Surviving Potions

A couple days later, Emmie dropped down at the Hufflepuff table and immediately dropped her head down on her arms, groaning slightly. Kara looked over at her, a perplexed look on her face as she slowly kept chewing.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Potions," Emmie groaned.

"I know we all hate Professor Snape, but why the added drama today?" Melanie replied from across the table. Emmie looked up at her.

"We're supposed to settle our class partners for the rest of the year today," she muttered.

"So, just sit next to Kara and you'll be fine," Toni said. "Melanie and I got that all sorted."

"You know Snape. He's likely to choose for us. And what if I end up with Flint?" she replied. "He's been insufferable." She groaned again and dropped her head in her arms.

"You've barely seen him," Melanie scoffed. "And you got out of patrolling with him last night because Penelope Clearwater wanted to switch you for tonight." Emmie just looked up and scowled at her.

"He's in most of my core classes and never fails to try and sit near me or make lewd comments," Emmie commented.

"I've witnessed it. It's not fun," Kara added.

"You know what you need to do," Toni said. Emmie looked over at her, her eyes wide.

"What? Tell me," she begged. Toni smiled slightly as she glanced at Melanie.

"Get a boyfriend," they both said together. Emmie frowned at them as Kara started laughing.

"It's only the third day of class," Emmie said, still in a bit of shock. "Surely it takes longer than that."

"Marley Hawkins is already dating Alistair Cameron," Melanie said. "That started up as soon as we got back. Three days." She held up three fingers in the air and wiggled them. Emmie rolled her eyes as she started filling her plate.

"We're not saying go ask out Wood right this second - though that would most definitely solve your problem seeing how he and Flint hate each other - but there are a number of single, respectable Hufflepuffs you could go out with. For now," Toni said. Emmie just huffed. "There's also Ravenclaw. They aren't bad. Roger Davies is certainly easy on the eyes - for a fifth year, anyway." Emmie just glared at her.

"Nah, you need a nice Gryffindor bloke," someone said from behind them.

"A good, brave chivalrous bloke," an identical voice added.

Emmie turned around and frowned, seeing Fred and George Weasley standing there, grinning at her. She fought off rolling her eyes again. While she wasn't particularly close to the twins, they were related on her mother's side - she had been a Prewitt. Her family spent most of their holidays with the loud, large and boisterous MacKenzies after her parents had settled in Scotland. The twins entertained her more often than not, but they were currently settling into annoying territory.

The last thing she needed was for the Weasley twins to start meddling in her love life. Any part of her life, really.

"We could most definitely help set you up, cuz," one of them said, grinning, Emmie wasn't sure which one.

"What about Ian?" the other said.

"Better yet, we could set you up with Wood," the first replied. Emmie's eyes widened as she heard her friends started cackling behind her.

"I don't need your help, Fred and George, though thanks for the offer," she said quickly, turning around to hide her red face.

"But seriously, Mac, you don't need any help getting a date. Just stand around in the courtyard. Sure, someone will ask you out," one said. Emmie rolled her eyes and glanced back at them.

"Enough," she said firmly. The twins just chuckled and walked on to their table.

"They have a point," Melanie said, still laughing. "Just go out there and find a bloke. Any bloke."

"But I can't date someone I don't like," Emmie said emphatically. Toni rolled her eyes.

"For once, put aside your undying love for Wood and start thinking realistically," Melanie said. Emmie rolled her eyes and nearly dropped her head onto her arms again.

"I'm not in love with him!" she nearly shouted. "Just…" She stopped speaking, unsure of where she was going with that train of thought.

"They may have a point," Kara said. Emmie whipped her head over to glare at her best friend. "I'm just saying, it doesn't hurt to play the field a bit. Talk to other guys. See what's out there. Maybe Wood isn't as perfect as you've built him up to be in your head and there's someone else better." Emmie shut her mouth and thought it over a bit. It did make sense. "Besides, if he is into you - as I think he is - it'll just make him crazy jealous and come around a lot faster."

There it was. Emmie didn't quite believe that her best friend had truly given up on her plan to get her with Wood at some point during the year. She just groaned and dropped her head in her hand.

"First things first, let's hope that I don't end up with Flint as a potions partner," she moaned.

"You're forgetting the plus side to this," Kara said. Emmie turned to look at her. "Maybe you'll get put with Wood." That did put a smile on her face. Perhaps she would…


Flint walked down the hall randomly glaring at passing students and chuckling after they ran from him, trying to avoid him. He had longed settled into his role as school bully and relished the fear he caused in other students.

"What's got you looking so happy? We're off to potions," his best friend Adrian Pucey said, looking over at him. "Doesn't much matter if Snape is our head of house, he's hard on everyone."

"Thought that was obvious. He's hoping he gets put with MacKenzie," Warrington said with a laugh. Flint didn't respond, just chuckled as he glanced at him.

