Really sorry it's been so long! I was on holiday and then school started! I have a few chapters written out, I just need to type them up, so hopefully I'll be updating fairly regularly now!
"Can you believe it's only been a week? If feels like we've accomplished so much!" exclaimed Fey as she added a pinch of ground up unicorn horn to the cauldron that sat between her and Tom.
"That's because you have," said %Tom as he stirred the smoking contents: two times clockwise, two times anticlockwise.
They were sitting in the potions classroom in the dungeon, brewing a beautifying potion. A few more stirs and it was ready. Tom summoned two vials from a shelf and ladled a few teaspoons into each one. With a flick of his wand they were stoppered, and with another flick the cauldron was squeaky clean.
Fey's eyes widened. "Non verbal magic. I'm impressed!" Tom glanced up at her and flashed a grin. "We'll have you doing it in no time." Fey wasn't so sure about that, but she smiled any way.
"Now, let's try it then!" Fey reached out to take one of the vials from Tom, but before her fingers could close about it he pulled it out of her reach. Fey frowned. They always tested the potions.
"It would be a waste to try it Fey." Tom said softly. "You see, because beauty is subjective to an individuals taste, Beautatia make the drinker as whoever brew the potion sees beauty." he paused here, "If you took this potion that I just helped brew, you wouldn't change one bit."
Fey looked away, conscious that her cheeks were blushing a deep crimson.
"Come on," said Tom after an awkward silence. "We better get to the Great Hall or we'll be late for the banquet." He reached out a hand to pull her up . "That is," he cocked his head to the side coquettishly, "if you would like to come with me."
Fey felt the awkwardness of the previous moment melt away as a smile spread itself across her face. "Why of course!" she answered.
After a quick trip back to the dorms to drop of their books and get their hats, they made their way to the Great Hall. It was already nearly full, Fey noticed as they entered, although it wasn't due to start for another ten minutes. The last decorations had been put up, and it looked spectacular: a starry night sky shone over hundreds of carved pumpkins that had replaced the usual candles, and the traditional Halloween colours- orange and black- were on everything- from the table runners to the wall hangings to the plates and cutlery. Huge spiders scuttled up and down the walls and little glass spheres that swirled with glitter floated just out of reach above everyone's heads.
They paused for a moment to take in the breathtaking scene before them before walking to the left towards the Slytherin table.
As they walked down the space between the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables Tom lightly placed a hand on Fey's waist to guide her to where his friends were waiting. About ten places further down the table, Mara sat watching them, grinning wider than Fey was, who was trying to not let show how Tom's gentle touch made her feel.
Tom's friends had kept two places free for them, and Fey wondered how they'd known they'd be needing two seats saved, until she realised that Lucius Malfoy was missing. The space must have been meant for him, though no one objected when fey sat down.
The eyes from the other boys wandered over and looked at them questioningly, but none of them pried any further.
"This is Fey. She's my newest tutee." Tom introduced her to people around them, and Fey felt her heart sink.
That's all you are, Fey! She reminded herself, A girl he's tutoring for extra credit.
She smiled round at the group.
"That's Charles Alberlo and that's Logan Seymour." Tom pointed at the boy sitting next to Fey on the right and the boy directly opposite her, respectively.
Logan, a boy with swirling grey eyes and uneven blond hair leaned forward. "Malfoy's in the kitchen. He got the colouring from Slughorn's cabinet and is going to tip it in the pumpkin juice!" They all laughed softly.
Just as Tom was turning to introduce the others, silence fell over the Hall and head turned to the front as Professor Dippet stood.
"Students! Welcome to the annual Hogwarts Halloween Banquet! Withstanding tradition, all classes tomorrow are cancelled!" at this piece of known news cheers went up. "-And for the first time at Hogwarts, from now on due to popular demand, third years will be allowed to leave school grounds and visit Hogsmeade for the day..." Fey didn't hear the rest of the speech, because an unwelcome figure was trying to squeeze between Fey and Tom.
"Malfoy, stop!" she cried, leaning away from him as he tried to push their shoulders apart and create a space for himself. Tom swivelled around and batted Malfoy's hands away. "What are you doing?" he asked in a not at all surprised manner.
"Trying to get a place," was Malfoy's feeble response.
"Well try somewhere else." Tom said coolly but firmly.
Looking embarrassed at the stir he'd caused, Malfoy turned away, not once making eye contact with Fey. A moment later he appeared on the other side of the table, and squeezed in between Logan and a handsome black boy Fey would later learn was Peter Kingsgate. They looked annoyed, but said nothing having seemed what happened on the other side.
"Thanks." Fey whispered to Tom, unable to muster any more volume. Tom turned to her and looked as if he wanted to say something, but then changed his mind and turned back to look at the front. Fey sighed and followed his gaze to Professor Dippet, her stomach growling in anticipation of the feast she knew would appear in just a few seconds.
"...have a wonderful evening, students, and let the festivities begin!"