Harry scowled down at the roll of parchment in front of him. He growled in irritation and looked over at his co-workers. "Professor Snape, I now value your flair for making scathing remarks on hideous essays," he said, dropping his quill on the table with disgust. He shook his head and rolled up the parchment and pushed it away. "I give up for now," he muttered. Harry stretched and looked over at Snape and Hermione. They were sitting together at a large table with a small stack of large books, each taking notes and occasionally drawing the other's attention to share something they had just noted. Harry frowned, surprised at how much the potions master had changed. After years of spiteful comments, glares of hatred and anti-social behavior, Severus Snape was sitting with Hermione and listening to her with an expression of interest and not irritation. Harry looked around to catch Draco's eye, but smirked when he spotted him on the floor with Caroline.
Caroline was lying on her back on the floor, with a book levitating above her head. Draco was sitting next to her with his legs stretched out and leaning on one arm which was on the other side of Caroline. His side rested lightly against hers as he pretended to read the book in his other hand. He glanced over at Harry and smirked mischievously. He set his book down and brushed his fingertips against Caroline's side. Her eyes shifted to his and she smiled. Her breath caught as Draco leaned even further and lowered his mouth to hers. He continued to support his weight with one arm while the other hand caressed her cheek. The tender moment was interrupted when Caroline's book fell and hit the back of Draco's head. Caroline giggled and sat up to cradle the back of Draco's head in her hands. "Serves you right for distracting me," she murmured with a playful grin.
"That's disgusting," Harry said, watching them with a bored expression. Draco smirked at him while Caroline giggled. "You know this is the staff room, right?" Harry asked with a smirk. "This is a place for people to work."
"Says the professor that charmed three quills and a teacup to tap dance just twenty minutes ago," Severus quipped, his eyes never leaving the large book he was perusing. He smirked when Hermione laughed.
"I'm so bored," Harry muttered. "And these essays are rubbish."
"Maybe Caroline could entertain us," Draco suggested, his fingers tracing an intricate pattern on the delicate skin of Caroline's wrist.
Caroline blushed but didn't pull her hand away. "I'm not a music box," she chided him gently. "And I'm not here to simply entertain you."
"What a shame," Draco drawled, eyeing her suggestively. He chuckled when she swatted his arm. He then turned to look at Severus. "When were we to meet for training?" he asked.
"In about an hour," Severus muttered distractedly. He shook his head and pointed to the parchment. "No, we cannot use this," he said flatly, drawing Hermione's attention. "This plant would turn the base potion into a poison. It could be neutralized, but I would prefer to avoid adding more elements than necessary."
Hermione frowned thoughtfully. "I'm just afraid that leaving it out will make the base too weak," she said, sighing in frustration. "What about this one?" she asked, pointing at an illustration in the book in front of her.
Severus pondered for a moment. "Clever girl," he murmured, making some notes on his parchment. Hermione blushed, but said nothing as he didn't seem to be aware of what he had said. Caroline caught Hermione's eye and winked. "This will need to be tested, of course, but it may work," Severus went on.
"You've got the potion figured out?" Draco asked hopefully.
"That would be nice," Hermione muttered.
Severus smirked, clearly in agreement. "We think we may have the base for the potion worked out," he said. "It is just a starting point, but it is progress." He looked back at Hermione. "I can begin testing this evening."
YOU ARE READING
Song Of The Guardians
FanfictionTen years after the fall of Voldemort, Harry and his friends try to lead normal lives. They make some new friends that have a dangerous secret and a new enemy is lurking on the horizon.