18 Monday

"Now make sure you aim for the tub. No playing around now." Professor Flitwick walked around the room, watching as each student attempted to perform the water-making charm.

Noelle stretched her wand out, aiming for the same tub of water that several other students were also aiming for. "Aguamenti!" Her wand sputtered and a few droplets of water dripped off the end. She turned her wand around, looking at it in disappointment.

Taking a deep breath, she aimed her wand once more towards the tub of water, closing her eyes and focusing. This was a simple spell. One she could easily handle. It didn't matter that there were other things fighting to control her mindspace. Robert, Azraeyn, her lessons with Queenie. None of that mattered here in Charms class.

Trying again, Noelle opened her eyes. "Aguamenti."

This time, a ray of water shot out of her wand, spraying the inside wall of the tub just as Mr. Flitwick went along her line. "Well done Ms. Lestrange."

Noelle smiled. "Thank you Professor." She went back to her work, repeating the spell over and over until she felt more comfortable with it. Next to her, Brooke and Kade did the same.

Pausing a moment, Noelle took a look around the room. The rest of the week promised not to be all that exciting. Herbology had been cancelled for the day. Tuesday, their flying class would just be more drills as it usually was, and in DADA they would begin learning their non-verbal spells. She at least had in interest in Wednesday, where Potions class had the potential to be interesting with Professor Slughorn, and she had DnD to look forwards to in the evening.

She sighed and returned to focusing on the lesson as Flitwick made his rounds again. She wished she could just skip ahead.

Wednesday

Salem stretched out his two front paws, his tail straight up in the air as he yawned and constricted the muscles in his body. Noelle laughed and reached out, running a hand across his back. "Silly cat.. What are you doing?" The cat meowed in response and then jumped onto her window sill, looking at the fish in the lake.

Noelle sat up and pushed off her blankets, turning and putting her feet to the ground with a shiver. It was starting to get colder out now and the stone floor showed it. Reaching out with her toes she pulled the rug out from where it had gotten shoved under her bed, instead stepping down onto that.

Getting dressed she opened her nightstand for her wand, frowning as she saw the letter to Robert still there. Thoth, who also saw it, tilted his head and gave a "hoot" from where he perched on her bed.

Noelle took out her wand and closed the drawer again, looking at the owl and shaking her head. "I'm working on it." Turning back to her cat she put her hands on her hips. "Are you coming with me today? Or are you content to stare at the fishes?" Salem didn't answer, crouching low and reaching out with a paw as though to try and catch something. Noelle shrugged. "If the giant squid gets you, I'm not here to save you." Salem's ears twitched her direction, indicating that he'd heard her, so with that she left the room, heading out of the dungeons and to Potions class.

Taking her seat, Noelle pulled out her potions book, hoping that Professor Slughorn would pay them all equal attention today, instead of drooling over Harry. At least so that if any student need assistance, he was more readily available to help.

On seeing her, the Professor stood up and made his way over to her table. Noelle looked up, worried now that she'd done something to get herself into trouble. "Professor?"

In his own awkward manner he began. "Ah yes, Ms. Lestrange. I have a dinner group every so often with several of my prize students you see, a sort of incentive to work hard in my class. Now, technically, my group has already had one dinner, but you and Harry are both particularly excellent, and I was hoping you'd consider joining this group." He looked at her expectantly.

Stunned into silence, it took her a moment to answer. "Yes of course Professor!"

"Good good! Then I'll send you and Mr. Potter owls when it is time." He straightened up and smiled, returning to his desk.

She got good grades in all her classes, but to be recognized for it was an amazing feeling indeed. And perhaps, this gave her the chance to prove that anyone could be just as good as Harry Potter. She certainly wasn't going to ruin her chances by pointing out to Slughorn that, before this year, Harry had not been known for potions, though, Hermione had.

After everyone arrived, Slughorn stood and went over to the main table where he had a potion brewing. "Good morning class. Today we're going to be learning about Veritaserum. Does anyone know what this is? Anyone besides you, Ms. Granger." Hermione put her hand down slowly.

Azraeyn rose his hand, looking at his potions book in his hands. "It's a form of truth serum."

"Yes, that's correct. It forces one to speak the truth. Three drops of this and even you-know-who would spill out his darkest secrets." He chuckled. "It takes nearly a month to brew and quite obviously can have very negative results."

Despite his warning, as was often the case, the boys and girls both looked intrigued. Noelle was glad for a moment that she couldn't yet read their minds.

Slughorn turned and motioned students towards his desk where his book lay open. "I'll show you all some tips for the brewing of this potion, but keep in mind that none of you ought brew it here at school."

As everyone followed him over, Noelle noticed Kade pull out his wand and point it towards an empty vial. "Wingardium leviosa." The vial floated over the cauldron and scooped up several drops of the liquid, before being stoppered by a cork and floating into Kade's open jacket pocket where he held it waiting. He caught Noelle's eye and smiled sheepishly. "It may come in handy."

Trying to quickly recover, Noelle closed her jaw which had been hanging open, and followed the group. What could Kade possibly need a truth serum for?