Malfoy's POV
'You ready for this? Or do you want us to bring you something up to your room?" Blaise asked as we paused about ten meters away from the great hall. I flattened myself against the wall as three girls walked past giggling. I refused to be touched, scenting them was easier.
"Uh…I don't know." I muttered as I edged backwards.
"Come on, just try. We'll protect you and get you out if anything happens." Theo promised as he steered me towards the great hall.
"Okay." I muttered.
Squaring my shoulders I walked into the hall with Blaise and Theo on either side of me, both their hands hovering near my wrists ready to pull me out if I needed it.
I breathed out harshly as my nose was assaulted by different smells. I wasn't 'scenting' but my senses were heightened making it harder.
"Okay?" Theo whispered as we started towards the Slytherin table.
"Fine."
"You sure?" Blaise checked.
"I just need to eat and get out of here." I whispered back.
"Over here." Pansy waved from her seat. She'd grabbed four seats at the end of the table, closest to the door for a quick getaway if I needed it. If she didn't cause me pain I could have kissed her in thanks.
"How are you feeling?" She asked quietly when we sat down.
"Tired. Drained almost."
"Malfoy." I nodded to a few people as they walked past me on the way to their seats but said nothing.
"Snape's trying to gain your attention." Blaise whispered and I looked up at the teacher's table subtly. Snape raised a questioning eyebrow and I shook my head. His frown told me all I needed to know, he was worried.
I reached for two slices of toast and started eating slowly. Trying not to look anywhere other than my plate.
"Congrats on being made Head Draco, meant to tell you last night before, well… you know.'' Pansy shrugged with a small smile.
"Thanks. Who's Head Girl?" I asked.
"Hermione Granger." Blaise answered.
"Kind of obvious really." Pansy muttered.
"She's not so bad Pans." Blaise frowned and I frowned.
"How do you know?"
"Her and I were paired for an assignment last year. We got on okay, she's rather nice."
"Please don't tell me you have a thing for the Gryffindor Princess?" Pansy whispered in shock.
"No nothing like that but I don't hate her. We speak whenever we run into one another." He shrugged.
"I don't care about Granger. I have bigger problems this year than her." I voiced.
"Yes you do, speaking of I've been thinking and you said your mate will be magically matched to yours right?" Theo asked and I nodded.
"Well I was wracking my brains last night and I came up with a few names that may be worth looking at first, you know just for a starting point." He offered and I nodded, giving him my full attention.
"Well there's Cho Chang for starters, she's a Ravenclaw which means she's smart." I thought about it and nodded my agreement.
"I'll look into her."
"Ginny Weasley is another, she's smarter than anyone gives her credit for.'
"Oh Merlin not a Weasley please." Pansy muttered in horror.
"He can't pick and choose Pans. Whoever it is we just need to support him." Blaise spoke up giving her a look.
"I know that but… still." She shrugged looking pained.
"Who else?" I asked as I pushed the youngest Weasley from my mind.
"Well… this one you may not like actually, but she fits better than anyone else in the school." A knowing feeling hit my gut.
"Granger?" I asked quietly and he nodded once.
"She is the best fit." Pansy muttered.
"I'll start with Chang." I decided, pushing the other two options aside for now.
"We have Divination with Ravenclaw next." Blaise spoke and I nodded.
"Just get me as close to just her as possible." I mumbled as I stood up and pushed away from the table. I needed time to think.
Hermione's POV
I rolled my eyes at Harry and Ron as they continued to whisper about Malfoy and his odd behavior.
"He hasn't looked anywhere other than his table once since walking in the door. Its suspicious, is what it is. He's up to something." Ron decided with Harry in full agreement.
"Oh please, that's not suspicious. You two are taking this obsession with Malfoy to a whole new level." I whispered back harshly.
"But Mione look at him? He's…. acting weird." Harry pointed as Malfoy suddenly stood from his table and headed for the exit. I followed him with my eyes and took in how unwell he looked.
