Azkaban's Youngest Prisoner

Ch. 5

Chapter 5:

I walk down to the library hoping to find something interesting to read. I had about thirty minutes before class started at 9. After looking through and picking out some books I thought would be interesting. I gaze over to the tables and I see Harry working on some homework. He looks like he's struggling a bit. I decide to talk to him.

"Hey! Harry right?" I say as I rest my hands on the table, standing across from him. Harry's eyes spring up and widen for a second, but then he looks like he is trying to remain calm.

"Oh, um yea that's me," He replies nervously. "Uh Tessa right?"

"Mmhm. Whatcha working on?"

"Um just potions homework."

"Lemme see." Harry slides his parchment over to me and I glance over it. "You need some help?"

"Uh kinda, I don't really get it." He replies. I sit down and look at the parchment, actually reading it this time.

"Oh Harry this is a simple potion. It looks like you just have to fill in the blanks for a procedure. It's a simple antidote to common poisons. Ok it looks like you got the ingredients right but not  the numbers. They are super easy to memorize. If you just memorize the numbers in order first, it helps you apply it to the recipe better. So for part one memorize 1, 4, 2 for ingredients. And for part 2 memorize 1, 2, 2, 2." I explain as I point to the ingredients the numbers apply to.

"Oh I never thought of it that way. That's brilliant!" Harry beams.

"Yea, this helps me memorize it a lot better. I'd say the hardest part of potions is memorizing brew times. But again just memorize in order and you should be fine." As I explain the last part and see his friends, who I think are named Hermione and Ron walk into the library. They stop in their spots when they see Harry and me talking.

"Wow, you really seem to know what you're talking about. I never knew you were good at potions."

"Well when you're stuck in a cell for two years, you don't really have much to do besides study." I laugh. Harry stares at me, unable to figure out what to say. "It's a joke, you can laugh." Harry laughs and tells me about his potions class experience.

"Snape is always on my back for potions. He's always extra strict on me, and potions is my worst class."

"Yea Snape is a sucker for details. If you just do exactly what he says, you'll honestly be fine." I look up and notice Ron and Hermione staring at us with wide eyes. "I think I should get going," I say as I stand up and grab my books. "Let me know how that homework goes." I wink at him.

"Y- yea of course! Thank you for your help!" He replies. I give him a small smile and walk by Ron and Hermione as they flinch when they notice I'm close to them. I laugh again to myself and walk to my first class.

*Harry's POV*

I never thought I'd have a conversation with a Malfoy without wanting to rip my hair out, I thought as I watched Tessa Malfoy walk out of the library. Ron and Hermione hurry over to me.

"What the bloody hell was that Harry?!" Ron whisper-shouts to me.

"Ron what are you talking about?"

"Harry, are you dumb?" Hermoine chimes in. "He's obviously talking about Malfoy. What were you doing talking to her?"

"Oh she was just helping me with my potions homework." I reply.

"Harry! You can't just get potions help from her!" Hermione warns.

"Why not?" I question.

"She's probably trying to purposely get you to fail! Have you forgotten she's literally Draco's sister? Let me see what she wrote." Hermione grabs my parchment and glances over it. I see her face soften as she reads over our writing. "Oh... this is actually perfect Harry. You got all the right numbers and everything." I snatch my parchment back.

"I told you. I don't understand why people are so scared of her. She's not that bad you know."

"Why people are so scared of her?! Harry just because she helped you with some homework doesn't mean she's the poster child of goodness. May I remind you that she just came back to school after serving time in Azkaban!" Ron retorts.

"Guys, she served her time and now she's back. Like Dumbledore said she wouldn't be back here if she wasn't supposed to. I don't think we should hold that against her. Plus, do you not notice she probably will have a hard time adjusting? People shake at the mention of her name. How do you think that makes her feel?" I try to reason with Ron.

"Mate she's a Malfoy. I don't think she feels feelings."

"Ron, Harry's right." Hermione says, trying to calm Ron down. "We shouldn't be so harsh on her. She really did help Harry with his homework. Maybe she's changed."

"Fine, but if you get killed, I won't hesitate to say I told you so." Ron shruggs as we all walk out of the library on our way to class.