Emmeline's breathing was slow and even, but she wasn't asleep. She sat in lotus position doing her morning meditation with her hangings drawn. The other girls were used to this and knew not to disturb her. Suddenly, a bright green firecracker exploded into Emmeline's bed spelling in curly letters 'Good Morning Emmie!" and crackling like popping balloons. Emmeline screamed and tore open her bed hangings, promptly fell out of bed, and lay there to the amusement of her dorm mates, who howled with laughter at Eileen's joke. It took a good minute for Emmeline to reorient her brain to the lights and sounds of her dorm room and remedy the awkward position she'd fallen down in. Still giggling, Eileen offered her a hand, which she gratefully accepted.

"Good morning to you too," Emmeline grumbled. "I hate mornings almost as much as I hate you right now!" With that, Emmeline grabbed her wand, pointed it at Eileen's face and smirked, "Aguamenti!"

Eileen sputtered and gasped as she was drenched with cold water. She and Emmeline glared playfully at each other for a moment, then turned in unison to two of their bunkmates and drenched them with the same spell. A water battle promptly ensued, with the girls screaming and laughing as they slipped in puddles of water and tried to avoid Aguamenti spells. Agnes quickly announced she wasn't playing because her hair potion had just gone in, at which point every Slytherin girl turned and squirted water out their wands at her. Squealing in rage, Agnes chased the perpetrators around until everyone was so wet no one cared if they got squirted anymore and simply sat down, their stomachs aching with laughter. 16 years old they may be, but it was good to know they could still act like children.

A quick shower and a drying spell later Emmeline and Eileen trotted up to the Great Hall, running over to the Gryffindor table to greet two of their closest friends.

"Emmeline. I'm not sure I'm speaking to you yet." Minnie McGonagall greeted her without looking up from her pancakes.

"For missing the first Prefect meeting, breaking Alastor Moody's heart or for attracting the attention of a certain delectable Slytherin Prefect?" Augusta Longbottom observed.

"WHAT?!" Eileen and Minnie said together as they whipped their heads around to stare at the Slytherin table. Emmeline felt her ears turn pink as she fought the urge to turn around.

"Well would you look at that," cackled Eileen with a knowing smile, "Tom Riddle is indeed staring at you, dear."

"I was mad at you for missing the Prefect meeting, but I've forgiven you for that as of now and am forevermore jealous of your romantic prowess." Minnie intoned sarcastically, casting Emmeline an admiring glance. "I'd be careful if I were you. Alastor blabbed the news of your row last night to half the Gryffindor common room and I hear Riddle swings the other way." Emmeline frowned and shook her head.

"Alastor will never learn," She sat down between Minnie and Augusta and perfunctorily kissed each girl's cheek. "It's good to see you as well. I'm very sorry I missed the Prefect meeting Minnie, would you like to catch me up on the year's activities?" Emmeline crooned in a pleading child's tone.

"I told Emmie last night and I'm telling you now, I don't think Tom is gay," Eileen cut in. "Rumor has it Agnes positively threw herself at him after finals last year and Tom responded by sloughing her off on Rolf."

"When did we all become such gossips?" Augusta exclaimed incredulously, "Who cares who Agnes or Tom or Alastor is shagging? I want to know what NEWTS you guys are taking!" At this they all laughed and the conversation became considerably less inane as they compared OWL results and gushed about upcoming NEWT classes. While they were all talented students, Minnie and Tom were the only students in the school to attempt seven NEWT classes. Augusta had utterly failed her Charms OWL, and had decided to take only five NEWTs to Eileen and Emmeline's six.

"I think it's going to be really fun having all four houses in our classes this year," Emmeline enthused, "No more Potions with just Gryffindors or Herbology with just Ravenclaws, we'll be all together!" Minnie smiled through her spectacles at Emmeline.

"Well I don't understand why more people aren't trying for a NEWT in Ancient Runes! I've checked with almost everyone and I can't find anyone else in the class!" Minnie sulked.

"Um… That class is boring as watching Ogg feed flobberworms," Augusta answered, "Though I can't pretend I'm not miffed that Emmeline and I seem to be two of the very few doing NEWT Muggle Studies. I swear, we're studying this old Muggle named Shakespeare, and if you guys read just a paragraph of his stuff you'd sign up for Muggle Studies so fast you'd think your robes were on fire." Augusta wiggled her eyebrows hopefully and took an overlarge bite of toast.

