Taking The Chance

Draco had got to potions after everyone was already in the dungeons, his effort of shortening what would no doubt be an annoying, or more likely hostile reception from the class and his fellow Slytherins due to his 'performance' at breakfast. It wasn't that he cared what they thought of him, he just couldn't stand that particular irritation this early in the morning. He was a Malfoy and he did have better things he could be doing than explaining himself to inferior pure bloods who thought he owed them some loyalty. They were clearly mistaking their house as Hufflepuff. As he walked in he strutted to the front of the class and sat down as Snape was looking over a piece of parchment. Draco avoided eye contact with his head of house - not because he was afraid but because he couldn't bare to have Potter see Snape glare at him. Wouldn't the speccy little know it all just love that.

Seconds after Draco had sat down there was a bustle at the door of the classroom, which caused him to spin around to see the late arrival - Neville Longbottom.

"Mr Longbottom, how kind of you to grace us with your presence," the potions master said without looking up.

"I'm sor...sorry...proffessor..." Longbottom stuttered as he sat down noisily while Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan looked at him in concern.

"Sorry does not make up for the five minutes that you cost this class," Snape uttered with cool venom. Draco knew that Snape must have known about Longbottom's appointment with Dumbledore but he clearly didn't seem to care a great deal about it. Couldn't have took that attitude yesterday when he was acting all self righteous about it, could he?

"Malfoy was only in a few seconds before Neville," Seamus called out from the back of the class.

Draco fought the urge to wave at him smugly - that would not go down well with Dumbledore no matter how much he would enjoy the reaction it would evoke.

"Yes, we hadn't even started any work yet, he's not missed anything" Parvati Patil added.

"Ten points from Gryffindor due to Mr Finnigan's and Ms Patil's outburst! A further five points from Gryffindor due to Longbottom's interruption and Longbottom will stay behind an extra five minutes after class."

"But I was with Professor Dumbledore," Neville said in a small voice.

Snape peered at him. "I don't believe I was asking for excuses, Longbottom. Or are you privy to reading between the lines of what I am saying to come up with your usually wrong assumptions?"

Neville gulped causing Draco to smile slightly. It was a thing of beauty to see Gryffindors squirm like that and Professor Snape was much more talented than most at achieving that. A house renowned for bravery? That had to be some kind of ironic joke...

"Since we are finished with the debate will everyone stand, Gryffindors to the left and Slytherins to the right," Snape began as the class looked at him in confusion. He shook his head as he raised his voice. "Grab your things, stand up and go to your allotted side! Gryffindors to the left," he indicated patronisingly with his hand before turning to the Slytherins. "Slytherins on the right. I would hope that you all will know where that is."

Everyone in the class got up and wandered over to their end of the class. Draco looked at Snape in confusion. What was going on? It wasn't like Snape to interrupt a lesson to organise the houses and it certainly wasn't like him to take the same tone with the Slytherins as he did with the Gryffindors.

As soon as the class was segregated Snape picked up his parchment and looked at the class with a smirk. "Okay - Brown, Bulstrode, step forward and take your new bench."

Lavender gasped and shook her head. "But...but I sit with Parvati."

Snape looked at her with a sneer. "Not anymore, I think after five years it's perhaps time to make some changes. Take your seat. You as well Bulstrode."

Lavender let out a whimper while the other Gryffindors touched her back in support as she reluctantly walked over to the bench at the front that Snape was indicating to. Draco looked uncomfortably at Snape. It was part of the deal for him to work with a Gryffindor but if all the Slytherins knew that it was his fault then it would be...awkward to say the least.

"Finnigan and Crabbe, sit," Snape said before looking at Hermione Granger with an amused smile. "And won't this be fun for you. The know it all and the know nothing: Granger and Goyle."

Goyle looked at the Slytherins and grinned clearly sensing his chance at upping his Potions grade as well as infuriating Granger.

Snape walked over towards Draco and gave him a strange smile. "And what do we have here? Longbottom and Malfoy?"

Draco looked at Snape in shock as the Gryffindors all voiced their displeasure and disapproval loudly. How could he do that? What was he playing at?

"No! Neville is not sitting with him!" All the Gryffindors were on their feet while Neville stared at Draco in what looked like determination yet disbelief mixed with abject horror. It was an interesting look but not one that Neville Longbottom should have been directing at Draco Malfoy.

