A/N: So before reading this story I have a few warnings. Mainly that my Harry Potter fanfiction has quite a bit of cursing. So if it bothers you I don't recommend reading this. Also, there will probably, at some point, be some violence. It won't be gory though. At least it won't be any more gory than the violence J.K. Rowling wrote in the Harry Potter books. But really, it won't be bad. I'm pretty squeamish and I wouldn't publish something that makes me squirm, at least not in my fanfiction anyway. So, without further ado, here's chapter one! If you read till the end please leave me a review and let me know what you think, thanks! :)

Chapter One: Loathing

As a Slytherin, you would think I would have been good at potions-making. Or, er, brewing, I suppose. But not me; nope, Rainee Helen Montague royally sucked at brewing potions and was proud of it. Well, no. I actually wasn't proud of it and usually tried my best to remain unnoticed by most of the other seventh years. It was truly ridiculous. I was intending to become a Healer after I graduated and probably work for St. Mungo's, but considering that I had barelymanaged to scrape through Potions in the last two years I was beginning to re-think my future career choice.

My best friend, Gemma, seemed to think it was funny that I was rubbish at Potions. Although that was because she, who was actually quite talented at brewing, was going into a career that didn't require any knowledge of advanced potion-making. Stupid Gemma wanting to be a curse-breaker, it was truly a shame that she wasn't suffering through Potions with me. Instead, I was stuck sitting beside Norman Anthony until he was confined to the Hospital Wing for three days by myaccident.

Let's just say that the bright yellow liquid decided to solidify and then jump from the cauldron and onto his face.

I tried to visit him while he was still in the Hospital Wing, but considering his face was swollen about three times its normal size I was too nauseated to form words. I was actually kind of thankful that the swelling had blinded him so he didn't see me walk in, turn slightly green, and then quickly walk out before I could apologize for ruining his face. Again, I was beginning to re-think my future career choice.

After he returned to class, he joined Marie Evans and Sander Wood, no longer taking pity on me for being such a shoddy potion-brewer. Instead of making him re-join me, or even calmly talking him into re-joining me, Professor Twiddle merely asked the class if anyone would like to become my new potions' partner. Of course, everyone became strangely quiet and still, afraid that Twid would see them if they moved. I felt my face flushing and began to sink into my chair, considering running from the room.

I mean, I could become a curse-breaker with Gemma, or maybe I could just be a secretary for St. Mungo's or the Ministry. It would be a dull desk job, and I wouldn't be of any realhelp to anyone, but it would at least pay the bills, right? Surely I could learn to live with it.

However, before I could jump up and bolt from the room, James Potter suddenly announced, "I'll be her partner."

It seemed as though everyone, including Twid, had forgotten how to breathe out of mere shock. It wasn't just because I was awful at Potions and would probably ruin his face, too (Did I mention that Norman Anthony's face was scarred? Madam Pomfrey wasn't sure if it would be permanent or not, but either way I felt terrible). It was also because the only times I had ever spoken to James Potter didn't tend to go well.

Like on the train to Hogwarts in our first year, for example. At the time I had this awfully short hair-cut, which my mother thought was simply adorable, in which my hair fell just below my chin awkwardly. I didn't like my chin, considering I thought it was too pointed, so the fact that my hair emphasized that feature made me very uncomfortable. And don't get me started on my straight-cut, blunt bangs; I could go on about how awful they were for forever. Anyway, the point is that I was already feeling uncomfortable when Potter stepped into Gemma and I's compartment with his cousin, Freddie Weasley, in tow.

"Mind if we sit here?" James had asked, gesturing to the empty seats across from Gemma and I.

I'm not the friendliest person in the world and never have been, and considering I was already uncomfortable and exceedingly nervous about the Sorting later that night, I failed in mustering up a smile. Instead, I gave him more of a grimace and forced the words out, "Nope, go ahead."

Somehow, the fact that my words clashed with my facial expression amused him, and he raised a brow in response, "Are you sure?"

Slightly annoyed that he found me amusing, I said through slightly gritted teeth, "Yes, I'm sure."

Gemma, who has always been much more out-going than myself, piped up in her high voice, "Don't mind Rainee, she's just nervous. You can sit with us."

