Clean

The Potion

Chapter 4: The Potion

Her large brown eyes snapped up at him as he flung open the door.

"You're late," she said flatly.

Draco smirked in response, brushing a few errant hairs out of his eyes.

"Were you missing me, Granger?"

"Hardly," she snorted, crossing her arms. "Did you even bring anything we needed?"

He shut his eyes, massaging his temples. So this is what he had to look forward to, every night for the next month?

Brilliant.

"Yes," he sighed, exasperated. "I have the cauldron – "

"Copper, not pewter. Correct?" she asked primly, her lips pursed delicately.

"Correct," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'm not Weasley, you don't have to assume I've made a mistake before I even walk in the door – "

"If we're going to do this," she interrupted, "I won't have you making fun of Ron. Or Harry."

"Or else what?" he mocked. "You're going to put your hands on your hips and give me a stern talking-to?"

She already had her hands on her hips, as she normally did when speaking to him. He saw her look down and readjust her position.

"No," she said, unconvincingly.

As much as he wanted to revel in the glory of silencing the great Hermione Granger, he was in a hurry. He had been working on something when he looked up and saw the time, and he was anxious to get back.

He did, however, take a moment to take in Granger's appearance. She had pulled her hair into a ballerina bun high on her head, some wisps floating around her face. She was still in her uniform, although her shirt was now untucked and rolled up at the sleeves. She stepped forward, taking the cauldron from his hands, and sat cross-legged on the floor. He watched her skirt ride up as she took a seat, taking in the view of her slender legs.

"Are you going to help me?" she asked pointedly.

"Don't beg, Granger," he replied, taking a seat across from her. "Let's do this as quickly as possible."

"Oh don't worry Malfoy. I have no intention of lingering," she snorted.

For a while they didn't speak outside of the necessary; she merely listed ingredients out loud and he handed them to her.

"Do we have, er . . . lionfish spines?"

"Yes, next to the salamander," he replied, impatient.

"Salamander?" she echoed, startled. "But we only need salamander blood."

"Yes, and where do you suppose that comes from, Granger?" Draco asked, eyebrow raised.

"Are you telling me we have to murder this salamander?" she asked, horrified.

Draco shook his head, exasperated. "No, we don't have to murder it," he sighed. "If you want, we can stupefy it. We only need to extract a small vial."

She looked at him curiously, tilting her head. "Hmm," she murmured.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," she said melodically.

"What?" he snapped, annoyed.

"I'm just surprised," she said, shrugging. "That's very humane of you."

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "So because I used my considerable intellect to come up with a way not to kill a tiny lizard, I've somehow risen in your estimation of me?"