"Seriously? A Hufflepuff? She's not even pureblood. What's got into you, mate?" Pucey asked, his eyes wide in shock.

"What are you talking about? She got fit over the summer," Warrington said as he looked over at Pucey on the other side of Flint.

"Dunno what it is they're serving in Hufflepuff, but I definitely want some of it," Flint said, glancing over at Pucey, waggling his eyebrows. "If you know what I mean." Adrian just rolled his eyes.

"Course I know what you mean," he muttered. Flint stopped and looked down at him.

"Seriously, Pucey. You've seen her. You can't tell me that you wouldn't jump at the chance to get into a broom closet with her," he said. Pucey just stared at him. "No, good you don't answer that. As far as I'm concerned, she's off limits to everyone else."

"Even Wood?" Pucey asked, starting to walk again. Flint frowned and then hurried to catch up with him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he growled. Pucey chuckled. He was probably the only person in their house not afraid to laugh in Flint's face.

"You're not the only bloke in the school who's noticed her," he replied. "And from what I hear, she's had it bad for Wood since first year."

"Who told you that?" Flint asked. Pucey just shrugged.

"Some of those Hufflepuffs… yea, they keep to themselves, but they talk loudly. Mostly the sixth-year girls she rooms with," he replied. Flint kept walking, thinking it over.

"So, doesn't mean anything," Flint said, trying to toss it aside. "Just because she fancies him doesn't mean he fancies her." Adrian just shook his head.

"I'm just saying, I don't think you're her type," Pucey said.

"I'm, if anything, persistent," Flint said, smiling as he winked at Pucey. "I'll get her to come around." Adrian snorted.

"How? Annoy her to death? She can't stand you from what I've seen," he replied. Flint stopped, glaring at his best friend. "Face it, she only goes for charming."

"I can be charming," Flint retorted. Adrian stopped and turned to look at him. "Right, so maybe not charming. But you know how Hufflepuffs can be. All meek and quiet on the outside. Wild on the inside." Adrian just shook his head and started walking again.

"Don't think your usual approach is going to work on her," he called back.

"If there's anything I know, it's how to seduce a bird," Flint replied, catching up to him and puffing his chest out a bit. Adrian just glance at him. "Trust me. I know how to play this. She's spent most of her time being ignored by other blokes. She'll jump at any chance for attention."

"Wasn't that mostly because of her brother?" Warrington asked. "I do remember him going around threatening anyone who so much as gave her a dirty look…"

"Yea, but he hasn't been here since third year," Flint said. "She's been open game since fourth year." Adrian snorted. Flint grabbed his arm roughly and spun him around. "You got somethin' to say, Pucey?"

"Just that… you've got to rethink your approach if you want to land MacKenzie. She's not likely to respond to your usual tactics," he replied. As soon as he said it, he instantly regretted it. A glint came into Flint's eyes, one that he only got when issued a particularly difficult challenge, as he slowly started to grin. Bother. He had really done it now. Now they would be forced to deal with this all year, if that's what it took. Once Flint had settled on a challenge, there was nothing stopping him.

Flint let go of him and continued on towards the potions classroom.

"Come on, Pucey," he called over his shoulder. Adrian just rolled his eyes as Warrington chuckled.

"This is going to be fun," Warrington said, waggling his eyebrows. Adrian only shook his head.

"For you, maybe…"


Oliver was already tuning out, though Percy had just started talking as they walked to Potions. He was going on about how important it was to get the right partner and all. Oliver didn't much care about who he got as long as it wasn't Flint or any other Slytherin.

No, that wasn't true. He wouldn't mind being paired up with Emmie.

He hadn't seen her all summer besides the fact they lived in the same village and their brothers were best friends. They used to hang out a lot when they were kids, but he had to admit that was mostly because he idolized Alex MacKenzie along with his own older brother. Both of them had been four years ahead and powerhouses on the pitch - playing for Gryffindor and then joining the League afterwards. Oliver had played with them a couple years before they graduated. He was sure the only reason he had become popular from first year was because of his brother Ryan and Emmie's brother Alex. Though he wasn't sure why the same thing hadn't happened to her. Perhaps because she had gone to another house. She had mostly kept to her house and had few friends outside Hufflepuff. Granted she had always been a bit quieter and shyer than the rest of her family.

He supposed the fact that Ryan and Alex had been ever-present bodyguards her first three years at Hogwarts hadn't helped much either. Even though she was in a different house, both of them had gone out of their way to look out for her, beating up or threatening to beat up whatever Slytherins or upperclassmen that had teased her. Emmie had yelled something fierce at them one day her second year and from there they mostly did it quietly, but it was enough that they put the fear of Merlin into any guy who had considered asking her out. Just before they graduated, they had taken him aside and charged him with looking out for her in their stead and it was a task he had taken rather seriously. While she had been annoying when they were younger, he still had a soft spot for the bashful Hufflepuff.

