𝔖𝔢𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔡 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 (18+ ℭ𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔢)

A Prince's Calling Card

     My eyelids kept drooping, and the books I held against my chest felt like a lead weight. "I should have drunk more coffee at breakfast."

     Hermione frowned at me as we rounded the corner into another student filled hallway. "You had three cups, Harry. You can do this, and you know that I'm available to tutor you if you need it."

     "We haven't arrived to our first potions lesson, and you're already offering me help. Thanks for the confidence booster, Mione."

     "That wasn't my intention, and you know it."

     Shaking my hair out of my eyes, I said, "Sorry, I'm tired."

     "Didn't sleep well?"

     An image of last night's bathroom adventure caused me to jerk, catching my foot on my pant leg, which threw off my pace.

     Hermione quirked her brow at me.

     "Not really," I squeaked out as I commanded my feet to keep moving down the hallway as if nothing happened. "And I hate potions."

     "You liked it well enough when you had Severus Snape's book giving you tips." She reddened. "Besides, we will end up reviewing sixth-year materials today, so it shouldn't be anything to worry about."

     "Yeah, you're right." I pulled the door open. Fumes from the boiling cauldrons burned my nose and eyes. "Or not." Scrunching my face, I wandered inside the classroom.

     "Hello, Harry and Miss Granger." Professor Slughorn's pleased tone greeted us.

     "Professor Slughorn, it's good to see you're teaching potions," I said, happy I didn't sound as irritated as I was feeling.

     "I couldn't say no to Professor McGonagall when she asked me to come back, now could I?"

     Hermione smiled. "She's hard to say no to."

     "Indeed, indeed. Now then, why don't you both take a seat and we can get started."

     Moving to a stool, I eyed the boiling cauldrons with different liquids, dotting the room. It wasn't but a few moments after sitting when I felt eyes boring into the back of my head. I glanced over my shoulder.

     Malfoy leaned on the table, long fingers toyed with a black-feather quill. His silver gaze drowning me in their watery depths.

     How did he always manage to look like he's posing for a fashion magazine?

     The Slytherin nodded at me.

     I twitched, uncomfortable with my frazzled hair and rumpled clothes—not to mention I was staring at him.

     As if knowing my thoughts, his famous, cocky smile appeared.

     I frowned, irritated at his seemingly natural perfection. Shoving my thoughts away, I spun back towards Slughorn. I spent the majority of class trying to ignore Malfoy's gaze. I managed to make it to the last ten minutes without incident.

     "Can anyone tell me the fundamental differences between Fluxweed and Knotgrass?" Slughorn asked.

     A paper crane fluttered onto the table near me.

     "Yes, Miss Avery?" Slughorn asked with his signature dopey grin.

     "Fluxweed is known for its healing properties from..."

     The aviator strutted onto my potions book with its wings crossed over its chest. Stopping in front of me, it swung its head to the right then the other direction before looking at me with it's misshaped black-dot eyes.

     "...Knotgrass is also used to make the polyjuice potion, but..." Avery continued.

     Whipping its wings away from its chest, the words, "Read meh," were scrawled across its body.

     If I wasn't worried that I'd be in trouble for disturbing the lesson—and if it wasn't from Malfoy—I'd have laughed until I cried. Instead, I swatted it off the tabletop.

     It returned to the edge of the table. Inching forward, it spread its wings with another message scrawled there. "U know U want to."

     I shook my head, no.

     The writing slithered around to form a new message. "Meet me in the R.O.R."

     I crossed my arms.

     "After dinner. Alone."

     Shaking my head again, the crane dropped onto it's back and twitched as if it was in pain.

     Hermione turned, her eyes grew wide before looking at me. She made a grabbing motion then pointed at the bird.

     There was no doubt in my mind that the frown on my face was going to permanently damage me.

     Screeching like it was in pain, the bird drew more people's attention.

     Giving in, I grabbed it and squeezed. It wouldn't stop, so I spun and glared at Malfoy.

     His palms pressed together, and he wore a sad frown. "Please," he mouthed.

     Sagging, I mouthed back, "Fine."

     The bird stopped squawking, and Malfoy smiled victoriously.

     "That's it for today's lesson," Slughorn announced, and I bolted from the room.

     My hands shook.

     How dare Draco Stinking Malfoy think that he could summon me at a whim. The mercury-eyed Slytherin had no right to beckon me like some house-elf. My heart-rate skyrocketed thinking about his fingers toying with his quill and writing my enchanted note.

     "What did it say, Harry?" Hermione asked, jolting me from my thoughts and looking at the note crumpled in my palm.

     Pulling out my wand, I tossed the bird in the air. "Incendio!" The white enchantment burst into flames and drifted to the ground.

     I moved to the bench situated along the wall and plopped on it. Feeling a little better now that the bird was gone, I said, "Malfoy wants to talk after dinner."

     "About what?"

     "I don't know."

     "Maybe he wants to thank you for what you did for him."

     "What did I do?"

     "You testified on his family's behalf," she said as if I was mentally stunted for not knowing that.

     "I suppose that could be it." I shrugged. "Do you think it's possible he's changed? I mean, do you think it's possible the war woke him up a bit?"

     "I'm not a fan of his, but, yes." Hermione shifted her book bag on her shoulder. "He's trying to talk to you, and that's something."

     "You're right. I'll meet with Malfoy and see what he has to say."