The Burning of the White Wisteria

CHAPTER 6: DRAGONBREATH FLOWER

"So," Abraxas said, cornering me in the hallway before class, "tell me, dear sister, how you could trick me, your brother," he took a deep breath, trying to formulate the words, "into being a part of an elaborate scheme to ruin an innocent girl's life?"

"I'd hardly call Heather Ironwood innocent." I rolled my eyes, leaning against the wall. "Not after what she did to Luci."

"Wow," Abraxas held a palm to his chest, "to think, my own twin, is evil."

"Oh, shut it," I smacked him, moving past him to go to potions.

"What's next, huh? Unforgivable curses?"

I stopped in my tracks. Why did he have to say that of all things?

He was joking, of course, I could hear it in his voice, but it cut deeper than he could have possibly known. I forced down the pain in my chest and choked out a laugh with him. We walked into potions together; Abraxas going to sit with Mara and me going to sit with Tom.

Tom was reading a book at our shared desk, shocking, I know. He barely even acknowledged me as I sat down, probably too preoccupied to even notice I'd arrived. "New book, Tom?"

Tom looked over at me and gave me his usual, charming smile. "It is, yes."

"What's it about this time?"

"More history, I'm afraid." He showed me the cover of the book, as he did every time I asked him. It said The Sacred Twenty-Eight. My eyes widened a bit at that.

"Oh, my family's in that book then?" Tom nodded. I smiled mischievously. "Any interesting information?"

"Yes, actually," Tom flipped to a page, the title of the chapter being 'The Malfoy's'. "Did you know that Lucius Malfoy may have possibly had an affair with a house-elf?"

"What? My cousin?" I gasped, grabbing the book from his hands. I scanned the book for the fact but found no such thing.

"A joke, I'm afraid."

I looked over at him, shocked and betrayed. He began to chuckle at my reaction and I narrowed my eyes, hitting him with the book. "Ha, ha, very funny."

Tom took the book back from me, a seemingly genuine smile on his face for once. "I wish I could tell you a real one but it's all rather boring honestly."

"Why read it then? Still looking for your father?"

"Afraid so."

Slughorn stood in the front of the room, coughing to get everyone's attention. His room had finally been restored to its former glory after the busy beetle incident, his desk now returned and back to its former messy state.

"Everyone please open your books to page 136." I grabbed my book and did just that, not surprised that Tom didn't. "This week, we'll be focusing on a very important potion with an unfortunately very delicate ingredient: dragonbreath petals. Mr. Riddle?" Tom raised a brow. "Mind informing the class on the subject?"

"A dragonbreath flower," Tom started, seemingly bothered to have to explain it, "is a deadly plant that's particularly hard to harvest because it expels fire."

"Very good, Tom! Ten points to Slytherin."

I grinned at Tom, proud that he gained points for our house. He didn't react much, only shrugging his shoulders to say 'of course I got that right'.

"That being said, I have a project for all of you." Slughorn began to go around each table and place a pot on each of them. In the pot was a beautiful red, orange, and yellow bell-shaped flower.