Lucinda Evans - still in progress

Chapter 6 - Potions

Draco was sitting next to me during Transfiguration. And as usual he was complaining about stuff. This time stuff happend to be Harry Potter. This morning there was an article about him in the Daily Profet, it considered all kinds of possibilities of how he persuaded the Goblet of Fire.

"Ah, look, boys, it's the champion," he suddenly speaks up to Crabbe and Goyle who are seated behind us. I look up and see that Harry just walked into the classroom. "Got your autograph books? Better get a signature now, because I doubt he's going to be around much longer. Half the Triwizard champions have died. How long d'you reckon you're going to last, Potter? Ten minutes into the first task's my bet." Crabbe and Goyle guffaw sycophantically, but Malfoy has to stop there, because Professor McGonagall walk in. 

"Class, sit down. Today we will be starting with a very complex and difficult form of magic. Namely; Cross-Species Switches,"

At the end of class she gave us homework to describe, with examples, the ways in which Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches.

"Lucinda, I expect this piece of homework to be done by tonight. Otherwise I need to worry about it to much," and here is the lovely Draco again, walking away with his two minions and Pancy persecuting them like a homeless dog.

—————

"Here, Luce, I got you something nice. Ow, and have one for Merope too. I'm sure she'll find it genius," Draco says and hands me something that looks a lot like a badge. In luminous red letters that burnt brightly in the dimly lit underground passage: 'Support Cedric — The REAL Hogwarts Champion' was written on it.

"Wait. You need to wait for it. The best is yet to come," Draco says excited. I look back at the badge and the message upon it vanishes, to be replaced by another one, which glowed green: 'Potter Stinks'. Really mature, Draco. "So, what do you think?" he asks me with a really wide grin on his face and I know I can only agree in this situation.

"Really creative, Draco. I can see you put a lot of work in it," Though it would be better if you put this time and effort in something productive. Like maybe doing your own homework.

"I know right. I'm the best!" He then turns away and sees Harry Potter enter in the dungeon. "Like them, Potter?" Draco aks loudly as Harry approaches and looks at the message in red letters. "And this isn't all they do — look!" The red message changes into green one. The Slytherins howl with laughter. There is no change in emotion on Harry's face, but the blush on his face and neck give away the anger he must feel. 

"Oh very funny," Hermione says sarcastically to Pansy and her gang of Slytherin girls, who were laughing harder than anyone, "really witty." As she says the last part facing Draco. 

"Want one, Granger?" Draco asks, holding out a badge to Hermione. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see; don't want a Mudblood sliming it up." 

Before anyone could react Harry reaches for his wand. People all around them scrambled out of the way, backing down the corridor.

"Harry!" Hermione demands warningly.

"Go on, then, Potter," Draco provokes quietly, drawing out his own wand. 

"Draco, no," I say but he isn't listening to me. He pushes me behind him and gets ready to cast a spell.

"Moody's not here to look after you now — do it, if you've got the guts —"

For a split second, they look into each other's eyes, then, at exactly the same time, both acted.

"Furnunculus!" Harry yells at the same time as Draco screams, "Densaugeo!"

Jets of light shoot from both wands, hit each other in midair, and ricocheted off at angles — Harry's hits Goyle in the face, and Draco's hits Hermione. Goyle bellows and puts his hands to his nose, where great ugly boils are springing up — Hermione, whimpering in panic, is clutching her mouth.

"Hermione!" Ronald calls out while running to her. Wow, didn't even know he was here.

"And what is all this noise about?" a soft, deadly voice remarks. Professor Snape has arrived. The Slytherins clamor to give their explanations; the Professor points a finger at Draco, "Explain."

"Potter attacked me, sir —"

"We attacked each other at the same time!" Harry shouts.

"— and he hit Goyle. Look!"

"Sir, that is not really what happened," I begin but Draco brutally pulls my arm and puts his hand over my mouth.

"Shut your mouth, Lucinda. Nobody asked for your opinion," Draco hisses while Professor Snape examines Goyle, not paying attention to us at all. 

"Hospital wing, Goyle," Professor Snape says calmly.

"Malfoy got Hermione!" Ronald exclaims. "Look!" While he forces Hermione to show her teeth. Pansy and some other Slytherin girls are doubled up with silent giggles, pointing at Hermione from behind Professor Snape's back.

"I see no difference." is Professor Snape's cold reply. That's an extremely mean thing to say, expressly to a girl!

Hermione whimpers; I see her her eyes fill with tears, she turns on her heel and runs out of sight. A girl from Gryffindor, who's name I do not know, runs after her. Poor girl. 

The two boys both start shouting at Professor Snape at the same time.

"Let's see," Professor Snape states, in his silkiest voice. "Fifty points from Gryffindor and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or it'll be a week's worth of detentions." 

I only now see Merope walk into the classroom. 

"Wow, what happened? What's with the mood?" she asks me. I never got to answer though because Professor Snape started his lesson.

"Antidotes!" Professor Snape says, looking around at them all, his cold black eyes glittering unpleasantly. "You should all have prepared your recipes now. I want you to brew them carefully, and then, we will be selecting someone on whom to test one..." And just like that, he starts the class.

I start brewing mine and, together with Mer, Draco's antidote when suddenly there is a knock on the dungeon door. It's a little boy in a Gryffindor uniform; he edges into the room, walking up to the Professor's desk at the front of the room.

"Yes?" Professor Snape sneers curtly.

"Please, sir, I'm supposed to take Harry Potter upstairs."

"Potter has another hour of Potions to complete," Professor Snape replies coldly. "He will come upstairs when this class is finished."

The little boy starts to become pink. "S-sir, Mr. Bagman wants him," he says nervously. "All the champions have got to go, I think they want to take photographs. . . ."

"Very well, very well," Professor Snape snaps. "Potter, leave your things here, I want you back down here later to test your antidote."

"Please, sir. He's got to take his things with him. All the champions —"

"Very well! Potter — take your bag and get out of my sight!"

Harry swings his bag over his shoulder, gets up, and heads for the door. 

"Bloody, Potter," I hear someone whisper. I look around to see who it was, but everybody seems to be working on their antidote.