Neville had clearly assumed that since the events of this morning that he was an equal to Draco? A Longbottom equal to a Malfoy? Well, if that was the case he would find out soon enough that he didn't intimidate him - to hell with Dumbledore or Snape. He couldn't let his reputation deteriorate any further and they would just have to accept that. Draco grabbed his books and walked confidently over to the bench behind Finnigan and sat down.

"Do you require a map to find your seat, Longbottom?" Draco asked without breaking eye contact. "Or perhaps you would just rather cower behind the rest of your house mates?"

Neville looked at him as the others continued arguing before picking up his own books and sitting down beside Draco without looking at Snape. The Gryffindors all looked at each other in shock as the Slytherins began to laugh and cat call.

"Five points from Gryffindor for Longbottom taking as long to find his seat," Snape said before turning to the Gryffindors. "Anymore arguing and I will take ten points a piece. Patil and Namaru sit behind Malfoy and Longbottom. Potter and Parkinson sit on the left of Malfoy and Longbottom. Thomas and Whitmalan to the left of Patil and Namaru. Weasley and Zabini," he looked at Draco and gave a smirk. "Why don't you both take the seat to the right of Malfoy and Longbottom."

Ron grumbled as he glared at Draco before looking at Harry and shaking his head before taking his seat beside the muscular Slytherin.

Snape looked at the miserable class and gave a sadistic smile. "This is a permanent arrangement so if you think that after today you can go and sit in your little groups again you are very much mistaken. Anyone who wastes my time with that will lose their house a considerable number of points. Are you listening, Potter?"

Harry looked at Snape coolly. "Sure."

Snape looked at the class before turning back to the board. "This is not a practical lesson due to Longbottom's late arrival so will you all open your text books at page 347 and begin copying the ingredient list for the Yanama potion which you will all be making tomorrow and giving to your partners to test."

Draco looked at Neville and shook his head. Fantastic. He was going to be poisoned all year by an incompetent Gryffindor.

"Hey!" Draco spun around to see Harry looking at him aggressively as he whispered. "You open that mouth of yours to Neville and I'll have you, Malfoy. I mean it."

Draco narrowed his eyes. Gods, how he hated Potter. Why Ginny Weasley wasted her time on him he would never know.

"I'm sure I should be terrified Potter, but the fact of the matter is that you couldn't 'have me' as you put it, unless I was unconscious and you had an instruction sheet in front of you."

"Care to bet on that? Whoever gave you the black-eye and the nose job certainly had your number."

Draco glowered at Harry. "I injured myself in a Quidditch practice."

"Sure you did. I just hope whoever did it wants to give it another go."

Neville turned and looked at Harry desperately. "Harry, just leave it..."

"Neville, you don't have to sit with him," Harry said as he gave a disgusted look at Draco. "Dumbledore..."

"Potter! Longbottom! Both of you will serve detention if you utter one more word!"

Harry glared at Snape as he turned his head back to the board before turning to Draco. "You have this all worked out with him - you both probably find it amusing. The pair of you are as bad as each other! I mean it, one word about Neville and I won't care about being suspended - you'll be sorry."

"As charming as your threats are to your little entourage and your house mates with limited brain cells I recommend you don't try them on someone smart enough to know better."

"Potter! See me after class!"

Harry gave Draco one more cold look before grabbing his book that Pansy was looking at, giving her a look that almost dared her to open her mouth and began copying up the page Snape had said.

Draco shook his head as Neville edged his seat towards the end of the bench and began copying up his own notes. It could have been worse...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As Potions ended Draco quickly walked out the class away from the comments of his house mates, complaining about Snape. The prospect of being sandwiched between Weasley on one side of him, Potter on the other and sitting next to Longbottom was not a pleasant one but it could have been worse of course. At least, he thought with a smirk, he did have the pleasure of being seated directly behind Seamus Finnigan whose chair he had kicked for the whole lesson. Maybe he would even be able to persuade Longbottom to light his Bunsen burner a little closer to Finnigan and see if that mop of hair he had was flammable...

"He's lost his mind! It's not fair, Namaru kept on 'accidentally' touching my leg!"

"He better watch himself or he'll 'accidentally' find my fist in his stinking face!"

Draco looked up to see Finnigan with his arm around Parvati's shoulders as the other Gryffindors waited at the door for Neville and Harry to come out from Snape. He walked quickly away from them, trying to curb his natural instinct to help fan the flames of the riot that was brewing. It would be too easy to get involved. Too easy and it would be the final nail in his coffin in regards to Snape and Dumbledore. Face it, Draco - you have to be like Potter, only a much more interesting, good looking better class version.

