Being Georgiana by Spring Turkey
I crossed and uncrossed my legs while chewing the end of my quill. Despite the fact that I was in Ravenclaw, there were certain subjects that vexed me completely. Potions being one of them. It didn't help that my partner was daft as a doornail. Arthur White was quite a plump boy with little more intelligence than my eleven year old brother, Simon. And for a seventh year, that was no compliment.
"Miss Robins, perhaps you know the answer?" Slughorn's voice echoed across the dungeon. I felt my cheeks flush. I hadn't been paying attention for at least the last half an hour, so I racked my brains for a second.
"Eye of newt?" I answered, hiding any uncertainty in my voice.
"Very good. Now, can anyone tell me why you only add eye of newt after the wolfsbane?" he asked, diverting his attention to the other side of the room. I let out a deep breath. As long as he asked a Slytherin, they'd get it right. Those kids were so damn good at this subject and I didn't really get it. "Zabini?" I really hated my lack of self control. Just like every other girl in the room, I allowed my eyes to wander to his seat at the back of the room. And I think I lost my sanity momentarily when he met my gaze for a second.
"Because otherwise, the potion will become tar-like and poisonous," he said coolly. His eyes flashed toward me again and I immediately faced forward. I'd been oggling Blaise Zabini since third year and I was almost positive he had no idea I even existed. Though I never admitted it (not like I had any friends to tell), I thought he was the most gorgeous thing I'd ever seen. He had dark, wavy hair that was always long. He was taller than me, which was uncommon enough to be a plus. And he had amazing blue eyes. Kind of like a Greek god.
"Very good. Five points to Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now, we will be moving onto to more complex potions for the start of this year. You will be re-partnered. The more advanced students will assist those falling behind. I have the names-" he pulled out a piece of parchment, "here. When I call them, please go over to your new partner." You know when something bad is about to you and you can tell? "Mr White, you will be partnered with Mr Malfoy. Miss Patil, with Mr Nott. Pucey, you're with Boot."
A few people complained silently. Slughorn always ignored our complaints, though.
"Miss Robins, with Miss Parkinson, please."
"You're joking?" I asked, much louder than I planned. Everyone stopped and looked at me. If there was one thing I didn't complain about it was partners. But Pansy Parkinson was the most awful of them all.
"Far from it, Miss Robins. Would you like me to direct you to your seat?" he added sarcastically. I gathered my things and walked over to the Slytherin half of the dungeon. The empty seat beside Parkinson was right in front of Zabini. If I was going to pass this year of Potions, I needed to become deaf and blind. Mute might have helped as well.
"Ew, don't touch anything of mine, Robins," squealed Parkinson.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't risk catching whatever you have," I replied scathingly. I pulled out my parchment and quill and began copying the instructions from the board. I hadn't noticed I was chewing my quill again, staring into space, until Parkinson spoke.
"Great, I get partnered with the only brainless Ravenclaw in the school. What on earth am I being punished for?" A couple of her Slytherin friends giggled, while the nearby Ravenclaws gave me sympathetic looks.
"Pansy, are you physically incapable of shutting your trap?" complained a drawling voice I immediately recognized as Malfoy's. I could only assume she had been talking while I was in la-la-land. But she only looked embarrassed for a second before she let out a high pitched giggle and resumed a conversation with Amy Smith, who had been partnered with Zabini.
I don't think I had ever been so happy to leave a class in my life, but when that bell went off, I bolted. Which was probably dumb, because on my way to Transfiguration, I realized I'd forgotten my bag. And right when I was about to turn back-
"Robins!" I spun around, my hair making a whipping noise in the air. And my Greek god was standing there with my bag on his outstretched arm. I silently walked up to him and grabbed it, slinging it over my shoulder. And I walked away. I was expecting - him being who he was - to hear a snide remark about my lack of gratitude, but I'm pretty sure he only stood there, because I didn't hear footsteps. Mind you, that might have been because I returned to la-la-land.
--------
"Georgiana? Georgiana!" I heard someone say. I snapped out of it and realized I was at the dinner table in the Great Hall. "Georgiana, can you please return to earth and pass me the mashed potatoes?" Caroline Swanson asked me, making no effort to hide her irritation. I blushed and passed her the tray. I stared down at my own plate which was nearly untouched. I knew I should eat, but I wasn't hungry. I left the table and headed for the library, which was sure to be empty.
"Robins, shouldn't you be at dinner?"
I stopped dead in the middle of the corridor. I failed miserably at hiding my deep breaths, and I was almost certain he could hear my heart thumping against my ribcage. Slowly, I turned to the source of the voice. That velvety, beautiful voice.
"I could ask you the same thing, Zabini," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"But I was on my way to the Great Hall, not fleeing it like it held the plague." Had I really been like that? In an empty corridor, I didn't really pay attention to my appearance, so it was possible.
"It's not really any of your business, is it?" I said coolly. "Don't you have somewhere you need to be?" Or someone you need to snog. He gave me a funny sort of smile and then walked away. But not toward the Great Hall. He was walking in the direction I had been only moments ago.
"I thought you were going to dinner," I said after catching up to him.
"Somehow, I'm not hungry.," he answered, not looking at me. I made an 'oh' with my mouth and tried to slow down so I could lag behind him. But he matched my pace. So I stopped.
"What are you doing?" I asked finally. His face held no shock when he looked at me. "Up until today, I was sure you didn't even know my name." I really didn't want that last part to come out. But I didn't show that.
"Of course I know your name, Robins. Don't be stupid." And that's all he said before disappearing down an unfamiliar staircase. I shook my head and pushed open the library door. Empty as desired, I went straight to my usual table (and yes, I said my usual) and spread out my books. I had a Transfiguration essay, a Potions experiment observation and Arithmancy to do. I was always one to put off unfavourable tasks, so I put my blank Potions chart at the bottom of my pile.
"Explain in detail the process of changing a live creature into another. Add any researched facts or real examples to support your points. Great," I read to myself. It wasn't even that I had a problem with Transfiguration, I just found it incredibly tedious, and spent most lessons staring into the back of Zabini's head. Oops, don't tell him about that. He'd probably move to the other end of the classroom.
"Honestly, Robins, don't you have friends?" Draco Malfoy's voice said from behind me. What was it with people and being behind me?
"What's it to you?" And why the hell are you talking to me? He smirked at me and sat down across from me at the table.
"Just an observation. I don't think I've ever seen you sit here with anyone. Or even walk to class with anyone. Are you more repulsive than you appear?" he asked. I didn't know what to make of this situation. It's not like I'd never spoken to Malfoy before. Being a pureblood, my family always attended dinners and parties at Malfoy Manor. But I don't think we'd spoken in school.
"Maybe so. You should go away before you catch some horrible disease," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes and returning them to my essay. He was absently fiddling with on the table. Like he wanted to say something else to me.
"At least you're not naïve," he said before standing up. However much I desired to ask him what in Merlin's name he meant, I forced myself not to. He looked back at me once more before leaving me alone once again. What a weird day this was.