Hogwarts, the Potions Classroom.
Since the Potions Exchange entered its second stage, Hogwarts had returned to its regular timetable, leaving many young witches and wizards groaning in misery. Some even suffered from "withdrawal."
The only consolation was that Potions Class occasionally became a self-study period, because Snape had replaced Professor Rosier as referee for the faction battles on the Trial Battlefield.
That meant Snape had to set aside time to oversee the Practical Class Classroom on the fifth floor. Whenever his schedules clashed, he would leave the students to study by themselves.
Like now. Though it was a self-study period, the classroom was utterly quiet, because Draco's eyes kept sweeping every corner like a venomous snake.
Whenever anyone broke classroom rules, he would glare at them, then pick up his damned quill and write a name on the parchment in front of him.
The little snakes of Slytherin were exceptions, of course.
Draco was particularly lenient with them, just as Snape was.
During their last self-study period, for example, Crabbe had apparently told a joke that made Goyle burst out laughing without a care for where he was. Draco had merely given them a warning look.
Even Snape, who happened to return to the classroom and catch them in the act, had not reprimanded Goyle-because he was busy lecturing Harry for dozing at his desk and docking Gryffindor a hefty number of house points. Still, the students had long since grown used to Snape's favoritism.
"Harry-Harry-"
The quiet calls and the shaking of his arm made Harry open his eyes blearily. He raised his head in confusion and looked at Ron beside him.
Ron looked suspicious. "What's wrong with you?"
Then his expression grew anxious, a trace of fear entering his eyes. He swallowed and asked, "You haven't been..." Harry