"You know what this calls for?"

"What?" I ask dully.

"Piggy-back rides!"

"And you really think you can carry me around all day, Hattie?"

"Well…no…I was thinking of Jimmy. You guy have practically the same classes."

"Somehow I don't think James would like that."

"Oh…right."

"Yeah."

"Wait! Dumbledore is coming over here, with a wheelchair."

"Really? Sweet!"

"Miss DeVough, I trust you can find someone to help you to your classes? I'm afraid you can't afford to miss any more lessons; you're already extremely behind in almost every subject."

"Is this like a fancy-shmancy magical wheelchair, or just a boring regular one?" I ask excitedly, ignoring his warnings over my grades.

"Just a regular one, I'm afraid," Dumbledore says, chuckling. "Good day to you both."

"Okay, he's gone now," Hattie says. "Here, let me help you into the chair." She helps me stand, and then places me into the chair; it's comfortable, but I can already tell I'm going to get tired of sitting in it all day.

"Thanks. So…what class do we have next, again?"

"Potions."

"Wonderful! Who needs vision for making potions?" I ask sarcastically.

"One of the most talented potion makers of all times was blind," Hattie says. "Demetri Revolvus, or something like that. Invented the antidote to the common cold."

"And yet he couldn't make a potion to cure himself?" I mutter.

"Well…he was trying to, but things got out of hand…he ended up losing both his eyes, and eventually died of Syphilis."

"And those things have what in common?" I ask.

"Nothing. I just thought you should know."

"Well, thanks for the health lesson Hatt. Where's Jimmy, anyway?"

"I think he went to put the finishing touches on his Potions project."

"Project?"

"Extra credit. He had to invent his own potion. He's always been really good at that," She says fondly.

"What potion is he inventing, exactly?" I ask, impressed.

"I have no idea; he won't tell anyone until it's perfect. Don't tell him I said so, but he's a major perfectionist."

This surprises me. I mean, come on—Jimmy, really?

"Okay, we're definitely moving! You're not going to drive me off a cliff or anything, right?" It's nerve-wracking not having my vision; I feel really jumpy, and cringe whenever Hattie turns the chair or comes to a stop.

"AHAHAHAHAHA."

"That isn't exactly the response I hoped for."

"I would never do anything like that to you, silly thing," she says innocently. I huff, crossing my arms.

"Are we almost there?"

"We just started! We still have two more stories till the dungeons. Calm down, you're so twitchy."

It takes about ten more minutes and lots of swearing while trying to get me down the steps on the way to the potions room. I can tell when we get there, because suddenly the air gets cooler, and dank. I hear her use her wand to open the door, and then push me into the room, where I assume not many people are yet because we're still pretty early despite the difficulty getting me down here.

"Max! I didn't think you'd come!"

"Yes, well, Dumbledore thinks my grades are one T too many at the moment. Any more and they'll move me into the mountains with the rest of the trolls." I shrug, unconcerned. "Come here!"

I hear him walking over to me, and motion for him to come closer.

"Lean in," I command. Soon I can feel his nervous breath on my face. I sigh, and then hug him. "Oh, how I've missed you, dreadlocks," I coo, stroking his hair. Jimmy lets out a long breath all at once, like he was expecting something and I disappointed him. But the next minute he's chuckling along with me, and gives me a quick hug back before pulling away.

"You're a good laugh," He says, but there's something in his voice that I can't quite understand. I guess not being able to see has made me a bit more perceptive, really.

Others are coming in now, chatting with each other while they take their seats.

"Jimmy, I'm really sorry to ask, but could you take notes for me? Hattie's handwriting is illegible, and I'll probably need notes to study from once my—you know—vision returns." If it returns, I can't help thinking.

"Of course. Here, let me help you." He helps me into a chair, one arm around my shoulders, the other one on my side, leading me gently. He has a nice touch. "You can be my partner today; I'll get us an O no matter what the assignment is, so you don't need to worry about that." I smile, duly noting his confidence.

"Okay class, settle down! Oh, Miss DeVough, a pleasure to have you back! Today, class, we will be mixing up a little thing nick-named the Eye-Opener. It is meant to keep you awake without once feeling tired. Many use it when studying for exams; it is extremely helpful for concussion patients as well, who would otherwise slip into worse if they were to fall asleep. The instructions are on the board—you have an hour! Good luck!"

