Hogwarts Lion Girl

The potion classroom was filled with a strange smell. Professor Snape glided silently in the classroom like a giant bat, scanning every student with sharp eyes. Today was a practical class for making scabies potion, which Snape gave to students with excellent grades.

Salina knew the recipe by heart, and even revised it several times in her mind. She moved swiftly, handling the herbs cleanly and precisely, as if she were performing an elegant dance.

Draco, who was sitting on the other side of the classroom, was stirring the potion in the cauldron out of boredom. To be honest, he was not stupid, and could even be said to be quite smart, but he had no interest in potions. Compared to boring herbs and formulas, he preferred the excitement and cool magic of flying classes.

"Swinburne, you don't seem to be following the professor's instructions," Draco's sarcastic voice sounded in Salina's ears. He glanced at Salina with a mocking smile on his face, "Why, did you remember the formula wrong? Don't blow up the crucible, I don't want to smell the unpleasant smell of your failed product."

Serena ignored Draco's provocation and continued to focus on her potion. She knew that Draco was deliberately picking a fight, but she would not let him affect her rhythm. Seeing Serena ignoring him, Draco felt that he was asking for trouble, snorted coldly, and turned his head away.

"Miss Swinburne, what are you doing?" Suddenly, Professor Snape's voice sounded behind Salina, with a hint of subtle surprise in his tone.

Salina turned around and saw Professor Snape staring at his cauldron with a strange light in his eyes.

"Professor, I tried to improve the formula of scabies potion," Salina replied calmly, "I think..."

Salina explained her ideas and improvement methods in detail. Professor Snape listened carefully and asked some sharp questions from time to time. Salina answered them one by one with clear logic and sufficient arguments.

"Very good, Miss Swinburne," Professor Snape finally showed a rare expression of approval, "Your ideas are very creative and bold. Keep it up."

Salina smiled slightly and lowered her head to continue to finish her potion. Draco's eyes widened in disbelief. He had never seen Professor Snape be so gentle to any student, let alone praise him. He secretly glanced at Salina, and suddenly a sense of inexplicable irritation and curiosity rose in his heart.

After class, Salina packed up and prepared to leave, but Draco suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her way.

"Miss Swinburne, wait a minute." Draco said, his tone less arrogant than usual and more serious than Salina had ever heard before.

Salina raised her head in confusion and looked at the blond boy in front of her.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"I'm just a little curious," Draco raised his eyebrows slightly, his silver-gray eyes staring at Salina, "Do you really think you can improve Professor Snape's potion formula? Don't be naive, you're just a second-grade girl..."

"So what?" Salina met Draco's gaze fearlessly, "Malfoy, age never means anything? I know you always think highly of yourself, but you can't look down on anyone, right?"

Draco was choked by what Salina said. He opened his mouth, but found that he had nothing to say. He just wanted to mock her, but he didn't expect to be speechless by her rebuttal.

"You..." Draco wanted to say something, but Salina had already walked around him and left the classroom.

The incident after the potions class was like a strange-tasting candy, leaving an indescribable taste in Draco's mouth. He had never been ignored by a girl like this, not to mention that the girl was a Gryffindor. Salina's confidence and independence were like a silent provocation, tickling him.

He began to deliberately appear in Selina's sight. In the library, he would "accidentally" knock down the book she needed, and then pretend to be a gentleman to pick it up for her; in the corridor, he would deliberately walk up to her and chat with her in a casual tone, talking about some boring gossip or class content.

"Swinburne, I heard that you got another 'O' in Charms?" One day, Draco leaned against the table that Salina often used, pretending to ask casually, with a hint of playful smile on the corner of his mouth, "It seems that not all Gryffindors are idiots."

Without even looking up, Salina continued flipping through the Herbology textbook in her hand, saying in a cold tone, "It has nothing to do with you, Malfoy."

"Are you always so distant, Swinburne?" Draco pressed on, leaning forward slightly to try to get her attention. "Aren't you curious as to why I'm talking to you?"

"Not curious," Salina finally closed the book and looked up, "If you just want to waste my time, please stop this meaningless behavior. I still have a lot of things to do."

After saying that, Salina stood up without any reluctance and left the library, leaving Draco standing there alone, his golden eyebrows slightly frowned.

For the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy doubted his own charm. The Gryffindor girl, Salina Swinburne, was completely indifferent to his attentions, as if he was just a buzzing, annoying fly.

"Damn Gryffindor, who does she think she is?" Draco scratched his platinum hair irritably and complained to himself in the mirror.

"What are you crazy about, Draco?" Pansy Parkinson's voice came from behind him, with a hint of sarcastic sweetness.

Draco turned around and saw Pansy leaning against the door with an "I've seen through everything" expression on her face. "Don't tell me you really have feelings for that little Gryffindor mudblood?"

"Shut up, Pansy." Draco frowned impatiently, "She and I are just..."

"Just what? Want to have some fun with her?" Pansy walked closer to him and stretched out a finger to lift the collar of his shirt. "Don't forget who you are, Draco. You are the heir of the Malfoy family. If you hang out with a Gryffindor, you will only make people laugh!"

Draco waved her hand away, his tone cold: "My business is none of your business."

Pansy's face froze, and then she looked hurt: "Draco, how could you do this to me? I was just worried about you..."

"I told you, you don't have to worry about my business." Draco interrupted her and strode out of the dormitory.

He had to admit that Pansy's words stung him. He had never thought that he would treat a Gryffindor girl differently, let alone develop any "relationship" with her. He just... just couldn't stand Serena's disregard for him, as if all his efforts were meaningless in her eyes.

"Damn your pride." Draco cursed under his breath and decided to work harder. He began to pay attention to Salina's every move, trying to find out what she liked. He found that Salina liked to borrow some ancient potion books from the library, so he "conveniently" brought some collector's edition potion notes from home as a gift for her.

"For me?" Salina frowned slightly as she looked at the beautifully wrapped notebook in front of her. "Why are you doing this, Malfoy?"

"I just thought you might need it." Draco said casually, "After all, you like potions so much, don't you?"

Salina was silent for a while, and finally took the notebook: "Thank you."

Draco was delighted and was about to say something, but he saw that Salina had already lowered her head to read her notes, completely ignoring him. He could only shut up in dismay and left the library silently.