Chapter 3: Understanding by a Moment

Diagon Alley, Wizarding World...

Draco Malfoy had been all smiles as he ventured Diagon Alley with Sebastian Prince. He had been explaining every shop and store they passed. Sebastian had not really paid much attention to him. His eyes had been straight ahead on The Golden Trio who had also made their way to the alley to do some last minute shopping for the upcoming holiday. Hermione Granger had caught his eye as she separated from her friends and ventured off toward the book store. Sebastian looked at Draco finding his attentions pulled toward the broom store. He eased away from him and made his way toward the bookstore after Granger. Harry and Ron continued on to the Weasley brother's joke shop. They had been so engrossed in conversation about all the possible gags and remedies George and Fred Weasley had for sell. An a assortment of candies and rocks also entered the idea pool and they seemed to have no notice of their friend walking in the opposite direction.

Sebastian had observed a likewise scenario as Draco went on and on about Fire-bolt brooms and how they were the fastest in existence. He also bragged about his father buying not only him one but all the players on the Slytherin Qudditch team. Draco's grey eyes lit up and swam over the black broom as he looked between it and Sebastian, who had been more interested in what Hermione Granger was doing walking away from her friends.

The young blond Albino wizard made his way into the store as if on a lure. No sooner had he disappeared behind the closed door, Sebastian made his move. He stepped briskly toward the bookstore and disappeared behind a closed door of his own.

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The Bookstore...

The smell of old books filled his nostrils as he ventured inside. Followed by the faint scent of Jasmine that hung in the air. He had known it had been new as it was not yet swallowed by the scent of dusty pages and old worn leather. He followed the scent until he caught a glimpse of Hermione gazing rather longingly at a large book with age colored pages and worn green binding. It had been quite expensive, he could tell by the look of dismay she had in her eyes as she pulled herself away from it and ventured into a common section. She pulled a book from the shelves with a worn blue cover paid the man at the front desk and ventured out of the store with one last wistful look at the green covered book that had caught her eye.

Sebastian waited until she disappeared before he walked up to the counter himself. He had glanced at the cover of the book that held her interest. It had been a potions book: The Complete History of Potions By Dorian Ranclodd.

"How much for the book?" he asked pointedly. "The one about potions."

"80 galleons." replied the book keeper his glare fixed on the young man.

"I'll take it." replied Sebastian. "I want it gift wrapped as well."

"That will cost you extra boy." replied the book keeper.

"I assure you I am quite fine with that." replied Sebastian.

The Book keeper looked skeptical.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and pulled out a pouch of galleons from his pocket. He dumped 90 of them onto the counter and watched as the sour expression on the book keeper's face faded and his attitude became much more agreeable.

"Would that be all sir?" he asked pleasantly.

"No." replied Sebastian annoyed by the sudden solicitous behavior. "I would like access to your owl, if indeed you have one."

"Certainly sir." replied the book keeper still pleasant.

Sebastian walked out of the store with nothing left of his holiday allowance but it had been quiet worth it. Draco caught him coming out of the bookstore with a grin. He had been quite delighted and relieved to see him.

"Bastian there you are." he said smiling. "I should have known you'd make your way to the bookstore eventually."

Sebastian smirked in reply.

"Did you see anything you liked?" asked Draco.

"Not particularly." replied Sebastian.

Draco noticed that he had not come from the store with any purchase.

"Come on." he said. "Perhaps, I can be of some assistance."

The two boys headed back into the bookstore. The Book keeper had been stunned to see his favorite patron return with none other than Draco Malfoy. His face went red as he realized he treated a friend of the infamous Malfoy family with disdain when he first entered the shop.

"Good Afternoon Sirs." he said pleasantly. "What can I, Galloway Roker do for you?"

"My brother is in the market for some good books Mr. Roker." said Draco smoothly. "See to it that you treat him as you would any Malfoy that would grace this shop and do put it all on my father's tab."

Mr. Roker's smile brightened.

"Of course Mr. Malfoy." he said to Draco who smirked.

Sebastian shook his head.

It had been another hour before they finally left the store and Draco made him purchase every book he had his eye on. He shrink them all down and placed them into the pockets of his robes and they headed out of the store before Mr. Roker offered anything else to put on the Malfoy tab.

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The Weasley Joke Shop...

Hermione made her way into the joke shop. She looked over at the assortment of love potions and various gags. Harry and Ron seemed rather wrapped up in the candy gags and hadn't noticed her entrance. She wondered if they had even knew she had left. The pretty pink display of what could only be described as love potions caught her eye and she found herself staring at the bubbling little hearts. Fred and George Weasley had taken great pride in their assortment of gags and colors. It had been rather fortunate to escape the war with both Weasley twins alive and well with the only minor difference being George's ear being severed but that had only prompted the brothers to invent more ways of helping the injured with battle scars and so forth. They dedicated their joke shop to lifting the spirits of the wizarding world in a bid to help those with psychological wounds as well.

