Head Above Water

Potions

Advanced Potions. A class as difficult as this one should take my mind off of everything going on with Malfoy, and Harry, and Ron... the war is still really taking a toll on everyone I know. I put it out of my mind, and try to focus on Slughorn's address to the class. "This will be one of the most difficult potions classes you will ever take. Our main project this quarter will be to brew a perfect batch of Felix Felices with your partner!" As eyebrows around the room shot up, he chuckled. "You will be taught, but not allowed to take this potion. And I will be keeping a highly accurate inventory of all my supplies Miss Granger."

I felt all the eyes in the room turn to me. I guess he did find out about all the illegal potions I made in years past. 

"Yes, I made a few.. extracurricular potions the past few years. But, I don't see any more evil wizards trying to kill us all, so I don't plan on doing any more of that." I finished with a dry chuckle, and to my surprise, the class joined in. Except for one notable difference. Over in the back corner, Draco Malfoy kept a stone cold countenance. He seemed to feel me staring at him, and looked over, meeting my eyes and giving me another of those strange little half smiles. 

Slughorn continued his welcome speech to the class "So, as I said, we will be working in partners, and these will be decided by past grades, with the higher scorers together, and lower scorers together." I will now have the list posted on the chalkboard in the front, no pushing! Please!"

Everyone seemed to ignore that last part, and rushed to the front to see who their partners were. I hung back, not really worried. I knew I had always been a high scorer in the past, and having another top student would work well for me. Hopefully, I could slack a little more, try not to stress. I reached the blackboard after an eternity of everyone around me shoving to find their seats, and searched for my name. I found it, and looked next to it and saw who I would be paired with for the next quarter. 

Hermione Granger... Draco Malfoy

Of course. That would be my luck. I was suddenly tempted to take Felix Felices and convince Slughorn to change my partner when Malfoy put his hand on my shoulder and turned me around. 

"So. We're partners. Before you get any wild ideas about making Sluggy change it, don't bother. I've been on your tail in scores since first year. No one else is on par with you. You're stuck with me. Just don't get in my way. We're sitting over here."

Speechless, I followed him over to the same dark corner where our eyes had met shortly before. I marveled at his ability to seemingly read my thoughts. At the same time, he was always so brusque with me. How would we be able to work together if he still hated me? And forget him hating me, what about my own feelings? 

"D- Malfoy. If we're going to be able to work together, we have to at least pretend to be civil to each other. Otherwise, we may both end up being in the low scorer group next quarter."

"Makes sense."

And that was it, just a curt answer. This would be disastrous. 

Class continued without further event, and one spoken sentence between the two of us. 

"You misspelled that ingredient."

And then still nothing. When class dragged to a close, Malfoy turned and started walking towards the grounds, turning to me and giving me a nod to follow him. Befuddled, I did. He took me back to the clearing on the lake, conjured a blanket, and opened his bag. He stuck his entire arm in, and pulled out a basket of food from the kitchens. I guess he liked my Undetectable Extension Charm as much as I did.

"Malfoy."

He stopped setting up and turned to me. 

"If I'm going to start being 'civil' to you and you're going to stop being a know-it-all bitch, we're having a meal together to see if it's possible."

"Makes sense." I responded with the same curt response as he did. 

"There's the bitch part of what I just said. Thanks for proving me right."

I realized he was right, and laughed, playfully smacking him on the arm. That was a mistake. His eyes flashed dark as he grabbed my arm and stared me dead in the face. 

"Don't hit me. Ever."

"A-alright."

I brushed aside my fears and sat down. He sat with me, not close but still near enough to have his scent blown towards me by the wind. He smelled like apples and pine. As we sat in a tense quiet, it was interrupted by a loud meowing from the woods. I didn't have time to turn around before a huge ball of orange fluff hit me directly in the face. 

"Crooks!"

"What the hell is that bloody thing?"

"This is Crookshanks! He was my cat before the war but I was sure he had died! He's here! I can't believe he survived. Oh, Crooks I thought you were gone!"

I looked up from gushing over my cat to see Malfoy looking at me with that half smile again, with his dark clothes covered in orange hairs. I couldn't help myself but to laugh. As I started to giggle at him, he looked down and saw the hair everywhere and started to laugh too. The sight of Draco Malfoy laughing was so shocking to me, I abruptly stopped. I had never seen him laugh before. It was as if the pain of the years melted out of his face. When he laughed, I couldn't help but look at him. He was beautiful. I forced myself to look away and  waited for him to stop.

"Well, now that that's over, I do want to know you better. Without Saint Potter and his pet around, I feel like it may be easier. So. Are you willing?"

I took a moment before looking him straight in the face and decided.

"I am."

A/N: Aaaand so the friendship begins. I had to bring Crooks in, can't have a bookworm without her cat! I can't wait to get to the next part! Tay <3