Amanda and Susan was sitting in the Common Room, the busy chatter of their housemates around them but the girls didn't speak a single word. Amanda had told Susan everything, inclusive of the meeting, the duel and the detention. Looking up from her book Amanda found Susan starring into the fire, clearly not seeing it. A single tear rolled down her cheek. She got up and sat on the armrest of the redhead's chair.

"When are you going home again?"

She gently stroked her hair before leaning over and placing a light kiss on the top of her head. Susan always smelled like vanilla. Smiling she looked down at her before sliding off the armrest and squeezing herself into the chair next to the girl. Both giggled, Amanda put her arm around the redhead, giving her a half hug.

"Tomorrow afternoon, dad is coming to pick me up"

Seeing the distress on her friend's face she quickly added.

"But I'll be back Thursday morning!"

Amanda just nodded as she gave her friend another hug and for a while they just sat there, both starring into the fire until someone came over, blocking their view and causing them to look up.

"Amanda, Oliver is waiting for you outside"

Groaning Amanda threw herself back in the chair

"Seriously?"

The boy gave half a shrug

"He's not happy… something about you getting detention"

"Fantastic!"

Struggling to push herself out of the chair, she couldn't help but laugh as both her and Susan almost fell to the floor. Pulling a face she turned to leave as Susan grabbed her arm.

"Want moral support?"

Amanda smiled

"Naw, it's ok, I can handle him besides, his rants can traumatize those less experienced"

She stuck her tongue out at the redhead before heading to the portraithole. Climbing through it she found Oliver waiting for her, putting on a blank expression she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well?"

"Don't give me that attitude!"

"Why don't you ever come by to say hi or stop me just to tell me that you love me?"

Oliver groaned

"Cut it out – you got detention because you were dueling in the bathroom? What's gotten into you?"

"Technically I wasn't dueling, my wand never worked, at least, never fired a proper spell"

"You broke your wand?"

Amanda rolled her eyes

"AND you got detention?"

She sighed

"You know that the Headmaster is going to write father"

Amanda let out a small groan

"I know but at the moment I have other problems"

"What kind of problems do you have? Seriously? What's worse than the school writing our parents?"

"Just forget it ok?"

She said angrily before turning and speaking the password but before the statue could move Oliver had grabbed her arm.

"What's going on? I'm worried about you! This is not normal for you!"

Trying to pull her arm out of his grasp she found another Quidditch Captain stronger than herself.

"Let go!"

"No! Talk to me dammit!"

Letting out a scream of frustration she spun around, slapping her brother across the face, the chock causing him to release her.

"Just leave me alone!"

And with that she disappeared through the entrance to the Common Room before he could say or do further.

Storming up the stairs to her dormitory Amanda threw herself on her bed and pulled the curtains with a wave of her wand while pulling her pillow over her head. Hearing the door open seconds later she knew who it was and as the curtain was slightly lifted in one of the sides and Susan crawled in.

"That good?"

"Marghhspff!"

"… right – is that what's known as pillow talk?"

"Smegpf!"

"I completely agree!"

Susan nodded with a laugh and as Amanda removed the pillow and looked at her friend they both smiled. But only long enough for them to both be hit by reality, a funeral and a detention in the near future and none of them avoidable nor something they were looking forward to. Sighing Susan lied down next to her friend, taking her hand. As Amanda entwined her fingers with hers Susan looked at her.

"It's like choosing between two evils"

Amanda merely nodded and the two girls spend the rest of the evening in silence until Morpehus took them both.

The following day went by too quickly, all with nothing special other than a few wolf whistles from a few Slytherins, all who caused Amanda to blush furiously and when in the presence of her brother, earning her a furious glare. Clearly he thought she was to blame and maybe that was for the better, the less he knew the better. Sitting with his team during dinner in the Great Hall, he didn't join the conversation which was completely out of the norm, normally he would be the one talking and the most of them listening. Tactics and new moves, new ideas he was eager to have them try out, new formations and so on but not anymore, his mind was occupied with other things so it seemed like Marcus' plan was working after all. Looking over at the Slytherin table she spotted him, he was sitting in deep conversation with one of his teammates and as this noticed her he nudged the Captain who also looked in her direction. She just caught a glimpse of his smirk before she focused on her mashed potatoes, it looked very unappealing so finishing her juice she decided to get started on some homework. As she got up she earned yet another round of whistles and rude remarks which died quickly as one of the Professors at the Head Table cleared their throat.

