Harry walked into Arithmacy just before the start of class and took his usual seat at the back of the classroom. He was pulling out his books and placed his bag on the chair next to him when a shadow moved over him. Looking up he saw Alisha standing there, looking nervous.
"Can I sit here?"
Harry moved his bag and shifted his book over to allow her room, and Alisha sat down looking grateful.
"How come in every lesson you sit alone? I've seen you in class, you always turn up just before the lesson starts, and you sit alone. Why?"
"Because I enjoy spending my free time not in detention."
"Why the hell would you get detention for being early to class?"
"No, not for that, for putting the Gryffindors in the hospital wing every lesson. Those dickheads don't know when to shut up."
Alisha laughed, "You don't have to try and deal with them ALL the time. They are so loud! And arrogant! And stupid! I didn't completely believe you on the train, what you said about houses, but It is so true. Your brother keeps going on about how all Slytherins are evil, and the noble Gryffindors have a duty to protect everyone from you. And everyone just laps it up!"
"I take it you're not the most popular person in Gryffindor right now" whispered Harry as he pointed at a glaring Hermione Granger, whose face reddened as she was caught out.
He smirked and started to write Professor Vector's instructions as he listened to Alisha rant on about her housemates.
"Miss Hillman! Why have you not written these equations down yet? This class is not for you to annoy Mr Potter, nor the rest of us! Now start writing or I shall have to take away house points!" Alisha jumped when Professor Vectors' voice rang out behind her, and instantly started scribbling away, seething at the embarrassment.
"Why the hell didn't you warn me, and why didn't you get in trouble, you were talking as well."
"Miss Hillman, this is not the appropriate time talk. Some of us are trying to work." She didn't have to look across to know that Harry had a smirk on his face.
"Besides it was funny, and as a Slytherin, I always look for opportunities to humiliate Gryffindors, obviously."
"Alright smartarse, but how come you didn't get in trouble." Alisha demanded, still writing frantically, trying to catch up from her ranting.
"Vector is one of the few teachers who doesn't care about my brother, partially because I ace this class. Granger hates it, she studies for weeks and still comes second every year. Drives her mad."
"Alright class, hand in those equations, I will mark them as you complete the next set" Vector waved her wand, summoning the parchment to her desk as the next equations appeared on the chalkboard.
Harry and Alisha worked for the next few minutes in silence, until Alisha accidently snapped her quill in frustration.
"This stupid question! I can't get it! What have you done?"
She grabbed Harry's parchment and examined it. She compared it to hers and turned on him,
"How did you know how to do all those equations? What are those equations? Where did you learn all this? How the bloody hell are you finished? Are you cheating?"
Harry laughed as her face changed from frustration to bewilderment to suspicion and finally to embarrassment at being laughed at.
"If you want answers, allowing one to speak generally helps."
She pouted, rather cutely, Harry noticed, and looked expectantly at Harry.
"I rather enjoy this subject, it's a test of your knowledge, logic and cunning to interpret something, which most of wizard can't do, as it is too advanced for them. All of these equations are the simple basic principle, just manipulated slightly to be more beneficial in the context of the question. It's just shifting your thought process slightly, and using a bit of ingenuity. Here, I'll show you."
Harry pulled her work slightly closer and she leaned her head in. It was only when an amused cough from above them alerted the pair how close they were. The two leapt back, as if scalded, and saw Professor Vector standing above the table with two pieces of parchment.
"Not bad Miss Hillman, you should probably review the last question, but overall not bad. Mr Potter, your usual standard."
Alisha glanced down and saw he received full marks. He wasn't bragging when he said he aced the subject.
The Professor picked up their unmarked work and moved back to the front of the class,
"I will give you your marks for these next time I see you, please read the next chapter in your books and enjoy not having any further homework. Dismissed."
The class mumbled appreciatively at their teacher and stood to leave.
Alisha struggled to catch up to Harry, who was already moving out the door.
"Wait! Harry!"
He stopped and looked back at her.
"Can you help me with this? You're obviously really good at this, I'd really appreciate it."
He looked at her curiously and nodded, before looking over her shoulder.
Alisha went to turn before she felt someone grab her arm and steer her away.
"What the fu-"
"Hello Hillman."
"Granger? What the bloody hell do you want?"
The bushy-haired girl didn't respond, choosing instead to scowl over her shoulder at Harry, who shook his head and walked off.
Alisha' arm was let go as she was pushed into an alcove.
"What in Merlin's name was that for Granger? Didn't you see I was talking?"
Granger narrowed her eyes at Alisha
"Stay away from him, he's bad news. You've heard Thomas speak about him, he's an evil, jealous arse."
"Pots and Kettles, much? They obviously both hate each other, how do we know Thomas wouldn't lie about that to discredit his brother." She shot back, annoyed.
Granger shook her head, ignoring Alisha's words.
"You're a Gryffindor, you should know better than to trust a Slytherin over one of us. How could you side with the other brother over Thomas?"
"Firstly, he has a name, use it, and secondly, why should I listen to you about who my friends are? Open your eyes and look at the actual people Granger, not these stupid stereotypes."
