The Traitor's Blood

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The following day began at a very slow pace. The long morning was spent in Transfiguration and Charms. Professor McGonagall gave them an extremely drawn out lecture on the importance of their NEWTs before setting them an assignment on 'Tactical Transfiguration'. Professor Flitwick, a tiny wizard who taught his Charms lessons from the top of a stack of books, made them demonstrate almost every charm they had learned over the last few years. Then he set them a three foot essay on the advantages of these charms in defence. Harry had the distinct impression that both teachers were not only concerned with the students' exam grades. At lunch, Hermione seemed to be on the same page:

"Have you noticed anything different with the teachers this year?" she asked casually as they sat at the Gryffindor table together.

"Nope. They're just as annoying as always," Ron groaned, while stabbing angrily at his food. "Can't they give us a chance to settle in before setting us mountains of homework?"

"I know what you mean," said Harry, ignoring Ron completely. "'Tactical Transfiguration'? 'The uses of charms in defence'? It can't be a coincidence."

"Well, I know there is a lot of theory to study for the NEWT exams, but it seems strange that McGonagall and Flitwick would both set us work linked with Defence Against the Dark Arts." Hermione frowned. "I guess they must be trying to prepare us ..."

"Prepare us for what?" Ron looked up from his plate.

Hermione pulled a face, and without bothering to reply she pulled her timetable out of her bag and looked over it. "Well, we have a study period after Potions, so we can make a start on the homework."

"Yeah, and by then Snape will have given us even more to do," Ron groaned and went back to attacking his jacket potato with his fork.

Harry stared silently at his own meal. He knew that he did not have a free period after Potions. His timetable actually had him down for a double Potions lesson. That meant that he would have to spend a whole second period with Snape on his own, or more accurately, with a bunch of gawping fifth years.

"Harry? Harry!"

Harry seemed to have tuned out and did not hear Hermione until Ron elbowed him in the side.

"What?" he said, slightly louder than he had intended.

"I said, have you thought about organising a Quidditch team practice yet?" Hermione repeated.

"Um, no," Harry replied uncertainly. It had not even crossed his mind today.

"Well, I think you should ..."

"Leave him alone, Hermione!" Ron protested. "Why do you have to keep on about every little thing?"

Hermione looked extremely hurt. She gathered her books into her bag, mumbled something about the library and left the table.

After a few minutes Harry began to feel a bit guilty about Ron's outburst. "Maybe we should go to the library too," he suggested.

Ron seemed relieved. He had obviously been thinking the same thing and did not want to be the one to suggest it. They both grabbed their bags and headed out of the Great Hall towards the library. But they did not get any further than the Entrance Hall before they crossed paths with Draco Malfoy.

"Where's your girlfriend?" he remarked, the usual irritating smirk curled across his lips as he spoke.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked irritably. He had had enough of Malfoy's mind games.

"I want you to keep out of my way, Potter," Malfoy growled, "or I won't be responsible for my own actions."

In the corner of his eye, Harry saw that Ron had a hand inside his right pocket, keeping his wand ready. Malfoy's hand was also hovering close to his pocket but he did not make a move. The last thing Harry needed was a duel with Malfoy.

"Fine, if that's all you want, we'll be on our way." Harry grabbed Ron's arm and began to steer him away from Malfoy. But as they turned, Crabbe and Goyle seemed to appear from nowhere, blocking their path.

"I don't think you understood me, Potter," Malfoy spat Harry's name. "I want you out of my way. Completely out of my way. You don't belong here and I'm going to make sure you leave Hogwarts for good. Whatever it takes."

He stared Harry directly in the eye for a long time, neither of them speaking, then he motioned to Crabbe and Goyle and the three of them disappeared into the Great Hall without another word.

Harry continued to stare at the spot where Malfoy had just been standing. He felt hot with anger. He had really wanted to just hit Malfoy right between the eyes. But he knew that was just what Malfoy wanted. He was trying to provoke him into doing something stupid and run the risk of being expelled.

"Come on, Harry," Ron urged him. "We should find Hermione before lunch ends."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Harry was still seething. He knew Malfoy was only trying to wind him up but he was succeeding. When they reached the library, Hermione was nowhere to be seen. They checked down all of the aisles, but she was not there.

"Maybe she's already left for Potions?" Ron suggested.

"We would've passed her in the corridor," Harry replied.

"Well, let's just head down there anyway," said Ron. "That's where she'll go next."

They left the library and walked back down to the Entrance Hall, this time taking the staircase which led down the dungeons. They reached the classroom before the bell had rung to signify the end of lunch. Harry slid down and sat on the floor next to the classroom door. Ron joined him, wincing as he touched the cold stones.

"I hope Hermione's not upset at me," Ron sighed. "I hate having to apologise to her."

"Then don't upset her," Harry replied with a short laugh.

"It's not that easy. She's so irritating!"

