Chapter two; Only two things that matter.
Ron and I were really late to class today, we got so lost. Hermione and Draco both turned to look at us as we ran in the and my gaze automatically locked with Draco's, the faint smile on his face eased my racing heart a little, why he was smiling I had no idea; it was nice none the less. "Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?" Ron said, I was about to reply when the cat on our professors table jumped, I was expecting it to run and get her, instead, it turned into her, "That was bloody brilliant" Ron said, stunned.
"Thank you for that assessment, Mr.Weasly. Perhaps it would be more useful if I transfigured Mr.Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? Maybe that way one of you will be on time."
"We got lost" is all I could reply with,
"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats." she asked as she stepped back to the front of the class. We sat in silence for most of that class, writing things down; we'd missed most of it though so we didn't do much of anything.
Potions was our next class and I was determined to do well. I'd already decided I didn't like Professor Snape though, there was something all wrong about him and I couldn't wrap my head around it. He stormed into the classroom and said "There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class." he pressed his fingertips together and admired his classroom. "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate..." he continued "The subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few..." naturally he has favourites, "Who possess the predisposition. I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame and brew glory and even put a stopper in death." I knew I should be writing this stuff down, start of term notes always come in handy, he stopped talking which gave me just enough time to get it all written down, "Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not, pay, attention." Hermione nudged my arm and drew my gaze to my now very unhappy teacher whom was walking towards me, "Mr.Potter, our new, celebrity. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione stuck her hand high in the air within seconds of him asking, all I could do was shake my head, "You don't know? Let's try again. Where, Mr.Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" again, Hermione stuck her hand up straight away,
"I-I don't know, Sir" I muttered, this was embarrassing, everyone was looking at me, Draco was looking at me. He had an oddly sympathetic look on his face though, despite everyone's snickering.
"And what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Hermione was waving her hand about, whispering 'oh, oh, me'. She was so desperate to answer and I was so desperate to let her.
"I don't know, Sir." I said again not breaking eye contact with him. He was cruel and I'd only known him ten minutes.
"Pitty" he simply said, "Clearly, fame isn't everything. Is it, Mr.Potter?" the harsher tone in his voice more apparent this time as a filthy look appeared on his face. I was frustrated and infuriated with him now. I kept my head down that lesson, I tried not to annoy him anymore because frankly, I didn't want anymore attention, I was sick of it. After class Draco and I were the last one's out, I was expecting him to trip me up, knock my books out my hand or say something sarcastic but he didn't, instead he tapped me lightly on the shoulder, I turned to look at him and he was just stood there, clutching his books close to his chest with a smile on his face.
"Hi" he said, I wasn't sure what was happening, there was no-one else in the corridor, there was only us.
"Umm, hello" I said simply, trying not to sound sarcastic,
"Snape, ignore him. Father said he's like this with everyone"
"It's fine, I'm sure I'll get over it." I replied, I was about to walk away when he started to speak,
"Uh, Harry..."
"Yes?"
"I was curious, I mean, we're in different houses obviously and I guess, well, I don't know, maybe-"
"What are you trying to say? You're just rambling" I hoped I didn't come across as being rude, but when he looked at the floor with a hint of sorrow in his eyes I knew I had been, "Draco, what's up?" I asked placing my left hand on his shoulder,
"Just uhh, maybe we could hang out later, or something?" he looked me in the eyes, he was serious. I wanted to say yes straight away, but that would look weird, but I didn't want to say no in case he never asked again. I stood thinking about it for a while and then nodded,
"Sure, okay then" a smile spread on his face and he looked happier, he opened his mouth to say something when we heard footsteps echoing, "See you later?" he nodded and ran off in the other direction. I followed the corridors to the great hall thinking about whether what just happened, actually happened. What would we do? Where would we meet? How would we know? But now wasn't the time for that, now was the time for studying with my friends.
"Eye of rabbit, harp string hum, turn this water into rum"
"What's Seamus trying to do to that glass of water?" I asked Ron whom was happy to be distracted from studying,
"Trying to turn it to rum. Actually managed to weak tea yesterday, before-" he was cut off by a loud explosion. All our attention was draw to a now smoking goblet of water and slightly singed Seamus. The laughter subsided and was replaced by the squawks of Owl's, "Ahh, mail's here" Rom said with a smile as he looked up at the ceiling, hundreds of owls flying about with letters and parcels in their beaks. Nothing for me, although that wasn't surprising. I was writing down some notes when I noticed a newspaper Ron had put to the side.
"Can I borrow this?" he nodded and I took it, unravelling the string to find a story I didn't expect to see.
"Hey look, Neville's got a Remembrall" Dean shouted, I looked up for a split second and then Hermione said those four words that we all knew she'd say,
"I've read about those." with that, I was reading the newspaper again, "When the smoke turns red, it means you've forgotten something" I heard her say with utmost confidence.
"The only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten" Neville said, I needed to change the subject,
"Hey Ron" I said tapping his arm, "Somebody broke into Gringotts, listen; 'Believed to be the work of Dark Wizards or Witches unknown, Gringotts goblin's, while acknowledging the breach insist nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 713, had in fact been emptied earlier that very same day' that's odd, that's the vault Hagrid and I went to" I looked up at Hermione and Ron's puzzled faces and rethought the line in my head 'Dark Wizards or Witches', why would Hagrid take me to a vault Dark Wizards and Witches are trying to break into? Right now, that question and the thought of meeting up with Draco were all I could think about, floating about my head as if they were the only two things that mattered.
