Melody Riddle and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 14: Slytherin vs. Gryffindor.. Finally

"The bloody hippogriff is going to be executed," Draco said with a malicious smirk that night in the common room. He had just gotten a letter from his dad, and his smug expression said enough about it. "I knew father would bring justice."

"Uh huh..." I said, distractedly, working on some other papers to grade. I'd had my students also write essays, and I was grading how effective they were.

Becky sat down next to me and looked down at the papers, "Honestly, you're smarter than all of us."

"No, I'm not..." I said, still not paying a lot of attention.

"Another great thing is that I told Snape about seeing Potter, and he saw to it straight away. Who knows? Potter may finally be getting expelled." Draco said with relish at the thought.

"Yes, yes, that'll be wonderful," I said.

"Is she even listening?" Draco asked no one in particular.

"I don't think so... she's too busy grading these essays," Becky said. "Honestly, you'd think her to actually be a teacher rather than a student."

"Agreed," Draco said softly.

"I may be working, but I can still understand that you are talking about me," I said, putting an 'E' on the paper.

"Exceeds Expectations?!" Becky said in surprise, "Whose is this?"

"Ginny's..." I said, putting the second year papers together. "The same grade has been given to Luna and Colin. Now, let's see about Anthony. He probably did a perfect job, too."

"Melody..." Becky said, taking the second year essays and looking through them, "You are an exceptional tutor."

"Speaking of tutoring.. how are your studies doing, Draco?" I asked, looking up at him.

He sheepishly looked down at his hands. "Pretty good..."

Becky took a pillow and threw it at him, "Okay! Okay! I need your help!"

"No problem. Let's say free time every Wednesday, I'll tutor you. Is that fair enough?" I asked.

"Yes, thank you," Draco mumbled softly.

"I need a tutor, too," Marcus said, strutting into the common room as if he owned the world. "Would you tutor me, Melody?"

"Er.. I'll have to check with Professor Snape. He said I couldn't take on any more students," I replied hesitantly.. before feeling giddy with excitement. "But, you know, I would love to tutor you. Perhaps that can also help me learn more sixth year spells and potions."

"How would that help you when he knows nothing about it?" Draco asked, pointing at Marcus.

"Hey!" Marcus retorted angrily.

"It'd be in his book, and you know how I read," I explained. "Anyways, you may not have heard this, but the best way to learn something is if you teach it."

"So it would be helpful for the both of us," Marcus said with a great big smile. "Here, let's go talk to Snape now."

"Not now!" I said almost hysterically, "I still have one more essay to grade!"

"The essay can't wait?"

"Absolutely not!" I said, bending down over said essay to read it before he could pull me away.

He chuckled, and sat down next to me to wait instead. I read through Anthony's, which was pretty thoroughly done. He'd come a long way. He had begun to look forward to tutoring lessons with me and excelled in his classes, especially in his favorite class; Herbology.