Relentless - A Dramione FanFic

Back to Class

Ron and Harry were already seated at the middle desk when Hermione and Draco stepped through the portal to their Potions classroom. It was a smaller room than the one they'd been in previously. It had just three desks down the center and no teacher's desk. Three walls were lined with labeled vials, the fourth held a chalkboard. There was a pile of cauldrons in one corner. The boys conversation ended as their attention turned to their newly arrived classmates. Professor Slughorn was no where to be seen. As Hermione and Draco took their seats, her at the front desk and him in the rear, scrawled words began to appear on the chalkboard. They read:

"Welcome to Potions, 8th Years. It has been worked out for me to teach you as well as the 5th Years during this same class period. I will be spending most of my time with them, as I trust you are more than capable of researching and completing all assignments independently. That's not to say solo, however. All assignments will be completed as a group. Today being the only exception as it will be a review and serve as a way for me to assess your individual talents. You are each to brew your favorite potion. Leave a vial on my desk when it is complete, then you are free to go."

Ron and Harry were visibly aggravated. Potions is a precise art. It requires patience and a steady hand. Neither qualities either of them possess. They both turned to Hermione with pleading looks. She shook her head... "No. You two will be doing your own work. My potion will require the full two hours to complete."

Draco had already retrieved a cauldron and was gathering ingredients. He walked nonchalantly around the room, examining the labels until he found all the necessary components for Felix Felicis. He'd never brewed the potion before, but he was intrigued by the opportunities it could provide. He knew it was a long shot, but he hoped Professor Slughorn would allow him to keep the vial after he'd made sure it was brewed correctly. And even if he wasn't allowed to keep the vial, at least he'd know whether or not he'd done it right in case he wanted to brew a batch in the future. He figured a little luck wouldn't hurt when it came time for him to tell Hermione the truth about who he really was.

Ron and Harry decided, if Hermione wasn't going to help them, it would be best for them to make the same potion. That way they could work together, each of them on their own, but doing the same steps. They settled on the Babbling Beverage potion. Fred and George had made it famous in their third year when they managed to slip a dose of it in Percy's morning pumpkin juice, causing him to recite the Weasley family tree every time someone spoke to him for an entire day. It was an easy potion which meant they'd be able to finish quickly and hopefully enjoy a bit of free time before Transfiguration.

Hermione chose to brew Amortentia. It was a potion she had mastered back in their sixth year, but Professor Slughorn hadn't asked them to brew their most advanced potion, he'd asked for their favorite. Hermione would never forget standing over the cauldron and realizing she was smelling Ron's hair. Thinking of it still gave her butterflies. She spread the ingredients on her desk, and did a mental checklist of the steps before beginning.

Harry and Ron finished their potions in just under an hour. They triple-checked Hermione would be alright alone with Malfoy, causing her to literally shove them out the door in annoyance. "For the THIRD time, I will be fine. I have my wand, and we are both busy completing our potions. Just go, already!!" She slammed the door behind them, and proceeded directly back to her desk without a glance in Draco's direction.

***

Draco was impressed by her tenacity in forcing her two best friends to exit the classroom. His potion needed to stew for twenty minutes, but he wasn't sure Hermione would be up for making conversation after what had happened between them earlier. On the other hand, she did just kick her best friends out, leaving the two of them alone again. No. He chose to err on the side of caution, deciding instead to sketch in order to fill the time. Drawing was a hobby Draco had learned during his time as Blake. He'd never been able to do it while at Hogwarts, until now, because it isn't a skill pure blood wizards hold in high regard.