She put her robes back over the rest of her uniform as she dashed down the well worn steps, slung her bag over her shoulder as she groaned at the weight of all the ingredients and potions equipment, hoping that it wouldn't be too bad a detention. Spider had forgotten how far away the dungeons were, how big the castle really was, and practically everyone was in their common rooms now so the hallowed halls echoed her beating heels as she ran. She slipped the patent shoes off her feet now pounding through the passageway as the candle flames whizzed past, the light flickered past her eyes, her legs were numb to the point she couldn't feel herself touch the ground. She was going to be late. She would be late and Professor Malfoy would be livid, she could see his disappointed face, he'd probably give her extra detentions, or if Umbridge got involved some kind of corporeal punishment. His snake-headed cane. That's what'd be, Umbridge would strike her round the back of the legs with it, fall flat on her face. No, she'd get him to do it, he'd punish her. Thinking of how he reprimands her she stopped abruptly, she'd begun to perspire, and her thoughts had spiralled out of control. She slithered her shoes back on, the pale ghost of a girl plodded a mental walk of shame, her thoughts felt unscrupulous, as if a black widow had crept inside her skull and made everything dirty. She knocked unwillingly on the solid oak door.
"Come in." Came a muffled voice.
He was there and to her regret he looked even better than he did in her head. He thrust a two foot roll of parchment towards and she snatched it back trying to not make it obvious what she felt for him, but it was probably written all over her face.
"You can work here until you've filled the parchment, a nice long explanation" he drawled confidently "of why potions is such a crucial lesson to learn, and the importance of completing tasks. Like homework for instance"
She looked away, she couldn't even herself to argue with him, two foot worth of work, was going to take for bloody ever, she might as well get started. Choosing a seat were she could his face but could always turn away to stop herself getting distracted. About an hour later she wasn't even half way down she kept stopping with nothing to write, her teacher hadn't given her any help instead enjoyed watching her squirm uncomfortably in her chair. "You can go when you finish, I've got all night." That was it. More disgusting thoughts flooding into her head, how nice he'd look all dishevelled in the morning, how they could pass them time together throughout the night, things much messier than just getting ink on her fingers. The younger bolted to attention, what was she thinking, she had to get past this. Scribbling furiously she wrote the first things that came to mind about potions, something about benefits something about injuries, just to keep her mind busy. The scratching quill and determined willingness to block out Lucius Malfoy made her neglect the subtle steps behind her as he sneakily crept up behind her. Stood her back to him he lifted a hand as it hovered like a hummingbird over her shoulder, bent his face beside her ears and whispered "I think that's sufficient, don't you." She gasped almost squealing at the shock of his arrival she handed over the roll, picked up her bag and swiftly turned round. Unbeknownst to her he hadn't moved more than purely straitening up, so as she turned stepping slightly to go, he was teetering nearby as she managed to plunge her face into his. Lips locked as eyes scrunched tight shut as she pulled away. What was she supposed to do now? However there was no look of disgust or even surprise just the kind of sheathed smug grin a child gets when he's done something naughty but has to force back the smile in order not to give the game away. "SORRY SIR! I didn't mean to, I swear! I thought-"
"Don't worry about it, purely accidental I'm sure Miss LaFey." Now enunciating every word as his tongue swirled gracefully round each one "Although, I think you would find it beneficial to start taking a remedial potions lesson with me once a week."
" But I've been doing well sir, I won't forget my homework again, I promise."
"I don't doubt your ability or want to improve but you make little mistakes, silly ones. Once you take my corrective class you will be better at potions than Merlin himself. I think you just need a little one-to-one to sort out the problem."
She agreed to take the extra lessons, as if she were going to say no. She couldn't help smiling all the way back to her dormitory at the softness of his lips or the gentility of his hand. Her face dropped however as she didn't want to explain herself to her friends, not now, she wanted to enjoy it alone.
"What happened then?" asked Esterella
"Nothing much" she lied "Just lines, oh and I'm staring extra lessons with him, a little one-to-one he called it." She put Napoleon in her bed of cushions in her trunk, slipped into her nightgown and closed the curtains as she disappeared into her bed. Esterella sat open mouthed, filled with questions with a sprinkling of jealously.
