This is kind of a long chapter, only 6,00 something words. I just wanted to get their first few days of Hogwarts in one chapter. Enjoy this chapter. Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
-Rooney1077
Perci sat on her bed, maybe for the last time, staring at a moving photograph in her hands. It was her favorite. She stood with her three best friends: Fred, George, and Lee Jordan after their first quidditch win. It was an incredible feeling. They laughed and danced and celebrated, even though it was rainy and cold outside. They didn't care. They were kids. Those kids still had their whole lives ahead of them. So much had changed since then. Perci herself had become a different person. She wasn't sure if it was a good change or a bad change, though.
She ran a finger across Fred's gleaming face. Even then, he stared at her the same way he looked at her now. Had he always felt like that for her? He was happier then, though. Perci knew that. She could see it in his eyes. She made him miserable sometimes, but so did he to her. Wasn't that a downside to love? No, she couldn't think about him. Perci needed to get her mind off of Fred. But that was the problem; he was all she thought about most of the time.
Harry stood by the doorway, looking at his sister stare at that picture. He hated seeing her hurt. He walked up behind her and sat on the bed. "You know what you need?" He rhetorically asked. "A distraction." Harry finished. "You need something to take your mind off of Fred, off of everything. Quidditch, maybe? Or a new hobby?" He began to list off suggestions. Perci appreciated him trying. He was right, though. Perci smiled and turned. She hugged Harry tightly. Perci's hugs were always his favorite, that is, besides Ginny's. His expression turned sour just thinking about Ginny and her new boyfriend, Michael Corner. What the hell kind of name is Michael Corner?
Perci smiled, pulling away. "Maybe you need one, too. D'you know what else you need? A damn shower." She laughed. "You smell like shit."
Harry rolled his eyes with a small smile. "Whatever," he said. "We're leaving in a few minutes. Better get down there. Mrs. Weasley waits for no one." He headed out of the room and bounded down the staircase. Perci pulled on her jacket and gathered her trunk and books. She made her way to the doorway and stopped. She looked back at the room. Perci had a nagging feeling that she wouldn't be seeing this room for a while. She shook the feeling off and turned the lights out before walking slowly down the stairs and to the front door where everyone was waiting.
"Ron! We're leaving come on!" Arthur yelled up the stairs. Ron flew down the steps new Quidditch gear in his arms. He grinned as he stuffed them into his trunk.
"Sorry, forgot these." He gave Harry a sideways grin. "I'm trying out for the team this year." Harry nodded and followed everyone out of the house, shaking his head at Ron's subtlety. They all squeezed into the magic car and headed off to the train station.
It was extremely crowded. Perci had almost forgotten the familiar feeling of being pushed to the ground my crazy parents, but luckily she soon experienced it again. Only a few people seemed to recognize her. Maybe it was her haircut, or lack of? Or it could've been that she was two years older than she was in the picture the Ministry used for her WANTED poster. The people that did recognize her, quickly scurried off and pulled their children from her sights. Now she knows how Harry must've felt last year. Molly and Arthur said a quick goodbye, but not before Arthur pulled Perci aside.
"Take care of our family, Perci. You're the oldest. They're your responsibility now." He said. "And take care of yourself." He pulled Perci into a warm hug and sent her off to the train.
His wife came up beside him. "Everything alright, dear?" She asked.
Arthur smiled down at her and grabbed her small hand. He looked back up at the train. "Everything is going to be just fine, Molls. Come on, let's go home."
Perci had received all the same treatment from the parents in the station from the students on the train. Most of them stared at her or hurried away from her. Only the Gryffindor's welcomed her back with open arms. With them it was as if nothing had happened in the past year. Perci laid her trunk and books in her compartment with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She promised to be right back, only leaving to get a few snacks from the trolley.
Harry handed her several galleons and they all told her their orders. Perci scoffed–as if she would remember it. She was counting her money and walking down the compartment hall, probably not the best idea, but not the worst she's ever come up with. Perci bumped roughly into someone. This person was tall and had strong shoulders for she had almost fallen back. But her pusher caught her. Perci looked up into the dark eyes of Dean Thomas. He smiled down at her.
"We've got to stop meeting like this." He said, setting her right.
Perci laughed. "That was probably the most unoriginal pick up line I've ever heard. Well, besides, 'Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?'."
Dean grinned and shook his head. "Nah, not really. Scratched up my elbow a bit, but besides that..." He trailed off, noticing her raised brow and smile. He stuck out his large hand. "I'm Dean Thomas, sixth year, Gryffindor."
