Smoke-Novel

Chapter V
Monday, September 2, 1996
Professor Russell stood in a corner of his classroom, watching. One step would
bring him into the visual fields of his students, but the distraction field he was
standing in was a strong and well-established one. Despite the fact that the
students were well-aware of the use of runes and symbols to create such a field,
they could never detect this one.
The original fifteen students of three years before were now whittled down to
nine: Hermione Granger from Gryffindor; Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and
Daphne Greengrass from Slytherin; Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff; and
Anthony Goldstein, Padma Patil, Mandy Brocklehurst, and Su Li from
Ravenclaw. Russell saw Granger sit in her usual seat in the front right desk.
When he saw Malfoy circle towards her, he prepared to step out of the zone of
protection. The students would think he had appeared at the doorway when he
did so.
"How's Potter's nose this morning, Mudblood?" Malfoy hissed. Granger ignored
him, which made Malfoy shout, "Your superior is talking to you, you filthy
Mudblood cunt!"
"That will be fifty points from Slytherin and two detentions, Mister Malfoy,"
Russell stated as he appeared in the room.
Malfoy reared up, glaring. He raised his finger and started open his mouth.
"If you say one more word out of turn in this classroom all year, you will out of
this class," Russell said coldly. "And unless you intend to do something with
that finger, I suggest you get it out of my face." He leaned close and said very
softly. "I believe you were at home when your mother got the little souvenir of
your old Quidditch captain when it came almost two weeks ago."
Draco's pale face went several shades paler. "I have my eye on you, Malfoy. I
would happily do the same to you as I did to the Flint brothers. And if I decide
to, neither your Head of House nor the Headmaster could protect you.
Remember that."
It was a very shaken Draco Malfoy who took his seat. He would report this to
the Dark Lord and perhaps to Snape. Sometime, somewhere, Draco would get
his revenge.
Russell took his place at the front of the class as if nothing had happened.
"Good morning. Welcome back to another year of Runes, Symbols, and
Languages. You have all proven yourselves in the basics, have all learned the
three basic magical languages of western Europe and six standard languages,
and earned at least an E on your O.W.L. Well done."