Far Away (Draco Malfoy)

~ 6 ~

     The Transfiguration classroom was filled with the quiet hum of concentration as students attempted to transform a quill into a flower. The elegant scrawl of Professor McGonagall's instructions adorned the blackboard, but the spell itself was proving to be anything but simple.

     I stared at my quill, frustration bubbling beneath the surface as I muttered the incantation for the third time. "Floribus Penna!"

     The quill shuddered slightly but remained stubbornly intact. I sighed, lowering my wand. "Why isn't this working?"

     From the desk beside me, Hermione glanced over and smiled gently. "You're overthinking it," she said in a hushed tone. "Transfiguration is all about intent. Imagine the flower you want to create— every petal, every detail."

     I nodded, trying again. "Floribus Penna!"

     This time, the quill trembled, a single petal sprouting from the nib before falling off. "Great," I muttered. "I made half a flower."

     "Don't worry," Hermione said, her voice encouraging. "You're getting closer. Here, let me show you—"

     "Of course Granger's helping," came a familiar, drawling voice from the row behind us. Draco Malfoy leaned forward on his desk, his grey eyes glinting with amusement. "What's wrong, Thunderbrooke? Can't manage on your own?"

     I turned to glare at him. "What do you want, Malfoy?"

     "Oh, nothing," he said airily, twirling his wand between his fingers. "Just curious how many Gryffindors it takes to teach a Phony Slytherin basic magic."

     "Leave her alone, Malfoy," Hermione snapped, her voice low but firm. "She's doing just fine."

     Draco raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Is that why her quill's still a quill?"

     "Better than cheating your way through every class," Hermione shot back, crossing her arms.

     "Cheating?" Draco repeated, feigning offense. "You wound me, Granger. Unlike you, I don't need to cheat. Talent runs in my blood."

     "More like arrogance," Ron muttered, joining the conversation as he leaned over Hermione's desk. "Leave her alone, Malfoy. Go ruin someone else's day."

     "And miss this?" Draco said, gesturing to me with a mocking flourish. "Watching her struggle is the most entertainment I've had all week."

     I clenched my jaw, gripping my wand tightly. "I'd rather struggle than sit around being a bully like you."

     Draco's smirk didn't falter, but his eyes darkened slightly. "A bully? That's rich coming from someone who can't even manage a simple spell."

     "Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said sharply, his green eyes flashing as he stepped into the fray. "She's doing better than you think."

     "Potter to the rescue," Draco drawled, leaning back in his chair. "You Gryffindors really stick together, don't you? It's almost... endearing."

     I rolled my eyes, turning back to my desk. "Ignore him. He's just trying to distract me."

     "Smart girl," Draco said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But you might want to listen to Granger a little more. Clearly, you need all the help you can get."

     Before I could retort, Professor McGonagall's sharp voice cut through the room. "Mr. Malfoy," she said, her gaze as piercing as her tone. "If you're quite finished disrupting my class, perhaps you could focus on your own work?"