Perci took his small hand and shook it lightly. Perci thought back to what Harry had said. 'A distraction.' You know, Dean looked like a pretty good distraction. And what Perci meant by that, was that he was hot. Maybe Dean Thomas could be her distraction. It could also draw attention away from Fred. With each thought, Dean began to look more and more like a perfect distraction. "Perci Potter," she introduced herself. "Seventh year, Gryffindor."
"Oh, I know." Dean said. Perci's mood fell. Was he going to bring up her accusation of killing Cedric? "You're an incredible Chaser. And I was rooting for you in the Triwizard Tournament." Dean said. Perci smiled up at him. He was very tall. "So are you trying out for the team this year? I mean, I'm sure you'd make it. You're one of the best Chasers Hogwarts has seen for years. Not that I did any research on you that day we first bumped into each other." He rambled.
Perci laughed. "Not such a smooth talker now?" Dean scratched the back of his head nervously. Perci looked over at the retreating trolley and cursed. "Well, I have to get a few things from the trolley." She said and smiled one of her infamous smiled. She could almost hear Dean's heart. "Maybe, I'll see you later Dean Thomas." Perci hurried off after the trolley, not hearing Dean's final words to her.
"I, er, hope we can do this again sometime." He called.
Harry let out a breath of relief when Perci came back to the compartment with an armful of their candy. Ron pounced on it all. "What took you so long?" He said through a mouthful of chocolate frog legs.
"I was just talking to someone." Perci supplied, not giving them anymore details.
"Was that Dean Thomas?" Hermione asked with raised eyebrows.
Perci chewed innocently on a licorice wand and nodded. Harry didn't miss the small grin her face, though. He shook it off. "So what was Draco doing with that weird looking cabinet? And who were all of those people?" Perci went rigid at the mention of Draco Malfoy. No one seemed to notice, though. "If you ask me, it was a ceremony. An initiation."
Perci shook out of her funk. "An initiation into what? A sorority?" Ron snickered.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the two. "Stop it, Harry. I know where you're going with this."
Harry ignored it. "He's one of them." He said.
Ron frowned. "One of what?"
Hermione sighed and shut the book she was trying to read. "Harry is under the impression that Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater."
Ron snorted. "You're barking!"
Perci shook her head. "Maybe Harry's right. When I was at their mansion, which looks a lot like a sex torture dungeon, Draco did things to me. Voldemort also stayed at their house. So there is a big chance he could be a Death Eater. I wouldn't doubt it."
"But he's a sod! Why would Voldemort want someone like him?" Ron said. Harry, Ron, and Hermione tried not to think about what Malfoy could've done to her.
Perci nodded her head. "Yeah, he kind of is, but there are points where he was ruthless and terrifying. If Voldemort doesn't want him for that, he could do it for the money and resources the Malfoy's have." A girl interrupted their conversation.
"Hey, Ron," she greeted with a coy smile, sliding open the compartment door. She recognized the girl, Lavender Brown.
Ron turned bright pink and stuttered nervously. "Er, hi," he choked out. Lavender winked and exited the compartment.
Hermione huffed. "That wasn't rude at all."
Perci scowled at Ron. "If you're hitting that, or even thinking about it, you disgust me." Hermione shot her a small grin.
Ron frowned and crossed his arms. "What if I want to? What's so bad about that?" He asked indignantly.
Perci raised a brow. "Well, first of all, she's a blubbering idiot and she's freaky. You haven't heard the things she used to talk about in the girl's dormitory." Perci sat back and shrugged her shoulders. "But if you want to mow her nonexistent ass like grass or sprinkle a bit of ginger on her–"
Harry stood up abruptly. "Okay," he interrupted, not wanting to hear anymore of that. "I need to air." He grabbed his invisibility cloak from above him and Perci and headed out of the small, compact room. He was glad he missed the argument that went forth after he left.
He slipped down the halls of the long train. Harry looked into the booths in one of the open cars. He instantly caught a whiff of Malfoy's usual scent of arrogance and his white-blond hair. He opened his hand and checked that he still had the free Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder rock that Fred and George gave him. It glittered back at him. Harry pulled on the cloak, checking one last time to see if the coast was clear. He held his breath and prayed it worked before throwing the black rock onto the train floor. The whole compartment erupted into yells and chattering as the black smoke filled the car.
Draco glanced around at the compartment, coughing as the smoke cleared. "What was that?" He yelled. The air around them smelled of rotten eggs. The smoke left a bad taste on his tongue. "Blaze?"
