Feral Den

Chapter 51

Herbology absolutely sucked.
Hailee had been mere inches from being sprayed by wayward juices. Porky Ian had apologized, but Hailee was sure he had gotten points deducted seeing the juice had quite literally caused a small hole in the stone floor beside an administrators foot.

Arithmancy wasn't too bad.
Hailee's head had throbbed for a good two hours after the constant thinking through equations.

Carrying the four was never easy, unlike what most geeks liked to say.

Astronomy was much better.
Hailee had created her best star chart yet, and that was saying something. Sinistra would be proud.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was even better, in Hailee's opinion. The spells they had been instructed to use were standard.
The best part was when the administrator had asked if the rumor about her being able to cast a Patronus was true.

Hailee beamed. "I can." She had said.
"Show me." The eager old man beamed back.

The spell had come easy enough, after having used it for two years.

"Expecto Patronum!"

The corporeal stag had danced and put on a spectacular show that even wowed the bystanders.
The administor had clapped.

"Brilliant!" He had cheered like a child given candy.

Hailee was confident she passed that with an Outstanding. Her best talent was definitely useful.

Ancient Runes had been Friday.
Hailee knew she passed that.

Thankfully she was able to skip Care of Magical Creatures. Ron had come back with torn school clothes —forced to borrow a pair of Hailee's for that day.
Parkinson had howled with laughter seeing the three sizes too small clothes. Ron had hexed her, creating a duel Hailee had been forced to break up before Umbridge heard a whisper of magic in the corridors.

Divination was a waste of time.
Ron had described the old man's face. And Hailee had talked some crap about a starry night and a creature standing beside her administrator. She was positive he didn't believe her.
Neither cared, leading to their scolding by Hermione. Even if she didn't care for the subject, like McGonagall.

Potions was next.
It was Thursday —the second week of tests. And Hailee was staring at her freshly placed packet of Potions questions with dread.

Malfoy was already having a hoot. Writing out his answers with ease. Parkinson looked unamused. Zabini didn't seem to care. Hermione was already hunched over, her hair constantly in her way.
Ron looked just as confused as Crabbe and Goyle who didn't sit too far apart. Nott was ignoring the test, in favor of playing with his quill. And Greengrass was vehemently writing answers, set on getting better scores than Parkinson.

Blowing a breath, Hailee picked up her own anti-cheating charmed quill. She began writing down the standard answers.

What was a bezoar?
A stone found in a goats stomach. It can heal any form of poison.

That Hailee had learned in her first year when Snape set to make a fool of her. Hailee still hadn't forgiven him for that.

The two hour written portion passed slowly. The packets were collected and stacked to be examined afterwards.
The room was transfigured until desks and chairs were desks.

Students brought out their ingredients.

"You will be making any potion of your choosing." The administrator said. "You will do it by memory and with the ingredients you have. Your time starts now."
She flicked her wand, flipping the timer upside down.

Hailee pulled out her ingredients as a cauldron screeched toward her. Bringing out her wand, Hailee tapped the brim.
The fire started from beneath, as the cauldron filled with a starter Snape had drilled into them was best for any potion.
Apparently it was meant to absorb the wrong amount or simply wrong ingredient placed into a potion.
Neville constantly outsmarted the starter liquid. Whatever it was called. Hailee didn't care to know, or ask.

Bringing out her ingredients, Hailee started on the hair-growth elixir. It wasn't by any means hard to make. But the ingredients were many. Most than what her yearmates seemed to have opted to make in their three hour time limit.

By the time the last grain of sand dropped into the pile in the timer. Hailee had finished her perfected potion, placing it in a vial with the usual label of her name, the potion and what its uses were.
As Snape had taught them.

"What did you make?" Malfoy asked as soon as they were out the doors.
"Are you asking to boast or because you're curious?"
"I made Wolfsbane."
"You didn't."
"I did."
"That's impossible." Hailee argued. "Those ingredients are too rare—"
"I got them from Professor Snape."
"Daddy's boy." Hailee scoffed.
"He's my godfather, first of all." Malfoy argued. "Second, never call me that again."
Hailee rolled her eyes. "That's such bullshit. It's the only reason you got his help."
"I didn't get his help."
"He gave you the ingredients!"
"Prior to the exam. I had them on me."
Hailee scowled. "I'm going to hurt you."
"Because my potion was better. That's low, even for you."
"You rigged it! That'll definitely get you an Outstanding!"
"That's what I want."
"You're ridiculous."

"What did you make?" Malfoy pushed, flawlessly keeping up with Hailee as she tried to escape him.
"I'm not telling."
"It was something stupid wasn't it?" Malfoy probed. "Let me guess, hair-growth."
"You can piss right off."
"It was, wasn't it?"
"Stop laughing."
Malfoy smiled. "I'm not laughing."
"Yes you are. I can hear the rumble in your chest."
"That's my heartbeat."
"Shut up."
Malfoy cackled as he followed Hailee up to the library.

"Daphne!" Hailee slammed into their table. "Tell Malfoy to shut up."
"Shut up, Draco."
Malfoy rolled his eyes, only continuing to smile as he sat down. "You don't even know why she's telling you to say it."
"Because you annoyed her, why else?" Greengrass sighed, trying her best to ignore their bickering as she focused on her Charms essay.

Even when they were in the middle of O.W.L.s the Professors were relentless in homework.

"I think it's ridiculous—"
"Ridikulous."
"Shut the fuck up."
Malfoy smiled wider as Hailee grouched across from him.
"Why would he give you those ingredients? You had plenty left over from the start of year."
"Not enough."
"Bollocks! Even Ron had enough to make a decent potion."

"Shh!"

Hailee ignored Madam Pince as the woman hushed them in her scathy voice.

"Where is Weasel?" Parkinson wondered. "Or Granger? They usually follow you around after exams."
"Who cares. I want the remaining."
"No." Malfoy pushed his bag away from her hands.
"Why not? You already got your Outstanding. I don't see the harm."
"The harm is that Professor Snape was very clear—"
"Fuck Snape."
"That's rude." Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have respect for your Professors?"
"Not when they help daddy's boy like you out."
"You've got to stop calling me that."
"I will once I get the remaining ingredients."
"No."
Hailee grouched. "Daddy's boy."
"Orphan."

Both glared.

"Daddy's boy."
"Orphan."
"Daddy's boy."
"Orphan."
"Fuck you."
"Fuck you."
"Fucking daddy's boy."
"Bloody orphan."
Hailee hexed him, making Malfoy jump.

"Hey!" He hissed.
"What?" A pause. "Daddy's boy."

"Hailee!" Hermione shouted.
"Coming!"

"Get back here!"
Malfoy cursed as Hailee ran for the door. Slipping his wand from his robes pocket, he sent a silent stinging hex after her.

Hailee yelped as it hit the square of her back.

"Daddy's boy!"
"Orphan!"

"Mister Malfoy!"
He slipped low into his seat when Madam Pince shot a daggering glare his way.

Parkinson cackled. "This feels like home."
"Shut up Pansy."