Fireplaces, Hot Chocolate, and Marshmallows

Chapter #11

The group slowly made their way to Potions, Hermione and Ron debating over the house-elfs again. As they entered the classroom, they got a strong waft of something foul in the air, but it was gone as soon as it came. Once they took their seats, they noticed Snape was standing in the back of the classroom stirring something in a cauldron.

"Today, we will be making the 'Draught of Living Death'. You should already know the ingredients, so you'll be working without my directions," he instructed once everyone had arrived. "At the end of the class, we will be testing the potion on one lucky individual. I have already prepared a small sample of the antidote. Now get to work." Having given full instructions, he stalked off to his desk.

The class immediately began talking. "I wonder who Snape is going to murder this time," Harry remarked.

"I hope its Pansy," Britney sneered.

Ron laughed slightly. "Fat chance," he said.

"Yeah, I know," she replied wistfully. "But one can always dream, right? Although, when concerning Snape, I suppose it's more like nightmare." The group snickered. "So, it's asphodel and wormwood that we need, right Hermione?"

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, but don't put too much asphodel in it, or else it might fizz."

"Ok, thanks," Britney said, leaning over to check her supplies. "Oh, gee, I'm out of wormwood."

"Well I could..." Hermione started.

"No, that's ok. I'll just borrow some from Draco," Britney finished, already standing to leave the table, and checking to see if Snape was looking. She carefully walked over to his table, acting graceful. A few Slytherins giggled. She stood in front of Draco, playing with a lock of her hair. "Hey, Draco? Could I borrow some wormwood?" she asked, trying to be seductive.

Draco smirked, catching onto her plan. He leaned over closer to her, and grabbed some wormwood, placing it on her free hand, all without breaking his gaze with her's. "Enjoy," he said, easing back into his chair.

Next to him, Pansy was so furious, she dropped a string of snake fangs on the ground. Britney gracefully stepped over them, returning to her seat. "Clumsy, are we?" she asked Pansy from over her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Pansy was snarling with a viscous ferocity. 'Down Pansy, down,' she thought, smiling to herself, Pansy baffled her sometimes; she was always so over possessive.

Sitting back down, she looked at Draco, who was stifling a laugh. Once she was finished with her potion, she heard a quiet explosion behind her. She turned around to see Seamus and Neville covered in red slime. Britney giggled. "What'd you do this time Neville?" she asked.

"It wasn't me! I swear! Seamus told me to add some essence of tigerlily," he said, pointing his finger to the guilty boy next to him.

Britney laughed again. "What else did you put in it?"

Neville turned a bright shade of pink in the face. "Some porcupine quills, and armadillo powder."

Britney glanced around to see where Snape was; he was on the other side of the dungeon. "Alright, all you need is asphodel and wormwood. Ok? And don't add too much asphodel."

Neville nodded nervously. He put the wormwood in just fine, but when he grabbed for the asphodel, he froze like a deer in headlights.

Britney turned to see what froze him; it was Professor Snape, heading right toward their table. She turned toward Seamus (acknowledging Neville's paralysis,) and hissed, "Quick! Seamus, do something!" But Seamus too was paralyzed with fear. She grabbed the asphodel and threw it into their cauldron just at the last second.

Snape towered over her, and she shrank back to her seat. "Asking Handley for help, Longbottom? At least it's not Granger," he spit menacingly.

Neville whimpered and cowered in response.

"Weasley! Since your parents can't afford to give you something for Christmas, how about a present? Get over here and try Longbottom's potion," Snape ordered.

Two tables up, Ron's ears turned the same color as his hair. He slowly swiveled around, his face red as a tomato. 'Aww! Poor Ron!' Britney thought, watching him trudge his way over to Snape. He stood in front of the cauldron, staring at it as if willing it to disappear.

"Well?" Snape asked.

Ron gulped nervously, and slowly grabbed the ladle. He looked back up at Snape.

Snape sneered, "Merry Christmas."

Ron slowly put the ladle to his lips and took a sip.

"Oh, he's so brave," Lavender whispered to Parvati.

Parvati nodded to, and answered dramatically, "Yes. Yes, he is." ((A/N: Lol, and the cheesiness of the year award goes to...))

Ron almost immediately fell backwards. Harry caught him just in time, but was soon forced to let him droop to the floor and lay at Snape's feet.

Snape smirked, and commented, "I always knew Weasley was a good-for-nothing Gryffindor.

The Slytherins laughed in agreement, to the Gryffindor's disgust, until one voice said, "No, he's not."

Snape turned around, absolutely repulsed. "Who said that?" he asked.

Harry bravely stepped forward. "I did."

"Standing up for Weasley, Potter?" Draco spit.

'What the crap is he doing?' Britney thought. From across the room, Draco looked at her, knowing that she'd say something. "What are you doing?" she mouthed to him silently.

Snape gave Draco an approving half-smile, then turned to glare at Harry. "Fifteen points from Gryffindor," he said evilly.

He eventually pulled out the vile with the antidote and tossed it to Harry, who quickly administered it to Ron. Ron got up as quickly as he fell down, and Snape dismissed them shortly after.

Britney grabbed her books as quickly as she could and practically ran after Draco. Just outside the Potions door, she grabbed him by the tie and pulled him around the nearest corner, looking him square in the face. ((A/N: Which was like looking up at a skyscraper. =D)) "What'd you do in there?" she rasped angrily.

Draco gently pushed her into the wall behind her. "You know, you're pretty cute when you're upset," he whispered in her ear. He leaned down to kiss her, but she pushed him off.

"You're not getting your way out of this one," she said. 'No matter how hot you are,' she noted silently. "Why did you do that?"

"I... I'm not sure I can tell you... here," he stuttered.

"Well, you were stupid enough to do it, you should be smart enough to tell me," she snapped back.

Draco's face flushed, and then his cheeks turned a slight twinge of red. "I had my reasons," he shot back defensively.

"It must've been a pretty good one," Britney said sarcastically. "I mean, considering that you broke our promise."

"I had my reasons!" he yelled back.

By now, tears were forming in her eyes. "Never make a promise you can't keep, Draco," she spat back bitterly. And with that she stormed off.