Epitome of Evil (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

21.

My run in with Harry left me on edge for the rest of the weekend. I don't want to continue my friendship with him or Ron and especially not Hermione. Out of the three, she was the one I was closest to and it will only make things harder when the truth comes out in the end. Hanging around them also makes things worse with the Slytherins. But I know this is a test from Harry, and I can't afford to blow my cover before it's time. 

It's a Sunday afternoon so I have no doubt Hermione is in the library studying before the school week begins again. I find her sitting in the far back corner, a book in front of her but she doesn't seem to really be reading. "Are you okay?" I ask. She looks startled to see me. "Yes, Ron has just been more insufferable lately than usual." 

"What did he do this time?" I'm surprise they haven't got together yet. The tension that was between them in our fourth year was insane. I figured once he grew up some he would realize his feelings for Hermione. I guess he's still an idiot. "It's nothing. How have you been? Liking Slytherin?" She asks, deflecting. "I feel very much alone." I tell her honestly. "I don't understand why they made you get resorted. Hogwarts and Ilivermony are two very different schools. You really can't even say there's a comparative house." Hermione's always been too smart for her own good. "It's okay. I'm just trying to adjust to being back. It was a crazy year. Why don't you fill me in more on what happened here while I was gone?" 

For the next hour she tells me more about this Professor Umbridge lady and Dumbledore's Army, the secret club they created and met in the Room of Requirement. That explains why Harry was on the 7th floor the other day. I'll need to be more careful going there from now on. She tells me all about the twins and the hell they raised before they left. Apparently, they've created their own joke shop. And George hasn't stopped asking about me. I hate that I enjoy catching up with her. I didn't realize how much I've missed having a friend. 

When it's time to leave we say goodnight and go our separate ways. I haven't been back to the Room of Requirement since yesterday so I consider going but decide against it. I've searched enough this weekend and feel thoroughly worn out with it. As I'm passing the prefect bathrooms I hear familiar voices arguing and pause to listen. 

"You've been so distant this year. Is it because of her?" Pansy's shrill voice makes me cringe. "I've told you a hundred times now, I don't give a damn about her." Malfoy responds. I should leave, but I feel frozen in my spot. "Everything was good last year. And then she comes back and suddenly you want nothing to do with me anymore." Is Pansy talking about me? Despite my better judgment, I move closer to the door and continue to listen. "Bloody hell, I have things going on far more important than your petty bullshit. Did you ever think maybe I'm just done with you? You're annoying. And not worth the hassle." He says, and I hear her start to cry. "From now on, leave me alone. Go bother Blaise. He might actually want you." 

The door swings open before I have time to think or react. Pansy sees me and her face turns even more red with the tears falling on her cheeks. "Were you spying on us?" She asks, trying to stop herself from crying. "No, I just got here. I was coming to take a bath." I stumble on my words, but she seems too upset to notice. "This is the prefects bathroom, you're not allowed in here. Go!" Pansy yells. Malfoy stares at me from behind her, I can't read the expression on his face. "Pansy, get lost." He tells her and she begins sobbing now, but leaves in a hurry. Malfoy walks over and holds the door open. "What's the password?" 

"What?" I ask. "The password. You said you were here to take a bath. You wouldn't have been able to get in without the password. Unless, you were actually just standing at the door being nosey." I have no response, nothing I can come up with to explain myself. "It's pine fresh. Enjoy your bath." Malfoy says, leaving me standing alone. I couldn't help but notice how exhausted he looked as he walked past me. There is obviously something going on with him. It makes me even more curious as to what he's been doing in the Room of Requirement and what he has going on thats so important. 

With the door closed, I whisper the password he gave out of curiosity. It opens immediately reveling that he did indeed give me the real one. Not wanting to run into either of them in the common room after this, I wait awhile before finally heading there myself. I get ready for bed and as soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out.

***

Potions class is very quickly becoming my most hated subject. On today's agenda, we're brewing love potions. Of all the important things we could be learning this is what Slughorn decides to teach. And to make things worse, he's changed our seating because apparently he thinks there's been some cheating going on. I'm seated next to Hermione and across from us is Malfoy and Seamus. He's definitely got a sense of humor mixing the houses like this. 

I open my book and find Amortentia and gather all the ingredients needed. Slughorn walks around the room critiquing our work and offering assistance. I can't help but notice that Harry is the first to complete the potion. "Since when did he become such a potions master?" I whisper to Hermione. "It's his book. It belonged to some 'Half-Blood Prince' who wrote all these notes in the margins. I don't think he should have it. I've got a bad feeling." She says and I can't help but think she's a bit jealous someone is doing better than her. 

Once we've all finished Slughorn tells is to smell our potions and write down the scents we smell. "Who can tell me what Amortentia smells like?" He asks. "It's different for everyone, it smells like what each individual finds most attractive." Hermione answers. I look at the words I have written down. Warm amber, forest, musky cologne. 

Professor Slughorn asks Hermione to tell us all what she smells. "Freshly mown grass, new parchment, spearmint toothpaste, and.. that's it." Her face is red and I can't help but look over at her parchment. The fourth smell that she didn't want to say out loud was Ron Weasley's hair. She quickly scribbles over that bit. "Malfoy, what about you? What scents do you smell?" Slughorn asks. 

"The air after its rained, old books and vanilla orchid." 

None of that sounds like anything Malfoy would find attractive. Slughorn moves through the room randomly calling on students to share their responses. I notice that Malfoy is staring at me with a confused expression. He doesn't stop when look back at him. I instinctively wipe around my face wondering if there's something there. 

Thankfully, the class ends only a few minutes later and I quickly grab my things and leave. Hermione seems to be in just as much of a hurry as me. "It's okay to love him." I tell her, seeing the way she avoids Ron. "He doesn't think of me that way. He never will." She says sadly. It's obvious she doesn't want me push the subject any farther so I don't. 

The rest of the day is rather uneventful. I eat dinner and then head to the common room to kill time before everyone else is asleep. I wait until midnight to sneak out of the dorm. Unfortunately, it seems I'm not the only one with things to do tonight. Malfoy is just about to leave the common room as I make it down to the door. "Where do you think you're going?" He asks. "Late night stroll. Mind your own business" I say, pushing past him. 

He follows me out into the corridor. "You're not going there. I have something important to do." He tells me, and even though we both know where he's talking about I pretend not to. "Quit following me, Malfoy." 

I hear a frustrated sigh as I keep walking only to be halted to a stop when he grabs my arm spinning me around. "I'm serious. You're going to get us both caught." We're standing far too close right now and I can't help but notice his cologne. It's so familiar and I try to think of where I just smelled this. When it finally hits me, I back away from him as fast as possible. The potion... the musky cologne. This must be a coincidence because there's no way that scent was in there for him.

"Fine. But tomorrow, I get the room." I tell him. Normally I wouldn't give up so easy but this has thrown me off. Before he can even say anything else I hurry back to the common room. I think back to potions class and the scents that Malfoy had said and how he looked at me the rest of class. Vanilla orchid. I can't believe that didn't earn my attention earlier. I try not to make too much of it, but I but wonder if he realized that was the scent of my shampoo.