The Unwanted Malfoy Heiress

Twenty-One: Potions Class

The Potions classroom was easily one of the most dreary rooms in the castle due to how little ambient light shone through the subterranean windows. Portraits of old Potions Masters and Mistresses were displayed along the corridors as one led to this laboratory in the dungeons of the castle, and other students didn't seem too keen to go inside the room either.

I went inside and most of the students had their lab partners already. I looked about and saw that Sebastian was at a lab table along with Natty Onai. I made a beeline for them, and Natty hugged me, eying Sebastian knowingly.

"Is there something going on I don't know about?" I whispered in her ear.

She chuckled. "It's nothing serious. I'm just a bit envious, my friend. I'm still trying to get Amit Bhakkar to look my way, and you get two of your most popular housemates to pay you court."

"Who is he?"

She pointed out a tall, rather good looking Indian Ravenclaw boy who seemed engrossed in his Potions book rather than pay attention to anyone or thing outside of that. He was at another lab table where Imelda Reyes was chatting up her friends, and one Hufflepuff witch who she seemed closer to than proper etiquette allowed.

"Oh. Yes, he does seem quite attractive."

"Careful now, that one is mine, greedy."

I laughed. "Oh hush, I saw you looking at Samantha Dale during Study Hall a week ago."

She smirked. "Well...I mean yes. But you can't tell my mother I might like witches too, you know how attitudes are about that. You're pretty yourself, Anastasia."

I blushed. "That's...Thank you, Natty, but I have my hands full with my two snake guys."

She nodded. "Still friends?"

"Absolutely. Oh, here comes Professor Sharp now. We should take our seats."

The Potions Professor, it turned out was a tall, dark haired wizard with a jagged scar covering the right half of his face, and he walked with a noticeable limp. He seemed to have piercing chocolate brown eyes that missed very little, and he looked on us all very carefully. His eyes rested on me for a bit before moving on. My legilimancy chose at this time to perk its head up in my mind, and give me some insight to his thoughts, "Hm...I do hope this one isn't like that preening snob of a brother of hers....a pity she's so young, quite the angelic look to her. Is she a veela? One never knows with Malfoys...."

My cheeks flushed at that. My Aunt warned me that once I became of age wizards would gravitate towards me, but I didn't believe her until that moment. Professor Sharp's scrutiny passed me over, but oh my did that first impression stick with me. Was he a legilimens as well? I rarely encountered others with the gift, so I wouldn't know if I had or not. It was not a common power the same as being a parselmouth.

Natty nudged me as Professor Sharp launched into his lecture of our potion for the day: wiggenweld potions, or healing draughts as the laymen called them. "You looked as if Sharp was staring at your knickers or something," She whispered in my ear.

"He's...more intense than I was told."

Natty shrugged. "He's alright. My Potions Professor at my last school was downright intimidating, Professor Facilier he was called."

Sharp cleared his throat. "Miss Onai, Miss Malfoy. Does this personal discussion of yours pertain to the lesson we are currently engaged in?"

"No, sir," Natty answered.

"I thought so. Twenty points from Gryffindor and Slytherin. Now then," He rose his voice to include the rest of the class, "Mr Bhakkar, can you inform the class the ultimate purpose of wiggenweld potion?"