Kicking at a pebble angrily she went up the stairs towards the transfiguration wing and as she heard the rapid sound of footsteps behind her she figured it was a classmate but as they grew closer she heard there was too much force in them. Turning she saw him running towards her and she instinctly reached for her wand. Holding his hands up in a calming matter she noticed that he again was wearing gloves. What was the deal with that?

"Stay away!"

"Just calm it ok?"

"Fuck off!"

She turned, half expecting some sort of a physical response from him but nothing came, looking over her shoulder she watched him stand there for a second while taking the gloves off before turning and heading back down the hallway. She pulled her robe closer around her, he was seriously playing with her and why? His plan had worked, Oliver was off his game.

Knocking on the large oak door Amanda felt very much alone in the World, Susan had left hours ago and wouldn't be back until Thursday, it felt like a lifetime away. An 'enter' was hear, muffled by the door. She pushed it open and walked inside, closing it behind her she found not only the Potions Master waiting for her.

"What the…"

"Right on time Miss Wood, Mister Flint will be joining us this evening"

"No … I mean, but why?"

She didn't really want to know the answer but at present time her brain and mouth was directly linked, common sense and logic pushed out of the way to make room for word-vomit.

"Please come closer"

Amanda stood rooted to the spot, not wanting to move since this detention had taken a turn for the… well, stranger. The Potions Master continued, his voice firm

"It was not a request"

Unwillingly her body moved towards the two men, carefully placing herself as far away from Marcus as possible.

"It has come to my attention that certain illegal potion consumption has taken place and some side-effects might occur, these needs to be observed and documented"

"Side-effects?"

Amanda glared at Marcus

"What did you do to me?"

Moving around the table they were standing by, she stepped closer to him, her voice shaking.

"First you take advantage of me, then ruin my life and now you've poisoned me?"

"Miss Wood, sit down!"

Glaring at the Captain she sighed angrily before throwing herself into the nearest chair, the Potion Master continued

"Please proceed Mister Flint"

Amanda glared at him as he reached out for her, getting up she took a step back, her hand clutching her wand in her pocket.

"Sit DOWN"

The Professor glared at her, he was seemingly angry and to be honest, she hadn't a single clue why that was other than she had disobeyed his order to sit, or well, rather to stay seated.

"But…"

"SIT!"

Like she was a dog she was ordered back in the chair, clenching her teeth she closed her eyes and suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"On her skin you nit!"

The leather touched her cheek and she suppressed the urge to move away but she couldn't help a small flinch.

"Nothing"

Opening her eyes she looked at Marcus who was standing next to her before scanning over the Professor, seeing that he was taking notes.

"So you said a kiss did it"

Amanda frowned

"Did what?"

Clearly ignoring the girl the Professor continued as Marcus nodded

"Right, try without the glove now"

Seeing as Marcus took the gloves off she eyed him over, what on Earth was going on? As he reached for her and placed a hand first on her shoulder, he looked at the Professor who made a 'continue' movement to what he placed the gloveless hand on her cheek. Immediately she felt a familiar warmth spread through her, her breathing increased and she felt lightheaded.

"Interesting!"

Not noticing that she had closed her eyes she snapped them open as the Professor spoke and Marcus removed his hand.

"Please tell me what's going on"

Licking her lip she breathed deeply, trying to control herself. She swallowed several times before taking another couple of deep breathes.

"Oh my, it's quite a powerful effect – good job on the potion, it must have been made perfectly"

Swallowing again Amanda shook her head, trying to clear it, her vision was slightly blurred so she blinked her eyes over and over again but nothing helped. She looked up as the Professor chuckled

"Oh my Marcus, I think you better put her out of her misery"

Marcus laughed

"It will be my ultimate pleasure!"

Within minutes she found herself in his chambers and seconds later naked in his bed. Her mind was blurred with emotions, her logic sense long gone and the only question that seemed even remotely clear to her otherwise occupied mind: 'why is the potion still working?'