Disclaimer: I do not own anything, just the OC. The remainder belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling
A/N: Thank you to all who spent the time to read. It's a bit of a slow build up, but I promise you we are getting there. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day. Yes, there will be a love interest, but I couldn't very well start with that. Where's the fun in that? Enjoy.
Professor Slughorn had enough. One too many shenanigans was plenty to throw any respectable man off.
It was your typical Potions lesson. The Marauders were having difficulty paying attention (no surprise there). James would brush the end of his quill behind Lily's ear, only to receive a look of irritation or the occasional scoff in return. Sirius, at his side, couldn't help but chortle loudly as he doodled cartoon representations of his professor.
Remus was softly snoring at the table adjacent to Sirius and James. Peter sat next to Remus, absentminded, loudly tapping his wand on the side of his cauldron.
One could see Professor Slughorn's ears begin to redden as the tapping, snoring, scoffing, and laughing continued.
"Enough, gentlemen! Now honestly, fifth years and I am still having to remind you of what is expected during my hour!"
Slughorn clapped his hands to knock off the excess chalk dust.
"You, Mr. Potter," Professor Slughorn addressed James with a shake of his finger. "if you would gather your things and sit next to Mr. Lovegood. Quickly now!"
With an over exaggerated flourish, James swept up his ingredients kit and took his new seat, not without sending a final wink Lily's way.
"Mr. Lupin? Mr. Lupin!" The professor had approached his table, dropping one of Remu's textbooks loudly against the surface.
Remus woke with a start, "Professor?"
"If you wouldn't mind swapping seats with Ms. Catchlove."
Remus yawned and slowly made his way to the front of the classroom.
"And Mr. Pettigrew, unless you plan on pursing a career in drumming, cease that tap-tap-tapping!"
Sirius began to stand, gathering his things.
"No, Mr. Black. Stay where you are." Scanning the room his eyes fell to a young lady at the front of the classroom. "Ah yes, Ms. Draper! Would you please make your way to the vacant seat next to Mr. Black?"
Sirius watched as the quiet girl made her way to the back of the Potions classroom. She didn't glance up once after taking her seat.
"Now then. If you will all turn your attention back to me, let's begin the breakdown of the Girding Potion. Careful please - if the substance turns blue after adding the fairy wings, you have the heat too high and will need to start over…"
Sirius turned his attention back to his doodles, attempting to drown out the professor for the remainder of the lesson.
"What do you think?" Sirius asked, sliding the parchment over to his neighbor. "The resemblance is uncanny, don't you think?"
The girl gave a quick side glance at the sketch and shook her head.
Sighing, "Not much of a talker, are you?"
She gave no response.
"I am Sirius. Let's start there. And you are?"
She finally looked up, brown eyes meeting grey, "I know who you are. We have shared the same Potions block for the past four years."
Slightly taken aback, "Yes, well -"
"Is your sketch suppose to be of Slughorn? You drew his eyes far too small for his face. It should hold some realistic qualities, don't you think? If not, all you have is a silly drawing that could be of anyone."
Sirius scoffed as she returned to her notes. Glancing at her robes, he noticed that she was in Ravenclaw. Figures.
"And to answer your question, my name is Lou. Can you please hand me the doxy eggs?
He pushed the ingredients towards her and glanced up to see James laughing in his direction.
"Ha. Ha," her muttered to himself. Leaning back in his chair he sighed to himself, "This is going to be a long year."