"Mione." said George with a wide grin.

"How nice of you to join us." added Fred with an identical grin.

Hermione shook her head.

"Of course you two would notice." she said. "It's good to see you Fred, George."

"Good to see you too Mione." replied the Weasley twin known as Fred.

"Ditto." added George.

"So have they been behaving without me?" she asked nodding in the direction of Harry and Ron.

"Behave?" said Fred in a mock attempt of shock.

"In our shop?" added George in mock disbelief as if she said Voldemort's name before the war.

"What will I do with you two?" asked Hermione shaking her head.

The twins shared a laugh and turned their attention to the door as two more customers entered. Hermione made her way over toward Harry and Ron who had not seemed to take any notice to her sudden appearance.

"Hey Mione check this out." said Harry with a warm smile as he sampled some of the Weasley candy and his ears fluttered.

"That's nothing...Mione watch this..." said Ron grabbing a small handful of candy.

"Ronnikins...I wouldn't..." started George.

"Oh bud out George this will be entertaining." said Fred with an impish grin.

Hermione knew this was not going to be one of Ron's finest ideas.

It took only a second for Ron's pallor to drastically change from his usual complexion to bright red...then to dark blue...and purple...then yellow...and oddly enough orange...His skin became deep forest green and a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Now there's an improvement Weasley, if I had ever saw one." came the taunt that could only be associated with Draco Malfoy. "Slytherin green becomes you."

"Malfoy." said Ron glaring at the blond albino boy with shimmering gray eyes.

"I'd have to agree with you Draco, Weasley does look quiet fetching in Slytherin Green." added the silken drawl of none other than Sebastian Prince.

"You'd know all about that wouldn't you?" asked Hermione stepping up for Ron.

A flicker of annoyance went through Sebastian as the memory of being changed into a frog and then of his own pallor taking on a green hue courtesy of Hermione played for him.

"One could say the same of you and your tendency to take your Gryffindor pride to...shall we say extreme levels." he quipped back as his obsidian gaze flickered with amusement.

Hermione glared at him no doubt having the memories of being given ears and a tail befitting a lioness by him no less.

"Slytherin Git." she said annoyed.

"Insufferable Gryffindor." he replied.

"What are you doing here?" asked Ron hostile.

"I was under the impression that this was a shop." replied Sebastian in a bored tone.

"Bastian it seems Weasley here doesn't want our patronage." said Draco with a flicker of snobbish air. "Perhaps we can spend father's money else where."

"Like my family needs Malfoy money to taint their business." said Ron.

At that moment George and Fred showed up.

"Draco." they said in unison.

The younger Malfoy's eyes lit up at the recognition.

"What brings you by...and how is that prestigious father of yours?" asked Fred.

"Very well Fred." answered Draco casually seeming to ignore the looks from "The Golden Trio" as he chatted with Fred Weasley. "I've come to show Sebastian here the wonders of your shop."

Sebastian had felt slightly uncomfortable as George Weasley looked him over.

"You look quiet familiar." said the older Weasley. "I don't believe we've met before but..."

"I remind you of Professor Snape." finished Sebastian.

"Well yeah." replied Fred turning his attention to the raven haired boy as well.

"I've been getting that a lot." replied Sebastian.

Draco had not seen what all the fuss was about. He had already thought Sebastian reminded him of Professor Snape but it was not a time stopping moment.

"Well, now that were all finished getting acquainted how about we get on with the shopping." he said breaking the awkward silence that seemed to settle over them. "Come on Bastian, the Weasley brothers have some really cool things here."

Ron glared at the two Slytherin intently.

"The nerve of those two coming in here." he muttered.

"Ron." said Harry in a warning tone. "They have a right to shop like anyone else."

"Have you gone mental Harry?" asked Ron flabbergasted. "It's Draco Malfoy...and Sebastian Prince...have you forgotten what they did to Hermione?"

"We're not at school and your brothers seem to like their business." said Harry evenly. "I believe Hermione gave as good as she got in their exchanges."

Ron shook his head in disbelief.

"Mione are you hearing this?" he asked turning his attention to Hermione as she watched Sebastian and Draco horse around.

"They do have a right to shop Ron." she said without taking her eyes off the Slytherins.

Draco had eaten one of the candies that changed one's tongue various colors depending on the flavor and had been actively showing Sebastian the effects. The raven haired wizard simply smiled in amusement. Hermione watched as Fred got Draco's attention on some new and improved gag and Sebastian made his way over to a display in pink with small floating hearts popping and bubbling into the air.

