Charlotte's POV

The last class of the day happens to be double potions with the Gryffindor's, every year it's the same. Scorpius and I are partners while Al and Ana are partners. But I have a feeling this year will be different. I'm sitting in front of two cauldrons with Al, Scorp and Alec, while professor Slughorn magically writes the ingredients needed for today's potion on the blackboard at the front of the class. Putting my big girl pants on I start to ask Alec to be my partner so that Al and Scorp can work together to avoid drama, when Al stops me.

"Let's be partners this year Charlotte. I know you always get an Outstanding with Scorpius over here, but I'm a natural potions maker and I promise to keep your grade up."

Say what?

"Yeah sure." I kiss Scorpius on the forehead and switch spots with Alec so I'm sitting next to Al, who gives me a big smile. Seems he cured his hangover since he seems to be in good spirits and as he gets up and heads over to the ingredient cupboard with a spring in his step, I'm shocked at how much energy he has. When I'm hung-over I want to crawl into a hole and never get out. Like ever. Scorpius gets up and joins Albus and while they load ingredients into their arms they have a hushed conversation. Going back and forth, I wonder what they're talking about.

Alec looks ecstatic at the idea of working with Scorpius and the Outstanding he's likely to receive because of it. "You seem happy," I say with a smirk in his direction.

"This could possibly be my first Outstanding ever!" as he says this Albus and Scorpius return with all our ingredients and Scorpius shakes his head in amazement.

"Just don't touch anything okay?" is all he says to Alec which only makes Alec happier. Of course the idea of not doing any work and getting a good grade must be heaven to a guy like Alec.

As professor Slughorn tells everyone to begin the volume in the classroom goes up as each team begins his or her own conversations. The potion tables are big enough that when seated on opposite ends, hushed conversations are more or less private. I open my textbook to page 119 and start calculating the measurements needed. Al's doing a great job of helping me and we're off to a great start. As we work together in sync I take my time to take a good look at him without it being weird. I noticed how he's really filled out over the last few years, how his hair has grown out ever so slightly over the summer so that it's an effortless mess at the top of his head, I like it. And lastly I noticed his green eyes. The eyes he received from his father. I'd never appreciate Al this way and had never really let myself feel attracted to him. He'd always been taken and he'd always been just a friend. Yet ever since our kiss I keep thinking of how much I wish I could kiss him again. Looking up from Al and our work, I see Scorp looking over at me, he tries to give me a smile, but it looks more like a grimace. He's crushing ingredients into his cauldron while Alec is drumming his hands on our table looking bored. I mouth at him "miss me?" and he shakes his head aggressively, which makes me giggle. Merlin I love that kid.

Al taps me on the shoulder, "can we talk about last night now?" oh.

"I'm honestly shocked you remember."

He chuckles, "yeah I got pretty wasted I'll admit, but I wouldn't forget something like that."

"We don't have to talk about this if you don't want to, I mean things just ended between you and Ana."

He gives me a searing look and takes a deep breath, "honestly Char I don't even want to talk about her, she's so irrelevant to me at this point."

"Oh I see." I don't know what to say. This is so confusing. "I hope I had nothing to do with…"

He interrupts me, "no not at all, don't even think that."

"Okay good, I wasn't sure… just because it came so out of no where."

"Not completely out of nowhere I mean, Char don't be naïve, you have to know how much guys want you."

I'm not unattractive, I've had my fair share of boyfriends and I have enough self confidence in myself to not be insecure about my looks. But really Albus why are you trying to bring other guys into this?

"And when you say guys, are you talking about yourself?" straight to the point.

"Yeah I think so. Ever since last night, I feel shy and nervous around you, like I have fucking Cornish pixies in my stomach."

"I know what you mean."

"So I'm not alone here, you feel something too?" he looks hopefully as he asks me our most important question yet.

"Yeah, I feel something." I take a deep breath and make sure my next words are very clear. "I'm not sure I want anything serious right now though." He doesn't seem upset so I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. Thank merlin he's not hurt. And I can feel myself relax for the first time since we started this conversation. Ever since id talked to Hayley this morning, I'd decided that our friendship we too precious to ruin over a quick relationship.

"No problem, we'll keep it casual and just take things as they come. No pressure, we stop having feelings we end it. No big deal, we've both hooked up with friends before and it didn't ruin the friendships, we'll just make sure we're careful this time."

I look up at Al and remember how badly I'd wanted to kiss him, just minutes ago. Then glance across the table at Scorpius working on his potion staring intently at his textbook. I know what a bad idea this could be. How both of our reputations wont help our situation. Yet as Al places his hand on mine and gives it a quick squeeze I can't help but say "yes."

Rose's POV

It's only the first freaking day of class and I already have so much work to do, but I guess that's what you get for taking 6 NEWTS. After saying goodbye to my friend Marissa who had to meet her boyfriend somewhere, I head back towards the Gryffindor common room. What a great potions class, I got to socialize with Marissa who I hadn't seen since the feast last night. Why is that girl always with her boyfriend? And as a bonus I got to see Ana shimmer with rage as she watched my favorite new couple in action. There has to be some way I can hook Albus and Charlotte up. How hard can it be? If they came out as a couple Ana's face would be worth every galeon in Gringott's.

"Hey Rose, wait up!"

It's Louis. Aside from Albus he's one of my favorite cousins. Other than him being in Ravenclaw, we have tons in common and I can always go to him, if I want to complain about parents, grades or even boys. I love to way he embraces everything about himself and doesn't put to much weight in disappointing our parents, which I cant, help but admire. It's hard not to get caught up in having the perfect imagine and not letting the daily prophet get any dirt on you. It's so hard to balance school, family and a social life when your parents saved the whole freaking wizarding world.

"My mom wants to know your size, for Victoire's bridesmaid dress." He rolls his eyes, "I think their going shopping soon."

"How you live with all those girls I will never understand." I pat his back, "I'll send her an owl don't worry about it."

"Thanks Rosie!" Louis's long blond is now pulled up in a man bun and he's gained even more height since before the summer. He's almost a foot taller than her now. I want to ask him about the girl I saw him with at the party last night, but it's no use, he's probably already forgotten her name by now. Louis is a one night only kind of guy and he's been that way ever since he arrived at Hogwarts. Pretty girls don't stand a chance against his charms; he is part Veela after all.

"I saw you with Malfoy the other night didn't I? What are you doing Rosie?" he says while shaking his head in obvious disappointment.

"It's just a bit of fun, don't get your knickers in a twist. He's definitely not boyfriend material." I say calmly, since after all, I've explained this to basically all my cousins over the years.

"Yeah but you've gone there more than once now Rosie that means there's something there."

"Just because you lose interest in girls after one night doesn't mean the rest of the wizarding population is like you." I'm pleased with my comeback and give Louis my best Hermione Granger stare.

"And besides, what's with all the boy questions huh, you don't see me asking about the girls I see you with?"

"Yeah well, you know better, I don't" he winks and with that he's off and wrapping his arm around a pretty brunette from Gryffindor a few steps ahead of me. Doesn't he ever get sick of getting girls?