DxH: Potions 1

Potions
Chapter 1

The sun shone brightly over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students could be found everywhere doing whatever; some were practicing for an upcoming Quidditch match, while others were simply talking about several things, school-related or not. While this fine weather graced the ancient school, Harry Potter was feeling far from fine. It was his fifth year in Hogwarts and nothing but terrible things had happened since the start of the school year; Professor Dumbledore had been ousted, Dolores Umbridge had been named headmistress and she had established the Inquisitorial Squad, mostly made up of Slytherins and Harry's most hated school mate, Draco Malfoy. He was more depressed than usual because Professor Snape told him to see him after class because he added the wrong ingredients to his cauldron, which ended in an explosion and half the class being sent to the hospital wing. So there Harry stood, in the middle of the potions classroom, the Potions Master pacing back and forth while tapping his wand on his hand. "You are a real nuisance, Potter." Snape finally said, his cold tone making Harry more nervous than he already was. "After your father, I didn't think anyone could make my head hurt this much. I was wrong." Professor Snape finally stopped behind his desk and faced Harry, his piercing black eyes making the raven-haired boy flinch. "But, I'd be lying if I said that I only called you in here just because of today's incident. Your past grades have been nothing but Acceptable or lower. And as much as I would love to fail any one of you Gryffindors, I have to at least make an effort to help you reach your potential." Harry swallowed hard, fearing that he would have to spend nights with Snape in this classroom, preparing potions until the greasy-haired man was satisfied. "Be back here after dinner, Potter. And before I forget, that's thirty points from Gryffindor." Harry felt a pang of guilt in him and he took his leave and headed to his next class.

Lunchtime arrived and the students flooded the Great Hall and began eating as quickly as food appeared on the table. Harry had told Ron and Hermione about what Snape had said and how many points were deducted. "You shouldn't blame yourself Harry." Hermione said as she patted him on the back. "We've been busy with our 'work.'" By work, Hermione meant them teaching Dumbledore's Army. Harry agreed that teaching the students had been taking up most of his free time, but it still didn't help relieve him of his distress. "Come on guys, we don't want to be late for Transfiguration." Ron said and the trio rose from their seats and headed out. While walking towards the doors, Draco and his lackeys were entering the Great Hall, pushing students out of their way as they went. Harry rolled his eyes as he passed the blonde leader and Draco noticed this. "You've got a problem, Potter?" he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "No, I think it's great that you're exactly like your father, using your power to abuse others." Harry said. "Careful Scarhead, I can deduct points as an Inquisitor." Malfoy returned. "You're really lucky that I wasn't affected by that explosion earlier or Gryffindor would have no points by now." Harry's bright green eyes stared angrily at Draco's gray ones. Just as everyone thought a duel was going to happen, both boys turned and headed for their original destination.

Harry couldn't focus properly that day due to the fact that a punishment more terrible than detention was about to be given to him. The raven-haired teen stood in front of the door to the potions classroom and was shocked when Draco opened the door. "What are you doing here, Potter?" The Slytherin spat. "Calm yourself Draco and have Potter come in." Snape called from the inside. Draco went back in and Harry followed, closing the door behind him and taking the seat behind the desk across the blonde. "Professor, can't Potter wait outside until we're done?" Draco asked. "No, it may be hard to believe Mr. Malfoy." The Potions Master stated as he read a book. "But Mr. Potter is relevant in solving your problem as you are in solving his." Both boys looked at the man, both scared to find out what he meant. "You, Mr. Malfoy, are failing in History of Magic and you, Mr. Potter, are failing in my own class, Potions." Snape continued. "Potter has always excelled in History of Magic, although that may be thanks to Ms. Granger, while Draco has excelled in Potions ever since his first year here, as all Slytherins have." The two students knew where Snape was going with this and both didn't like it. "Professor you're not supposing that we actually team up?" Draco said. "On the contrary Draco, that is the plan." Snape said and Malfoy's jaw dropped while Harry sat there in shock. "Professor McGonagall also approves of this course of action. She believes that it will not only help you two in your grades, but will help you two to learn to get along." Both boys looked at each other and then turned in disgust. Snape gave an audible sigh as he shook his head. "Slytherin frowns on failure Draco and I have never had a student who received anything below Exceeding Expectations, Mr. Potter. So if you two get anything less than Exceeding Expectations in the upcoming tests before your O.W.L.s, I'll cast a spell that will bind both if you together until the end of the school year." Harry and Draco swallowed hard and left the room. Harry was about to head to the Gryffindor common room when Draco grabbed him by the wrist. "Listen here Potter, I hate you and you hate me, but Merlin forbid anyone find out about this." The blonde stated. "I don't tell anyone and you don't tell anyone. We only meet at times and places when we know we won't be seen together, agreed?" Harry nodded and both of them glared at each other for awhile until they went their separate ways.

