Bloodline - Draco Malfoy

Classes and Classmates

Time went on the next week and things began to pick up with Umbridge. She had grown more intolerable in her classes and whispers were beginning to depict a rather inhumane way of having students serve out their detentions with her. The Daily Prophet was slandering Harry Potter in every way they could and the Slytherins were living for it. Even the first years were joining in the jokes and snickering as Potter and his friends walked by. It seemed to Mila that Potter's supporters, even in Gryffindor, were dwindling. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were divided as much as anyone else and appeared Cedric Diggory's involvement was only a source of more conflict.

"That old, ratty hat must be livid in Dumbledore's office," Mila chuckled as she walked to her Potions class. "What was that song he sang this year? Something about unity? What a joke!"

"It's about time everyone saw what a liar Potter is," Draco said.

"He's not a liar," Mila argued. "But he does have a bit of a hero complex."

"Exactly why he would lie," Draco insisted as they took a seat next to each other. "Diggory chokes at one of the challenges and Potter just drags him out to be the hero!"

"That's a bit crude," Mila said, not wanting to speak ill of the dead, no matter who was involved.

"It's the truth," Draco insisted, pulling his book from his bag.

As Snape began Potions class, Mila and Draco piped down. The professor had been in a particularly horrid temperament since Umbridge's arrival. Not even the Slytherin, his own house, were safe from his wrath. Even Draco had barely managed to slip by without a detention, and he was a favorite of Snape's, if that was possible. Mila tried to stay quiet, only answering when called on and making sure to know the answer to every question he could possibly ask. Detention with Snape was not Mila's ideal Saturday night.

"What does that last ingredient say?" Draco whispered, unable to read the scrawl on Snape's board.

"Shh," Mila snapped, continuing her own potion in silence.

"I know you can see it," Draco whispered. "You've probably got this damn this memorized just tell me, Davie."

"Shut. Up," Mila seethed, squeezing African Red Pepper juice into her cauldron.

"What. Does. It. Say," Draco insisted, pretending to be looking at his potion. His voice was getting louder, making Mila's palms sweat.

"Just look through your book!" She whispered harshly.

"It's not in my book!"

"No speaking," Snape snapped from his desk, without looking up.

Mila felt her spine go cold. She glared at Draco who only grew more resolved to make her read the board for him. Zabini and Daphne were snickering behind them.

"Tell me," Draco whispered through the side of his mouth.

Mila balled her fists and sighed. Without looking up, she answered, "Leech juice... you have to pour it in slowly and stir eight times, counterclockwise."

"Thank you," Draco said. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Mila kicked his leg under the table. He stared daggers, but didn't retaliate, not with Snape now looking around.

When the class came to an end and both Mila and Draco had made acceptable potions, they scurried out the dungeon before Snape could find a reason to give them detention or hit them over the head with a book.

"You cow," Malfoy sniggered, shoving Mila with his elbow as they walked down the corridor.

"Maybe read the board yourself next time," Mila chuckled, shoving him right back. "Or get a nice pair of glasses like Potter."