DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter

When I get to Potions finally, everyone's standing at the front of the class. I have two choices 1) try and sneak in inconspicuously and in some way make it to the back of the crowd of students without being seen, or 2) trip over a stupid bag someone's left in the hope that Professor Slughorn won't actually impose a seating plan this year and they'll get to stay in the same place. In my head I chose 1. My feet and accompanying body however, chose 2.

"Aah Miss Matthews. You finally decided to grace us with your presence eh?" Great. One minute late and Slughorn's already making jokes about me. Maybe if I just joined his stupid Slug Club I wouldn't have to deal with this. Then again, he's always praising Lily Evans and she accepted his invitation straight away. Don't think I could deal with that kind of publicity.

"Sorry Professor. It won't happen again."

"And see to it it doesn't Miss Matthews or I'll have to seat you on your own!" What I wouldn't give to be on my own in this class! "Well... join your classmates!" I should probably refrain from rolling my eyes as I walk to the front of the class. I've already drawn enough attention to myself as it is. "Good. Now Miss Matthews, since you're late, you wouldn't mind coming over here and helping me now, would you?" I wish I could say no, but the way his eyes are twinkling it looks like he's toasted the new school year with a little meade and everyone knows Slughorn's insistent when he's drunk.

"Yes Professor." I say quietly. That way he has less of a chance of thinking I'm being over enthusiastic and there's less of a chance he'll show me up in front of the class.

"There's a good girl." Talk about patronising. I'm legally an adult in the magical world. I shouldn't have to put up with this. If he tries to pat my head again like he did in first year... "Now, class, everyone knows Raina do they?" Oh Merlin. What's going on? There's a murmur of uninterested 'yeah's which I know really mean 'seen her somewhere or something' before Slughorn continues. "Well, she's going to be helping me begin to choose the seating plan in this lesson." Oh no. The interest in the room's peaked and Sirius and James're smiling weirdly over at me.

"I'm sorry Professor? But I -uh I don't think I should -uhm do this?" It's not that people don't notice me at all, I just prefer it that way. I hate people staring at me. I've never been used to a lot of attention.

"Don't be silly girl! You just need to pull names out of this hat! Old muggle tradition see? I found out about it in the summer, much more amusing than having to actually pair everyone up don't you think?" He's looking straight at me as he says this, a little smile on his chubby face. I knew I should've joined the bloody Slug Club.

"Yes Professor."

"Good. Well, there you go. One hat, filled with everyone's names." I think he thinks I'm stupid... "Now be a good girl and take one out of the bag eh?" If he talked to the boys like this he'd have a mini law suit on his hands. Grr. "That's it... got one?" I should probably nod. I don't think I can talk anymore. "Ah good. Now read the name eh?" Here goes.

"Sirius Black." I think I said that anyway. Everyone's staring at me in some weird way like I'm the giant squid or something.

"Sorry? Do speak up. All I heard was a high pitched squeak. Were you imitating a kettle?" Cue looking like a tomato. This is going so well so far. Please note the unbelievable sarcasm dripping from every word in that sentence. I'll clear my throat and try again.

"Sorry Professor. Sirius Black." A look of recognition flows over Slughorn's face, though that might just have been a burp and he says

"Ahhh... Mr Black eh? Well, Miss Matthews, no need to be intimidated. Yes, no need at all! Mr Black is sure to be a wonderful partner for you." Wait what? "Mr Black. You and Miss Matthews can take the desk in that corner over there. Nice and cosy eh? Go on then!" Gulp. Maybe if I look at him with pleading eyes he'll change all of this. "See this Black, Miss Matthews looks overjoyed."

"I do not! I can't believe you've saddled me with Sirius. He's not even the smart one!" Yes Professor. Overjoyed. Thank you for this opportunity, I'm sure Mr Black and I will be able to work to a high standard together.

"What d'you mean I'm not even the smart one?" Oh no. Did I say what I was thinking out loud and what I was going to say I thought? Oh Merlin. Last time this happened Cass slapped me. It's not my fault she did have tons of make up on and DID look pretty silly.

"Everyone knows you're the slightly good looking brawn, Peter's the groupie, Remus is the smart one and James is a twat. Don't be surprised that even Hufflepuff's are saying it." Wow. One Nil Lily Evans. I should probably smile at her or something to say thank you. I do so and she beams back.

After everyone's been seated and Professor Slughorn's told Sirius that he really does have to sit next to me, and run after me when I tried to leave, he tells us all to take out a quill and some parchment. I don't see why it's so hard for a teacher to understand that not being able to talk to Sirius is going to be a big problem when couple-potions involves a lot of talking. I mean, what if I add the wormwood and he doesn't know that I have, and adds extra whilst stirring the potion to the left, not the right. I mean... I'd rather leave the dungeons with as much hair as possible.

"I'm actually quite smart I'll have you know. You're the one who's failing and was failing last year too." Probably shouldn't tell him that I've already got my Potions NEWT and that I'm only here because Professor Dumbledore makes me.

"Sorry." I mumble quickly so I don't look rude but can still retain as much dignity as is possible in the current situation. I can feel that I'm as red as a tomato and am sitting next to the hottest guy in the year. Not exactly low key material.

"You should be. James is going to be going on for weeks about how Lily said his name. You'd think he wasn't Head Boy." I think I detect a little jealousy but I shouldn't say anything in case he starts talking louder.

"Now class, I would like you too write out the sequence and ingredients needed in order to brew amorentia, the love potion." It's been a minute and I'm done. Sometimes you just gotta hate having a fast hand and a good memory.

"I for one don't ever curse having a fast hand." What? Ew. Why is Nate sitting on the edge of the desk? and why is he winking at me? I should probably tape my mouth shut so I don't continue this foot in mouth syndrome.

"Uh-"

"I know. It's hard for you to speak around me. But I want you to know that Cass and I had a little chat and it's okay. I won't put this against you. So, wanna meet me at 10 this Saturday?" Why? Does he want me to tutor him or something?

"Why?"

"For our date silly!" Ugh. I smell a little piggy called Cass.

"What date?" Date insinuates having already gone on one date, or a prior knowledge of what the hell's going on. Or even having been asked out in person by a guy. None of the above have occurred.

"Cass didn't tell you?" Apparently. Not.

"Tell me what?"

"Nate. You're lowering the IQ of the entire table. Kindly fuck off so I can finish copying uh-" Brilliant. A knight in shining armour moment and yet he doesn't know my name so there's no way in hell he could finish this sentence well.

"Raina." Came a whisper from Sirius' right hand side.

"Raina's work. Could you do that now? Or is it too hard for you?" Ouch.

"Uh- yeah. Sorry. Yeah, I'll uh - go now." Okay, so I feel kinda sorry for Nate now. It's not his fault that I've never liked him since he picked his nose in Transfiguration in second year then flicked it and it fell on my parchment. I think I had three showers a day for a week after that.

"It's okay. No need to thank me." If I didn't have such a big thing for Sirius I might have been up in arms at that. It WAS a little mean, and he was being a conceited git but he had that hair flick thing down to a T and that cute smile. Luckily Slughorn started talking straight away Nate left so I didn't have to dwell on anything for a while other than trying not to laugh at Slughorn trying, often unsuccessfully, to string a sentence together.

Hope you liked this chapter! Reviews would be appreciated :) B x