He groaned as he walked away, managing to keep his head held high despite the laughter and cat calls that he was getting from his fellow students. The whole experience must have been worth it for a reason, but, for the life of him he couldn't quite work out why he was bothering.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It had been a long day to get to the meeting with Johanson - his free time after potions had been spent fixing his clothes in the Slytherin dorm that had all been charmed into the red and gold of Gryffindor while he had been at potions. He sighed as he walked to the Muggle studies class room - he had no idea how long he would be able to put up with that before he snapped and cursed one of his own house mates. And this was only after a few hours. That's why you're always being called impatient, you have no time to tolerate fools.

And they were fools, no one in their right mind would've dared try anything like that with a Malfoy and he was determined they would realise that sooner or later.

He arrived at the door and knocked it before walking in. "Professor Johanson?"

"Come through the back, Malfoy."

Draco took a few steps into the class and noticed how small it was and the fact that it had no desks. How on earth did they teach anything in this? He then saw the door which he assumed Johanson was in and walked through it. As he stepped through the doorway he felt his breath involuntarily catch in his throat as he looked around, realising the first room he had walked into was nothing more than a hallway. This was the classroom? He looked around in awe - what the hell was this?

He looked up and saw orbs above him with light coming from them but they weren't natural light. He had never seen a spell that could create that intensity of artificial light before. On the walls there were posters of various Muggles staring out from the paper along with some peculiar diagrams. He walked forward and saw a variety of circular silver discs on the large desk and a strange box that had pictures on it. He pulled his wand out as the box began to beep and hit it a few times as he backed away slowly. What on earth was all this? He backed away until he hit a desk and sat on it - his wand clasped tightly in his hand - this room was enchanted and he didn't trust anything in it. As he adjusted his position on the table he heard something roll from the desk and drop on the floor. He picked it up - what was it? He looked at the long cylinder with the metallic tip in confusion. He brought his finger up to the tip only for it to be covered in blue ink - what kind of strange quills did they use here? He threw the quill down and stood to his feet. He didn't trust this place at all.

"Professor Johanson?"

There was no reply this time meaning Draco was left alone. He drummed his wand as he looked around. He could handle this - this was fine. That was until the lights all dimmed at once and on the wall in front of him a series of flashing images appeared accompanied by a loud noise of screaming and shouting.

Draco jumped up, swore loudly and stood poised to use his wand - whoever was here would not get him unprepared! "Who's there?"

"Who do you think, Malfoy? The boogie man?"

The sound of the voice appearing directly behind him caused Draco to jump again as he stumbled a few steps away. He sighed inwardly - well this was embarrassing. He quickly composed himself and looked up to see the tall form of the Professor hovering by the door. "Professor."

Johanson looked at him and gave a smirk. "I see you have never came across anything Muggle in your life, Malfoy. That series of sound and images that terrified you so completely is from a Muggle 'movie' - a form of entertainment that you watch. Have you ever heard of the term?" As Draco shook his head the professor sighed as he continued. "Why am I not surprised? You truly have been sheltered by the wizarding world haven't you?"

Draco felt his brow knot as he glared at the Professor - he hated him already. Who was he to talk down to him? "I'm not sheltered, I just don't see the relevance of such...amusing...items in civilised wizarding society. And as I'm not planning on leaving that wizarding society why should I care what Muggles do to occupy their lives?"

Johanson gave an amused smile as he flicked on a switch on the wall that caused the orbs on the ceiling to illuminate again. "Because caring about that is the only way you will remain in this school, or have you forgotten that?"

"I just don't understand why they are not permitted to know about us yet we are forced to learn about them?"

Johanson looked at Draco intently for a second before walking towards the front of the class and sitting on a desk. "That's an interesting argument, Malfoy. Would you like me to answer it?"

Not really you tosser, just give me my timetable and let me out of this place, Draco thought, but before he had an opportunity to put his thoughts into a less offensive reply Johanson had continued.

"Some people, for example - pure bloods. They seem to think that Muggle blood is tainted..."

"Well, now that you mention..." Draco began before being interrupted by an unamused looking Johanson.

"That Muggles are in general a stupid and archaic species. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does, I know your father gave a very interesting speech at the Ministry and those are his words. Do you assume that we are better than them?"

"Pure bloods?"

Johanson gave him a stern look. "Any blood - are wizards better than Muggles? Is that why we shouldn't learn about them?"

