No One Does It Better

Chapter One

I said I can tak my waiy out of anything,

But I am struggling in this emergency.

It was finally happening. My final year at Hogwarts was about to begin and I was both extremely excited and terrified at the same time. It was my last first day in the Great Hall after getting off of the train after a summer in France and London and seeing everyone's freshly tanned faces after a summer of relaxation and fun.

Merlin, I sound naff, don't I? I really just shocked myself with the heartfelt outpour above – it's not that I don't care it's just I didn't realise I cared that much. The last Sorting Ceremony I would ever see (why am I being so nostalgic?) was over and my plate at the Slytherin table had filled up almost immediately. I looked at my best friend, Adeline Zabini, on what would be our last first Hogwarts meal together – no seriously, what is wrong with me? Is my period due? Have I miscounted my days? I am honestly perplexed.

'Nova?'

I bounced back from the argument I was having with myself inside my head to see Adeline looking at me as if I had just hexed her. Did I? No, I was just staring at her.

'Sorry, got lost in my thoughts for a second there.'

Adeline laughed and went back to her dinner, 'I was wondering what I had on my face, you had been staring for so long.'

'Don't tell her Nova,' Nathaniel Greengrass smirked and Adeline's hands flew to her face and she started wiping around her mouth.

'Why did you have to do that?' I laughed. 'He's winding you up Addie.'

Adeline grumbled something incoherent and went back to her food. It was never a good thing to get in between her eating time.

So, here is a quick rundown. Me? Nova Bruce, Slytherin, 7th Year at Hogwarts. My friends are Adeline (Addie), Nathaniel (he hate's having his name shortened) and Severus Snape (sometimes). He just hangs around us when he feels like it. Addie and I have been best friends since 1st year and Nathaniel and I were together in 5th year but we decided we were better off as friends, with a completely harmless flirt and a non-existent friends with benefits clause in said friendship here and there.

'So, ladies, what classes am I beating you in this year?' Nathaniel asked with a sly smile on his face. The bastard got a single extra 'O' than me on our O.W.L's in 5th year and has never let us (me) forget it and it was for Divination! I mean how could you possibly care about that enough to even get an Outstanding? It baffled me, honestly.

'Well I am taking Transfiguration, Potions, History of Magic and Defence Against the Dark Arts this year,' I told him, ignoring the raised eyebrows on my last subject.

'Ah, I was going to say we would be competing in Potions then but we already know good old Severus will blow us away on that on, right Sev?'

Severus gave the most half-hearted smile (I think that is what it was) and nod I had ever seen.

'Only one class together on our last year then,' said Nathaniel and I just shrugged. He was probably more disappointed than I was. 'Adeline, what about you?'

'Transfiguration, Charms, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy', she swallowed. 'My Dad and brother picked. Honestly, you would think I didn't have a mind of my own.'

I grimaced. I knew seventh year wouldn't be easy but I tried not to give myself dull subjects. Before you say anything - I enjoy History of Magic and it is in no way dull or mind numbing like Professor Binns.

I woke up the following morning, shivering. I liked my house and the common room but it was just so damn cold all the time. Some of the beds in my dormitory were empty. Now we were in our last year, free periods were all around us and Addie was one of the lucky ones who got a sleep in on her first day. I jumped into the bathroom, put my robes on, and then took on my face in the mirror. I had decided to go for blunt long-bob over summer. When my hair was short, the blonde always seemed to get lighter as if by magic – I think I'm funny, ok? I used my wand to put a bit of a wave in it to give it a bit of volume and then decided I just wanted it up in a ponytail. Honestly, being a girl was hard. I quickly shoved on my moisturisers and began to raise my eyebrows to check their shape. Two summers ago I had managed to use my wand to shape my eyebrows with a nice arch after seeing some muggles with the most amazing eyebrows I had ever seen in magazines one day when I was out and about in London that summer – I didn't tell my mother that's how I decided to try it though. I only had to fix them every few months and I had only did them the day before coming to Hogwarts but it's the first day, I had to look my best, obviously.

I walked out into the common room and Nathaniel was waiting on me, leaning against one of the dark green armchairs. He looked annoyingly good today, his sandy brown hair was looking particularly soft and hanging down by his eyes almost perfectly.

'Bruce,' he said standing up when he seen me appear. 'You're almost going to make us late'.

'The class is almost two minutes away and it starts in five minutes. I think we're good,' I retorted and walked out with him. As we turned I seen a group of three in front of walking into Potions class and I made no mistake who they were. Remus Lupin, James Potter and Sirius Black. Three out of four Marauders. I don't think Peter was smart enough to even take N.E.W.T's to be honest so Merlin knows what classes he would appear in this year.

'Nova?'

'Hm?'

I had done it again. I zoned out. Nathaniel and I were both standing outside Potions. Nathaniel was trying to hide his annoyance at me obviously not listening to him and instead forced a devious smile onto his face and pulled me towards him with my robes.

'I was asking if we could go a walk tonight,' he said and I groaned aloud. Too soon, we hadn't even been here 24 hours.

'I'll think about it,' I replied and walked into the class leaving him behind.

We all settled seats mostly in accordance to our house when Slughorn came in with that humbling smile he always has.

'Up everyone! Stand up, stand up,' he beamed as we followed orders. 'Now, I've taught most of you since you were all little first years and I have only ever seen you sit with the same friends! It's your last year, so let's mix it up a little, eh?'

I glanced at Nathaniel nervously. This was not good.

'I've made a list. There are 12 of you in this class so four to a station, so everyone to the front of class and the next four names I call to the first table!' We all slowly made our way over. 'Diggory, Evans, Rodgers, Potter.'

'YES!' Potter exclaimed and threw a fist into the air. I rolled my eyes, pathetic. Just in case anyone did not know, James Potter has been in love with Lily Evans for an extremely long and boring time. It has really gotten old, like who actually cares anymore?

What surprised me was, Lily Evans didn't even throw him the usual disgusted face she had for the past seven years. Odd. I quickly glanced at Severus for his reaction – he and Lily are best friends and he and James (and the Marauders) hate each other- to it but he just stared straight ahead as if he hadn't heard a thing.

'Second table – Greengrass, Lupin, McKinnon and Morecombe!'

I looked at those left. Oh for fuck-

'So that leaves the last table – Black, Bruce, Clearwater and Snape.'

I sucked my cheeks in and bit down hard on them whilst I picked up my bag and walked to the empty table. I took the empty seat next to Severus and took a quick glance at Sirius Black. He was showing no expression on how he felt about the situation at all – what did I expect? He took the seat across from me and I shifted my eyes down to the table biting the inside of my cheek. This was the absolute worst possible thing that could have happened in my last year at Hogwarts. We had made it six years without having to break breath to each other in school, why not go for gold and make it seven?

I lifted my eyes off the table and for the quickest of seconds; Black and I caught each other's eyes. It was then I knew he was thinking the exact same as me. We had managed six years of school acting as if we never knew the other existed and had never told anyone the truth.

'A nice little lesson I have set up for you all today,' Slughorn began. 'Some revision really. I want you to get into pairs and brew some Felix Felicis.'

I let out a small sigh of relief, looked at Severus, and gave him a small smile. At least I would do well in Potions this year if I had him by my side. I could easily get through this class without even thinking about Sirius Black. Slughorn cleared his throat and I turned my attention back to the front of the class.

'Partner up in alphabetical order by your surname please and get to work.'

I had to physically stop myself from banging my head off the table.

That motherfucker.

Lyrics at the beginning The Consequence - You Me At Six.