Two Sides of the Serpent // Draco Malfoy

Chapter Four: Reforming a Bond

Students buzzed through the hallways in a hurry, eager to get to their lessons on the first day. This was always the most chaotic day, everyone scrambling to get to class on time. My first class of the day was with Professor Slughorn. Walking into the potions classroom, we assembled around a table with three cauldrons lined up on display, the professor standing just adjacent to them.

Blaise, Pansy, Draco, and I gathered off to the side as Professor Slughorn began his lesson.

"Good morning, students. Happy to see you all here today," he greeted us a little too chipper. "Now, attention to detail in the preparation is the prerequisite of all planning."

Just then, Harry and Ron walked into the classroom, disrupting the lesson.

Draco and I exchanged a subtle but significant glance. I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "Typical."

Draco leaned in closer to me, his voice a low whisper. "They never seem to change, do they?"

"Ah. Harry, my boy, I was beginning to worry," Professor Slughorn stated, a hint of amusement in his tone. "We've brought someone with us, I see."

"Ron Weasley, sir," Ron introduced himself. "But I'm dead awful at Potions, a menace, actually. So, I'm just gonna--"

He tried to back away, but Harry stopped him. Slughorn spoke out, "Nonsense, we'll sort you out. Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Get your books out."

Harry stepped forward, "Uh, I haven't actually got my book yet, and nor has Ron."

"Not to worry," Professor responded, cheerfully. "Get what you want from the cupboard."

After that situation had been handled he turned his attention back to us. "Now, as I was saying, I prepared some concoctions this morning. Any ideas what these might be?"

Hermione was the only one in class to raise her hand, and the rest of us stood in silence, clutching our books.

"Yes, Miss...?" Slughorn inquired.

"Granger, sir," she replied confidently. Stepping closer to the cauldrons on the desk before us, she began to explain. "That one there is Veritaserum. It's a truth-telling serum." She moved to the next one. "And that would be Polyjuice Potion. It's terribly tricky to make."

Draco leaned in closer to me and whispered, "She'd know all about that, wouldn't she?"

She continued and pointed at the last one, "And this is Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumored to smell differently to each person according to what attracts them." She paused and took a deep breath, "For example, I smell.. freshly cut grass, and new parchment and.. spearmint.. toothpaste." She stumbled over her last words before turning around to rejoin the group of students.

Slughorn proceeded with the lesson, adding, "Now, Amortentia doesn't create actual love. That would be impossible. But it does create a powerful infatuation or obsession. And for that reason.. it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room."

Slughorn placed the lid back on the cauldron as some of the girls in the class had inched closer to it, their fascination snapped back into reality.

Katie Bell then spoke up, pointing to a curious vial off to the side."Sir? You haven't told us what's in that one."

"Oh, yes!" Slughorn replied. He moved back to the desk and retrieved a small vial. "What you see before you, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion known as Felix Felicis. But it is more commonly referred to as--"

"Liquid luck!" Hermione confidently finished his sentence.

"Yes, Miss Granger. Liquid luck," he affirmed. "Desperately tricky to make, disastrous should you get it wrong. One sip, and you will find that all of your endeavors succeed."