Harry laughed again and shook his head.

"What?" Ron frowned at him.

Harry was thinking about what Ginny had said. He was only just starting to see it himself, but he could not understand how he did not notice it before.

"What?" Ron demanded again.

"You're an idiot," Harry observed, still chuckling to himself. The anger which Malfoy had stirred in him was ebbing away rapidly.

Ron continued to look puzzled as the bell for the end of lunch echoed along the corridor and more students began to gather around them. There was still no sign of Hermione.

Soon the bell rang for the start of their lesson and Harry picked himself up off the floor. He and Ron dropped themselves into two seats near the back of the class, and Harry placed his bag on the seat next to him, saving it for Hermione.

But there was still no sign of her. Harry scanned the classroom in case he had missed her, but she was nowhere to be seen. He caught sight of Malfoy who was at the front of the class looking back at him. Harry pretended not to have seen him and busied himself with his cauldron. Snape entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"This class is only for students who are serious about Potion-making and who wish to study hard for the next two years," he spoke in a long hissing voice which made Harry's skin crawl. "If you do not achieve the standard I am expecting, I will not hesitate to remove you from my class." He seemed to look directly at Harry at this point, but Harry continued to stare at the bottom of his cauldron.

The door opened with a creak that resounded throughout the classroom. Harry looked round and saw Hermione creep sheepishly into the room. Her face was red and puffy and she looked as though she had been crying. Harry felt extremely guilty again.

"And what makes you think you can turn up to my class whenever you feel like it, Miss Granger?" Snape hissed.

"I ... I'm sorry," Hermione stammered.

"Be quiet and sit down," Snape spat. "Your tardiness has cost your house 5 points. A good start to the year for Gryffindor," he smirked.

Harry moved his bag, but Hermione walked straight passed him and sat down in an empty seat next to Parvati Patil.

The lesson was very similar to the morning's lessons; Snape lectured them about the NEWTs then made them go over some potions they had learned in previous years. Thankfully, he did not set them any homework, but he did, however, inform them all that they would be conducting an experiment which would require them to visit the classroom outside of lessons. But he did not reveal what this would be.

"That's more of my free periods down the drain," Ron groaned as he packed his things away at the end of the lesson. "I don't want to do any stupid experiments in my spare time." He looked at Harry who was still sitting at the desk with his things out in front of him. "Aren't you coming?"

Harry shook his head solemnly. "I've got another Potions lesson now."

Ron gave him a sympathetic look and left the room. Hermione walked passed without looking at him. Malfoy was one of the last to leave and glared at Harry as he passed. Harry continued to ignore him.

When the room was empty, Snape swooped down on Harry unexpectedly. "I want you to know that I am not happy with this situation." Snape's face was uncomfortably close to Harry's, with only the desk separating them. His skin was extremely pasty and his greasy hair clung to the sides of his face. Harry looked away from him. "I do not accept under-achievers into my Potions class, and I do not condone re-taking OWL exams," Snape spat. "But, I have a duty to the Headmaster which is far more important to me than the little drama that is Harry Potter's life."

Harry did not respond, but continued to stare blankly at anything but Snape. He knew that if he spoke, he would say something he would regret.

"So, we must set some ground rules," Snape moved away and began tidying up the mess that the previous class has left behind. "You will achieve Outstanding on you OWL this year. You will not disrupt any of my lessons. One single outburst from you and you will not be allowed back into my classroom ever again. Understood?"

"Yeah," Harry mumbled.

"I said, understood?" Snape repeated.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied angrily.

The bell rang and students began filing into the classroom again. Harry tried to ignore the inquisitive looks they were giving him as they shuffled past. Luna Lovegood glided past him and sat down near the front of the class. She appeared not to have noticed him at all.

"Can I sit here?" a familiar voice asked him. Harry turned to see Ginny standing over the empty chair on his right. He grinned at her and she sat down. He had completely forgotten that she would be in this class.

"It's OK," Ginny continued, "Hermione told me that you'd be here. She asked me to look after you."

"That's nice of her," Harry laughed.

"I think you have an admirer," Ginny grinned. Harry frowned at her and she indicated towards the front of the class where Luna was sitting, looking back at them, the usual dreamy look on her face.

Harry was unsure as to whether she was actually looking at him or not. Her eyes seemed unfocused. He smiled at her and she turned abruptly to face the front of the class again. He laughed to himself and turned back to Ginny. She was doodling on a corner of her parchment. Harry took a closer look and saw that she was drawing a picture of Snape with his foot stuck in a bubbling cauldron. He appeared to be jumping up and down trying to shake it off.

Harry laughed again. Ginny tore the corner off the piece of parchment and pushed it into the pocket of Harry's robes.

"For when you feel down," she grinned.

Harry smiled at her as Snape growled, "Silence," at the class.

Maybe this year will not be so bad after all, he thought to himself.