"He looks sick."
"Probably out late doing Death Eater jobs." Ron muttered. I rolled my eyes yet again before turning back to my breakfast. Those two would never give it up.
Three hours later
"I can't believe we only ever have potions with Slytherin. For seven years we've only ever had potions with Slytherin. Why not Ravenclaw? Or even Hufflepuff?" Ron groaned as we walked down to the dungeons.
"Oh Ron seriously." I huffed as I led the way into the classroom.
"Why are they here already?" Harry muttered as he caught sight of Malfoy, Nott, Blaise and Parkison over in the back corner of the room.
"Who cares, just sit down." I muttered as I fell into my seat with a heavy sigh. Boys.
"Are you okay Mione, you seem more grumpy then usual today." Ron asked and I shot him an annoyed look.
"Thanks Ron. I'm fine but I would be better if you both just shut up about Malfoy for the rest of the day."
"Alright we'll drop it, but even you have to admit he's acting weird. He hasn't even called you a name." Harry pointed out before dropping it like I asked as other students started to fill the room.
"Welcome seventh years, don't go getting too comfortable because I've assigned you partners." Slughorn said as he appeared in the room.
"Oh great." Ron huffed in reply.
"Take a good look at the board people because these will be your partners for the next three lessons then we'll switch. Instructions to the potion is on the board." A loud chorus of groans broke through the room as a list suddenly appeared on the board.
Pansy Parkison, Harry Potter
Daphne Greengrass, Ron Weasley
Lavender Brown, Theo Nott
Hermione Granger, Blaise Zabini
Millicent Bullstrode, Crabbe Goyle
Parvati Patil, Dean Thomas
Katie Bell, Neville Longbottom
Romilda Vane, Draco Malfoy
"Behave boys." I mutter to them before moving over to Blaise. We weren't friends by any means but we were civil and could work together.
"Hermione."
"Blaise, how were your holidays."
"About as good as they can get, yours?"
"I worked with my parents most of this summer, it was good." I replied as I sat down.
"I'll get the ingredients if you want to set up here." He offered and I nodded in agreement.
I set up the cauldron as he left and was just pulling out the tools when he returned with a small smile.
"Here we go."
"Great, let's get started then shall we?"
"I'll crush while you chop if that's okay?" He asked while holding out the knife for me to take.
"Sure, thanks." I said taking the knife. Our fingers brushed against one another's and I jumped as a quiet strangled groan came from the back of the room. Turning around I watched as Malfoy groaned in pain, curling into himself as he held his chest.
"Shit. Drake you okay?' Blaise asked as he hurried to his side.
"….get me out." I heard him say quietly as I frowned in concern. His voice was different and I could hear his heavy breathing from here.
"Come on, quickly before anyone else notices." Blaise said hurriedly, sending me an apologetic look before practically carrying Malfoy out the door unnoticed by anyone.
'That was strange.' I thought as I turned back to my potion with a frown. A movement caught my eye making me look up and I noted Parkison and Nott staring worriedly at the door before turning to look at each other.
Frowning I got back to the potion and decided to push the weird occurrence out my mind for now.
"Um Professor, Malfoy's not feeling well he's in the bathroom. Can I be excused from class to take him to the infirmary?" Blaise suddenly appeared once more with a strange look on his face.
"Oh yes yes of course. Do you need some help?"
"I might need some help from Theo sir if that's okay?"
"Perfectly fine, Mr Nott you're excused from class to help Mr Zabini and Mr Malfoy." Slughorn said quietly to Nott as he tapped him on the shoulder. Without hesitating Nott stood and left the room in a hurry with Blaise on his heels, only pausing once to throw a strange glance at me as he left.
"Romilda and Lavender the two of you will be working together for the rest of this lesson, Mr Granger are you right to work by yourself?" I nodded once and gave him a small smile before I got back to work but this time I couldn't get Blaise's strange look out of my mind.
'Why did he look at me like that and what did it mean?