It took him a moment, but James lowered his brow and tentatively entered the compartment. He and Fred sat down across from us, and I tried to avoid their gazes by either looking out the glass in the door or by looking at Gemma on my other side. Even then, Gemma still had the same long, blonde and curly hair that fell down her back and these deep dark brown eyes. Next to her, I had a tendency to feel even more overlooked than usual, what with my contrasting dark brown hair and light blue eyes that I thought could be a bit brighter at the least. Maybe I was just a dull person and my eyes reflected that, who knows, but the point is that I didn't think any of my physical features were all that great.

"Rainee's a strange name," James remarked after a long silence.

I scarcely noticed Gemma glance at me curiously before I glared at him, "Like your name's any better."

"You don't even know what my name is," He said with a rather large, idiotic grin on his face. It was like it was some kind of joke to him. Fred, who was sitting beside him, had a small grin on his face as well.

"What is your name?" Gemma asked curiously, I could tell that she was trying to diffuse the tension that was arising in the room.

"James Sirius Potter," James said with an air of self-confidence that made my insides heat up in loathing, "And this is my cousin Fred."

Fred nodded in turn, "Fred Weasley, that is."

"Oh!" Gemma's features seemed to brighten up considerably, "You're Harry Potter's son?"

It seemed as though James was used to this, and enjoyed it immensely when someone recognized his relation to The Chosen One. Again, I found myself loathing him for his inflated self-concept as he replied, "I'm the eldestson of Harry Potter, actually. Albus Severus is my younger brother."

The way he said Albus Severusmade me think that James finds his brother's name highly amusing, which added to the list of reasons to loathe him that I had formulated only in the first ten minutes of meeting him. I'm sure you can imagine that as the years went on he and I quickly became enemies, what with the threatening to hex one another every once and a while and the constant usage of the last names.

So, I think it goes without saying that when, six years later, he volunteered to be my Potions' partner I was so flabbergasted that all I could do was splutter out half-words after he gathered his things, crossed the room, and sat down beside me. Everyone, including Professor Twiddle, watched him cross the room in near-silence. By 'near-silence' I mean that there were several people – mostly girls – that whispered things to one another that I couldn't discern as I stared at him with my mouth slightly opened.

"Well howdy, partner!" He greeted me cheerfully before starting to pull out his ingredients, textbook, and quill.

I lowered myself further down into my chair, and managed to muster up, "Ergh," in response.

He didn't seem to notice that I failed in greeting him in return, but at least Professor Twiddle took it as his cue to begin the lecture on the brewing of certain potions that could make your teeth fall out if you simply forgot to cut something wrong. I didn't pay too much attention to what Twid had to say for the entire period, considering I was staring intently to his left in my attempt to keep my gaze from possibly meeting James', who was sitting on my right.

When we were finally dismissed, I began to quickly shove my things away into my handy bookbag when James stopped my hand, keeping me from reaching my quill. Immediately becoming annoyed, I opened my mouth to tell him to sod off, but was too shocked that he was touching me to remember how to form words. So, something like, "Leggo my 'and," came out of my mouth.

Grinning like a sodding idiot, James released my hand and said, "You know, if you're going to be my partner then you should probably consider paying attention to what Twid has to say."

I had quickly grabbed my quill and dropped it into my bag as he spoke. Annoyed by his mere existence, I replied curtly, "Shove off, Potter," and rose to leave the room.

To my surprise, James rose to his feet as well and, with surprising speed, put himself between me and the door, "Oh come on, Monty," he said this playfully, and I found myself rolling my eyes at the nickname he had fashioned out of my last name, "Everyone knows that you can't possibly pass Potions without a partner to help you out, and I don't know if you've noticed but I happen to make the highest marks in the class. You need me, so I suggest you refrain from telling me to shove off. It might even be a good idea to try this thing called being friendly, although I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know how to do that considering its most definitely not your cup of tea."

I found myself hating him even more than I already did for being so much better with words than I was, but I managed to keep my face straight as I said, "Okay fine, Potter. But if you want me to attempt being friendly then I suggest you quit calling me Monty."

He seemed to frown for a fraction of a second before smirking at me, "All right, you've got yourself a deal, Rainee."

I found that my face flushed when he said my name, and again I was at a loss for words as I seethed at him silently. He found this amusing, continuing to smirk at me, and added, "Well, I'll see you later then," before disappearing through the door.