A Lion and a Snake

Chapter 8

Harry's POV

Mal-Draco and Zabini came back into the Great Hall shortly after Neville. Neville was sitting by me, his face a bright red color.

"Neville, what's wrong?" Hermione asked for the billionth time. Neville hadn't answered any of the other times she had asked, just gotten slightly more red in the face. By now he looked like a ripe tomato.

"Fine, I'll tell you." Neville said, sighing. "My crush asked me out." Ron's eyes widened and Hermione squealed.

"Will you tell us who it is now?" Ginny demanded. Poor Neville, who's blush had faded to a bright pink, rapidly turned red again.

"Well, he's in Slytherin..." Neville started.

"Spit it out, mate." Ron said. Ginny glared at him. We had known Neville was gay since sixth year, when he had accidentally let slip he had a crush on a guy, and then admitted he was gay.

"Fine." Neville took a deep breath. "Blaise Zabini. We're going to Hogsmead together next weekend." Ron fell off his seat.

"Ronald!" Hermione yelped, reaching down to help Ron up.

"You mean, we're going to have to be sort of friends with Zabini?"

"Honestly, Ronald, Blaise is not that bad." Hermione scolded.

"Yeah, but, his best friend is Malfoy!" Ron complained.

"Ron, I'm sure Malfoy is different now. The war changed all of us." Ginny said quietly.

"I doubt it." Ron said.

"He is." I said at the same time. "He is." I said, more forcefully, when Ron glared at me.

"Really?" Ron didn't sound convinced.

"Ron, he's-I don't know how to explain it, but I know he's different. And anyway, I doubt you'll have to hang out with him. You can always leave whenever he comes around."

"As long as you're not rude when you do it." Hermione added.

"Yeah." I said.

"But-guys, he-why would he change? Especially towards us?"

"Because Harry saved him from that fire." Hermione said, smiling at Harry. "He may be rude sometimes, but saving someone creates a bond between wizards or witches. Whether they want it to or not."

"Yeah." I said, suddenly annoyed. "Like with Wormtail. The git betrayed my parents, but when I saved his life..." I trailed off. I didn't want to talk about Wormtail. He hadn't been the only death that day.

"Ok, Fine. Whatever." Ron said.

Professer Baxter, the new Transfiguration teacher, walked up and down the Gryffindor isle, handing out our schedules.

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Draco's POV

My first class-and all the other eighth year's first class, that is those who were taking it-was Divination. If they weren't in Divination they were in Arithamancy, so the class was split in two.

Pansy and I started making our way up to the Divination room. (Blaise has Arithamancy) Firenze had been welcomed back to the herd after the war, much to Professer Trelawny's delight.

The room was just how I remembered it. Hot and stuffy, with little tables and poufs instead of chairs. The fire seemed to emit heavy fumes, making my head spin. The only reason I stayed in this class, was because I needed another class and this one was the simplest.

"Welcome, class." Professer Trelawny said in her misty voice. Her eyes looked huge and bug-like. "Today, we will be continuing crystal gazing, because I have seen that it will be on your NEWTS."

"Yeah right." Pansy breathed. "Not like you took NEWTS as well." I snorted.

"Now-" Professer Trelawny was cut off by the trap door opening and Harry and Weasel coming in.

"Sorry we were late, Professer." Harry said, grinning.

"Yeah, we were trying to see the future in candles. You know, for practice." Weasel finished. Parvati Patil glared at him.

"Sit, sit." Professer Trelawny said. "Now, as for your partners.

"Ms. Patil is with Mr. Dark," Thomas Dark was a Ravenclaw. I kind of zoned out, until-

"Mr. Malfoy is with Mr. Weasley." Professer Trelawny called. Weasel looked outraged.

"But, Professer," he started.

"But Professer nothing." Professer Trelawny's usually misty voice sounded ice cold. Then it changed back to her usual, annoying, misty self. "The people chosen will not be changed. Now, please move so you are sitting with your partner."

"Harry, stay here. There's room for four, and I doubt anyone would make you move." Weasel whispered urgently as I made my way across the room so I could sit at his table. Harry looked only slightly bitter as he smiled at Weasel and nodded.

"Fine." He sighed.

"So, I'm paired with Harry Potter." It was a Ravenclaw boy named Joshua King.

"I guess." Harry said. Joshua smiled at Harry, and then sneered at me before taking his seat right next to me.

"Now, look into the crystal ball in front of you." Professer Trelawny said. "What do you see?"

"Fog." Weasel muttered. "Do you see anything?" He asked Harry the question.

I narrowed my eyes. "I believe I'm your partner, Weasel." I said.

"Don't call me Weasel." Weasel demanded.

"Fine." I sighed, and glared at the crystal ball as though it was its fault that I was forced to come back here. It was the second day and I was already wishing I could be anywhere else.

"Really?" Weasley asked sounding surprised.

"Really what?" I asked, annoyed.

"You won't call me Weasel?"

"No, I won't. Now are we going to keep having this conversation, or are we going to do as the teacher asked?" I demanded.

"What do you see?" Professer Trelawny asked as she came over.

"Well, Professer, I see..." Harry started before trailing off. "Uh, the Grim? Again?"

"No." Professer Trelawny sniffed. "It's not the Grim, thank goodness.

"But wait! What's this? It's a mark, a mark shrouded in darkness, one that I cannot make out! And a pale figure, stalking closer!" Professer Trelawny looked suddenly horrified. "Oh, I have never thought this before, but I hope I'm wrong."

"Yeah, okay. That is interesting." Harry said, rolling his eyes. "Oh, wait, I see something."

"What?"

"I see a bird-Yeah, a bird-and it's-oh, Merlin, it's clawing out someone's eyes!" Harry smiled as he talked. Professer Trelawny looked indignant as she walked away.

"Good job, mate." Weasley said, grinning at Harry. "Good job."

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Well, that chapter was... yeah. So, moving on. I just kind of wanted this chapter to be the start of Bleville, and proof that Ron and Draco can deal with each other. Plus it puts other things in motion that I won't talk about. *smirks*

Anyway, see you lata, fellow Drarry shippers!!!