Little Ronnie arrived late, but she arrived

Slender fingers kept stroking Lily's face in the photograph.

The photograph was actually already blurry.

It was a photograph Lily had brought from home and given to Professor Snape.

"Severus, we took this when my family went to Tower Bridge in London. Here, it's for you..."

That was what Lily had said back then.

Decades had passed.

The Lily in the photograph had not been captured with a magical camera from the wizarding world. Muggle technology in that era had been limited, and the resolution left much to be desired.

As a result, Lily's face in the yellowing photograph was already a little hard to make out.

Snape knew that every time she stroked the photograph, she made Lily's face look even blurrier.

But she couldn't help it...

She had already been very restrained, but she really missed Lily...

Especially those green eyes, which could still gaze at her so vividly even now.

To keep Lily's photograph from being completely ruined, Professor Snape cast a little unique spell on it every so often, preventing time from truly wearing it away.

Sadly, it was only a photograph, after all. Lily had truly left forever...

No matter how well she protected it, it still wasn't Lily...

Tucking Lily's photograph back against his chest, Professor Snape's expression darkened once more.

He had almost forgotten that there was still a damned unstable element inside Hogwarts!

That Quirrell was most likely already possessed by the Dark Lord. She simply had no proof yet...

No, she had to prepare and give Quirrell a warning in a couple of days. She, Snape, had to train Harry in the evenings over these next two days and had little time to deal with trash like Quirrell.

She didn't care that much about the Philosopher's Stone and all that. Dumbledore always had a way to handle things anyway. She only needed to submit her design for her obstacle.

But Harry absolutely could not be hurt by Professor Quirrell. Absolutely not!

Even if the Dark Lord wanted to hurt Potter, he would have to hit her with a Killing Curse first!

She, Severus, had made a mistake once before. No, twice.

The third time, she wanted to get it right, to stop making mistakes...

"Quirrell, you'd better not go looking for death..."

"Hey, Potter, aren't you coming to the library to tutor me?"

Just as they reached the junction on the first floor, Malfoy noticed.

Why wasn't Potter coming along to the library? Why was he still heading toward the second floor?

Hadn't Professor Snape told Potter to help her catch up on the Potions lesson she hadn't listened to?

Why wasn't Potter coming...?

Boo-hoo, did Potter really not think of me as a good friend?

Was Potter angry because I got him into trouble with Professor Snape in class?

Hmm...

What if Potter just forgot?

"You get to the library from the first floor. There's no need to go up to the second."

"Ah, my dear Miss Malfoy..."

Hearing Draco's words, Harry put a hand to his head, looking rather pained.

Come on, my dear Miss Malfoy, didn't we just say after breakfast that I had Transfiguration second period?

If I could go to the library, I wouldn't be taking a different route from you without a word, would I?

Helpless, Harry could only pull a copy of his timetable from inside his robes and place it on the books in Malfoy's hands.

He patted Malfoy's shoulder earnestly, leaned close to her ear, and softly spoke toward her thoroughly reddened earlobe:

"I have Transfiguration this period. Can we do the tutoring at four this afternoon?"

"Oh, oh."

After hearing that, Malfoy didn't make an unreasonable fuss this time.

Mostly, why is Potter standing so close to me...?

The way he's doing that by my ear tickles. It feels so uncomfortable...

But does Potter's breath smell sweet?

Wait, Draco, what are you thinking?!

The warm breath and sensation continually brushing her earlobe made Malfoy feel a little uncomfortable, yet a little comfortable too.

Even her gaze at Harry grew slightly hazy...

That does seem right.

Their Slytherin Transfiguration class was first period in the afternoon, not second period in the morning...

Aaargh, this is so annoying!

Why wasn't Potter sorted into Slytherin with me back then?!

At that thought, Draco's heart filled with frustration and resentment.

This is so infuriating.

If we were in the same house and could attend classes together, how nice would that be...?

Don't get the wrong idea. It's just good friends liking to sit together in class. There's nothing else to it.

Potter's tutoring session is around second period this afternoon. If I go over after my first class, I'll definitely make it. I'll definitely make it...

Wait!

Draco picked up the timetable Harry had given her again, and her face instantly alternated between green and white.

Look.

Just look.

Hey, Merlin, old buddy, look what I found!

[Transfiguration]

[Houses attending: Gryffindor & Ravenclaw]

Malfoy: (╯▔皿▔)╯

She was angry. Truly angry.

What kind of damned class arrangement is this?!

Ravenclaw is Potter's house. That's fine.

But what the hell is Gryffindor doing there?

Not gooood!

Merlin's baggy boxer shorts!

My Potter!

As the saying went, blessings never came in pairs, and misfortunes never came alone.

Before Draco could continue wailing inwardly,

a nightmare of a voice reached Malfoy's ears from far away-oh, no, from beside Potter, who had only just moved a dozen or so meters away from her:

"Good morning, Harry! The weather's lovely today!"

Yes.

Little Ronnie arrived late, but she arrived.

As Malfoy turned back, her eyes filled with disbelief,

Ron suddenly darted out of some obscure corner like a red fox that had gained sentience and appeared right beside Potter!

And Ron didn't merely appear beside Harry.

Ron even linked his arm through Harry's, smiling brightly as he started chatting with Harry!

Why? Why?!

What gives her the right to smile like that?!

Is she provoking me, or mocking me?

Very good. Very good. Weasley, is it...?

Damn it, damned Weasley, damn it!

The extra timetable Harry had printed was now in Malfoy's hands, nearly crushed into a little paper ball small enough to plug an ear...

Evil Weasley!

Why does this disgusting weasel keep haunting us like one of those ghost-summoning women in Florida?!

As Malfoy stared viciously at Ron, even her platinum hair seemed a little duller.

She couldn't take it anymore.

Ron, is it?

You like holding Harry's arm, do you?

Always like finding Harry to hang out, do you?

Fine!

At four this afternoon, I'm holding Harry too!