After breakfast, the students filed into their classes. For Harry, Hermione, Ron, the twins, Ginny, and Draco, and some other random students, it was swimming class with Snape! “Alright!” The twins cheered in unison when they found out. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to swim properly, haven’t you, Fred?” George asked, as everyone crowded around the sheet of paper that explained the order and times of the classes. “Indeed I have, George. I can’t wait.” Fred said, just as excited.

Draco was trying to get a good look at the paper, too. “Would you please move!?” He asked furiously as Cedric Diggory AKA the Twilight guy stood in the way.
“Sorry.” Cedric said, kind of madly, but he moved his hide. Draco’s heart sank when he saw that swimming class was first…he would make a fool of himself in front of the whole class!!

Well, everyone got to the class, and there stood Severus Snape in his swim trunks and black t-shirt (Snape was very modest)
“Is everyone ready?” He asked lightly, and everyone nodded. “Good. There are some changing rooms, I trust everyone brought their swimwear?” Everyone nodded again. “Alright, one at a time you will use the changing room. Sadly there was an explosion in the other stalls so you’ll have to take turns.”

Everyone got into their swimwear, though it took kind of a long time since they had to go one at a time, but finally everyone was ready. Draco nearly gagged when Harry pranced out…in a maroon colored speedo!!! Then to his further horror, when Harry turned around, there were 2 emblems of the Gryffindor lion on the cheeks!
Draco was horrified someone would wear so little–why, even he felt kind of indecent wearing swimming trunks and a t-shirt!!

The twins had swim shirts and trunks, too, and it was easy to tell them apart because on their shirts they had a huge ‘F’ or ‘G’ on them.

Pompous Ron however decided he would not wear a shirt, so everyone had to see his chicken chest.

Hermione and Ginny had matching swimming suits, with skirts so they were modest as well…actually, everyone was modest, except for Potter!
“Alright class, is everyone ready?” Snape asked, gesturing to the huge swimming pool.
The pool was ginormous and filled the entire room almost, and there were a few diving boards and 2 slides.

Draco stared at the pool, his heart racing.

“Now then, who would like to go first?” Snape asked, and his eyes landed on Draco. “Draco Malfoy, would you like to go first?”
Draco’s heart was in his throat– “Uh, no–I mean, uhh…ulp!” He stammered foolishly, looking down at the floor.
Harry looked over, raising his eyebrow. What was with Draco? Was he actually scared?

“I’ll go.” Harry said pompously, and with a running leap, he dove in like a swan.
Snape nodded coldly, kind of mad. He hated Harry, and favored the Slytherins…why wouldn’t Draco go first?!
“Anyone else?” He asked, glaring at Draco furiously. The twins jumped in together dragging Ron along, making a huge wave. Ginny jumped in soon after, and then Snape turned to Draco, his jaw set. “Well? Are you a man or a mouse?! Get in!” He snapped, and Draco was taken aback…he had never been spoken a harsh word from Snape before!

“I…I can’t…” Draco chocked, and then he realized Hermione was looking over at him. What if she heard that he was scared?!
“Boy, if you don’t go now, I’ll shove you in. I don’t want you making this house look bad.” Snape said icily, stepping forward threateningly. “But…but…!” Draco protested, as Snape prepared to shove him into the pool. At this point everyone was splashing around having a grand time, and Harry was swimming circles around everyone, kinda like when Kevin did at Bent Trout.

But, Hermione had not yet gone in. “Professor, if he’s scared…” She began to protest, and Snape turned his glare on her. “I was not aware you were conducting this class, miss Granger. Ten points from Gryffindor.” He spat.

Hermione quickly shut her mouth, turning away pitifully.
“She was only trying to help, professor!” Draco protested, and with a good backhand Snape had smacked him into the pool!!

Draco hit the water, shocked as could be. Did his professor just backhand him!? “H…help!!! I CAN’T SWIM!” He screamed, trying desperately to keep afloat. Everyone stared, shocked.

“It’s alright, Draco.” George said with a chuckle. “Seeing that it’s only 4ft, ‘ere.” Fred finished, and everyone burst into laughter, especially Harry Potter.

Draco shakily stood, feeling ashamed and foolish.

Ron howled with laughter like a wounded ape, and Hermione was shocked. The teachers were NOT permitted to abuse the students like this!

“Leave my sight, Draco Malfoy.” Snape snapped, as Draco feebly climbed out of the pool. Then Snape said something that seemed to be difficult, “…50 points from Slytherin.” He finished darkly, and everyone was now flabbergasted. Did Snape actually just take points from his own house?! He then tossed a towel at Draco and he caught it, and Draco was careful to avoid Hermione’s eyes as he hurriedly walked out of there.

