MEMENTO MORI | DRACO MALFOY

THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

December descended on the castle like the thick blanket of snow that coated the grounds. The castle was decorated for the holidays as the last few weeks of classes before Christmas break began to fly by. Ophelia was kept busy between studying for her O.W.L's and not to mention that Umbridge had them all on double duty for Inquisitorial Squad patrols. She was entirely convinced that Potter and his friends had some sort of secret club somewhere in the castle, and Ophelia was starting to believe that the woman was insane.

     Ophelia set down her quill on the table in the corner of the Common Room and rubbed her eyes. It felt so mundane to be studying for examinations when she had so many other things to think about. She eyed Thomas across the room, he had been staring but quickly looked away when she glanced over at him. It was so abnormal for her to not speak to her cousin. She'd never fought with him in her life, and if it wasn't in his best interest to keep her distance, perhaps it would have bothered her.

     Cassius had been worrying about his own N.E.W.T studies recently, which meant the whispers weren't quite kept at bay as they usually were. She was lucky she was able to suppress them temporarily, but they would sometimes surface when she least expected them to.

     The essay on the desk in front of her was becoming blurry as her eyes glossed over with tiredness. She glanced at the large grandfather clock beside the portrait hole, and it was still only six o'clock, there was still plenty of time until curfew. The thought of Snape's Polyjuice Potion had been living rent free in her mind lately, but she hadn't been able to get him alone after classes the last few weeks since students like Granger always seemed to be pestering him about extra credit or something, she eventually gave up trying.

     Ophelia rolled up the parchment on the desk, tucking it safely into her book bag before standing and slinging it over her shoulder. She earned herself several glances as she sauntered out of the portrait hole. No one dared to ask where she was going, she wouldn't tell them, anyway.

     Ophelia walked along the dungeon corridor until she reached the Potions classroom. She entered slowly, glancing around at all of the empty cauldrons but one. No one seemed to question what the pungent, brown concoction was during their classes, Snape was always brewing something or another. She passed the cauldron slowly, watching as the simmering bubbles surfaced and slowly popped. She reached Snape's office door and knocked firmly, earning herself a monotone 'enter'.

     Snape almost looked surprised to see Ophelia enter his office as she shut the door behind her. She walked forward until she reached his desk and placed both palms against the top of it, leaning forward. "It's been really hard to be able to speak with you, you know?"

     Snape quirked a brow. "The more ambitious students are rather needy around this time of year."

     "I can see that." She relaxed backwards into the chair facing his desk. "How is the Polyjuice coming along?"

     "Didn't you see it on your way in?" He asked. "What stage do you think it's in, based on what you've learned this term?"

     Ophelia's eyes narrowed. "Are you really quizzing me right now?"

     Snape raised both eyebrows now. "Are you saying that you do not know?"

     "It looks like it may need maybe one more week, that's it. Based on the brown-ish tinge."

     Snape appeared pleased. "Exactly. Well done."