One Body...Two lives...A Harry Potter Romance/Mystery

Chapter 21

Recap:

“Is that so?” I heard an echo come out of the doors from inside the dark room. Shit.

“Yeah, you have to be very careful no matter how far away you think he is.” Hermione whispered, getting closer to me to make sure it didn’t travel farther than our ears.

“You don’t say.” I whispered sarcastically, glaring at the almost empty dungeons in front of me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Potions didn’t start for another 10 minutes so I decided to take a seat against the wall outside the door.

Hermione said she learned not to let Professor Snape phase her, plus she wanted to get everything ready to go so she could be prepared for whatever he would start the year out with, so I sat alone waiting for class to start.

After a few more minutes other students started to come down the stairs and go into the dungeon. One by one the classroom started to fill with chatter.

“Keeping your distance, I see.” I jumped against the wall and looked over to see Harry leaning on the wall next to me. He held his right arm over his left shoulder holding onto his book bag.

He chuckled when I started to glare at the wall, thinking about Snape calling me ignorant.

“Wow, didn’t know anyone held it in shorter than I did.” He said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You’re absolute hatred managed to kick in before class even started.” He said, patting me on the shoulder. “Now let’s just see what you look like after.” He added with a smile and stepped over my feet.

“See you inside,” He bid, taking a few steps backward but facing me. Then he turned back around and jogged back over to Ron, laughing at something they must have been talking about.

“Ah.” Someone behind me sighed, obviously mocking.

I glared at Malfoy as he skipped over my feet; as if that was how Harry walked.

He turned to me and placed his hands ‘delicately’ atop his shoulder.

That’s where Harry touched me.

He tilted his head to the side, but gave up his attempts to mock me any more and rolled his eyes.

“Quite pathetic. Watching you two.” He sneered and turned around.

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you, Ms. Stone.” Professor Snape chided from the door.

I froze, my foot inches away from ‘accidentally’ getting in the way of Malfoy’s ankle. I looked up at the teacher a little wide eyed and mouth just the tiniest bit ajar in shock.

When did he get there?

“At least you seem to be useful for one thing.” Snape commented and then yelled, “15 points from Gryffindor!”

Malfoy gave me a satisfied smirk and strolled into the classroom passed Snape.

Snape turned around after him then paused, spinning back around to me. “I expect my students to be in class before the hour, not after or at.” He warned and resumed his way back into the classroom.

I guess it was time to head in.

I walked under the archway of the double doors and scanned the room.

Professor Snape was at the front of the room sitting down at a desk. He was having a discussion with Malfoy who was standing straight and prompt in front of him.

They stopped talking for a brief moment and Malfoy turned around.

I lowered my gaze and started walking down the aisle, searching for a seat.

Harry was already situated next to Ron.

Were they staring at me, I thought, thinking back to Malfoy and Snape who were still facing in my direction. I tried to peak out of the corner of my eye, but was afraid I might attract attention if they weren’t already staring.

I spotted Hermione near the front of the room and started towards the empty seat next to her.

I took my bag off my shoulder and plopped on the tabletop next to her.

“Are you already studying?” I asked and sat down staring open-mouthed at Hermione who already had her head buried in the Potions book.

She lifted her head showing more than just the brown curls that hid her face when she read.

She opened her mouth to respond but stopped short, her head slowly turning to the side.

Confused I turned my head in the same direction and saw that she was following my bag….my bag?!

It was already off the table and half-way across the room by the time I noticed them. I looked up and saw Snape pointing his wand directly at it; I guess the bag moved where he moved.

What is he doing?! I wondered as it came to a stop on another desk on the other side of the room.

“Professor McGonagall may give you special treatment, but just because you’re 16 does not mean you aren’t any more than a first year. As far as I’m concerned everything you learn and do in here, you do on your own. I can’t trust that Ms. Granger won’t aid you,” Professor Snape gave her a leering stare, “so I have decided that the best way to ensure you do everything on your own is to assign you to sit next to Mr. Malfoy. He will also be your lab partner when we pair up for projects.” He finished with a smirk.

I slumped in my seat wide-eyed, not wanting to get up and go over to the table where Malfoy had just sauntered over to with his own smirk.

They were staring, they set this up!

Angrily, I pushed out of my seat with my hands pressed firmly against the tabletop. I gave Malfoy my best scowl as he looked over at me one last time before taking a seat and facing forward.

“You’re late.” He said to me from the side of hismouth when I took the seat next to him.

“What are you talking about? I have been here for 3 minutes now and class just started.” I stated matter of factly.

“You may have been inside the door, but you were not at your seat.” He said with a ew clicks of his tongue like “tsk tsk tsk”.

“Like it’s going to mat-“

“15 points from Gryffindor for tardiness; plus an additional 5 for being late on the first day of class.” Professor Snape called out from the front of the room, leaning against the front of his desk with a smirk.

“Now open your books to page 210 so we may begin.” He instructed, clearly making it a point to watch me as I got my book out and opened to the instructed page.

I found the page easily, but understanding a single word was not going to go over well. My eyes widened, trying to remember if I even bought ingredients such as ‘armadillo bile’ and ‘Chinese chomping cabbage’. Where is ‘eye of newt’ when you needed it?

Malfoy just glanced at my expression and chuckled in his seat.

This was going to be apeachy year.