"Tom Riddle is doing a NEWT in Ancient Runes." Emmeline commented. Minnie grimaced.

"I thought you liked Tom?" Eileen asked.

"Haha, she doesn't like being in class with people who can beat her!" Augusta teased. Minnie glowered at her.

"It's not that!" she said, smacking Augusta playfully in the arm, "Tom's distracting. When you're not staring at how good-looking he is, you're stressing about how anyone can get a teacher to look your way with Tom in the room. He's unattainable. None of his friends are really that close to him, the teacher's all worship him and know nothing about him, and I'm tired of listening to girls dream away their adolescence lusting after Tom Riddle!" Minnie said harshly, giving Tom a nasty glance over her shoulder.

"Poor Minnie. He's in almost every one of your classes."Emmeline smiled sympathetically. "At least you've got us." She gave Minnie a one armed hug.

"By the way, Emmie," Minnie said slyly, "Tom Riddle's still trying to act like he's not staring at you. I think you might be starting to attract attention." Then Emmeline did turn around, and sure enough Tom was casting her a covert glance every few seconds, and a few too many girls of Agnes's caliber were starting to shoot her curious looks.

"I think you better go talk to him. This isn't good for business." Eileen stated darkly. Emmeline frowned nervously. Both Eileen and Emmeline liked to keep out of the rumor mills and keep the drama to a minimum. Eileen's unique way of suspecting something was going to open a show was to claim it was 'bad for business', and she was usually right.

"I can't walk over there, too many people are looking." Emmeline fussed nervously.

"Professor Slughorn's handing out schedules, we need to get over there anyway." Eileen pointed out, "Would it be any better if I walked with you?"

"No." Augusta and Minnie said together. "At this point breakfast is almost over, I'd actually have someone else pick up your schedules." Augusta suggested.

"They can't, Heads of Houses have to clear us to sign up for NEWTs, don't you remember?" Minnie advised. "Merlin, Augusta, Dumbledore came by like 20 minutes ago and you've already forgotten!" Augusta rolled her eyes at the rebuke.

"Ok! I've got it. At this point, Eileen walking over to Tom is just as suspicious as Emmeline going. We've all got Potions first thing, ask Slughorn for your schedules then and spin some hippogriff and bull story about waking up late. In the meantime, send Tom a note." Augusta suggested helpfully.

"Oh, and tell everyone you had just spoken to me and were letting him know when the next Prefect meeting is!" Minnie chimed in. Reluctantly Emmeline pulled parchment and a quill from her bag and wrote: Hi Tom,—

"The next Prefect meeting is this Thursday at eight in Dumbledore's classroom." Minnie intoned over her shoulder. Emmeline laughed.

"Are you telling me or Tom?" She queried.

"Both. It gives him an opportunity to say what he wants to without assuming anything. Besides, in the face of gossip, the truth is always best." Minnie advised wisely. Augusta and Eileen nodded their agreement. Emmeline took their advice and performed a handy little charm to fold the parchment into an airplane and Banished it towards Tom. All four girls resolutely turned their backs to the Slytherin table so they wouldn't be caught watching Tom's reaction as he read Emmeline's note. They ate in pregnant silence for a few minutes until a similar paper airplane landed gracefully in front of Emmeline. She could feel Agnes Avery watching and shivered. Unfolding the airplane, she read:

If you're going to make a habit of snogging Alastor Moody, please do it where it cannot be seen by impressionable First Year Slytherins. This is unacceptable behavior for a Slytherin Prefect. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to do a detention with me in the empty classroom next to Charms after dinner this evening. I picked up yours and Eileen's schedule and will give you them in Potions. No need to thank me.

Tom

All four girls finished reading at the same time and Augusta snorted and burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" asked Eileen. They had to wait for Augusta to catch her breath before she answered.

"It's just—well—all of Agnes's crowd are probably imagining this sickeningly sweet flirtation going on, and he writes so abruptly!" She laughed again, "'I picked up your schedule for you. No need to thank me'" she mocked in a robotic voice. The other girls laughed. "I guess he was staring at you because he was checking to see if he needed to pick up your schedule for you."