Draco looked at the man in front of him. "You are talking about a race that has at various points in their past hounded and tortured witches and wizards before putting them to death in cruel and barbaric fashions that would be out of place in the nightmares of a Dementor. You are asking me whether wizards are better than that? Then yes, we are - you ask any wizard who had relatives murdered because they were witches and you will get the same answer. Why should I be forced to learn about them? Would they be as tolerant in learning about us? I think not, so I see no reason for the two worlds to mix."

"That's quite an opinion you have there, Malfoy - I'm impressed. I was lead to believe that you were just a hateful little sod but you actually have reasons behind you opinion. You're wrong of course, but education is so much easier when the student shows some inclination to thinking. You had relatives killed in Muggle witch hunts?"

Draco groaned inwardly, did this man actually want to discuss this? "I think you will find that every pure blood lost at least one - did you not lose anyone?"

"I'm not a pure blood - I'm off Muggle parents. A Mud-blood in your vocabulary, I believe?"

Draco tossed his head airily, well wasn't that just typical? If his father knew what kind of person he was expected to learn off he would have this man thrown out of Hogwarts quicker than you could say unemployed.

"You don't approve? Oh, you poor little hard done by pure blood, however will you survive?" Johanson said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Draco didn't get a chance to reply when the professor stood and knelt down in front of him and looked directly in his eyes. "You will survive, you will deal with your misgotten arrogance and superiority complex and leave it at the door when you step in this room. I have no time for you or people like you with their heads so far up their own arse that they don't appreciate that life has a great deal more to offer. And you will learn that life does not revolve around you - and if you don't? You will fail and it will be you who is out of this school faster than you can say 'Mud-blood.' Do not test me - I'm not someone you want to make an enemy of."

Draco gulped inwardly as the professors blue eyes bore into him. "I wasn't aware that I was making an enemy of anyone. I'm here due to an agreement with the headmaster - I believe the only one of us with a problem is you. You can see Dumbledore to change the terms if you like."

"No, I don't think so."

Draco nodded his head as Johanson stood up and walked to his desk and pulled out a large folder. "You're a fifth year which will make this very difficult for you as you have no idea what even the most basic Muggle appliances are. I would ask if you had any Muggle born friends but I think that would be a pointless question so I have prepared a catalogue of Muggle items that you will have to become familiar with. There is an extensive reading list in there as well which I expect you to read. I've spoken to Dumbledore and he has agreed that you won't have to sit the exams until June - that gives you months to learn the basics. As well as your regular lessons you will be expected to spend the time between you last class and dinner down here acquainting yourself with Muggles."

"Actual Muggles?"

"No, Muggle literature, Muggle objects, Muggle movies, Muggle sports - you will grow to know them intimately."

Draco rolled his eyes as the Professor dropped the file with a clatter in front of him. "Lucky me."

"I think so...if nothing else it will keep you out of your house mates way."

Draco merely grunted a reply as he lifted the cover off the folder and looked at the first page. He was expected to learn all this as well as keep up with his other classes and Quidditch? Clearly this Professor was mistaking him for someone who had no social life. He was just about to voice this when he heard a chap at the door outside of the room he was in now.

"Professor?" A female voice enquired.

Johanson walked towards the door and gave a smile. "Ah yes, I forgot I was scheduled to meet you. How's the project going?"

"If I said it wasn't how angry would you be?" The voice asked as Johanson walked in the door and straight to the desk without as much as a sideways look at Draco.

"Depends on the reason you haven't started it."

"Oh, I'm sorry - I'll come back, I didn't know you were busy..."

"I'm not, Mr Malfoy here is fine on his own while we discuss this," Johanson began as he sat down and put his feet on the table. "So, tell me Ms Weasley, why exactly are you having problems?"

Draco's ears sprung up as he turned abruptly to see Ginny Weasley looking at him in surprise. "Malfoy?"

"Weasley."

"Oh look, we all know each others names, how lovely. Now why don't we all do what we're here for - Malfoy, read and shut up. Weasley, get over here and explain what's wrong."

Draco shook his head as he stared at the teacher. He hated this guy already.

Ginny Weasley looked at Draco before setting her shoulders and walking to the front of the class standing directly in front of Draco. He looked up at her - was she blushing? And Potter wasn't even in range. Aww, the poor baby doesn't want to get in trouble in front of an audience. He looked at her and smirked as he sat back in the chair and lifted the sheet of paper up so it appeared that he was reading - yet, she must have known he wasn't looking at anything other than her and that was infuriating her even more. Her eyes grew dark as she looked at him and her cheeks were becoming a deeper shade of red.

"Weasley? Any time - I do have classes this afternoon."

She jumped at the tone and Draco had to fight to curb his natural instinct to laugh.

