Chapter Text
“Argh, I really don’t feel like having to put up with Potions this morning,” you groaned as you walked towards the dungeons with Hermione.
“Well, maybe we’ll be making something exciting today,” she answered.
“I really don’t think so. Even if we do, I don’t think I’ll be able to enjoy it because I’m so fucking tired.” You had shared a bottle of fire whiskey with Hermione, Ron and Harry the previous night. It was all fun and games until you woke up with a massive headache. Hermione had helped by using a small spell, but she couldn’t do anything about your constantly yawning and complaining.
“You’d better put a smile on your face, we’re here,” Hermione said as she entered the grimy dungeons, choosing you both a table to work on.
“Oh God, don’t tell me our first Potions is with Slytherin!” You exclaimed as you noticed the students carrying the green amblem on their robes fill the dungeons.
“It was written down on our schedule,” Hermione said, but she still sounded equally agitated by the idea. You started emptying your ingredients from your bag, on to the table.
“Good morning, young witches and wizards!” You heard Slughorn welcome you all as he walked towards the front of the class.
“Welcome back to Hogwarts! If you are all ready, we will be brewing the Elixir to Induce Euphoria today. The Elixir to Induce Euphoria is a sunshine-yellow potion that induces a sense of inexplicable, irrational happiness upon the drinker. I thought this would be a good way to start this year’s first Potions class with, after, well, everything that has happened.” He finished quietly, his voice trailing off accompanied by empty eyes. Almost immediately returning to his friendly, bumbling self he continued “So open your books, you’ll find the instructions and ingredients on page 84. If there are any ingredients you don’t have, you can find them from the cabinet in the corner.” He smiled to the students, who were starting to feel slightly excited.
“I told you we might make something exciting,” Hermione grinned, turning the pages of her book.
“Oh and also, everyone check the new seating plan that the school administration has assigned for you. They thought that this will be a great way for houses to form new relationships for a more healthy future. You can find it by the door, on the board” He added. Sounds of protest arised from the students. You really didn’t want to look at the seating plan. The Elixir had slightly excited you, happiness was something you were lacking. The war left marks. And you were still trying to heal them. Yes, everything was getting better and the future was full of hope, but it was hard to overcome the pain. You waited for the students to look at the seating plan because you definitely weren’t eager to find out who you would sit next to.
“I hope I’m assigned next to you” you said to Hermione before she headed off towards the board.
“You know that will never happen. We aren’t that lucky.” She giggled back, pushing past the students. That’s when you noticed him. The blonde hair, the green robes, those icy gray eyes. The eyes that were staring at you. You felt a chill run down your spine. That’s when you noticed Hermione behind him, by the board, frantically pointing at him and mouthing the words that would make you wonder what you had done to make this day go like this,
“It’s him”. You cursed under your breath. He started walking towards you.
“Malfoy! Happy to see me?” You asked with a heavy tone of sarcasm in your voice.
“We will be working together Y/L/N.” He replied dryly, ignoring your tone.
“Fine. Come on then, this elixir won’t be brewing itself.” You said as you walked back towards the table where you and Hermione had initially sat. “If it’s fine by you, we can sit here. I’ve already started setting up everything. Don’t make me pack it all back again and make my day even worse.” You groaned. He didn’t bother to answer, he just followed you with his bag. You were tired, and all you wanted to do was to curl up in your bed and have a nap. Hermione approached the table to grab her bag and her books. She threw you a quick look and mouthed the words “I’m sorry”. You replied with a look which you hoped felt like a silent plea for help. She got her stuff and moved across the room to another table, next to a Slytherin student you only knew by name.
“If you are settled down, you can start working on the Elixir. Good luck everyone” you heard Slughorn’s voice echo through the dungeons.
“Have you ever prepared this elixir before?” You asked Malfoy as you opened your book, searching for the recipe.
“No.” He replied not looking at you.