"Yeah, Slughorn doesn't refuse him anything." Eileen added.

"It was thoughtful of him." Minnie commented. Emmeline nodded.

"It was." And with that, the girls took one last swig of pumpkin juice and Minnie, Eileen and Emmeline headed off to Potions while Augusta moved to the Ravenclaw table to enjoy her free period.

********************************

"Minnie, darling, what can I do to get you to smile at me?" A handsome tall boy with slick blonde hair accosted the girls outside the Potions dungeon. Minnie glared in annoyance at Rolf Lestrange's aryan features.

"Try not to melt your cauldron first class this year," she replied, condescendingly patting his cheek as she passed. "I hear those gold cauldrons are expensive to replace." Rolf stepped in front of her again.

"I would buy you all the gold cauldrons in the world if I wasn't sure you'd start handing them over to Muggleborns." Rolf replied, ignoring Minnie's snort of indignation. "But regardless, I have here two schedules belonging to a Miss Eileen Prince and the lovely Emmeline Vance." He took two pieces of parchment out of his bag with a flourish and handed each girl her schedule, winking suggestively at Emmeline. Eileen looked miffed and rolled her eyes.

"I'm flattered, Rolf, but I prefer to conduct my affairs without the jealous vindications of Agnes Avery." Emmeline replied wryly. At this Rolf looked uncharacteristically glum and allowed them to pass. Eileen spared him a sympathetic glance.

"Figured out that looks aren't everything, Lestrange?" She leered at him over her shoulder. He didn't respond and merely retreated to the far end of the dungeon where Agnes and Tom were waiting for him.

Slughorn entered the classroom seconds later and cleared his throat for attention.

"I can always tell when a student will make it to NEWT," he gave Tom an admiring glance, "And I'm happy to see all of my favorite students back again." He absentmindedly twirled his mustache as he waved his wand at the blackboard. "I'm afraid I must start with a rather challenging potion, The Draught of Living Death. I'm only asking for an attempt, I don't expect any of you to complete it at this level. I simply seek to impress on you just how difficult completing a NEWT is. It is for serious students with serious ambitions only." He sat down at his desk and reached for a box of crystallized pineapple. Crunching merrily, he looked between Minnie and Tom. "For fun, let's try a little competition between our Prefect and Head Girl. Minnie, Tom, winner gets 50 points?" Minnie glowered, but nodded. Tom winked at her roguishly from across the room and assented as well. "Excellent! May the best House win!" Emmeline and Eileen stood back as Minnie raced towards the ingredients cupboard so fast she practically bowled over Hestia Jones. Emmeline laughed at her antics good-naturedly as she lit a fire underneath her cauldron and began assembling her ingredients. She sometimes felt that if her friends weren't so amazingly talented she'd be seen as a better student. She took her studies very seriously and worked hard for her good marks, but next to the genius Tom Riddle, the needle-sharp Minnie McGonagall, and Eileen's easy success she often got overlooked.

The whole class forgot to start while they watched Minnie and Tom. Minnie always claimed that the trick to a good potion was a quick start. Tom never talked about his potions ability. Still, it was obvious that both of them thought the best way to start was to prep the first few ingredients for the first five instructions, at which point the potion needed to simmer for 7 ½ minutes. Emmeline jumped to attention and headed to the ingredients cupboard herself a step ahead of the rest of the class. On her way back with her arms loaded with wormwood bark and sopophorous beans, she dropped a thick valerian root right next to the table where Tom, Agnes and Rolf were working. Before she could open her mouth to apologize, Tom stopped stirring his potion and lunged gracefully for the valerian root, catching it before it hit the ground.

"Thank you," Emmeline said distractedly, trying to shift her load so she could take the valerian root back from Tom. "I don't want to distract you from your potion, Minnie's a formidable opponent." She apologized sheepishly. Tom smiled and tucked it behind her ear, smoothing her hair back as he did so.

"No problem." He said nonchalantly. Emmeline felt pleasant goose bumps rise on her skin. Hurrying back to her cauldron, she dumped her pile of ingredients breathlessly while Eileen looked at her smugly.

"You're blushing. Did you race across the dungeon or is a certain Slytherin boy making your heart go pitter-patter?" She teased as she took her share of the potions ingredients. Emmeline turned even redder.

