend Weasley. Slughorn pulled two battered copies of Advanced Potions Making from the cabinet as well as two scales and handed one to each of the Gryffindor boys. Draco muttered something under his breath and Adrienne turned her attention to the blond beside her, but he'd stopped speaking by that time.
"Now then, I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone know what this one is?" Slughorn asked as he gestured to the cauldron nearest the Slytherin table.
Without raising her hand or even taking a second glance at the potion, Adrienne answered, "That's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth." Adrienne looked up at the Professor and so that he was grinning broadly at her. She then turned her attention to the rest of the class, Hermione looked slightly offended that she, a Slytherin, would answer a question right, before her. For six years, Hermione's right answers had plagued the classroom. She always seemed to be the one with the answers. However, as it would seem Adrienne also knew the answers, she was just too lazy to actually answer the questions asked of a class. And really why try and compete against Granger.
"Very good, Ms. Zabini," he said happily. "Now," he pointed to the cauldron near the Ravenclaw table, "this one here is pretty well known."
"Polyjuice potion," Adrienne answered once again. Hermione lowered her hand in defeat. "It's a potion that allows the drinker to assume the form of someone else. While it can account for both age and gender, Polyjuice Potion cannot be used for a human to take an animal form or for a half-breed to assume human form."
"Excellent, Ms. Zabini, ten points to Slytherin," Slughorn awarded. "Now this one," he said pointing to the cauldron in front of the Gryffindors.
The room was silent for a moment. Hermione was glaring at Adrienne and Adrienne was looking down at her nails. Aside from the two of them, she was sure that no one else knew the answer. After a moment, Adrienne turned her dark brown eyes up to the classroom and met Slughorn slightly disappointed gaze, and then looked at the pathetic looking Granger. "The Gryffindor can have this one," Adrienne drawled. "She'll die if she can't answer at least one question in class." The Slytherin table snickered. "Take it, Granger."
Slightly embarrassed but excited to have the ability to answer, "It's Amortentia, the strongest love potion in the world!"
"That's correct, five points to Gryffindor. It's said to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts you. Miss. Zabini what do you smell? He fanned some of the potions spiraling pink smoke in her direction.
"I smell cinnamon, lemon, oranges, broomstick polish, and grass," the girl answered.
"Mr. Malfoy?" Slughorn posed.
"Strawberry, butterbeer, and fresh ink," Draco admitted, his face was a little red from embarrassment.
"Ms. Granger, was it?"
"Hermione Granger," she agreed. "I smell freshly mown grass, new parchment, and spearmint toothpaste." Her face too was a little pink.
"Lovely, you three, ten points to Slytherin and five to Gryffindor, for participation," he said. "Now, open you books to page ten."
"Sir, you haven't told us what that one is," the boy sitting next to the trio of Gryffindors. He was pointing a small vial of silver potion hung behind the cauldron of Amortentia. The potion was swishing about the vial merrily and was the color of melted silver.
"That's Felix Felicis," Hermione and Adrienne answered in unison.
Slughorn looked amused by the looks that the two girls traded. "Lovely to see two intelligent ladies involved in some friendly competition. But, that is correct, or as some like to call it, Liquid Luck; desperately tricky to make, and disastrous if you get it wrong. However if brewed correctly, you will find that your endeavors will succeed… at least until the effects wear off. And that is why I shall be offering it as a prize. In order it win this small vile of Liquid Luck, enough for 12 hours, you simply have to brew an acceptable Drought of Living Death. Off you go!"
The sound of scraping chairs on the floor as students pulled their cauldron on to the table and then began on their potions. Draco was the first to start at the Slytherin table, clearly wanting a lucky day. She started to tell him that if he didn't win the potion in class, she'd make the damn this for him. However, after he shot down her help earlier, she wasn't exactly itching to offer it again. By the time that Adrienne had even started, he was already stirring in his crushed Wormwood.
"Ms. Zabini," Slughorn said to her, pulling her from her thoughts. "How is your mother? Is she doing well?"
"I haven't spoken to her recently, actually," Adrienne said through gritted teeth. She and her mother hand never really seen eye to eye. Her mother often told her that she despised her for being born with Blaise. Blaise would always be the heir to the money and the family name, but the fact that she was there just irritated her. Her mother pretty much ignored her and she ignored her mother. She loved Blaise though. Daddy dearest, was much better. He just loved his first born son, and his son was the most important child to him. It would seem that pure-blood families didn't like to have female children. Pansy often mentioned her life was similar to Adrienne's, as did Mel. "You may want to ask Blaise, I've been out of the country."
"Ah, really?" he asked, interested. "Where?"
"Oh, France, we have family there."
"That's lovely. I'll let you get back to your potion then, eh?"
"Thank you, sir."
After Slughorn walked away from the table, Draco slid a bit of parchment to her. Adrienne ignored it for a moment, making sure that he knew that she was angry with him. Not that her feelings were hurt, but that she was angry. How dare he speak to her that way! All she wanted to do was help his stupid self. However, if he could win this potion then maybe he real wouldn't need her help. However, it wasn't looking like it was going in his favor. Potter had mysteriously become great a Potions and was breezing through it, while even she and Granger were having problems with the concoction. Finally, after she thought that she'd ignored the note for long enough she pointed her wand that the stirrer and the stirrer continued to stir while she used her hands to open the note.
Your part seems to be going well.
A smirk graced her lips and she replied back: Yes, well, I'm a naturally likeable person.
After sliding the not back to him, she started back on the potion. She heard him snort and crumple up the bit of parchment. The table was quiet for a long while, the entire room actually, and then Slughorn shouted, "And time, stop stirring."
Adrienne, who'd given up on brewing the potion correctly a few moments before, sat back in her chair as Slughorn walked about the room. Blaise and Melanie switched seats and she and Adrienne whispered something to one another.
"Almost but not quite, Mr. Malfoy," he commented. "Very close, Mr. and Miss. Zabini." He went to the Gryffindor table and beamed with pride. "Mr. Potter, it's perfect; I dare say one drop would kill us all. The winner is clear." Harry slipped the vial into his pocket and she head Draco scoff.
The Slytherins left the table and the classroom and walked to the common room. Adrienne muttered the password and walked into the room. There were a few first years sitting on the sofa that the quartet claimed as theirs six years ago, and the move quickly when they spotted the older children. Still silent, Adrienne dropped her bag on the floor, waited for Melanie to sit down, before laying her hand on her lap and sighing.
"Of course, Saint Potter won the Luck," Draco drawled.
"I can make the potion is you want it that badly," Adrienne drawled sleepily. Her dark brown eyes were closed and she could faintly hear the sounds of the water hitting the glass, a sound that was slowly soothing her to sleep.
"I don't need it, Adrienne," he snapped, shooting down her help again.
However, Adrienne didn't hear that, because she'd fallen asleep on the black leather sofa, listening to the sound of the lake against the wondow.