Home To You (a Draco Malfoy Love Story)

Partners in Potions

Despite the late hour at which he went to bed, Draco felt well rested when he awoke. Changing into his practice uniform, he began the trek to the pitch before the sun rose. He was glad that he had won the fight with his father about Quidditch - Lucius had wanted him to quit, saying that the time would be better spent preparing for his real life - as a Death Eater, of course. But Draco liked Quidditch. Though he was not as skilled as he would have liked - Harry Potter could out play him, as much as he hated to admit it - it was a welcome distraction from the less carefree areas of life.

He didn't have much time after practice before his classes, so he took a quick shower in the locker room, and stopped at the Great Hall for breakfast. He absentmindedly filled his plate while scanning the room for Melanie. He almost felt like the night before had been a dream, until he saw her sitting next to Ginny Weasley, who came with the Golden Trio - Potter, Weasley and Granger. His nightmare. Draco's stomach sank, knowing that whatever blissful ignorance Melanie had the night before was long gone, as the Gryffindors would certainly fill her in on his past, and his affiliations with the Death Eaters. Though he was filled with dread, at least he had Potions first - something he was good at, and that Snape would cut him some slack. As Draco's godfather, he knew everything that was sitting on his shoulders, and Draco sensed more sympathy from him than from most other adults in his life.

When Draco walked into the Potions room, he recognized the ribbon braided hair from the night before. Melanie sat in the first row of the room, front and center - and the seat next to her was empty. Not that Draco was surprised - between Melanie being new and Snape's murderous rage, he doubted anyone would want that spot. And yet, he felt himself picking up his pace to walk to the front of the room, gently placing his books down on the table next to her as not to startle her. "Is this seat taken?" he asked.

"Draco - hi!" she said, sounding very relieved. "No, of course not," she said. Nodding hello to Snape, who eyed him suspiciously, he slid into the seat, with a full realization of what he had just done. He could feel every pair of eyes in the room on him - and he wasn't the only one. "Is this... notable?" She asked, half kidding.

"Um, normally Gryffindors and Slytherins wouldn't pair up. Not that it isn't allowed. Just... different," he said.

"If you have someone you'd rather pair up with, you don't have to sit with me. I'll be okay!" she said quickly and offhandedly.

"No - of course not. I want to partner up with you - besides, last year, Crabbe was my partner, and he burnt off one of my eyebrows," Draco said. "I am sure you will be a welcome improvement." She laughs.

"OK - I guess I'll be your partner - I have a feeling you look better with the eyebrows than without." Snape shut his book with a bang, signaling that the class was about to begin. Draco noticed Melanie's supplies neatly organized on the desk, her textbook worn, with handwritten notes tucked in. He always liked a bit of competition.

"Welcome to Potions. You may have heard that I will not be teaching Potions this year, but instead will be our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. However, I have graciously offered to co-teach this first lesson with Professor Slughorn, to help him...dust off the cobwebs," Snape drawled with a hint of a smirk. "Today you'll be making a Beautification Potion. Goodness knows some of you need it. You'll have two hours to complete. Then, test on whichever member of your partnership needs it the most."

"So how do you want to divide the work?" Draco asked, before turning back to Melanie to see that she was already flipping to a page in their book and pulling out ingredients. She blushed.

"Sorry! Um, I can grind the fairy wings if you'll chop the Lady's Mantle?" She offered. He nodded and got to work. In another life, Draco thought, he would like to make Potions all day - just measuring, mixing and creating without anyone talking to him. "You're very technical - this is going to turn out well."