"Oh shut up," she muttered affectionately, "Let's get this potion going." Eileen was looking rather strangely across the room at Rolf Lestrange.

"Emm, look," She nodded her head in their direction pointedly, "Rolf isn't making a potion. He's helping Tom measure powdered asphodel." Squinting through the steam emitting from her cauldron, Emmeline could just see that Eileen was right, Rolf was devoting his entire potions class to helping Tom. Eileen didn't say another word about it, just turned to Minnie and asked,

"Do you want help preparing your ingredients? I fancy even a 50-point head start won't win Gryffindor the House Cup this year." Minnie huffed distractedly as she poured the juice from her sopophorous bean into her pleasantly bubbling potion. "Thank you, Eileen, I make my own potions," She answered. Eileen and Emmeline exchanged glances. Tom was well ahead of Minnie due to Rolf's assistance. Shrugging, Eileen turned to her own potion.

After an hour of intense potion making and no few helpful hints from Eileen, Emmeline was fanning herself on her stool while she idly stirred her potion clockwise every two minutes.

"THAT'S IT, AGNES! Don't you think it's just a tiny bit rude to hit on my best friend right in front of me?" Came Rolf's angry tenor from across the room. The entire class went quiet.

"Asking Tom for help isn't hitting on him, Rolf," Agnes complained loudly.

"It is when you lean over showing half the class your breasts and crooning at him like that!"Rolf's voice got higher and higher with his anger. "How did you expect me to react to this? Am I just supposed to let my girlfriend drool all over my best friend right under my nose?" Agnes drew her wand.

"You knew before we got together that I like to flirt. You can't be upset with me for being who I am!" Agnes shrieked, her beautiful golden curls bouncing angrily.

"There is a difference," Rolf snapped, "between a little flirting and acting like a complete whore."

And then the air exploded.

In a furious attempt to protect her precious potion, Minnie cast a split-second shield around their table, which was a lucky thing, because Tom's cauldron went flying, dumping over Hestia Jones at the next table over and tripping Septimus Weasley. Amidst all the yelling and coughing, Professor Slughorn was calling for order.

"Now, really! That wasn't necessary at all, save the lovesick arguments for outside class, please!" He cast a spell to ventilate the room and help the smoke clear. After a few confused minutes where everyone complained about their spilled potion and Professor Slughorn went around performing minor healing spells for various burns and boils, it became clear that something was seriously wrong.

Hestia Jones was lying on the ground snoring quietly. Her friend Amelia Bones was trying unsuccessfully to wake her. Slughorn didn't seem to think it was too big of a problem; he pointed his wand at Hestia absentmindedly and muttered,

"Ennervate." Hestia didn't stir. Slughorn turned to Tom's table, where Agnes was in tears.

"I didn't do it, Professor!" she cried. "Please don't give me detention, I don't know what happened!" Professor Slughorn looked at her with a puzzled frown.

"Of course I won't punish you, sometimes under great emotional turmoil you can do magic without realizing—"

"No!" Agnes interrupted, "I really didn't do it, my wand was blown out of my hand—it wouldn't have been if I had cast the spell!"

"Tom," came a different voice at the dungeon door. Professor Dumbledore stepped nimbly into the still smoggy room and pierced Tom with his icy blue stare. "Did you complete your potion?" Tom looked at Dumbledore defiantly and gave a slight nod. The whole class gasped collectively. Tom brewed the Draught of Living Death in his 6th Year! Emmeline felt herself blush for some reason.

"I had hoped that by the time such promising students reached their 6th year," Dumbledore rumbled quietly, "they would understand the responsibility that accompanies the ability to perform NEWT-level spells." Agnes gave a wail and broke into a fresh round of tears. Tom refused to meet Dumbledore's gaze.

Leaning down and examining Hestia, Dumbledore felt her pulse and performed a wordless spell.

"Call St. Mungo's and alert them they have a new patient. She's ingested an incorrectly brewed potion." As Slughorn hurried out of the room, Dumbledore turned back to Tom.

"My apologies, Sir." Tom spoke tightly. "It was an accident." Dumbledore gave him a long look. Then he nodded, conjured a stretcher out of thin air and magicked Hestia onto it.

"Class dismissed." He said as he left the room.