Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
November 15
Harry, Ron and Ginny were sitting in the Gryffindor common room discussing the match against Slytherin tomorrow.Ron and Ginny were talking amicably about which strategies they can use from their previous match against Hufflepuff two weeks ago but Harry was wondering where Dumbledore had gone the previous three days and why he was called to the headmaster’s office. He briefly considered that he might have come to know about Harry’s ‘obsession with Malfoy’ ,as Hermione likes to call it, given that he was the only one who could see through the invisibility cloak. But he dismissed this theory before his mind wandered back to his stupid urge to be around Malfoy. Harry had originally assumed that it would go away with time but it didn’t seem to budge and now he just wants to push him against a wall and punch the git in his pretty face and forget about it.He hadn’t failed to notice that he described Malfoy as pretty but that had been happening more often lately.He knows that he may like boys too after all he had a crush on Cedric and he had described his kiss with Cho as wet. And I am thinking of Malfoy again.
“Harry are you even listening to us?” Ginny asked and he felt guilty for not listening to them.The match was tomorrow and he couldn’t let Malfoy of all people distract him.
“Yeah, go ahead.”
Ginny sighed and continued , “The Slytherins have come up with a different strategy this time in their last game with Ravenclaw. They won 180-30.”
“Yeah but if they try to beat us to the snitch then it is a recipe for disaster for them and an easy victory for us.” Ron argued.
“Yes, but Malfoy has improved his game this year if you haven’t noticed. Harry you tell me. You too were there for the Slytherin vs Ravenclaw game.”
“Yeah mate, tell little sister how the git bought his way into the team.”Ron motioned Harry to support him.
Ginny argued that he may have been practicing more and that they shouldn’t underestimate their opponent but Ron made it very clear that Slytherin is an easy win.He had no energy to hear the two of them argue so he left to the library to look for Hermione. He really needed to talk to her before whatever this thing with Malfoy is, ruins their game tomorrow.
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Draco had been researching this potion from the beginning of the year but had reached no breakthrough. He had originally intended to do what he was about to two weeks ago, if his pride would allow him to, that is. He sighed as he muttered the pass spell to Severus’ chambers and felt chill down his spine. Cooling charms!! Seriously!?!As if it wasn’t cold enough in the dungeons.He sighed and entered in and as expected Severus was sitting at his desk with some or the other research material.
“Good evening, Mr. Malfoy. How can I help you ?”he said without looking up. Draco knew Severus wasn’t going to address him by his first name before he knew whether or not the matter was personal enough to do so. That was their rule, Professor in school and godfather at home.
“Evening Sev, I wanted to ask you about a peculiar potion I stumbled upon.”he said without beating around the bush.
“And how does this relate to your academics?” he asked looking up at Draco
“No it’s not related to the curriculum.”he replied and Severus motioned him to sit on the couch. He got up from his own study table and sat down on the couch across from Draco.
“Well, go on then.”
Draco handed him the potion vial and Severus eyed it curiously before turning his attention back to Draco.
Draco swallowed his pride and continued, “I wasn’t able to find out much about it so I wanted to ask if you knew anything about it.”
“This shade of grayish-blue is rather rare. How exactly did you stumble upon it?”
“I found it in my father's study.”
“This was before school started I presume.”It wasn’t exactly a question but a statement but Draco answered in the affirmative anyway.
“What do you know about the properties or the ingredients that went into making this?”
“I don’t know what it does or what it is used for but it is made for the commonly available ingredients for the most part.The real mystery is the three ingredients I wasn’t able to identify.I think those will decide the final characteristics of the potion.”
“And what made you curious about this in the first place?”
“Well, like I said I found it in father’s study and given that his interest in potions is nil ,finding such a rare potion in his possession is rather suspicious. And the potion also has a very faint but peculiar smell to it.”he concluded. Severus uncapped the vial and took a sniff. Normally a person wouldn’t be able to notice the imperceptible change in Sev’s demeanor but Draco’s trained eyes caught up quickly and he understood that even Severus may have to at least consult some books before being able to answer his questions.
“It does have a peculiar smell. The unknown ingredients you mentioned are perhaps rare. But I should be able to tell you before Monday.” Draco took the hint that it was his cue to leave and he thanked Sev and got up to leave when he heard Sev call for him.
“Yes, Sev?”
“Good luck with your game tomorrow, Draco.”
“Thanks, Sev. Good night.”Severus nodded and Draco left his chambers and welcomed the warmth of the dungeons.Not that it was any warmer outside but the man had to work on his obsession with cooling charms. It was November for Salazar’s sake. He walked into the common room and found Theo and Pansy sitting on the couch.He sat down with them and asked for Blaise’s whereabouts. The both of them shrugged and said that they don’t know. Draco guessed that Blaise was sulking after his stupid fight with Theo but he knew better than bring it up.
“So how did it go with professor Snape?”Theo asked. Draco had filled Blaise and Theo in about a week after hisconfrontation interrogation with Pansy.
“It was fine he told me he would tell me before Monday.”
“Good at least it would stop all the late night sneaking out.”Theo said.
“Anyways Draco, Mills was telling me that you people have come up with a different strategy against Gryffindor.” Pansy asked. Normally she never cared much about Quidditch but a Gryffindor vs Slytherin match has always claimed everybody’s interest.
“Yeah. Gryffindor relies too much on Potter to catch the snitch and save the day. The idea is to actually score enough points that Slytherin wins irrespective of whether or not they catch the snitch. That just means too much pressure on the chasers and little to none on me.”
“So you are just gonna be there on the pitch?”Theo asked, surprised.
“No, of course not. I will try and beat Potter to the snitch but it just won’t be the main strategy.”he replied. He had to prove everybody and himself that he was a capable seeker.
