She spent the rest of the afternoon in the Brewing Room. She'd had a free period scheduled after Care of Magical Creatures so she was able to keep working and get caught back up on the Felix Felicis. When she had to let it stew for an hour, she pulled out her books and started on her homework that she'd fallen just a bit behind on.
When the bell rang for dinner, she placed a stasis spell on her potion and packed up her school books.
She ate vivaciously at dinner, her appetite having improved with her mood.
"Saw you got out of class," Maggie said with a grin. "Nice."
"Yeah – I actually had a legitimate injury. I got bit by a fanged geranium this morning. Did you know the little ones have more venom than the adults?"
"No, I didn't, but I dropped Herbology after last year," she said with a shrug. "You okay?"
"Oh yeah. Good as new, see?" she said, wiggling her little finger.
"Hey, you wanna do our Potions homework together after we eat?"
"Eh, I'm actually working on a potion with Professor Snape," she said with a half-smile. "Sorry."
"No, that's cool – he's not mad at you? He looked pissed earlier."
"Nah that's just his face," she said, smirking.
Maggie laughed loudly but stopped suddenly.
"Get outta here, Gryffindor," she hissed and Freddie turned to see Daniel and Heather walking towards her.
"Freddie can we talk?" Daniel asked nervously.
She nodded and took a sip of her juice before getting up. They followed her away from the boos and hisses of the Slytherin table. They stepped out into the entrance hall and she turned to them.
"Heather wanted to apologize-" Daniel began.
"I'm sorry," Heather interrupted. "Really sorry, Gray. This morning, when I saw Daniel collapse, I just, I freaked out. I'm sorry. I don't know you all that well. I don't really know you at all. I just know you're a Slytherin. I don't know any Slytherins, just what my housemates say about them...but I do know that you're Daniel's best friend and I should have trusted that. I'm sorry. And I'm really, really sorry," she said, tears filling her sky blue eyes. "That I messed up your apprenticeship with Professor Snape."
"Actually, you didn't. I talked to him and we're – we're good. So...we're good," Freddie said, a little uncomfortable.
"Really? Oh that's wonderful!" Heather said, throwing her arms around Freddie, who stiffened instantly.
"She's a hugger," Daniel said with a grin.
"I'm not," Freddie said, pulling away from her. "Sorry."
"No, it's fine," Heather said with a chuckle. "And for what it's worth – I'd like to get to know you, Gray. I think we can be friends."
"Sure," Freddie said with a forced smile. "Daniel can I talk to you a minute?"
"Oh I'll be- in there," Heather said, kissing Daniel's cheek and heading back into the Great Hall. Daniel watched her go then turned back to Freddie.
"I'm sorry," Freddie said. "For shouting at you and for knocking you out with a potion."
"We're good, Fred. No worries. We've had fights before, we get over it."
"We're good?"
"Yeah, we're good. You really gonna try and be friends with Heather?"
"Ehh," Freddie said with a grimace. "I guess. I mean, she's still a Gryffindor."
"Yeah but I like her," he said, grinning. "So, you wanna go play Quidditch with us after dinner?"
"Not tonight, okay? I've got a-"
"Potion brewing," he finished. "That's okay – I'm glad, actually, that he took you back."
"Me too. Another time though. Definitely."
"Later, Fred," he said, clapping her on the back before she headed into the dungeons.
#
Freddie had been working on her potion for a couple of hours when Snape came into his office.
"Are you in here, Miss Gray?" she heard him call when he came in.
"Yes sir, working on my potion," she called back. "I didn't miss curfew, did I?"
"No, you have another half hour or so," he said, hanging up his cloak and standing in the doorway of the Brewing Room. "I was thinking of having some tea. Would you like some?"
"Yes, please," she said, pleasantly surprised.
He nodded to her and went back out to his desk. She heard him call for Noelle. She got to a stopping point with her potion and cleaned up for the night. When she went out into the office there was a tea tray on his desk and Snape was already sipping a cup.
"Chamomile?" she guessed, inhaling deeply as she sat down.
"Mm. My own blend," he said.
"You made a tea?" she asked, surprised.
"Several. Try it," he said, pulling the sugar bowl away from her. "before you sugar it beyond recognition."
"Okay," she chuckled.
She poured tea into her cup from the teapot and took a small sip.
"Mm," she said appreciatively. "Ah...valerian root?"
"Mm-hm."
"Lavender and...lemongrass."
"Yes. It's good, is it not?"
"It is," she agreed. "I just need a tiiiny bit of sugar."
"You're killing me," he groaned, relinquishing the sugar bowl.
"Just a spoonful," she said, adding it to her cup. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. "So you're a tea aficionado? I knew your tea tasted different from the tea in the Great Hall."
"Yes. I've found many Potion Masters enjoy the subtle complexities involved in brewing tea," he said. "That is why I use Noelle – she is the only house elf I've found that can brew a decent part of tea."
"Hmm. I've never give tea much thought," Freddie said, taking a sip. "It's just a drink."
"Just a drink?" he scoffed. "That's like saying Potions is just a class."
Freddie nodded thoughtfully.
"I suppose I'll have to try more new types of tea."