Smile - Book One of the RP Saga

Seal the Deal ( 23 )

Rachel sat in detention that evening with Snape glaring at her from the front of the class. Lay in front of her, on the desk, was an attempt of a paper to try and explain what they had been doing today in class. But seeing as Rachel couldn't concentrate, she couldn't remember. She'd only managed to write down the basic instructions so far.

Rachel couldn't even remember the name of the potion, let alone how much of each ingredient. There was without a doubt that when Malfoy was not in potions with her, she failed miserably. He would always help her - sometimes he didn't want to, but he still did - or he'd tell her where she went wrong. But Rachel had been on her own today and there she was in detention, dwelling on it.

School had become routine now to Rachel. A house will win a Quidditch match and then there would be stories of how the winners got "drunk" on some smuggled in fire-whiskey. Sometimes Sirius Black would be sighted and Rita Skeeter would soon have an article out in the Daily Prophet. Buckbeak's trial had gone ahead but unfortunately was useless. The trial came to the same conclusion; Buckbeak would be sentenced to death in the new year.

Rachel tapped her quill on the side of the inkwell out of frustration. This detention was taking so long. The sooner it was done, the sooner she could leave. She just truly couldn't remember the last step.

"Stop it." Snape glared at Rachel's quill.

Rachel rolled her eyes and dramatically placed it on the desk. Snape then went back to marking some papers, while she continued to struggle.  With a groan, Rachel leant on the desk. She screwed her face up, racking her head for answers. With a sigh, Rachel guessed and messily scribbled down the final instructions. She stood up and walked over to Snape and handed him the work.

"You may go." He said waving his hand to the door, not even looking at her work.

Rachel nodded and left, the castle had gotten darker now considering it was winter and it was getting colder rapidly. Rachel was still in her school robes so she pulled them around her and hurried on. Rachel approached the stairs to the common room went into her dorm, Hermione was still up reading a book on her bed.

Rachel never really payed attention to the other girls in the dorm but they were sat together all giggly on Lavender's bed which was furthest from Rachel's. She quickly got dressed into her pyjamas and climbed on to Hermione's bed.

"How was detention?" She asked placing a bookmark in her book and closing it.

"It. Was. So. Boring!" Rachel groaned.

Hermione laughed, placing her book on the bedside table. "What happened?" She giggled.

"Urgh, Snape made me write up what we had done today in class but you know me, I can't remember the bloody potions name let alone the ingredients. It took me forever and guess what I forgot was the final step?" Rachel moaned raising an eyebrow.

"Wave your wand to seal the potion," She laughed shaking her head and Rachel nodded. "Honestly Rachel you are terrible at potions!"

"I know, but the funny thing is I actually like potions. I just am not that good. I need somebody to explain things to me like every lesson." Rachel sighed.

"Well, I would do it if it weren't for the seating plan. Just remember the wand part as like seal the deal or something?" She said.

"That's a good one! But yeah, don't worry about it. I'll just study more." Rachel said, waving a hand.

"Or, you could ask Malfoy. I see you do it quite a bit." said Hermione.

"That's the point, I ask him too much. It's a bit unfair on him, he is really good at potions and I feel like when I keep asking him I bring him down. Which sounds ridiculous but still." Rachel contemplated.

"Fair enough, but I'm sure he doesn't mind. Usually he doesn't look like he wants to hex you." Hermione winked.

"Oh good to know." Rachel sarcastically replied. "He is a good teacher though..." Rachel continued to say.

"Hmm," Hermione lay on her bed, "he is clever. But he's so... mean, it seems to be you're one of the only people outside of Slytherin he can tolerate."

Rachel sniggered and tucked her feet underneath her. "Yes... it is a shame he's so mean because even you can't deny he's got a lovely face."

"Rachel Lily Potter, what a little minx!" Hermione gasped, sitting back up.

"Shh!" Rachel laughed back holding a finger up to her lips.

"You really think he's attractive?" Hermione said, with a shudder.

"Well..." Rachel hesitated, "well, yes. He is a handsome guy. He's just so rude and horrible it ruins it. He should be seen and not heard."

Hermione began to laugh again. "Now that I can agree with."

The next morning soon came and as usual, Hermione and Rachel were up and dressed, ready to go before Harry and Ron had woken up. Rachel hadn't even reached the Great Hall with Hermione when Professor McGonagal stopped them.

"Hello, Miss Granger, Miss Potter." She curtly said.

"Good morning, Professor." The two said in response.

"Miss Potter, it seems as though Dumbledore wishes to speak to you. He has asked for you to go to his office immediately." McGonagal insisted.

"Oh... Oh okay, um, Hermione, I'll see you later?" Rachel turned to Hermione, she nodded and headed into the Great Hall before throwing a look of confusion back at her. Rachel shrugged her shoulders and turned in the opposite direction for Dumbledore's office.

"Oh Potter!" McGonagal called again, Rachel turned to look at her. "Dumbledore likes Sherbet Lemons." and with that she walked off.

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