"But professor, I can't play quidditch with a Poor in potions."
Scorpius Malfoy sputtered at his professor, his brow knit together in frustration. A red "P" was written across the slip of paper in his hand, declaring his first quarter standing in 5th year potions. The instant class was dismissed, the blonde young man had darted for the front desk, his glimmering professional quidditch career vanishing before his eyes at the single mark.
Unfazed, the ancient Professor Ludwig pointed at the paper with his pudgy finger. "You won't pass your OWLs with a Poor in potions either, young man."
But Scorpius didn't care about his OWLs. He wouldn't need them to play in the pros. However, the stout Scot on the other side of the desk did have a point. He needed to pass to be eligible to play. Slytherin had a match against Hufflepuff in three weeks; it was Scorpius's first year starting and he was not going to miss a match over a foul smelling potion or two.
A snarl fell over his features as his gray eyes dropped back to the paper now crinkled in his fist. "So what do I need? Extra credit?"
Ludwig snorted, shaking his head. "You know very well I don't give extra credit. I expect you to do the work I give you and to do it well, not to look for an easy out." He had heard this lecture since his first year. Ludwig repeated it at the start of every term, but inevitably one or two students in each house would come begging for last minute assignments to bump up their grade. "What you need is a tutor."
"A tutor?" Scor spat, his face contorting as if the word was sour on his lips.
Professor Ludwig sat forward and pressed his hands against the desk. "Yes, a tutor. Otherwise you will be sitting on the sidelines with the rest of the Slytherins come November 20th."
Scorpius huffed and rolled his eyes, his shoulder sinking in defeat.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, before you go." Ludwig raised a hand to gesture to the red-head emerging from the supply closet. He could always count on her to linger and clean up after her cousins, and her presence today was quite timely.
"Weasley?" Scorpius muttered under his breath. He was aghast and furious, scowling at her before she even approached the desk.
"Yes, professor?" Rose replied brightly, grabbing her satchel on her way forward. Ludwig was one of her favorites; he had taken a shine to many a Weasley cousin, until he realized just how many of them there actually were, then settled his affections on Rose. Ever-encouraging, always entertaining, he rivaled Headmaster McGonagall for the top spot in her heart at Hogwarts. Well, McGonagall and Longbottom, but Neville was more family than faculty.
Rose did not even glance at the Slytherin beside her once she came to a stop. When she could, she ignored him. In classes, in the Great Hall, during Prefect's rounds. It was her best plan of action thus far, and she had no intentions of changing it.
"Yes, Miss Weasley. You tutored James last year, did you not? In NEWT level potions?" he added, raising a brow to indicate that Scorpius should be impressed. It only caused the boy's scowl to deepen and disgust to boil under his skin.
The young Gryffindor blushed and nodded, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "Yes, sir, I did."
Ludwig settled contentedly back into his chair, arms folded as he eyed his favorite student with pride. "And as I recall, he received top marks, did he not?"
Again she blushed, her cheeks now rivaling her hair. "Nearly. Exceeds Expectations."
"Well, that's good enough for me."
It was Rose's turn to quirk a quizzical brow. "Good enough for what, Professor?"
"Good enough to tutor Mr. Malfoy here."
The jaws of both students dropped to the floor and they each turned equally pale. Rose recovered more quickly, swallowing hard, whereas she was sure she heard Scorpius swear under his breath.
Turning her eyes back to her professor, she started to refuse as graciously as possible. "Professor, I don't know if I have time to-"
"You don't have time? I don't have time! I have quidditch and-"
Scorpius may have cut Rose off but Professor Ludwig shut him down two seconds later, his booming voice accented with his Scottish brogue. "You will not have quidditch unless you are tutored by Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy."
The Slytherin pressed his lips together in a flat line, further crumpling the grade report in his hand. "My father will hear about this," he muttered, venom in his words and daggers in his eyes as he dared a glance at his classmate.
"Trust me, you'd rather him hear about your marvelous tutor than failing out of Hogwarts," snapped the professor, cold and out of character.
Scor coughed at the comment, obviously of a different opinion.
In this case, Rose would have to agree with Scorpius. His father would be about as thrilled as her father when he heard that the two were working together so closely.
"For how long?" Finding her voice again, Rose steeled herself to her assignment, even though it sounded as fun as pulling teeth. The Muggle way.
Professor Ludwig's eyes softened when they turned back to the girl. "As long as it takes, Miss Weasley. You are the brightest in this subject and will set him right in no time."
Scorpius and Rose eyed each other warily.
There was nothing right about this at all.