He mostly stayed in the background, remembering that she hadn't liked it when her brother was overt about it. Not to mention, he was sure that she likely wouldn't have wanted to hang out with him - he had been a bit obnoxious back in the day. But he did what he could, mostly making sure that no one gave her a hard time which was easy enough as most people didn't even notice her. He wasn't sure why - she was a brilliant chaser and always gave off a warm and friendly aura. Had always been pretty in his mind with her freckles and green eyes.

However, as soon as he ran into her on the train, he realized that he was going to have to play a more active role this year. It was already apparent that more and more blokes were paying attention to her and he could understand why. She had completely transformed over the summer, wearing her hair differently and looking very different from before, even though she still had that stutter of hers.

He sighed, remembering the letter he had gotten from Alex just before school started up, telling him to pay closer attention - he was likely going to have to beat the blokes off with a stick. At the time, he had thought Alex was overreacting - something he tended to do where Emmie was involved - but then he saw her.

But even Oliver couldn't lie to himself, part of him wanted to get closer to her for reasons other than looking out for her. He wouldn't admit that out loud to anyone, especially not to Alex or Ryan. His brother would never let him live it down while Alex would probably beat him up.

"Wood? WOOD!"

"What is it, Perce?" Oliver said, whipping his head over to look over at his roommate and best friend.

"You haven't been listening to a word I've said," Percy replied, slightly angry.

"Sorry. Quidditch plays," Oliver muttered as they continued down the hallway. Percy studied him for a bit before sighing.

"Don't think I haven't noticed," he said.

"Noticed what?" Oliver asked, looking over at him, confused. Percy just rolled his eyes and huffed.

"Two words. Emmie MacKenzie," he said bluntly. Oliver stopped walking and stared at him a moment, blinking.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, though he could already feel the red seeping into his cheeks. Curse Percy Weasley and his observant nature.

"You've been trying to sit near her in every class you have with her. Why don't you just ask her out already," Percy said, continuing to walk. "And don't think I haven't noticed how you've always looked out for her since fourth year."

"I-what?" Oliver exclaimed. Percy just chuckled as he glanced at his best friend.

"Not like you're the only one," he replied. Oliver stopped him again.

"What do you know?" he demanded. Percy rolled his eyes and kept walking.

"I meant, you aren't the only bloke who's noticed her. You've heard the others in our house go on about her," he replied. "At least now. Though certainly took you long enough to talk to her."

"And what's that mean?" he asked, slightly indignant.

"I'm your best friend and your roommate. And I have a highly keen sense of observation, which you are well aware of," Percy said matter-of-factly. "Just curious as to why you've waited until now to talk to her."

Oliver frowned as he silently walked next to him, not sure what to say.

"Because… well… it's not so easy…" he started.

"Because she's the little sister of your brother's best friend? I hardly see how that's complicated," Percy said. "Besides, didn't they tell you to look out for her?"

"That's not- argh," Oliver said, stopping. Percy turned and looked at him, an eyebrow raised.

"Do you fancy her or not?" he asked pointedly.

"I-I, what?"

"If you like her, then ask her out," Percy said sensibly.

"I can't just ask her out. I mean, I don't even really know her all that well," Oliver said, running his hand up the back of his neck. "And Merlin, you've seen her. Every bloke in school is bound to be asking her out now." Percy just shook his head and turned around, still walking

"Ask her out. Don't ask her out. Just make up your mind," he muttered. Oliver frowned as he caught up to him.

"Can't I at least get to know her first?" he asked. Percy glanced at him and then turned his focus forward.

"Whatever you do, don't take too long with it," he said. Oliver rolled his eyes. This was the last thing he needed before going into potions.


Emmie sat nervously at her desk before class started, her eyes darting towards the door every few seconds to see if Snape had arrived.

"Relax," Kara said from her side, rolling her eyes. "You'll likely end up with me." Emmie just frowned at her.

"We don't know that," she replied.

"Mac-MacKenzie… Watkins," Wood said as he took the desk in front of them.

"Looking good, Wood," Kara said, leaning her chin on her hand as she grinned and winked. Emmie tried not to roll her eyes. Wood looked at her curiously and nodded. He then glanced over at Emmie, a bit of red entering his cheeks.

"Get your essay done?" he asked.

"I-I… yes," Emmie managed to say. "Though took forever."

"Same," Oliver replied. From next to him, Percy glanced at him and then Emmie then turned back to the front, hiding the fact that he was rolling his eyes. "Don't know about you, but think potions is going to kick my arse this year."

"Yea… same," Emmie said.

