Chapter 50 - One who fears himself (1/2)

As everyone seated in the classroom 6A, Professor Babbling entered the room and introduced the subject. ”So, before we start the class, anyone knows what a rune is?”. Neal raised his hand, ”Runes are symbols representing various sound values, belonging to a runic alphabet. The runes themselves can be used both as an alphabet or as logograms”.

Professor nodded, ”good. Five points for Slytherin. Ok, first you will all learn the runic alphabets”. In the class, as the Professor asked a question, Hermoine answered the question which surprised Neal as he saw her entering class 5A where Arithmancy class is conducted, while he was climbing the stairs.

After the class is over, everyone stood up to exit the class. Daphne then frowned, ”that's strange. Where did Granger go? I certainly saw her during class”. Neal also turned around to see each corner of the room and he wasn't able to spot Hermoine at all. Neal thought, ”did she disapparate?”.

He put that thought away quickly as he doesn't have anything to do with her social life and continued his way to the Slytherin dormitories.

Malfoy didn't reappear in classes until late on Thursday morning when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were halfway through double Potions. He swaggered into the dungeon, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting, in Harry's opinion, as though he were the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle.

As Daphne asked, ”how is your arm, Draco?”. He replied with an extreme expression of pain on his face, ”it's not fine at all”. Neal slapped his bandaged arm and said, ”who the hell told you to go and provoke it. Didn't you hear my warning clear enough? Sit here. I'll help you cut the daisy roots for the potion”.

As Snape approached their table, he said, ”It seems like you can't cut the daisy roots, Malfoy?”. As Malfoy nodded, Neal was about to say that he was going to do it in his place but before he does, Snape looked at Harry and Ron and said, ”Weasley, cut the roots for Malfoy”, making a laugh escaped from all the Slytherin including Neal.

Then as Ron is grudgingly cutting the roots for him, Draco said, ”Professor, I'll need this shrivelfig skinned”. Snape then spoke, ”Potter, you do it”. As Malfoy was making both of them to cut all of his ingredients, he further said, ”Seen your pal Hagrid lately? I'm afraid he won't be a teacher any longer”.

As they were arguing back and forth, Malfoy grimaced in pain as Neal once again slapped his arm, ”stop talking. Brew it properly”. Malfoy replied, ”alright. Alright. Gosh, you become too serious in the potions class, Neal”.

Then he once again started taunting him, ”Potter, I heard that Black escaped Azkaban for you”. Then, he sneered, ”want to leave it for Dementors, do you? If it was me, I'd want revenge, I'd hunt him down myself”.

Harry frowned, ”why would I take revenge on him?”. Ron then said, ”he's just talking nonsense again. He just wants you to do something stupid. Forget him”. Just then, Snape spotted them arguing and scolded Harry and Ron while taking 10 points away from Gryffindor.

After lunch, everyone went to Defence Against the Dark Arts class with no so interest as these past two years made them lose interest in the subject. They would rather spend the class in the dueling club instead.

Professor R.J. Lupin entered the class and introduced himself to everyone, ”Good Afternoon. Would you put all of your books back in the bags? Let's start the class with a practical lesson”. Hearing it, a certain curiosity appeared on everyone's faces.

They followed him to a hall just in front of his staffroom where Lockhart usually conducted practical lessons last year. Girls sighed when they came here because it remembered their idol, Lockhart.

Too bad that he was fired by the governors because of Sirius Black's escape and also got disappointed with Lockhart who was defeated in a fair and square duel by Neal, who's only a second-year student.