“Did you see that?!” Ron said in shock, still laughing about it. “I’ve never seen such a thing!” Harry laughed and nodded.
“Oh, shut up, both of you! Couldn’t you see he was scared??” Hermione asked furiously, walking to the farthest end of the pool before getting in. She didn’t feel like talking to them right now.

After a good hour or so of practice (Snape had taught them how to keep afloat without magic) he finally yelled, “EVERYBODY OUT NOW PLEASE!” Like the guy on Mr. Bean and everyone climbed out of the pool.

Meanwhile Draco had already gotten dressed, and was sitting in the dining hall all alone, staring at the floor, tears in his eyes. It was all so horrible! First Snape had yelled at him, then he backhanded him…then everyone laughed at him!!! And THEN Snape took 50 points from the Slytherin house! And to make it even worse…that….Granger girl had actually stood up for him! Even after all of the cruel things he’d said about her, and to her face!

“I wish I were home…” He spoke out loud, wiping some tears from his face with the sleeve of his sweater. His father, Lucius, would understand…he could imagine telling his father and mother, and could imagine them being there to comfort him.

After a good half hour or so of dwelling in his own misery, he finally got up and left. It would be lunch time soon, and he certainly did not want to be there  when all of the students arrived…

It was a fine fall day in Hogwarts…

It was the new term, and everyone gathered in the main hall for the announcements from the headmaster, Dumbledore.
“This year we are introducing some new classes!” He announced, and everyone strained to listen. “Swimming lessons with Severus Snape, cooking class with professor McGonagal, and dance class with our very own Hagrid!”

A lot of people cheered during the swimming lessons part, and a lot of girls (Including Hermione) spoke excitedly about cooking class, but all was as silent as a tomb when dance class was brought up.

“Well then, I do hope you all have a good year at Hogwarts!” Dumbledore finished, stepping down from the podium. All of the teachers then left, and all of the children started on their breakfast.

“Oh great.” Draco Malfoy complained loudly, rolling his eyes. “Why do we have to take SWIMMING classes? We can always use magic!” Truth was, Draco had never been swimming in all his 16 years, and the thought to him was terrifying. His thugs Crabbe and Goyle agreed, though they were too busy stuffing their fat faces to say much.

Draco frowned from across the table at Harry Potter, who was eating heartily and talking to his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
“Yea, I just can’t wait for swimming, the Dursley’s never would take me, but it seems like a lot of fun.” Harry had said, chomping on a bagel. Fred and George Weasley were rolling some magic red dice across the table, they’d been enchanted to only roll 6′s, and they thought it was ‘brilliant’, and intended to use them to cheat in some future board games.

“I suppose it’s a good thing your old man isn’t still around, Potter!” Draco suddenly yelled from his table, and all eyes turned to him.
Harry swallowed his bagel hard–did he really just say what he thought he said? “What are you talking about, Malfoy?” He spat, fire in his eyes.

Draco smirked smugly, standing up to be more intimating. “We all KNOW of your fathers profession, POTTER. You need not hide it.” He said with a malicious laugh.
Harry was thunderstruck–what did he mean?! “What are you talking about?!” He yelled, standing up now too. Draco smirked smugly. “You know…the sign in front of the yard.” He said mysteriously, his smirk widening. “As a…what do the muggles call it…a HYDRO-THERAPIST?”

Now all eyes were on Harry—the table of Slytherin’s were now all smirking too. Was this true?!
“That’s a LIE!” Harry yelled, red faced. “My father never–” He began to protest, but Draco cut him off. “It IS true, Potter. Everyone knows. It must be awfully embarrassing for you.” He said laughingly, and Harry lunged for his throat, but Hermione and Ron held him back. “Don’t, Harry! It’s not worth it!” Hermione said fretfully. If Harry got in trouble this early on in their 4th term, it would not end well.

“He…he’s lying!” Harry stammered, so mad he was shaking. Draco walked off laughing, tossing an apple in the air and catching it, a smug look on his face the whole time.

Harry sat down, choking down the rest of his bagel, tears welling behind his glasses. Now everyone was looking at him oddly, as if they believed those filthy lies!
Hermione watched him sadly, and Ron chewed his toast VERY quietly so as to not disturb him. Harry glared straight ahead, right into a box of cream of wheat. Even the moving picture of the cream of wheat man seemed to be laughing at him!!!

“I can’t take this anymore!” Harry suddenly screamed, grabbing the box roughly and whipping it across the tables. The cream of wheat man no longer grinned now! “If it’s not You-Know-Who being after me, if it’s not my scar hurting…it’s Malfoy!” He said, putting his hands on his face. Hermione patted her friend on the shoulder. “It’s alright, Harry…Draco is a bully, no one believes what he said.” Ron nodded his agreement. “Yeah, Harry, no one believes him!”

Harry gulped, reaching for a huge doughnut. “Maybe…” He said quietly, eating the rest of his breakfast in stone cold silence.