~The Slytherin Princess~ Draco Malfoy

F O U R T Y S I X

"Do you think this year is going to be horrid?" Pansy asked, checking her time table, "I know we're technically doing less subjects, but that doesn't mean there will be less work."

"I think we'll be okay," Adeline waved her off half-heartedly, "Besides, we're starting our year with Professor Snape so it can't be that bad."

"Snape teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts," Blaise chuckled as he checked his time table, finding he too had that lesson, "who would have thought it?"

"It's good for him, I guess." Adeline shrugged, "he's always wanted that position, now he's finally got it. Don't know how I feel about this new potions teacher though, he seems to pick favourites."

"I can't believe you're taking potions." Blaise crinkled his face in disgust, "I dropped it to get away from Snape, now I've got him for D.A.D.A instead."

"Potions is great." Draco suddenly spoke, defending his girlfriend, "it's dead interesting, I could be learning about how to spike someone with a poison and you'd have no clue how to."

"Why would you need to be spiking anyone with poison?" Theo asked, squinting at the blonde boy who shrugged indifferently.

"Just nice to know, isn't it."

Adeline, Draco, Blaise, Theo and Pansy walked into the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, grunting as they realised half of the seats were filled with Gryffindors. Crabbe and Goyle did not pass the subject, so we're unable to choose it for N.E.W.T level. The room was dreary at best, a cold atmosphere filling it with little to no sunlight peeking through the thick black curtains that hung over the windows. Looks like Snape had already added his personality into his classroom.

"Now Adeline," Blaise joked, "try not to punch Potter in the face today."

"You're not funny." The girl responded dryly, wandering to the back of the room and claiming a double desk, not bothering to check who sat beside her.

"Tired, love?" A cheeky voice rang out from beside her, "I'm not surprised after last night."

"Shut up Draco." Adeline mumbled, head in her arms, on the desk as she closed her eyes, willing her body to give her the desperate energy she needed.

"Good morning class." Snape strode in confidently, "Miss Charm, I appreciate it if you do not fall asleep in my lesson, it is the first day back you surely cannot be that exhausted already."

"You'd be surprised sir." Adeline unwillingly lifted her head off the desk, letting out a yawn.

"Astonished." Snape replied simply, "Now Miss Charm has decided to devote her full attention, I may inform you I have not asked you to get your books out yet, Miss Granger." Adeline snorted, leaning back in her wooden seat as the Gryffindor girl blushed in embarrassment, slowly sliding her book back into her bag, "I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention."

Adeline sat her body up, semi-curious to what the man was going to say.

"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe." He told them softly, "naturally, all of these teachers will have had their own... let's say methods and... priorities when teaching. Given these circumstances, I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L, I will be even more surprised if any of you can scrape a N.E.W.T."

"Naturally," his eyes flickered to Adeline, "there are some of you who are more gifted then others," his gaze then drifted to Weasley and Potter, "and I will be surprised if these less gifted individuals manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T work, which will be much more advanced."

Adeline smirked at the compliment, accepting it with open arms because she knew she was good, she was well aware of how gifted and how talented she was.