Death Eaters Daughter Part Two

Two Hundred Five

After 10 minutes of trying different techniques I couldn't figure it out
I knew it was hard if Hermione was struggling
I looked around the classroom and saw no one was doing well
Seamus' cauldron exploded like Hermione's
Ron's was a bright yellow color which Slughorn looked concerned about
Draco's was translucent, which Slughorn sighed about when he walked by
Mine well...mine was bubbling up
I was expecting it to explode too

"Almost there Harry" Slughorn said

I looked behind my table and saw that Harry's potion was almost a deep black, close to the color of Slughorn's
"What the hell" I said

"What are you doing different??" Hermione asked annoyed

"I'm reading the instructions" he said sarcastically

Hermione and I looked at each other and then back to our cauldrons
Mine bubbled up again, but this time it grew one giant bubble that began floating above my cauldron
"Uh" I said

Hermione took her eyes out of her book and ducked under the table
I didn't duck in time, the potion exploded in my face
I heard a few laughs, and someone passed me a towel to wipe my face
"Thanks" I said out loud

Whoever it was didn't respond but I heard them walk back to their table
The potion was sticky, when I tried taking it off it just stuck more

"I see you were so close" Slughorn said "but you took a wrong turn here" he said pointing to my book

"I can't see what you're pointing to" I said annoyed

"You crushed which was correct, but you have to read between the lines to figure out how to crush correctly. These ingredients are very temperamental" he said leaving my table

I was finally able to remove my goop potion from my face to see that Harry's was completed

"30 points to Gryffindor my Harry I would say if any of us got to close to this, well we would be dead" Slughorn said "here is your prize"
Slughorn passed Harry the liquid luck
Draco threw his book onto the ground and stormed out of the classroom
I felt bad, I wanted to win for him
He needs luck more than the rest of us it seems

"Harry you cheated" Hermione said
Class ended, Slughorn told us that there would be a party for his club next weekend 

"I didn't cheat, I just followed the instructions" he said

"But I followed the same ones" She said

"Me too, and look what happened to us" I said pointing to her and myself
Both of us were covered in our potion, I still had sticky residue left in my hair
"I'm never going to get this out"

"I bet I could find a way in this book" Harry said "any of you know who the Half Blood Prince is?"

"No?" Hermione said "is that who the book belongs to?"

"He has his name written in it, he also has hints and advice for each potion"

"So you did cheat" she said

"No I just used what I was given" Harry said

"You should give that book back" Hermione said "it's not right to keep it"

"Why should he? He's going to get perfect grades for the rest of the year" Ron said "you should let me borrow it though"

"I'll let you see it" Harry said "but we need to keep this on the low or else Slughorn will want it turned in"

Hermione rolled her eyes
We all had a free period except for Hermione, she went to her muggle's study class

I decided to walk around the castle for my break
Harry and Ron chose to watch first years get lost trying to navigate the corridors

I went out to the black lake, the weather was nice enough to try to sit in
I had my cloak wrapped around my knees when I sat down
There was a slight breeze, enough to make me feel chilled
A small creature jumped out of the lake and splashed my feet
I used the bottom of my cloak to wipe myself

"Can I join you?" Neville asked

"Of course" I turned around and saw he had a black eye "what happened??" I got up from the ground and walked towards him

"Nothing to worry about really I'm fine" he said smiling at me

"Was it Justin?"

"Him and a few others cornered me before last class, you should see them" he laughed

"Oh yeah? I bet you got them good"

"Those classes last year definitely helped" Neville sat down on the ground and I sat beside him

"You know you didn't have to stick up for me, it's just caused you trouble clearly" I sat lightly tapping his eye

"I'll always stick up for my friends, I'm not scared of them retaliating"

"Me neither, I used to be. But I refuse to back down this year"

"What changed for us? We used to just get beat up on...but you and I both aren't taking shit anymore"

"I just stopped caring, I'm proud of you for standing up against assholes"

"I'm proud for you too, you've been through so much and you're still strong"

We looked at the lake, it was calm again
"If someone told you to stay away from them, but they were your best friend would you?"

Neville thought over my question for a moment
"I wouldn't stay away, if we were that close I would do whatever I could to help"

"That's what I was thinking"

"Is it Malfoy?" He asked "I noticed you don't sit together anymore"

"He's in trouble, I can't explain it but I know he is"

"He's more of an asshole this year though, he's jinxed me a few times already"

"He has?"

"Honestly it's whenever I'm with you he does, I wouldn't be surprised if he finds me later and jinxes me again. He seems jealous that I'm spending a lot of time with you"

"He has no right to be jealous, he's avoiding me"

"But whatever trouble he's in, it's keeping him from you. He's jealous that everyone else gets to spend time with you it seems"

"I need to talk to him"

"Want me to go with you?"

"No it's ok, have a good rest of your free period Neville" I kissed his cheek softly and got off the ground

"New boyfriend?" The voice of Draco said