Granger's face turned sympathetic, "They're not stereotypes Hillman, I thought so too when I first turned up here, but all Slytherins hate the other houses, especially muggle-borns. It's the way it is, you can't change it."
"Maybe you're just using that as an excuse to blind yourself, because you don't want to contradict your precious Thomas."
"Fine then, don't listen to me. But you'll find out the hard way then."
She left, leaving Alisha thoroughly annoyed and slightly confused.
Harry walked through the shelves of the library and picked out a book on healing dark curses before heading to his table and sitting down. He had spent the morning watching the Slytherin quidditch trials that morning with Blaise and had silently cursed Draco for using his father's money to gain his position on the team and deny Harry the opportunity. It had been a very frustrating morning as he saw the pathetic display from his housemates. Although he had little reason to cheer for Slytherin, he detested the smugness and arrogance Thomas gained from winning the Quidditch cup, year after year.
Putting quidditch out of his mind, he settled in comfortably and read through the first few chapters when someone sat down opposite him.
"Whatcha reading there Harry?"
He peered over at top of the book at her.
"How to heal oneself." He turned back to his book.
"And why do you need that kind of knowledge?"
"Because Thomas recently was bought a new collection of books on curses, hexes and jinxes. So I need to know how to heal them."
"You already think Thomas is going to come after you? I know he's a complete wanker, but you still share blood." Alisha, sounded both hesitant and a bit unsure of whether to continue.
Harry sighed and put down his book, rubbing his head as he did so, looking tired suddenly.
"Thomas and I have always been polar opposites, and we have always clashed. With his ego, and both our pride, we were always going to fight. Unfortunately, sticking us in the same castle but in opposing houses, with the type of childhood his father gave him, really inflamed the situation. He loves antagonising me, and absolutely abhors me responding with any measure of competency. So he will come at me, and I will respond, and one, if not both of us, will end up with a need for healing."
Alisha looked down, and glanced at Harry, who just looked worn down.
"Thomas is an arrogant arsehole, but I still think it's sad that you two ended up the way you did."
"So do I, Alisha, so do I. But it is what it is, and there is too much bad blood to change it."
She didn't know what to say, so when he opened his book and continued reading she simply pulled out her charms homework and started writing, the sound of pages turning and quills scratching accompanying the two.
The pair got a few odd looks from other students but no-one dared to challenge the dangerous Potter twin. After many hours and two and a bit essays for Alisha, when most of the other Library-dwellers had retreated back to their common rooms for the night, Alisha stood and stretched with a soft groan.
Picking up her books she spoke softly to the silent boy opposite her.
"The library is going to shut soon, you coming?"
"No, I'll stay a bit longer."
She looked around a noticed that most of the lights had been extinguished, save for the ones in their area.
"But, won't you get kicked out."
He tiredly rubbed his eyes and picked up another book,
"No, Pince knows that I'll respect her books and put them all back properly when I'm done. She leaves me alone, unless I fall asleep on something rare."
She turned away, trying to hide the disappointment from Harry, who seemed too tired to notice.
"You know, I, ah, enjoyed this. I really did. Can we do this again?"
He looked up curiously, and with a guarded expression on his face,
"You want to do this again?
"Yes, I'd love to." She could hear the hope in her voice and silently prayed he didn't turn her down.
"Yeah, sure, that's cool." He seemed surprised, although she wasn't sure whether it was from her question, or his answer.
She turned to walk away, before looking back.
"You know Harry, If you just feel like talking, we can you know, just talk, alright.?"
She didn't get an answer, but walked away from her friend, leaving them both considerably happier.
Harry walked down the corridor, his usual annoyed scowl on his face, why did Dumbledore continue to insist on placing Slytherins and Gryffindors together in classes? Surely he wasn't blind enough to ignore the feud between the houses. And why did he allow James Potter to take over the Defence position after 6 years of assisting with flying and quidditch lessons?
It was bad enough trying to deal with Thomas every lesson, and it wasn't like the Potter Patriarch improved the standard of education, with his obvious bias and extreme ego. First having to put up with the incompetence of Quirrell then Lockhart, before the favouritism of Lupin, the restrictions of Umbridge, and finally the two Marauders, Black and Potter, in the final two years, acting like Thomas Potter was the greatest gift to humanity since fire. The only teacher who was able to teach fairly and with purpose was the fake Alistair Moody. Harry was in such a bad mood that when a younger student stopped suddenly in front of him he snarled and his magic flared, causing all the other students to flee the vicinity.
"My, you have a way with people, don't you?" He turned to see Alisha coming out of the adjacent corridor and falling in-step with him.
"Pretty bad lesson, huh. Pretty shitty how Potter gave you that detention for disagreeing with him over something as trivial as fighting off Dementors."
Harry grunted,
"Not in the mood to talk, huh?"
They walked on and Alisha kept glancing at the stoic boy.
"Um, Harry? I know I haven't been here that long, but why are we going down if we have to head up to Arithmacy on the 5th floor?
"Because if you head down these stairs to the first floor, then you can walk up the west stairs, which have an empowering charm on them, making the climb easier, and you come up on the 5th floor exactly 3 corridors away from Arithmacy, and avoid the crowds."
