Only Skin Deep

A few weeks after the whole Malfoy incident, Emily sat listlessly in her seat in Potions class. How she dreaded this class every week. Snape was enough to put anyone on the brink of insanity.

"Today, we will be making a classic sleep potion," Snape murmured, barely loud enough for anyone to understand a single word of what he had said. He tapped the board and words began to scroll onto the black surface. "Follow closely, otherwise your potion will be useless." Emily pulled out the ingredients she needed, and lit a fire under her cauldron. Jeff, whose eyesight had been fixed in no time thanks to Madame Pomfrey, sat next to her, cutting his gingerroots carefully into eighths.

"Why does this class always seem to just drag on and on?" Emily asked, putting wormwood into her cauldron, as well as some asphodel. Jeff shrugged. "If only Snape was a little more leant, then maybe this class would be bearable."

"Well, not every class can be one that you like," he said, dumping in three eighths of the ginger. Emily added some as well, and soon her potion had turned a pale pink color. Jeff's was now a bright shade of red. Snape came up behind the two and sniggered.

"Did either of you fail to notice that this potion should be dark purple?" he spat, glancing at the both of them.

"Sir," Emily began, "We tried the best we could. There is a lot to add to this potion." Snape glared down at her.

"In this class, you'd do well to read through the list several times. Your best will not be good enough. You will need to make your potion perfect every time," he growled menacingly.

"No one is perfect. All potions are going to have some flaw," Emily said, standing up to Snape. Everyone spun around to look at who was brave enough to go up against the potions master.

"You make that quite clear, Miss. Miller. However, perfection is asked in my classroom." Snape grinned evilly at her. She knew something was happening in his small little mind and she knew it wasn't good. "I believe I have some vials that could really use a cleaning. Why don't you come 'round at about seven tonight and spiff them up a bit, hmm?"

"Clean vials? Are you mad? I'll be burned by the potions that were concocted in those things!" Emily yelled, not wanting to spend her entire evening with Snape.

"I have things that will help to aid the burning. And, Miss. Miller, if you continue this shouting in my classroom, I will have to extend this punishment farther." Snape looked as if he was going to walk away, but then said, "Fifteen points from Ravenclaw. I will not stand for this disrespect." The class began to gather their things as the bell rang for the end of class. Emily hurriedly cleaned up her spot and her and Jeff started to leave.

"Be here at seven sharp," Snape said before she could get away. The two of them marched toward their dormitories, splitting up at the stairs.

"I guess I'll see you at dinner," Jeff mumbled.

"Yeah, I guess. I can't believe that I have to clean vials for him," Emily said, climbing the stairs. Jeff didn't say anything, just watched her ascend the stairs.

Emily threw her books on her four poster bed as she entered the dark blue bedroom. Nina and Samantha, fellow Ravenclaws, sat chattering noisily at the side of their beds.

"I heard that he's only going out with her because her family is richer than his," Samantha spouted out quickly. "I didn't think anyone was richer than him."

"She's not. He's only got her because she's like some trophy girlfriend or something," Nina said, looking over at Emily. "What did you hear, Emily?"

"About what?" she asked confused. They stared at her with stunned expressions.

"You didn't hear?" Nina questioned.

"You don't know?" Samantha pressed farther. "We're talking about Draco Malfoy. He's finally got a girlfriend."

"Please," Emily laughed. "Him? Like he's really boyfriend material?"

"This one sixth year really made an impression on him I guess. They started going out this morning," Nina said, getting up. "I guess you'll get to hear more at dinner. Everyone's talking about it." The two girls left Emily alone in the room and headed down for dinner. Emily didn't feel like eating. She grabbed a book, a plopped down into a high backed chair in the common room. She didn't feel like reading either.

Emily walked down to the Great Hall to say good night before heading to Snape's classroom. Jeff came out to greet her.

"Why didn't you come down sooner?" he asked, walking with her.

"I wasn't hungry," Emily said shrugging. They walked to the dungeons, and stopped. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah," Jeff sighed, heading back towards the Great Hall. Emily watched him go, then entered the classroom at five minutes to seven.

No Snape was in sight, but two people were sitting in the far back corner, snogging full on. Emily crunched up her nose. Why people did that in public was beyond her. Emily cleared her throat, and the people looked up.

"My my, what does poor little Emmy want?" Emily hated being called that. The voice in the darkness could only be one person's, Malfoy's. She sat down near Snape's desk as Malfoy came out of the shadows. "What are you doing here Miller?"

"Serving my detention," she snapped shortly. The girl he was with stepped out into the light as well.

"I'd advise you not to talk like that to Draco," she purred, looking up at him fondly. He raised his eyebrows at Jade.

"Mister Malfoy, you and your companion can leave now," Snape muttered, throwing a few rags at Emily. "The vials are in there," he said pointing to a small room. Emily trudged over to the room, and began to clean vials. Draco nodded to the professor.

Draco and Jade left the potions classroom and headed toward Draco's room. After mumbling the password, he showed her in.

"I can't believe that girl had enough nerve to talk to you like that," Jade said, settling down on a dark green leather couch. Draco sat next to her. She flipped some of his hair out of place.

"And that was for?" he growled. She shrugged. Draco smoothed back down his hair. She looked at him with pleading eyes. Come on, Draco. Why is this so hard for you tonight? He thought.

"Malfoy, are you okay?" Yeah, like a Malfoy is really going to say what he feels. Jade unbuttoned the top two buttons on her white blouse.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said, as Jade took his hand.

"Come on," she said, pulling him up off the couch. "Let me show you a good time." She smiled impishly as she pulled him towards his bedroom.