He had been quite intrigued by the sight of it and lifted one of the phials so that he could study the bright pink liquid with his own eyes. Hermione had not taken her eyes off him. Her gaze as intense as his own had been as he shifted the mixture in the small phial with even more amusement.

"Interested in love potions eh Sebastian?" asked George with a mischievous grin.

"Not particularly." replied Sebastian still shifting the liquid. "Amantius Aquatis."

George looked at him confused for a moment.

Sebastian noticed the confusion and sighed.

"Love water." he replied. "A very weak brew...perhaps you should look into better ways of procuring your supplies."

"Is that why it never works?" asked Fred hearing the conversation.

"Well, that depends on what one is trying to accomplish." replied Sebastian. "Love water is effective but it only lasts for a few seconds."

"Do you know how to make an actual love potion?" asked George interested.

"The actual potion is called Amantius Sucus." said Sebastian. "And yes, I happen possess the knowledge of how to make it...it's a relatively easy brew if you have the resources and know what you are doing."

"How long does it last?" asked Draco joining the conversation when his curiosity won out over the need to explore the store.

"Depends on the batch I'm afraid." said Sebastian his dark eyes seemed to light up.

He had really been in his element when it came to potions. He felt as if he could lecture on them for hours. It had been one of the few times that he had been sure of himself. When he first attend potions class, it had not been as daunting as it had for the other students despite his apparent memory loss. Once he started working he just seemed to get the hang of it quite easily, almost like it had been second nature for him.

"So if someone had been interested in paying quite a few galleons for such a batch?" said Fred.

"Would you be willing to brew it?" asked George.

Sebastian looked at the two Weasley brothers. They seemed to be quite desperate enlisting the help of an untitled minor for their supplies. The brew that he spoke of would be quite powerful and if he was caught could get him expelled from the school. He looked at Draco who's gray eyes lit up in anticipation.

"I'll see what I can do." said Sebastian.

"Alright!" said Fred ecstatic.

"Everything in the store is half price!" shouted George.

Sebastian shook his head.

These Weasley twins were quite impressive.

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The Great Hall...

Hermione Granger had been casually eating her meal with everyone else when a strange looking brown owl arrived clutching a package. It flapped it's dark wings until it reached where she sat at the Gryffindor table and landed. She had been startled at first by the unfamiliar animal but it seemed intent on delivering the package to her.

"Who's that from Mione?" asked Ron observing the owl only just after looking up from his breakfast.

"A secret admirer perhaps?" asked Ginny with a grin.

"Yeah right." replied Hermione running her fingers over the neatly wrapped package.

She gave the owl a treat for his service and continued to look over the package. If it had not been for the writing on the outside of the package she would have said that they had mis-delivered it but it had the words: To Hermione Granger written on it.

"Anyone we know Mione?" asked Harry intrigued by the mystery.

"It doesn't say." replied Hermione stunned.

"Well, go on and open it already." said Ron rather impatiently.

He had wanted to know what it was and who sent it. If there was a name he would have words with whom ever this was.

"Don't be a prat Ron." said Ginny. "Hermione can do what she wants with it...it's her gift."

"What makes you so sure it's a gift?" asked Hermione.

"Why else would it be gift wrapped?" asked Ginny.

"Right." replied Hermione looking at the package intently.

She took a breath and suddenly started tearing through the paper.

It had been a rather large book with green binding. She let out a gasp as the title lept out at her and she had not known what to say. She could not believe someone would be so generous as to purchase this particular book for her. She had been so stunned that she ran her fingers over the cover tracing the title as she did. The Complete History of Potions By Dorian Ranclodd.

"Mione are you okay?" asked Harry concerned.

Hermione looked away from her book and took a sweeping gaze around the great hall for an idea as to who her secret admirer was. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary except Sebastian had been staring at her rather intently. She dismissed it casually as he always seemed to be staring at her or vise versa since his arrival.

"I'm fine Harry." replied Hermione after a while. "I just...I've always wanted this book but couldn't afford to buy it."

"How much did it cost?" asked Ron trying in vain to hide his jealously.

"When I went to buy it Mr. Roker said it costs 80 galleons." replied Hermione.

"80 galleons?" said Ron in near outrage. "For a book?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Clearly he would never get anything about her.

"Who in their right mind pay 80 bloody galleons for a book?" asked Ron. "They're free in the library."

"That's not the point Ron." said Ginny trying to reign him in.

"Who ever this is has to mental." said Ron. "Nobody spends 80 galleons on a book for some girl."

"So I'm just some girl am I Ron?" replied Hermione getting annoyed.

Ron tried his best to salvage what little shot with her he believed he had left.