The next day, as Harry was trying to stay awake in Astronomy, a piece of paper landed right of him. He placed it under his desk and unfolded it. It was a note from Draco and it read "Let's start later after lunch. Meet me at the greenhouses and don't think about ditching Potter or you'll have to answer to Professor Snape." Harry crumpled the paper and looked at Draco, who was scribbling something in his notebook. At lunch in the Great Hall, Harry was sitting with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George. He glanced over to the Slytherin table and noticed that Draco wasn't there. He thought it to be odd since he thought there was nothing more than the 'King of Snakes' loved more than be fawned over by his followers. "Harry are you listening?" Ron asked and the raven-haired boy was broght back to earth. "Me, Hermione and Ginny are going to see Hagrid before Potions class. You want to come." "I'd love to, but Professor McGonagall is making me do extra work to make up for the explosion I caused." Harry lied. Anything else, whether it was cleaning the toilets or detention with Filch was more appealing to Harry at the moment rather spending time with Draco. But he knew that he'd never hear the end of it from Snape. As the friends finished eating their lunch and went their ways. When Harry arrived at the greenhouses, he saw Draco in one of them and entered. "You weren't in the Great Hall for lunch." Harry stated as he set his things on one of the workbenches. Draco just scoffed and continued what he was doing. Harry noticed that Draco had set everything up; there were two cauldrons, mortars and pestles, silver knives and the ingredients they needed. Harry was impressed; he didn't think the Ice Prince of Slytherin would make such a great effort to help a Gryffindor, much less his rival. "You looked prepared, Malfoy." "Don't think I'm doing this for you, Potter." The blonde spat. "Your performance in Potions class will be a reflection of how I'm teaching you." Harry sighed but silently agreed, since it was the same case with Draco's performance in a History of Magic. Just then, Harry noticed Draco removing his robe, revealing his quite slender body and saw how his clothes fit him so well. "Well don't just stand there, Potter." The Slytherin said. "If you want to get stuff on your robe, that's fine by me." Harry immediately looked away and felt his face heat up. He had no idea what was going, but disregarded it and took his robe off as well.

Half an hour had passed and Draco had already started teaching Harry. They decided to brew a simple potion, Cure for Boils. "Alright, our potions have brewed for forty-five minutes. It's time to add the next ingredient." Draco said as he scanned his book. Harry watched him as he did and Harry saw how dedicated and focused Draco was in his work. A new and sudden respect for Draco had stirred inside Harry. He also noticed how the rays of the sun radiated of the pale skin of the blonde, making him look radiant. Harry caught himself and brushed that thought away. "Potter, didn't you hear what I said?" Malfoy asked, annoyed. "I said add four horned slugs, remove your cauldron from the fire and add two porcupine quills." Harry nodded, but was really unsure of what Draco said. He grabbed a large jar and started placing the horned slugs in the cauldron. 'Why can't I focus properly today?' The raven asked himself. 'Why do I keep looking back at Malfoy and why is he so distracting?' Harry then opened a leather pouch, taking twice the said amount of porcupine quills and placed it over the cauldron. Draco looked to see how Harry was doing and his eyes widened when he saw how many porcupine quills Harry was holding. "Potter, don't…" Draco tried to stop him, but Harry dropped the quills into the cauldron and it started to rumble while the two boys stared at in fright. The greenhouse was soon filled with a dark green gas and both Harry and Draco ran out and gasped desperately for air. "Honestly Potter, can't you finish a potion without trying to send someone to the Hospital Wing?" The blonde said as he inhaled and exhaled heavily. Harry didn't reply, seeing as how he was on his hands and knees, breathing as if he just spent an hour underwater. "You alright, Scarhead?" Draco asked and hearing that probably left Harry more breathless than he already was. Draco Malfoy, Draco bloody Malfoy was concerned about him. 'Did that potion send me to a parallel universe?' Harry questioned but stood as soon as he caught his breath. "I'm fine, thanks. What about you?" "Other than smelling like a year old meatloaf, I'm fine." The blonde said and cracked a small smile. Harry felt his face get hot when he saw this and turned to hide his blushing face. "Anyway, we better get cleaned off before Potions starts." He said and Malfoy agreed. They parted ways and all the way to the Gryffindor common rooms, Harry kept asking himself what had just happened.