"How are things, MacKenzie?" a voice said from behind her. Emmie turned slightly, looking at Flint as he grinned.

"Good until now," she said blandly. She could see Kara grinning from her side and start to silently clap her hands. She had to admit, it did feel good to finally have a comeback for Flint.

"Looking forward to tonight," Flint said calmly. Emmie straightened up, her eyes wide as she slowly turned around. Her eyes narrowed as she started glaring at him.

"What are you talking about? I'm on rounds with Michael," she said.

"Not anymore. He wanted to trade yesterday. Think he's got a bit of something for Clearwater," he said casually. Kara started glaring at the Slytherin. "So, it's just me and you… patrolling the dungeons… for an hour."

Emmie started to open her mouth, ready to lay into him, but at that moment Snape swooped into the room and she spun back around to face the front of the room. She was seething as she glared down at her open potions book in front of her. She felt a nudge and looked over at Kara who nodded her head forward. She looked up and saw Oliver bent over, his back tense. Emmie shook her head and looked back at her best friend, wondering what she meant. Kara just rolled her eyes.

"As you are well aware of, today you will be set with partners that will remain for the rest of the year," Snape droned as he reached down and picked up a piece of parchment. There were murmurs throughout the room as students began looking at each other. "Before you get excited or start moving, I will be assigning them."

Emmie shot Kara a glare, as if to silently say "I told you so." She then turned her focus to the front of the class as Snape began calling out names.

"Not Flint," she kept thinking over and over.

"Emily MacKenzie," he paused, glancing up as there were a few soft chuckles. Emmie frowned - she hated when she was called by her given name. No one used it, not even her family. Well, her mum and dad used it when she was in trouble. But she had been called Emmie since she could remember. But then the fear slid in. This was it… she knew he was going to put her with Flint. "... and Percy Weasley."

Emmie's sigh of relief was audible, which she hadn't intended. She glanced around nervously before quickly gathering up her things in preparation to move.

"Kara Watkins and Oliver Wood…"

Soon he finished calling out names and everyone moved around, getting settled with their new partners.

"Today, we will be making Hiccuping Solution," Snape said as he waved his wand and a list of ingredients went up on the board. "Gather your ingredients and then turn to page 25 for the instructions…"

Emmie turned to Percy and smiled slightly.

"Do you want to get them or should I?" she asked.

"If you'd like to, I can set up the cauldron and such," Percy said amicably. Emmie nodded and got up off her stool, walking towards the supplies closet. She glanced over at Kara, who just grinned and gave her a thumbs up, then motioned towards Oliver who busy looking at his potions book. Emmie rolled her eyes and continued to the closet. The more she thought about it, she was happy being set with Percy. He was easily the top of their class and they got on well enough. At the few family gatherings she had been to that involved the Weasleys, she ended up talking with him, the both of them the quietest of the whole bunch.

And at least she wasn't with Flint.


Around 9 pm that night, Emmie trudged out of the Hufflepuff common room, heading towards where she was to meet Flint. She was loathing the one hour they would have to spend monitoring the corridors around the Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms. On the one hand, she understood why they mostly split it up between the Slytherin and Hufflepuff prefects - something about building inter-house camaraderie and the fact they were both located in the lower levels of the castle. But she still didn't like the fact that she was with Flint.

"Taking your own precious time, is it, Emily?" Flint asked, pushing off from the wall he was leaning against after she rounded a corner. Emmie stopped and glared at him.

"It's MacKenzie," she said. "Let's get it this over with." She started walking past him.

"Don't sound too eager," he quipped. Emmie just rolled her eyes and kept walking. "You're a bit livelier than I thought." She just glanced at him and continued walking, her eyes searching around the corridors for any student that was out of their common room after curfew.

"Seriously, MacKenzie. This doesn't have to be painful if you don't want it to be," he said with a sigh. She didn't look at him or say anything. "Or perhaps you do like things rough."

Emmie stopped in her tracks and turned around, her eyes blazing as she glared at him, planting her hands on her hips.

"You keep that up, Flint, and I will hex you," she said. He only grinned as he stepped closer to her, not stopping until his face was inches from her.

"Yea, we both know that's an empty threat," he said. "And admit it, you like this back and forth of ours." Emmie wrinkled her nose and stepped back. She didn't want to admit that he made her nervous. Definitely not while they were alone. What was that saying she had always heard? Fake it until you make it?

"No, I don't," she said simply before spinning around and walking off. Flint only chuckled and watched her a bit before moving to catch up to her. He decided to lay off for now, but this was going to be fun.


Gotten more of this finished that I think I can keep posting it regularly, though making some changes to later chapters and my plot as the characters develop. At least I've gotten everything plotted to the very end. Planning to keep this lighthearted as best I can, considering there's about to be a monster roaming the halls of Hogwarts soon.

Thanks for reading and following!