"It's not...that's not what I meant Mione." he said. "It's just an awful steep price for something to give a girl for nothing in return."

"You're just angry you didn't have the 80 galleons for it." replied Hermione.

"If I had 80 galleons there are a lot more things I would buy with it than some stupid book." said Ron putting his own foot in his mouth.

With that Hermione gathered up her things and leaned near Ron with malice in her eyes.

"At least whoever did this knows a hell of a lot more about who I am than you do." she said with ice in her tone. "Quidditch and food my be your idea of a good time Ron but I think their stupid things to waste your time on...and so are you."

She stormed out of the great hall without another word.

Sebastian watched her go and his eyes shifted to Ron Weasley.

He had upset Granger all because she got a gift from someone that wasn't him. How had they even been friends? It seemed as if Weasley was more interested in various ploys to get into her knickers than making any kind of connection with her.

Slytherin Table...

Draco had been going on and on about the various uses for Weasley gags and how they made a woman named Umbridge's life a living hell when she took over the school during Voldemort's reign of terror. He had gone on to say that he had gotten to participate in various ministry sanctioned assignments and made Harry Potter's life a living hell in the process.

Sebastian listened half-heartedly more focused on what Hermione Granger had been up to when she received her package from the owl. For a moment her face lit up like a tree at Christmas. She seemed so happy and a little touched when she had gotten the book that she had desired from a distance but knew she could never afford.

Things seemed to be going quite well until Ron Weasley apparently said something to upset her. She stormed out of the great hall with her new book in tow. No doubt she would get a good read out of it for whatever it was worth.

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The Staff Table...

The blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore had been in full twinkle as he watched Sebastian and Hermione from his seat at the staff table. He had witnessed the owl making it's grand entrance and Hermione's display of absolute joy before her small parade had caught rain in the form of the young Mr. Weasley. He had clearly been quite bitter about the gift his friend had received and handled his jealousy quite poorly. What had gotten the main interest of the headmaster had been what was happening at the Slytherin table. Sebastian had stopped eating to watch as Hermione opened her gift and appeared to be holding his breath as she voiced her approval.

"Minerva." said Dumbledore softly.

"Yes Albus." said Professor McGonagall.

"How much money did we give young Mr. Prince in allowance?" asked the headmaster.

"I believe it was 80 galleons." asked Professor McGonagall. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm sure he as put the money to good use." replied Dumbledore with a knowing smirk. "Very good use."

Professor McGonagall shook her head.

"You know Albus." she said in a sigh. "Sometimes I see why Severus is always uneasy about your I-know-something-you-don't-know attitude."

Dumbledore chuckled at this.

"The perks of reaching the age I am." he said in his own defense. "Besides Severus is naturally cynical and suspicious."

"As right he should be when a matter concerns you." replied Professor McGonagall. "We all could learn a thing from him in that regard in any case."

Dumbledore chuckled once more.

"I wonder where his suspicious mind came from." he said re-wording her previous words to him concerning the Potions Master.

Professor McGonagall's reply had been a scowl and it only served to make Dumbledore chuckled more in response.

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Head Girl Room, Gryffindor Tower...

Hermione had made it to her room at last and curled up into bed with her new book. She couldn't wait to crack open the binding and read at least one of the many chapters. Potions had held her interest despite Professor Snape's best efforts to quell her desire to immerse herself in the subject. The price of the book had flashed in her mind as she tried to think of who could actually afford such an expense. Draco Malfoy certainly had the money but he knew about as much of her interest as Ron had and they were always sort of at odds even now in peaceful times. He had changed a lot since the final battle with Voldemort but that didn't mean any of them would be best buddies any time soon.

She continued to think.

Whoever it was that brought this had shared her interest in not only book but potions.

The only person who had rivaled her interest in the subject had been Professor Snape himself during her time at Hogwarts.

She suddenly gasped.

The raven haired young wizard Sebastian had been about as passionate about Potions as Professor Snape had been. He even gave a near lecture about a true love potion back in the Weasley joke shop. Hermione opened her book and flipped through the pages recalling in great detail everything Sebastian had said about Love Water potion and its properties.

He had been right of course.

She skimmed through the book and found the entry about Love Juice potion.

It seemed to have been marked quite recently.

A smile spread across her face as she noted the small spidery scrawl below the text.

"You are entirely too noisy for your own good Granger."

There could be no doubt who had given her the gift now. It had to be Sebastian. He had been the only one who shared her interests and he had known she would look up the potions to see if she could prove him wrong.

"Stupid Slytherin Git." she said with an air of affection as she lied back on her bed and began reading her new book in earnest.

Laying there in the comfort of her own room with a good book Hermione began to think about the raven haired Slytherin.

Perhaps Sebastian Prince wasn't so bad after all.