“So, I think Mills will score the most points this game and Theo thinks it will be the new fourth year guy. Who are you rooting for?”
“Neither of them actually . I think it will be our Madam captain.”
“Do you actually call her madam captain or is it just to pull her leg?”
“ Don’t be daft Theo, of course it is just to pull her leg.”
“I heard that she got offers from two Quidditch teams. Did she mention it to you guys?”
“She didn’t mention it to us, we bullied her to spill the secrets. She said she is going to wait for NEWTs and then decide.” he said and left to his dorms to fetch some books.
“Dray,now what are those for?”Pansy asked, annoyed at the sight of books.
“No need to worry Pans, I am done with them. Returning them to the library is all. The last thing I want is to face Madam Pince’s wrath for keeping her books too long.”he replied and Theo chuckled at that. Pansy just rolled her eyes and asked him to return fast since curfew was in an hour.
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Harry found Hermione in the library and her back was facing the door. She had books sprawled out all over the table and Harry wondered how they didn’t fall off the table.He greeted her and sat on the opposite side. Not knowing what to say now that he was here he just looked at the people entering and exiting the library.
“Harry, did you want something?” she asked looking up from whatever she was reading.
“Yes, actually. Dumbledore has asked me to meet him tomorrow after dinner, I don’t know what to think of that.”
“Well, I too have no idea Harry but I don’t think it is something you need to be worried about.”she shrugged. “I thought you would be discussing tomorrow’s match with Ron and Ginny.What brings you here?”she asked, a little bored but Quidditch had never really interested her before.
“Well Ron was going on about how Slytherin will be an easy win but Ginny disagrees. She thinks they have improved their game and we should be more careful.”
“What do the others have to say about that?
“Well , everybody but Ginny agrees with Ron and it is annoying her to no ends.”
“And what about you?”she asked, now interested in their conversation.
“Well, Ginny makes a good point but Ron is also right we have never lost against Slytherin before”and I don’t want to think of Malfoy on a broom was left unsaid.
“Well, Ron can be a little overconfident sometimes but it suits him.”she said with a twinkle in her eyes that was always present when they talked about Ron and it made Harry want to yell at them to go and snog already.
“You really like him, don’t you?” he asked her with a smile and if the reddening of her cheeks was anything to go by then Harry had already got his answer.
“Yes, I do Harry.”
“Well ,when are you planning on telling him that?”
“I don’t really know if he feels the same way and I don’t want to risk our friendship.”she sighed and Harry rolled his eyes.He was about to tell her off but when he looked up ahead , he saw Malfoy return some books and leave the library. If common sense was a tangible thing then he threw it out of the window in order to get a reaction out the blond Slytherin.
“ ‘Mione I’ll get going.”he said and didn’t even bother to hear her reply as he sprinted after Malfoy.
He caught up to the taller boy quickly and without even thinking he walked right into him making both of them fall to the ground.
“Watch where you are going, Potter.”he spat at him getting up wiping dust off his robes and Harry realized that this was the first he even heard Malfoy’s voice since the train incident.
“It was you who were walking slower than a bloody tortoise Malfoy.”Harry retorted and if the expression on Malfoy’s face was anything to go by then he was in trouble.
“Think you are too smart, don’t you,scar-head.” he said as he pushed Harry against the corridor wall and one of his hands pinned Harry’s wrist above his head and the other closed around his throat.Harry suddenly realized that he could smell Malfoy’s cologne. Spruce or nettle he wasn’t sure.By the looks of it Harry thought Malfoy was going to hex him but he just squeezed Harry’s throat enough to form a mark and left the corridor with a sharp turn of his robes that would make Snape proud.
Harry hadn’t realized how strong Malfoy’s grip was until he looked at the mark on his wrist. If his and Malfoy’s rivalry was anything to go by then Harry would have been in the hospital wing by now.Harry decided that he did not like this new Malfoy and was determined to get a reaction out of him.
Harry was glad that the common room was mostly empty save for a couple of first years playing exploding snap. He climbed the stairs that led to his dorm and laid down in bed thinking of how Malfoy’s touch made his heart race. It didn’t help that he will have to see Malfoy in Quidditch robes the next day.
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Draco was returning to the common room after his encounter with Potter. He had never realised how short the Gryffindor was until now or that he had green eyes. And why am I thinking about Potter’s eyes? he thought as he entered the Slytherin common room to see Pansy and Astoria sitting together. He wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to tease any of his best friends because of a self-righteous and egotistical Gryffindor. As they saw him enter the common room, Tori got up and left but not before winking at Pansy first. Oh no, he wasn’t going to let this one go. So he flopped down next to Pansy with a playful grin on his face which made Pansy roll her eyes.
“Dray, don't even think about it.”she warned him.
“Oh, but I have already thought about it.” his tone leaving no room for doubt.
“Draco Lucius Malfoy, I will hex you.”she said, trying and failing to sound threatening.
“Empty threat at this point Pans” he rolled his eyes with a playful smirk and started singing ‘Pansy and Tori sitting on a tree top’ and Pansy’s face became redder than a tomato. And Draco smiled triumphantly.
“Draco, you are impossible.”
“Impossible is my middle name, Pansy dear. Now give me all the juicy details.”
“Ash asked me to go to tomorrow’s match with her. Get your mind out of the gutter.”she said and left in the direction of the girls dormitories before he got a chance to reply. He chuckled at her embarrassment.
Draco was genuinely happy for his friend but that didn’t mean he will ever let her live it down. With this in mind he climbed down to his own dorm and saw that Blaise was heading to bed. They bid each other good night and went to bed and Draco tried not to think about Potter.