The Songbird and The Viper

The Cauldron Bubbles

It had only been a few hours since their training period before Malfoy had to accompany Johanna to potions. She gripped her book tightly, knuckles almost white from the immense pressure. Malfoy hadn't noticed. He kept a steady stride down the corridor, not paying her any mind. Not that she really cared. With her promise to teach him while they worked together, his agreement to be nicer towards her seemed like an impossible task. If him ignoring her most of the time meant she received less of his dim-witted torment, then she'd happily accept.

Once they arrived, Malfoy quickly took a seat with fellow Slytherins she didn't recognize. One boy greeted Malfoy with a sly grin, cocking an eyebrow as he approached. At one of the tables she noticed Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a Hufflepuff boy. She didn't bother to look at them, unsure of what they'd ask about her private lesson. Johanna kept to herself when they sat down, taking the time to flip through her potions book before Professor Slughorn appeared.

The boy beside Malfoy pointed over in her direction, "Is that the one you have to tutor?"

"What else would she be?" Malfoy snipped.

The boy snorted, "Clearly enjoying your time I see?"

"Only good thing about this is that Granger didn't get the job. Hate to see a mudblood taint the precious exchange student," Malfoy grumbled.

Johanna didn't look up, her leg extending to kick at Malfoy's shin. He immediately glared at her, but kept quiet, turning back to the boy instead.

"Maybe you'll snag us some extra house points for your help. Hate to be you though, couldn't even think about teaching someone who doesn't know anything," The boy tried to lower his voice, but Johanna heard him. She kept her eyes on her book.

Before Malfoy could respond, Professor Slughorn waltzed in, grinning madly.

"Good morning! It's a pleasure to see some familiar faces in here," He looked like he was about to burst. The boy beside Malfoy leaned back in his seat, a smug look on his face. Once Slughorn began with the lesson, she felt her stomach drop at the prospect of an upper level course. Slughorn went on about different potions and their affects, things Johanna had never even heard of. Luckily, Hermione answered every question with stunning accuracy and speed, causing Johanna to calm slightly. At least if she didn't know the answer, Hermione would.

Malfoy on the other hand, decided to snicker and whisper to the boy at his side every time she spoke. Johanna chose to ignore him, focused intently on absorbing the information he was going on about. Once they received their assignment, she reluctantly turned to Malfoy for help.

After several minutes, it was clear Malfoy himself was struggling. He made her job reading the directions to him as he tried and failed miserably to keep up with Potter's efforts across the room. Malfoy loosened his tie in frustration.

"How many times do you stir it?" He grumbled, picking up the spoon.

"It says eight clockwise," She narrowed her eyes to read the text.

"It's not even the right color, you sure you read it properly?"

"Hard to mess up a simple set of instructions."

"Well clearly something is wrong," He began to stir harder.

"Clearly you must have done something wrong," She responded dryly, "Eight. Not nine."

He stopped mid-stir, "That's rich. Why don't you try since you're so good at everything?"

She slammed the book shut with one hand, staring him down. His eyes moved her over, clearly confused by her response.