'You ready for this? Or do you want us to bring you something up to your room?" Blaise asked as we paused about ten meters away from the great hall. I flattened myself against the wall as three girls walked past giggling. I refused to be touched, scenting them was easier.
"Uh…I don't know." I muttered as I edged backwards.
"Come on, just try. We'll protect you and get you out if anything happens." Theo promised as he steered me towards the great hall.
"Okay." I muttered.
Squaring my shoulders I walked into the hall with Blaise and Theo on either side of me, both their hands hovering near my wrists ready to pull me out if I needed it.
I breathed out harshly as my nose was assaulted by different smells. I wasn't 'scenting' but my senses were heightened making it harder.
"Okay?" Theo whispered as we started towards the Slytherin table.
"Fine."
"You sure?" Blaise checked.
"I just need to eat and get out of here." I whispered back.
"Over here." Pansy waved from her seat. She'd grabbed four seats at the end of the table, closest to the door for a quick getaway if I needed it. If she didn't cause me pain I could have kissed her in thanks.
"How are you feeling?" She asked quietly when we sat down.
"Tired. Drained almost."
"Malfoy." I nodded to a few people as they walked past me on the way to their seats but said nothing.
"Snape's trying to gain your attention." Blaise whispered and I looked up at the teacher's table subtly. Snape raised a questioning eyebrow and I shook my head. His frown told me all I needed to know, he was worried.
I reached for two slices of toast and started eating slowly. Trying not to look anywhere other than my plate.
"Congrats on being made Head Draco, meant to tell you last night before, well… you know.'' Pansy shrugged with a small smile.
"Thanks. Who's Head Girl?" I asked.
"Hermione Granger." Blaise answered.
"Kind of obvious really." Pansy muttered.
"She's not so bad Pans." Blaise frowned and I frowned.
"How do you know?"
"Her and I were paired for an assignment last year. We got on okay, she's rather nice."
"Please don't tell me you have a thing for the Gryffindor Princess?" Pansy whispered in shock.
"No nothing like that but I don't hate her. We speak whenever we run into one another." He shrugged.
"I don't care about Granger. I have bigger problems this year than her." I voiced.
"Yes you do, speaking of I've been thinking and you said your mate will be magically matched to yours right?" Theo asked and I nodded.
"Well I was wracking my brains last night and I came up with a few names that may be worth looking at first, you know just for a starting point." He offered and I nodded, giving him my full attention.
"Well there's Cho Chang for starters, she's a Ravenclaw which means she's smart." I thought about it and nodded my agreement.
"I'll look into her."
"Ginny Weasley is another, she's smarter than anyone gives her credit for.'
"Oh Merlin not a Weasley please." Pansy muttered in horror.
"He can't pick and choose Pans. Whoever it is we just need to support him." Blaise spoke up giving her a look.
"I know that but… still." She shrugged looking pained.
"Who else?" I asked as I pushed the youngest Weasley from my mind.
"Well… this one you may not like actually, but she fits better than anyone else in the school." A knowing feeling hit my gut.
"Granger?" I asked quietly and he nodded once.
"She is the best fit." Pansy muttered.
"I'll start with Chang." I decided, pushing the other two options aside for now.
"We have Divination with Ravenclaw next." Blaise spoke and I nodded.
"Just get me as close to just her as possible." I mumbled as I stood up and pushed away from the table. I needed time to think.
Hermione's POV
I rolled my eyes at Harry and Ron as they continued to whisper about Malfoy and his odd behavior.
"He hasn't looked anywhere other than his table once since walking in the door. Its suspicious, is what it is. He's up to something." Ron decided with Harry in full agreement.
"Oh please, that's not suspicious. You two are taking this obsession with Malfoy to a whole new level." I whispered back harshly.
"But Mione look at him? He's…. acting weird." Harry pointed as Malfoy suddenly stood from his table and headed for the exit. I followed him with my eyes and took in how unwell he looked.
