Draco Malfoy

Slytherin's Shine

In the Great Hall during Snape's Potions class, there was that peculiar silence that only comes when the professor is in a bad mood. The air smelled of dried nettles and tension.

Adriana sat at the desk—the new girl everyone at Hogwarts was whispering about. She wasn't just pretty. She was unearthly beautiful: her long, shiny hair fell in waves around her shoulders, her eyes sparkled like precious stones, and she smelled of roses—subtle, sweet, and expensive. She wore a perfectly fitting Prada sweater, which she wore with such ease, as if it cost a few knuts instead of a fortune. Every detail about her—from her manicure to her soft smile—screamed that she was perfect. And yet, she was smart and kind.

When Snape asked about the truth serum, Adriana raised her hand, gracefully, like a ballerina.

"Miss Adriana?" Snape said in a raspy voice, not even looking at the journal. "Answer me."

Adriana stood up, adjusted her robe, and began answering clearly, without hesitation. Her voice was soft but confident.

Snape remained silent until the very end, and then nodded briefly:

• Plus ten points to Slytherin.

A murmur swept across the tables, and a grimace froze on Hermione's face. She sat with Gryffindor, clutching her quill so tightly her knuckles turned white. She was used to being the best. Used to Snape constantly taking points from her. And then—the new girl, in roses and Prada, answers in a minute, and instantly gains ten.

When Snape asked his next question, Adriana raised her hand again. And then Hermione couldn't resist.

"I know the answer!" she shouted from her seat, without even raising her hand. "It's obvious!"

Snape slowly turned his head and stared at her with an expression as if he had seen something disgusting.

"Minus five points from Gryffindor," he said coldly. "For shouting from your seat. And unless you, Miss Granger, learn to raise your hand like a well-mannered witch, you'll end up with a negative score."

Hermione blushed to the roots of her hair. She clenched her teeth and glared at Adriana.

After class, Adriana approached Hermione in the hallway. She smiled.