Jimmy bustles around, muttering to himself and, I assume, collecting the needed ingredients.

"What should I do?" I ask helplessly ten minutes later, when I can hear the cauldron liquid bubbling. "I feel like I'm just getting in your way. I have to do something."

"Right. You can crush the tubers. Here, take this." He hands me a mortar and pestle, and then two large, quivering roots.

"I can't see, though! What if I ground my fingers off?!"

"I think you'd notice," He says, laughing. "Don't worry. I'll help you. Now put your hand like this—good. And slowly…" He places his hand over mine, curling around the pestle. My breathing hitches, but I don't know why. He moves my hand in a circular motion, pressing down forcefully into the mortar. I can feel his hot breath on the back of my neck as he explains something to me. I'm too distracted to really hear what he's saying; my other senses are all too hard at work.

It's weird, not being able to see. All my other senses seem more acute, especially touch. Not seeing Jimmy, my body doesn't care that he's not James, or that I'm not going out with him—I'm attracted to him anyway.

"C-can you maybe s-step back from me?" I ask breathlessly, my face flushed. "Just a bit…I'm having trouble concentrating."

"Concentrating?" He asks, not moving away. "You mean I'm distracting you?"

"Yes! Yes! Please, move back, I can't…" The feeling's too strong, scarily strong, and it attacks my whole body. I don't like it. Not at all.

"Why am I distracting you?" He asks, a smile in his voice. "Say it."

"It's everything, okay? Everything about you at the moment! Your breath on my n-neck, your voice, your smell…"

"I see," He says, his voice low. "You look like you're being stabbed. Is it really so bad, feeling that way?" He sounds hurt. He pulls away; my hand feels cold without his to hide it any more. "We should pay more attention to the potion. I want an O." His voice is harsh, words clipped. And the next half-hour go by without incident, or comment. I grind the roots; he takes them from me, probably to measure them into the potion.

"Jimmy, please don't be mad at me," I say finally, the awkward silence getting to me. "I couldn't stand it if you hated me." And suddenly that thought brings so much anxiety to me that I shudder, burying my head in my hands, shaking. He's with me in a moment, his arms around me, and this time I don't fight him, or argue, but lean into him, letting my body feel the way it does. He wraps his arms around me, comforting me, and then tentatively strokes my hair. I sigh.

"Don't be sad, Max. Please. I could never hate you. Trust me, sometimes I wish I could—it would make this all so much easier if I did."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I l—"

"Enough chatter! Come now, you two, your potion is not being properly attended to!" Slughorn says crossly. Jimmy jumps up, rushing to the potion. Stupid Slughorn.

We end up getting an O on the potion, just like Jimmy promised we would. After class we wheel away in silence; Hattie senses something's up between Jimmy and me, but doesn't say anything about it, which I appreciate.

Well, I should say that she doesn't say anything about it at first.

"So, you two looked pretty cozy back there," She says, grinning. "You're cute together, I've always thought so."

This just leads to an awkward clearing of throats and blushes.

"You know what I miss?" I ask suddenly, when Hattie is about to say something else. "Silence."

"I see." She doesn't say anything for the rest of the trip back to the common room.

Once we (and by 'we' I mean Jimmy) answer the riddle and get into the common room, I'm itching to get up out of the chair and walk around.

"Does anyone want to go on a walk with me?" I ask. "If you lead me, it should be fine, right?"

"We just got you up here! Give us a little breather, Max!"

"Fine, fine. Later, then?"

"Sure."

Suddenly someone comes flying into the room, out of breath.

"Who is it?" I ask loudly.

"James! It's me, James! I was wondering if you wanted to go for a stroll around the grounds with me. I could lead you." He sounds breathless, like he ran up here.

"Funny you should say that, I was just asking Jimmy if he wanted to take a walk. He said no, though. Sure, I'll come." I stand, but am not sure where to head. In a moment James is by my side, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing me lightly on the cheek. "Come on then!"

"Have a nice time," Jimmy mutters behind me as we leave the room. I look back towards him, unseeing, and give him a small smile.

I'd give anything to know if he is smiling back.