"He looks sick."
"Probably out late doing Death Eater jobs." Ron muttered. I rolled my eyes yet again before turning back to my breakfast. Those two would never give it up.
Three hours later
"I can't believe we only ever have potions with Slytherin. For seven years we've only ever had potions with Slytherin. Why not Ravenclaw? Or even Hufflepuff?" Ron groaned as we walked down to the dungeons.
"Oh Ron seriously." I huffed as I led the way into the classroom.
"Why are they here already?" Harry muttered as he caught sight of Malfoy, Nott, Blaise and Parkison over in the back corner of the room.
"Who cares, just sit down." I muttered as I fell into my seat with a heavy sigh. Boys.
"Are you okay Mione, you seem more grumpy then usual today." Ron asked and I shot him an annoyed look.
"Thanks Ron. I'm fine but I would be better if you both just shut up about Malfoy for the rest of the day."
"Alright we'll drop it, but even you have to admit he's acting weird. He hasn't even called you a name." Harry pointed out before dropping it like I asked as other students started to fill the room.
"Welcome seventh years, don't go getting too comfortable because I've assigned you partners." Slughorn said as he appeared in the room.
"Oh great." Ron huffed in reply.
"Take a good look at the board people because these will be your partners for the next three lessons then we'll switch. Instructions to the potion is on the board." A loud chorus of groans broke through the room as a list suddenly appeared on the board.
Pansy Parkison, Harry Potter
Daphne Greengrass, Ron Weasley
Lavender Brown, Theo Nott
Hermione Granger, Blaise Zabini
Millicent Bullstrode, Crabbe Goyle
Parvati Patil, Dean Thomas
Katie Bell, Neville Longbottom
Romilda Vane, Draco Malfoy
"Behave boys." I mutter to them before moving over to Blaise. We weren't friends by any means but we were civil and could work together.
"Hermione."
"Blaise, how were your holidays."
"About as good as they can get, yours?"
"I worked with my parents most of this summer, it was good." I replied as I sat down.
"I'll get the ingredients if you want to set up here." He offered and I nodded in agreement.
I set up the cauldron as he left and was just pulling out the tools when he returned with a small smile.
"Here we go."
"Great, let's get started then shall we?"
"I'll crush while you chop if that's okay?" He asked while holding out the knife for me to take.
"Sure, thanks." I said taking the knife. Our fingers brushed against one another's and I jumped as a quiet strangled groan came from the back of the room. Turning around I watched as Malfoy groaned in pain, curling into himself as he held his chest.
"Shit. Drake you okay?' Blaise asked as he hurried to his side.
"….get me out." I heard him say quietly as I frowned in concern. His voice was different and I could hear his heavy breathing from here.
"Come on, quickly before anyone else notices." Blaise said hurriedly, sending me an apologetic look before practically carrying Malfoy out the door unnoticed by anyone.
'That was strange.' I thought as I turned back to my potion with a frown. A movement caught my eye making me look up and I noted Parkison and Nott staring worriedly at the door before turning to look at each other.
Frowning I got back to the potion and decided to push the weird occurrence out my mind for now.
"Um Professor, Malfoy's not feeling well he's in the bathroom. Can I be excused from class to take him to the infirmary?" Blaise suddenly appeared once more with a strange look on his face.
"Oh yes yes of course. Do you need some help?"
"I might need some help from Theo sir if that's okay?"
"Perfectly fine, Mr Nott you're excused from class to help Mr Zabini and Mr Malfoy." Slughorn said quietly to Nott as he tapped him on the shoulder. Without hesitating Nott stood and left the room in a hurry with Blaise on his heels, only pausing once to throw a strange glance at me as he left.
"Romilda and Lavender the two of you will be working together for the rest of this lesson, Mr Granger are you right to work by yourself?" I nodded once and gave him a small smile before I got back to work but this time I couldn't get Blaise's strange look out of my mind.
'Why did he look at me like that and what did it mean?