As the two of us step into the classroom, I saunter over to my usual seat in the back. I've never been particularly fond of sitting in the front of classrooms; the feeling of people's eyes on the back of my head is somewhat uncomfortable, and it causes me to lose concentration easily. Besides, sitting away from everyone means that I can mutter under my breath a million times over and no one will bat an eyelash. It's the perfect place for a social outcast like myself, especially now that the entire school seems to hate me.
I sit down and set my bookbag in front of me, pulling out my copy of Magical Drafts and Potions with a bored flick of the wrist. I give a start when I feel someone come up from behind me and take the seat to my left.
Rose.
"Mind if I sit here?" she says breathlessly, pulling the strap of her book bag over her head and flinging it onto the table.
When she grins at me, my chest aches and my cheeks flush. I hope that she isn't able to tell, but I can never figure out whether she can or not. She wears a constant face of bemusement around me, almost like the sight of me makes her want to laugh. It's disconcerting more than anything.
"Not at all," I say. "May I ask why you're not opting for the front row, as you normally do?"
"It's not as if the front row is very entertaining." She gives a small flip of her red hair and eyes me steadily. "If you'd rather me leave you alone, I will."
"No," I tell her, the corners of my mouth quirking upward, "I'd rather you not."
We gaze at each other for a split second before I hear an awkward cough from someone sitting a few rows ahead. I look up, perplexed, and see Albus Potter staring at me, no particular emotion on his face. He's just staring. It takes a large amount of effort not to say some sarcastic remark; I'm so used to being labeled the haughty Slytherin that spitting out feigned cruelty is nothing short of instinct. But he at least attempted to stifle his brother's petulance earlier, and that isn't something I can easily forget.
I say nothing, but I nod in his direction. At first he doesn't react. His eyes are glowing with intense curiousness, something I've never seen from him before. After a few moments of silence, he gives the tiniest of nods back, and quickly fixes his attention back to the front of the classroom. Slughorn is speaking now, but I don't hear a word he's saying. I'm too caught up in this interesting turn of events.
And they will only get more interesting.
