As Time Goes By

Chapter 3

Draco's P.O.V

"So than the ingredients are bloodroot extract, asphodel flowers, a griffin claw, valerian root, pufferfish eyes, Lavender extract annd . . ."

"Salamander blood and dried nettles. Come on Weasley!"

Draco and the Weaslette were in the Heads' common room reviewing the ingredients for the bloodroot potion test on Wednesday. A process that was as slow as it was tedious, and Draco was losing his mind going over it all for the seventh time that Sunday.

He looked down at the redhead sitting cross-legged on the couch and pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "We haven't even gotten to the hard part yet, and you can't even get this down. Focus!"

"I'm trying!" She whined, looking up at him as a frown appeared on her face and her eyebrows scrunched up in frustration.

Draco sat down on the couch beside her and pulled the marble-topped coffee table with her notes closer, picking up a quill and dipping it in ink. "Look Slughorn may be a fat and nosy loudmouth, but if you can't get this he'd be right to fail you," He looked over and saw she looked about ready to hex him and rolled his eyes. Is that her solution to everything when it comes to him? "Don't give me that Weasley. Have you even read what would happen to you if you get this wrong? Besides the fact that the effects of it will be extremely painful, it could permanently disfigure you're skin," She looked over at him with a horrified expression and he felt satisfaction rise within him. "Yeah. Now memorize that," He told her, sliding over the list of ingredients he had written on a piece of parchment and standing up.

Weasley picked up the list of ingredients and looked at it for a minute before she put it back down on the table. "You know I just realized that we still have to work on that house solidarity thing that McGonagall wants us to do," Draco knew she saw the venomous look he gave her because she frowned. "Malfoy I know that this is important and I know I need to concentrate, but I can't think! Can we just take a break from it for a while?"

Draco rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed sigh before he sat back down and leaned against the couch, putting his feet on the table. "Fine. What did you have in mind?"

She turned sideways so she was facing him and he looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "Well I was thinking that maybe we could set up a couple of games after the winter break so that each house would have to work together to win,"

Draco furrowed his eyebrows and turned his head to look at her. "How d'you figure that will work?"

"Well each house will compete against each other, which will influence a friendly house rivalry that will get the houses to . . . What?" Weasley broke off and asked at the look on his face.

"That is the dumbest idea I've ever heard," He told her bluntly. Seeing her angered expression he couldn't help thinking that it was her fault. That really was the worst idea to promote house unity he'd ever heard. How could she possibly think that what she suggested would help?

"Oh of course, because you're always right," She said sarcastically.

Draco looked at her, his irritation growing at her attitude. "Weasley there's already a "friendly house rivalry" game going on, between the Gryffindors and Slytherins and every other house at this school. It's called the competition for the house cup, and it doesn't exactly seem like it's making the houses like each other more," Ginny glared and looked away. "But . . . you might be on to something with the game idea," He said sitting up as a thought took form in his head and she looked at him with confusion. "Look, the way you had your idea is still terrible," She scowled and he grinned. "But I think I have a way to make it work,"