A Snake in a Raven's Claw
DISCLAIMER: This series is a work of fiction based off the Harry Potter franchise using characters that are trademarked by J.K Rowling and Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. I do not claim ownership of the Harry Potter franchise. While most dialogue is of my own creation, some dialogue is taken directly from the Harry Potter franchise as a matter of course, due to the type of work I am creating. Characters found in this series not found within the Harry Potter franchise are of my own creation.
Please take note that my works are fiction, and I, as the author, do not necessarily support or agree with the views, speech, and/or actions of some of the fictional characters in this story.
Two twin silver-steel colored orbs blinked open squinting as the orbs's owner felt the unmistakable chill of the cold steel air glaze over his body inducing a shiver from the young boy. The ensemble of arched windows which were carved into the stone walls of the storied tower were not clear as they usually were, encased in a thin sheen of ice. His porcelain skin becoming the breeding grounds for the goosebumps which seeped into his body, as the young Malfoy turned rigid as a cold, chill shot up his body
The young Malfoy made his way into the common room grimacing as chills shot into his body from every angle. After spending a short while in the common room, gazing out into the frozen over black lake, his silver-steel irises flickered with flashes of intrigue as the silver orbs narrowed in on a cerulean sapphire carving of an eagle into a stone wall. Rising to his feet the chills shooting through his slender figure, the young Ravenclaw approached the carving inspecting it, when a golden tinge washed over the eyes of the carving and the stone walls began to vibrate as the bricks shifted until a narrow passage way was revealed to the young boy.
"Congratulations Draco you found it." A Crow haired girl said from behind the young Malfoy, her hazel colored orbs shimmering with glee, despite the coldness.
"Found it ? It's a passageway what's so remarkable about that, there's got to be thousands of passageways in Hogwarts, it is a castle after all." The young pureblood remarked to the Ravenclaw seeker, confusion seeping into his tone.
"This isn't any old passageway Draco." The hazel orbed Ravenclaw replied.
"Then what is it ?" Playfully snarked, the young Malfoy.
"It's a passageway which connects Ravenclaw tower to the main library." The crow haired girl replied, her hazel colored orbs glimmering kindly.
"W-What ?!" The young Malfoy stammered out, his typical morning scowl slowly replaced by a look of puzzlement.
Cho silently thought to herself that it looked cute, but burying those thoughts deep into the abyss of her mind, the crow haired Ravenclaw clarified, "Madam Pince let's us use this passageway to go to the library at night, as longs as the library is left in pristine condition, and no one enters the restricted section without her permission".
The young pureblood stammering, his face still contorted into an expression of confusion, as his mind slowly registered the crow haired Ravenclaw's words.
As seconds turned into minutes with no words spoken between the two, the crow haired girl opted for breaking the silence her words cutting through the heavy silence like a knife cutting through a steak.
"So what do you have for first period", Cho asked.
"Potions with Gryffindors", Draco replied.
"What do you have ?" Draco asked, returning the question.
"Potions with Gryffindors", Cho replied a smile on her face as she returned Draco's answer.
Despite himself the young pureblood felt the edges of his lips curl into a smile at the thought of spending more time with the Ravenclaw seeker.
Arriving at potions the classroom stood at the lowest level of the ancient castle the ideal environment for the brewing of potions. Darkness enveloped the circular room, the torches lining the stone walls the sole source of illumination for the classroom. The walls were lined by an encircling ensemble of magical creatures whose remains were levitating and contained within glass jars. An icy chill swept through the room, the chattering of teeth sounding ominous inside the chamber.
The potions master swooped into the underground chamber like a bat swooping into a cave, his cloak billowing behind him. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," The scowling man said.
"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death—if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." The scowling wizard finished, his scowl still ever present.
The crow haired girl, and silver-orbed boy sat at one of the cold stone desks watching as the obsidian orbed Professor swooped over to an emerald eyed, black haired, round spectacles wearing student, his cloak billowing behind him, giving the scowling wizard the appearance of the wings of a bat. "Potter, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Silence followed, the boy who lived not knowing the answer, admitted as such
"I don't know, sir," said Harry.
The potion master's face contorted from his signature scowl to that of an arrogant sneer "Fame clearly isn't everything." The Professor sneered.
The potion master's callous statue white face contorted returning to its ever present scowl, "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
The spectacles wearing boy's answer was the same, "I don't know sir".
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" The scowling wizard sneered.
Asking the famed boy another question, "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"I don't know," said Potter quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"
"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomack of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."
The scowling man instructed the students to brew the potion to cure boils. A stream of pink smoke emitted from the cauldrons of the silver-steel orbed boy and the crow haired girl.
Suddenly a boom erupted followed by a flash, a timid looking boy was on the floor groaning, his cauldron turned to a molten liquid.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville.
"You—Potter—why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."
The rest of the class was much the same.