Lupin responded, with the tiniest bit of a challenge in his otherwise neutral voice.
Draco sighed. "Of course we are."
"Before we begin, I think it' s best we go over Tangleweed attributes. Yes, Blaise, I do realise we covered this last year, but a bit of a recap can' t hurt. Their sting can be quite painful if you're unfortunate enough to receive one."
The class watched as Lupin retrieved a rolled-up chart from the crate. He tapped it once with his wand, whereupon it unfurled, revealing an animated diagram of Tropical Tangleweed, complete with the figure of a wizard standing beside the enormous creature, occasionally hacking at it with an axe.
"Is that drawing to scale?" Ron immediately asked.
It was a good question. The Tangleweed in the diagram was at least twice the height of the wizard.
"It is, but the ones we're going after are only a few days old, so they'll be no bigger than a head of cabbage. A quick, hard pull should dislodge them, but take care to avoid their barbs," Lupin explained. "It helps to sneak up on them quietly. They spend most of the daylight hours sleeping, and tend to get aggressive when awakened. Fascinating creatures, Tangleweed," he remarked, nodding as he watched the monster in the picture smack the wizard over the head with a tentacle and then attempt to pick him up by his ankles.
The rest of the class did not share Lupin's enthusiasm. Millicent picked up a mouldy glove from the crate, made a loud 'ugh' sound and then dropped it back inside.
"Weasley," she said, beckoning him forward, "you can do the pulling." Ron rolled his eyes and went to collect their supplies. He gave Hermione an annoyingly sincere expression as he approached.
"Hermione, if you'd like a mysterious and highly suspicious accident to befall your new partner, you need only ask," Ron offered. The comment was obviously directed at Draco, who stared at Ron as if he were an annoying speck of lint plucked from a sleeve.
"Pity you were just late. It would be too much to hope that you've decided not to attend any classes this week," Hermione later whispered to her partner, when Lupin began fielding additional questions.
"Fourth years," was all Draco said.
Hermione pretended she didn't know what he was talking about.
He picked up a pair of gloves and a trowel from the crate. "You rostered me with those irritating little shits for lunchtime detention today."
She gave him a radiant smile. "So I did."
"And you' ve been avoiding me," said Draco, under his breath. He was looking at her in the eye now, and as usual, Hermione felt her composure steadily erode.
"Only just noticed, have you? I've been avoiding you for years, Malfoy."
"True," Draco admitted, lowering his voice as they followed the other students out of the greenhouse. "For Head Girl, you're appallingly hard to corner when you don't want to be found. I might be cross with you for assigning me to what even the junior prefects won't touch, but there were some unexpected perks."
"Such as?" Hermione found herself asking, against her better judgment.
"Carmen Meliflua," Draco explained, with a salacious smirk. "A naughty, but delightfully ambitious Slytherin fourth year. Much like I was, at her age."
Thoroughly disgusted, Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Lupin beat her to it. "Draco, less talk, more work, if you please?"
Lupin had been busy explaining to Pansy that a note from her mother, no matter how quickly it arrived, would not excuse her from the task that afternoon.
"Certainly, Professor," Draco said, with a smile as sincere as a used wand salesman. He stared down at the pair of soiled, mould-covered gloves he was holding, as if only just noticing he was carrying them.
The expression on his face was almost comical. "Granger, I think you can do the pulling."
Chapter Ten
They were assigned to the northern face of the castle, along with Ron and Millicent. Draco and Millicent walked ahead together, keeping up a steady stream of chatter. Hermione was roughly able to make out the phrases, 'new season line' , 'St Barthelemy's for the holidays' and something about Millicent's questionable taste in boyfriends.
"Amazing how they can speak so much and say so little," Ron muttered.
"It's a talent," Hermione concurred.
"You feeling alright?" he asked, giving her an odd, sideways look. Hermione nodded. "Fine. Why?"
"Well for one you've been missing meals. And Lavender says you were a bit snippy yesterday. Harry reckons it's probably the heat. Or woman's stuff. Ginny always gets twice as annoying