"Sorry, um yes...I...It's just the exchange rates. I can't, for the life of me work out how they work - they have about ten different types of coin and as many more types of notes and then you can pay using pieces of plastic or paper? I don't see how I can give a presentation on this - I was...I was hoping I could change to another group?"

Johanson looked at her. "Did you not go into the Muggle world during the holidays like I suggested?"

She shook her head quickly. "It's not safe to go into that alone and my brothers couldn't come."

"Ginny," Johanson began wearily, "you are studying Muggles - at one point you need to interact with them. It's November - how on earth can I transfer you into another established group and expect you to get up to their level of research?"

"I...I would work really hard to catch up, I don't want to fail..." she whispered.

Johanson looked at her. "How can I make an exception for you and not for the others? No, I can't let you transfer - I'm sorry but no."

Draco looked in interest as a look of disappointment flickered across her face. "But I won't pass otherwise..."

"That's not my problem..."

This time he couldn't stop the laugh escaping as he quickly tried to disguise it with a cough.

"Something wrong, Malfoy?"

Draco looked up at the two furious faces. "No sir, not at all. I was just wondering why someone would choose a project about money when they would know nothing about it by nature?" Ginny looked at him causing him to give his best innocent expression as he continued. "Unless I'm mistaken."

Johanson looked at Draco and began drumming his hands on the desk. "Mr Malfoy, have you finished reading that file?"

"No."

"Then I suggest you get started before you offer your no doubt expert opinion on the fourth years."

Draco nodded his head and began to read as Johanson turned to Ginny. "So what do you suggest I do? Change my policy because you're having problems? I made it clear at the beginning..."

"I know, I know but..."

"But what? If you don't complete the project it makes it very difficult for you to pass the course. It's 40% of the final grade, Ginny. You knew this - why are you only coming to me now about it?"

Ginny shook her head as she looked down. Draco couldn't help but notice that she looked every inch the frightened little girl - no doubt, as the youngest she had been used to being told off by her family and had perfected the 'but I'm so small and helpless, you don't really want to shout at me' stance. He turned away in disgust- only women could get away with looking like that.

"Okay, let me think about what we can do. How about..." Johanson was interrupted as a deep voice called him from the other part of the room. He groaned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Draco looked up as the door closed. "Aww, the poor Weasel failing? Never mind, your family must be used to it with the complete lack of intelligence in the past few off spring. Is that what happens when you have a large family - do they get progressively more idiotic or is that just a Weasley trait?"

She lifted her head and glared at him. "Shut up, Malfoy. I'm not failing anything and even if I was it would be nothing to do with you."

"Yet here I am, witness to it all. You know, you could beg and maybe that would persuade him to make an exception to you?" Draco began. "Oh wait, beg? That would be demeaning for you, right? Poor people have too much pride for that, correct?"

"Shut up! God, did you mean a word of that apology this morning?"

"I meant every word - I just find it hard to be sincere when they practically blackmail me to say it. Of course I need an outlet as I can't torment Longbottom or your boyfriend anymore. How is Potter, by the way? You two still getting lost in conversation with each other?"

He couldn't help but smirk as she turned bright red - she was far too easy to play. He could have fun with her...

"Why can't you just be quiet for once? Do you want expelled?" she asked angrily as she turned her back to him - was she trying to ignore him?

"Evidently not or else I wouldn't be here, would I? I wouldn't have embarrassed myself and my house in front of the school this morning, would I? I wouldn't be sitting here, listening to you babbling about how you can't understand how economics work because you were afraid to go into the big bad Muggle world on your own if I wanted expelled, would I? So no, Ginny Weasley - I don't want expelled, but I don't want to become an annoying person that I don't recognise anymore, so, when the opportunity arises where I can vent on something as inconsequential as you, I just can't resist it."

He watched as she span around and her mouth opened in what appeared to be pain before she took a step over to him and drew her hand across his face in a hard slap. He felt his face sting as she clasped her hand. Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at him but her jaw was set. "How dare you! I am not 'inconsequential' - I'm a person and I swear you will leave me and my family alone!"

He wasn't sure how he managed to curb his natural reaction to draw his wand but he did, despite how angry he was. It had taken four years of constant insults and goading before he had driven Granger to react physically to him and it had just taken two conversations with the red head in front if him. The fact that she was a Weasley just made it worse. She would pay for that.

"Are you planning on making me leave you alone, Weasley?" he whispered menacingly. "Do you think I couldn't handle you?"