“Someone’s not happy today. We’d better get this done perfectly Malfoy. Seems like we’re both in need of it.” You loved mocking Slytherin’s. It seemed traditional at this point. Maybe the school was right about forming healthy relationships with other houses, you thought to yourself. Though, this certain Slytherin usually liked mocking you back, or anyone really.
“We’ll be needing peppermint, shrivelfig, porcupine quills, seven castor beans and starfish legs. It doesn’t seem like I have any starfish. I’ll check the cabinet if you don’t have any.” He said.
“No. No, I don’t.” You answer drifting off into thoughts as he walks off to fetch the missing ingredient. You looked at your wrist, small gold starfish charms dangling from the bracelet you had on. “I always have starfish with me.” You whispered quietly.
“Sorry?” You jumped as you heard Draco’s voice from behind you.
“Nothing, just checking that everything is ready.” You both started working together. It surprised you how easy it was. You didn’t really talk. You didn’t need to talk. You started chopping, and mixing, and adding ingredients with a harmony that surprised the both of you. His words stopped you as you were about to add the seven castor beans in to the purple potion,
“Nice bracelet. I thought you didn’t have any starfish with you?” He said. This was the first time you had heard a slight tone of amusement in his tone.
“I always have starfish with me.” You replied as you carried on adding the castor beans, one by one.
“You shouldn’t have sent me to fetch some then. Could’ve just borrowed some from you.” He was blatantly smiling now.
“Well I’m sorry, but my starfish aren’t for making potions,” you said starting to feel mildly amused. The elixir must be working already, you thought. You carried on working together in silence. The cold mood had lifted. Well, only slightly. But the rest of the steps seemed to flow easier.
“Time for the starfish legs, I guess,” Malfoy spoke as he reached for the jar of starfish legs he had picked up from the cabinet, “Want to add them? Seeing that you like them so much,” he smirked waving the jar in front of you.
“Stop it!” You giggled. The potion had turned to orange, “Give it here then.” You started adding the starfish to the cauldron, taking your time. You could feel Malfoy watching you, while the mixture started to turn yellow.
“I think we’re done. We should probably call Slughorn” he said, checking the consistency of the elixir.
“Wait a second” you had an idea. You emptied the jar of peppermint into the bin beside your table. And filled the empty jar to the brim with the bright yellow mixture.
“What are you doing Y/L/N?” Malfoy hissed.
“If we did succeed in making the elixir, why not drink some of it? I wouldn’t say no to an inducement of euphoria, and I don’t think you would too.”
“I can’t believe you.”
“What? I’ll share if you want to,” you said as you put the jar in your bag. “Professor! I think we’re done here,” you called Slughorn over towards your table. You saw Malfoy roll his eyes.
“Well well well, Y/N and Draco. How did it go?” He asked as he started inspecting the elixir.
“It was great Professor. All went well,” fucking amazing, you thought sarcastically. You were sure Malfoy was thinking the same thing.
“I can see that. You’ve done an excellent job! Well done both of you. Ten points to each of your houses! And you were the first to finish. Perfect work! As a reward, I’ll let you leave early.” Slughorn said.
“Thank you Professor!” you exclaimed, thinking of your warm bed, looking at the clock. You had an hour and a half to rest until your next lesson.
“This is a powerful and addictive potion. Even the best of us can be fooled by its false sense of joy. Best to be careful,” he said and made the elixir disappear with a wave of his wand. You and Malfoy glanced at each other. With that, Slughorn turned to some other students on a table close to yours. You saw Hermione still working with the Slytherin student. You and Malfoy started to clean up.
Once you had everything tidied, there was a weird silence that hung in the air. So you did what you did best, you just turned around to leave.
“Fuck you then.” You heard him say. You turned to face him, puzzled. But when you saw the mischievous look on his face, you couldn’t help but smile. You turned your back to him again, and left. Needn’t to say, you didn’t see him smiling back at you.