Intelligent Brown Eyes

I made my way to Potions. I was there early and no one was around, except for Snape. It was not surprising to find an empty classroom, even if it was just five minutes before class started. No one liked Potions. It was easier for me because Snape loved me. I was glad that I was not a Gryffindor. He hated Gryffindors, including Hermione, despite the fact she was the most brilliant student in the class. If she didn't associate herself with Potter, Snape would probably like her better. Why did he hate Potter so much anyway?

People started filing into the room and class began. Pansy was out with the winter flu. It seems the whole school was getting sick with the stuff, but most people tried to make it to Potions no matter how bad the disease. Even though everyone hated it, Potions class was hell to make up; Snape made sure of that.

"Hey Harry, where'd Hermione get off to?" I heard Ron whisper.

"Aww wittle ickle Ron is afraid where his girlfriend went off to. Isn't that just the cutest thing?" I hissed to them.

Ron's face went bright red, which cause him to look like a terribly sunburned lobster. I started to laugh at the sight of it.

"Shut it, Malfoy," Potter scowled.

"Silence in my classroom, Potter," sneered Professor Snape. "Today, class we will be making Draken Potion. It cures large burn wounds and provides bursts of strength for short periods of time. You will be partnering up to make the potion. Get in groups of two and start writing down the ingredients." I looked around for Pansy, but remembered she was missing. I remembered it to late, however, and every one seemed to have a partner. I could not join Crabbe or Goyle because they had already partnered up. Brilliant, those stupid gits would blow up the classroom. I suppose I'd just work by myself. But then I noticed Hermione trying to sneak into the room.

"Glad you decided to join us, Ms. Granger. I hope you will decide to join me for detention Wednesday night, as well," Snape said evilly. "Ten points from Gryffindor. Team up with Malfoy and take down your notes."

The look on her face was one of pure and utter horror when she heard my name. She glanced over at Harry and Ron seeking help desperately, but all they could do was shrug. Hermione shot me a glare at me before walking over to seat next to mine.

"Listen Malfoy," she whispered, "let's get this straight. I don't like you; you don't particularly tickle my fancy. It's fairly obvious you feel the same way about me. So let's not start anything. I won't have you jeopardizing my marks."

"We're in Potions class; I'm not going to start anything," I responded.

"Yea," she snorted. "I somehow doubt that."

"I told you I wasn't going to start anything. You might think I'm an arse, but just believe me. This is a really hard potion to make, and I want to copy down the ingredients before they disappear off the board. So don't assume that I'm going to be an arse," I spat back at her.

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "I think I have the right to assume after you threw your breakfast at me this morning."

"You really think I would waste my breakfast on you?" I asked. "Don't compliment yourself. You aren't worth my breakfast."

"And you aren't worth time, so shut up!"

"Why you annoying, assuming, brat... you little scum..." I began, but was pleasantly cut off by Snape.

"Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, though I'm sure your conversation is thrilling; it would be wise for both of you to begin working. And I expect you, Mr. Malfoy, to join Hermione for detention on Wednesday. I'm sure you'll get to finish your conversation then," he said with a bitter look on his face that suggested I better remain quiet. I may have been his favorite student, but I had certainly reached his limit today.

As much as I wanted to avoid it, Wednesday night still came around, and I found my way trudging down the halls to the dungeons for detention. Detention was the last thing I needed. I was already going to lose sleep that night because of three essays and tons of other homework. The professors decided we should not have to work over the winter holidays so they decided to double the pile of work before them. I just prayed that my punishment wouldn't take too long, so I could get back to studying.

I reached the dungeon just in time. Hermione was already there, and she rolled her eyes upon my arrival. I walked up and stood next to her, and we waited for Snape to assign our torture. The professor didn't look up however, and he just sat at his desk scribbling on a piece of parchment.

I began to imagine the unusual punishments the Potions Master might have for troublesome students. Perhaps Hermione and I would have to be his test animals. Snape would force us to try his new concoctions, and Hermione and I would twist and deform and turn into hideous, terrifying beasts. Or he would lock us in a small, cramped room under his desk, where black tarantulas would crawl across our toes. Then I realized he was saying something.

"I'm sorry, sir. Could you repeat that?" I asked.

"I said you will be organizing my potions cabinets," Snape replied rather irritably. "Do NOT make me repeat myself, Mr. Malfoy."

I followed Snape over to his supply cabinets, not really listening to his instructions. I had been quite dumfounded, expecting a crueler punishment from a man who always wore a scowl.

"Well?" Hermione asked tapping her foot against the cold floor.

"Huh?" I grunted, snapping out of my trance. Snape had left the room, and I was alone with Hermione.

"Are you going to just stand there with that glazed over expression, or are you going to do some bloody work?" she asked. I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I looked down at the bottles of potion and up at the cabinet. Hermione sighed.

"Lazy Moron," she muttered. I grabbed a bottle and started acting like I knew what was going on. The work was pretty easy to figure out. All one had to do was match the label on the bottle with the label on the shelves.

We had been working for an hour straight before we said another word to each other. I had received the occasional glare from her when I stopped to catch a breath; and there may have been the occasional murmur, as well, but I was never fast enough to catch it. I had been putting up with it, but for some reason her attitude just seemed to eat away at me.

Why was she acting so annoyed? I had not been doing anything wrong! I was keeping my mouth shut, and there were no harsh words. What more did the girl want from me? It was bad enough I was in detention because of her, but to be getting this sour attitude directed towards me for something I wasn't doing was too much to handle. Couldn't she see that I was trying to get through this, just like her? We may have had our skirmishes in the past, but I was not being in the slightest bit rude tonight. Couldn't she just put our damn differences behind for one damn second, so we could both get through this?

"What is your problem?" I finally snapped.

"My problem?" she asked. "My only problem is being stuck down here with a detestable boy who judges me by the purity of blood." Ouch.

"Well you wouldn't be stuck with me of you hadn't kept your mouth shut in class the other day. And you wouldn't be stuck here at all if you showed up on time," I shot back.

"You were arguing with me, and I was late because I was washing your oatmeal out of my hair. So don't give me your attitude!" she yelled.

"I'm only giving you attitude because you keep rolling your eyes at me and sighing. Stop looking at me like I'm some vulgar being! I'm just trying to make it through this stupid detention, and I don't like dealing with your annoying crap!" I shouted the words, but at the same time I knew she was right as well. I might be fed up with her attitude, but she did not deserve mine. I just had to keep saying these things. I couldn't give up the fight because for some reason her words cut me deeper than any one else's.

"Well, too bad... Deal with it!"

"Oh brilliant come back! You think of that one all by yourself Granger?"

"At least I came up with it for myself and didn't ask Daddy for it!"

"YOU LEAVE MY FATHER OUT OF THIS!"

"What? Are you afraid of making your own opinion? The only reason anyone likes you is because your father is rich, and you've adopted his pureblood 'ideals.' You stupid..."

"You know for someone so smart, you really can be quite thick!" I spat.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"It means you won't give a guy a break," I responded. "You take one look at him, make your judgment and then never treat him any differently."

"And why should I treat you differently? You did the same thing to me!"

"It's not like I wouldn't have if I had the chance!" I shut my mouth, but not soon enough. The words had escaped my lips.

"What?" she asked in a softer voice.

"Nothing."

"You said something."

"I said nothing," I responded.

"What did you mean by that?"

"I Didn't Say ANYTHING! You have a god damn problem with that?"

"Okay! Okay," she said defensively. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Nothing," she said with a slight grin. She was clever; you couldn't deny that. If I could tell her how I really felt, I would have swept her into my arms right then and there. But it was too risky....my father.... He....He always had his way.