The Dragon's Kitten

1 - Partners

~*~*Harry's POV*~*~

"Mr Potter. For the duration of the year you will be partnered with Mr. Malfoy."

I groaned and stood up. The damn greasy grit was trying to make me snap. I'm pretty sure he was going to succeed also. Either way I didn't want to fight. I was tired of constantly fighting, whether it was for my life or the lives of others. Hell, I am only 16 years old and I have already almost died five times.

First year there was that stuttering professor with Voldy attached to the back of his head. Second year was young Voldy with a damn basilisk. I had to risk my life to save Ginny and the basilisk venom got into my body. Then there was third year, with Remus Lupin being a werewolf and Dementors trying to kill Sirius Black.

I seriously don't understand my need to endanger myself for the sake of others. Anyway, in fourth year Voldy was back and I wasn't able to save Cedric in the graveyard. Finally there was last year, Voldy and his damn Death Eaters tried to kill me. Except Sirius showed up and I couldn't save him.

That, as they would say, was the straw that basically broke the camel's back. I just stopped giving a shit after that. My life was one big fucking mess and I didn't want to be bothered by any of it. I was sick of it, annoyed by it and bored of always fighting. I was a kid and I just wanted to be a kid.

Even though Snape was trying to ruin said boring life by pairing me with Malfoy I didn't care enough to fight him or Malfoy on the matter. I sat down next to Malfoy and he shoved me. I knew then that this was going to be a really long year. It was also going to be extremely difficult to get through.

Honestly I knew before that moment. I had known since the moment I saw Dumbledore before the start of school. It had been clear then that he wanted me to do something but I absolutely refused to be roped into another scheme. So I didn't go with him, I sat in the diner until he left.

I just wanted something normal for once. It was my life and...

"Pay attention, Potter." Malfoy sneered at me.

I rolled my eyes and took down the notes on the board. It was bad enough being partnered with Malfoy, but Snape said our marks would affect each other's. So naturally we ended up arguing about that. Well Malfoy argued with himself since he wouldn't get off my case and I wasn't interested. He was so nitpicky about every little thing.

"Where's your textbook?"

"I don't have one." I shrugged.

Malfoy scoffed at me and turned towards Snape. "Professor Snape! Potter doesn't have a textbook."

I rolled my eyes again. "Tattletale."

"Potter. Take one from the cupboard." Snape sighed.

I shrugged and walked over to the back cupboard. There was only one notebook in there and it looked pretty much how I felt. Malfoy looked so smug when I returned and I wanted to rip his face off for telling on me. He was my partner, not my boss.

*~*~*~*~*

Potions class was always annoying but for the most part we were just taking notes in the first few weeks. The book I was using always had the most interesting things written in it. Changes to the amounts, instructions and pointers on using the ingredients. It actually made me enjoy potions.