"Wow, you really have this down-pat huh?"
"Six years of avoiding everyone in the castle will do that to you."
Once again Harry had shut down the conversation and left Alisha in an awkward silence. She silently marvelled at his inbuilt ability to do so as they walked through the doors of the classroom and sat down, right as Professor Vector turned away from the board to face them.
"Now, you have had 4 weeks to settle in, and you have your first assessment approaching. You will be partnered up and each pair will be given two tasks. You will first be given an unknown spell formula and you will have to deduce what it means, and what the spell does. Bonus points will be given for knowing the origin of the spell, any similar spells or suggestions on adapting the spell. Secondly, you will be given the basis for a spell and the purpose, you must use your knowledge and logic to figure out the final equation for the spell using what you are given. This task will be due in on the first day back from the Christmas break. You will be expected to make a log of your work, similar to a diary, detailing your research and the steps taken in your efforts. This will be individual, so to show me how much each partner put in to the finished product. No exceptions. I have written each number on a piece of parchment twice. You will be paired with whoever draws the same number. Miss Patil, if you would start us off."
After every student had taken their pick Alisha looked across and saw Harry's discarded parchment with a number 3 on it, looking at her own she was disappointed when she saw a 5. Glancing around she cast a quick locating spell and saw Tracy Davis' parchment briefly light up. Scowling at the thought of being paired with the nasty Slytherin girl she recast the spell, looking for Harry's partner. Her eyes widened as she saw Granger's parchment light up. She noticed that Granger was focused solely on Professor Vector as she grilled the teacher about the assignment. She glanced at Harry who seemed to be daydreaming mindlessly and quickly cast a switching spell on Granger's parchment, just before Granger grabbed it, apparently done with questioning their teacher.
"Alright class, find your partner, and remember, no switching!" Vector barely finished before the sound of chairs scrapping against the stone floor filled the room.
"What did you get Alisha?"
Opening her hand she saw the number 3 clearly on her parchment.
With a large grin spreading across her face she looked at Harry's and declared,
"Looks like it's you and me partner!"
He rolled his eyes at her dramatics and went off to collect their sheet off Vector.
Alisha looked over and her grin grew wider as she saw Granger try to deal with the thoroughly pissed off Davis, with little success.
James Potter walked out of his office and down the corridor, whistling joyously as he went. He flashed a smile at some passing Gryffindors and received grins back. A month into his new teaching post and he was a school favourite. His smile firmly fixed on at the positive welcome that he never failed to get from his admiring Gryffindors, he continued on in a fabulous mood. Such was his mood that he didn't notice the shadow gliding along the wall until it was too late. He never saw the man that leapt out at him and tackled him to the ground.
The sounds of the two men wrestling off the walls only to be followed from a bark like laugh from the man on top of the two, holding his counterpart.
"For the love of all things good Sirius, we're bloody staff-members, you can't just attack me in the middle of the corridor you mutt!"
Sirius Black jumped to his feet and heaved his best friend up, still laughing uproariously,
"Come on Jamesy-boy, where is the fun In that? Liven up a bit, you're acting like Remus!"
Pushing away the laughing man, James Potter quickly straightened his robe and tried unsuccessfully to fix his unruly hair.
"Hey, I resent that! I'm still fun!"
Sirius only laughed harder at this and James scowled and looked down the corridor.
"Hey, you, boy, what are you doing!"
James stopped and yelled at the shadowed form moving silently through the junction ahead of the pair. Sirius growled slightly as he saw the green trimmings to his robes.
The person halted briefly and saw the pair before continuing on ward.
"Stop right there or I'll dock 50 points from Slytherin!"
James smirked victoriously as the student stopped and slowly turned towards them, revealing narrowed emerald eyes beneath a mass of black hair.
"You, what are you doing out here?" "Sneaking around are you?"
Both men sneered at James' son.
"It's not illegal to walk these corridors, and you have no reason or power to stop me, so I'll be on my way."
The completely neutral tone annoyed James so he yelled out,
"Oi, I'm not done! Come here and turn out your pockets! Now boy!"
Harry turned and looked at him,
"You don't have the power to force me to do that"
"But I do!" Sirius looked extremely smug, and proud of himself, "Dumbledore has granted Aurors the right to search students, particularly those of age, if a teacher is present. I think we have that covered."
Harry shook his head, a trace of annoyance in his voice,
"I know the rights of students, you have to have cause or suspicion to search one, regardless of age, as they are protected by school legislation. So if you will excuse me, I will be going now." Harry finished his sarcastic reply and turned to walk off, only to be wrenched around by James Potter,
"Don't you take that tone with me boy! I'll-"
Ripping his arm out of the vice like grip, Harry sneered,
"Do what, Professor, after all I'm sure the board would love to hear of teachers abusing their power, or acting inappropriately towards students. This conversations over. Stay away from me."
He walked down the corridors, as the two men glowered, radiating anger and hate.
"This isn't over boy! You'd better watch yourself!"
"Is that a threat Potter?"
The taunting whisper rang across the stone to the two men, who slowing walked off in the opposite direction, whispering angrily as they did so.