"Just leave me alone - that means no jibes, no insults! What is wrong with you? Why do you have to be so twisted?"

"Me twisted? I believe you are the one resorting to violence - and you Gryffindors are usually so sickeningly self righteous as well. Yet here we have you resorting to violence and name calling?" he shook his head and feigned a yawn. "If I didn't see how much you just want to cry it would probably be quite enlightening on the double standards of your house. But please, don't let me stop you - there's a corner over there that you can go cry in."

She didn't take her eyes off him as she sat on the desk. Her shoulders were set, her head was held high - why wasn't she reacting? He refused to be daunted and instead sat back down and stared back at her. That's it Weasley, keep staring - you will not win this.

"Well, isn't this interesting? I am so glad that you two have nothing better to do than sit and make ga-ga eyes at each other..."

Draco turned immediately to see Johanson looking at them from the doorway with an expression that Draco had trouble determining. "Ga ga?"

"Not a term I would expect either of you to be aware of as you are both rather clueless about Muggles - ga ga, an expression of endearment. If you are crazy for something you could be said to be 'ga ga' about it."

"I'm not crazy about him!" Ginny almost screamed.

Draco turned and glared at her. Did she think he cared? "The feeling, I assure you, is entirely mutual."

"Well, be that as it may - you two will really have to learn to get along. I just came from a very interesting discussion with Professor Dumbledore and he mentioned to me one of the terms of your deal, Malfoy," he began as he walked over to his desk. "Care to guess what term he was filling me in on?"

Draco folded his arms irritably but remained silent as the teacher gave him a smirk. "No? What if I was to say 'work with a Gryffindor'? Would that spark your memory? Well, let me introduce you - Mr Malfoy, meet your tutor," he indicated from Draco to Ginny before turning his attention to Ginny and reversing the motion as he continued. "Ms Weasley, meet your project. Passing grade for the pair of you if you both pass - failing grades if either of you fail."

Ginny's eyes widened and before Draco could announce his own indignation at being pared with a younger student she had already began. "No! This isn't fair, why am I being punished for him?! Just 'cause he messed up!"

"You are the one who wanted to change your project and this is the easiest way - you will have three hours together a week - I hardly think that will kill you. This is the easiest way for you to pass - I thought you would be happy?"

She looked at him and bit her lip. "Not him..."

Johanson looked at her. "If you think you can get a better grade on your other project feel free to continue with that, if not don't look a gift horse in the mouth, even if that gift horse is something you find repulsive. What of you, Malfoy? Is this unacceptable to you?"

It would have been easy to say yes, but that would have been too easy on her - the humiliation of her slap still stinging his pride. "No, I think Weasley would make a fine tutor - if she can get rid of that vile temper that she clearly picked up competing in a zoo for her parents affection."

"Enough Malfoy, you made an agreement," Johanson said as he turned to Ginny. "So, what's it to be?"

She looked at Draco and shook her head as she grabbed her bag and swung it over her shoulder. "Fine, just tell him he better shut up or it won't just be my vile temper he has to deal with."

Johanson nodded his head and gave himself a smug smile. "Good, good - I'll finalise the details and let you both know later. Ginny, thank you - and believe me, you'll thank me when you pass with flying colours. Malfoy, you'll just thank me when you see the year out as a Hogwarts student. You can both go now..."

Ginny didn't wait for another word and almost ran out the class. Probably wants to cry because she got lumbered with this job - oh wait until Weasley hears about this. Draco began to laugh as he picked up his file and walked to the door. He could just imagine their reaction and it was almost worth the pain of the experience to rub it into Weasley and Potter. He could definitely have fun with this...

"Oh Malfoy," Draco turned to see the Professor looking at him. "Ginny is a very bright girl, I'm doing this for her. I couldn't give a stuff about your problems with her brother - you will leave that at the door when you come in here. I'll owl you your revision plan for her and what time your fifth year classes and review meetings with me are. This is your last chance to get this right, I would bloody well be taking it if I were you instead of goading the younger students."

Draco nodded his head and walked out. Who did he think he was? Telling Draco what he would be doing if he was him? He didn't think so...

"Oh look, there goes the definitive snake of Slytherin - spineless."

Draco looked up to see a group of third year Slytherins across the hall and shot them a dangerous look as he mentally noted their names. The younger students physically shrunk under his gaze as he walked past and he sighed. So much for it getting better - now he could add a new professor who hated him, spending substantial time with a Weasley, having his social life stolen and being the butt of the jokes of 13 year olds to his list of woes. So much for it not being able to get any worse...

TBC