Pansy Parkinson sighed and tugged on Draco's pale hand. "Relax boys, it was probably just a first year messing around. Come sit, Draco." She said soothingly. "We'll be at Hogwarts soon." Draco looked around one last time before taking his seat across from Pansy and Blaze.
"Hogwarts," the word left a sour taste in his mouth. "What a pathetic excuse for a school. Think if pitch myself off the astronomy tower before if continue for another two years." Draco said looking out the window. He scratched at the mark on his arm.
Pansy gasped. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Let's just say I don't see myself wasting anymore time sitting in Charms class next year." Draco said. Blaze snickered across from him. He scowled. "Amused, Blaze?" He glared at his 'friend'. "Let's just see who's laughing in the end." A clanking grabbed his attention. Draco lifted his head to the overhead compartments where his school bag lay. He could just see it move slightly.
For the rest of the ride, the three Slytherin's sat in silence until it was time to get off. Draco glanced back up at the overhead compartment. Pansy looked back at them as they were about to depart from the train. Draco stayed siting in his booth. "You two go on. I want to check something." Pansy nodded and said a goodbye before leaving the train and heading to the carriages.
Perci gathered her stuff, along with Ron and Hermione. Hermione looked out the compartment and down the halls. "Where's Harry?" She mused. Perci shrugged her shoulders, not knowing.
"Probably already on the platform." Ron supplied. Hermione gave them a worried look.
Perci waved her off. "He'll be fine. Let's go, I want to get a good seat." They left the train, Hermione handing the driver a flyer for S.P.E.W., which she refused to give up after all of these years. Perci gave her trunk and other bags to the staff and went to the carriages. Everyone had alway thought they were pulled by magic, but only a few knew the truth if they'd seen someone die. She grinned at the skeletal horse and tried to pet it, but cringed away from her. Perci frowned, but shook it off.
"I heard they're called Threstrals." A familiar, deep voice said from behind her. She followed the dark hand that was now petting the Threstral to its body. Dean stood behind her, as tall as ever, with a smile. He must've seen someone die to be able to see the horse like creature. Dean seemed to read her mind. "My half-brother," he answered. Perci nodded. A silence followed–not exactly awkward. Did he want her to tell him who she saw die? That would take a while. "They are beautiful creatures." He almost sounded enchanted. "I would love to paint one of them."
Perci raised an eyebrow. "You do art stuff?" That sounded so stupid, Perci thought, mentally cursing herself.
Dean laughed, a husky laugh. It sent shivers down Perci's spine. "Yeah, I, er, 'do art stuff'. I like to draw and paint beautiful things. Maybe someday you may let me paint you." He said.
He definitely knew his way around the lines. Perci gave him a small smile. "Maybe," she was about to continue when she heard Ron call her name. Perci looked back. Their carriage was ready. She sighed and looked back up at Dean. "I'll see you later, Dean." She left him, but not before making sure she slid her small hand over his large one that still rested on the horse. Perci hurried over to Ron and Hermione and took her seat.
Ron glanced over at Dean, who stood in the same spot, and scowled. His mind immediately went to Fred and what he would think or feel seeing that exchange. Nothing too much happened, but Ron could see it. "What was that?" He asked as the carriage sped into motion. He not only was watching out for Fred, but also for Perci. Dean was great, but he wasn't good enough for his sister figure.
Perci shrugged, but the smile never left her face. "Just talking," she murmured. Ron raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms. Perci looked around. "Where is Harry?" She changed the topic quickly. She tapped her foot nervously. She was a little apprehensive about finally going back to school and about starting her new job as a professor's assistant for Snape in Potion's class. Potions class was her specialty.
"We're not sure," Hermione also seemed worried, more worried that Ron. All he did was glade back at Dean as e got on the same carriage as Ginny and her boyfriend Michael Corner. His stomach lurched just thinking about Ginny and Michael together. They finally made it inside the castle after several minutes of riding in silence. They pushed through groups of hugging and laughing friends, making it to the Gryffindor house table. It seemed the same as it was two years ago, which was the last time she had been in the Great Hall.
They went through the usual sorting in mere minutes. There weren't many new first years. Apparently their parents didn't think it was safe for them at school. Hermione wouldn't eat anything when the feast appeared. She just sat by Ron and glared menacingly at him as he gobbled down many loads of food. Perci only nibbled a bit on a chicken wing, looking back at the entry doors to see if Harry would soon join them. She was beginning to get nervous. Where was he?
Moments later he and Luna Lovegood pushed through the doors, ignoring the looks they received from everyone. Perci let out a sigh of relief and scooted over so Harry could sit by Ginny. Harry's nose was bleeding profusely. She grinned. "Well, Harry, you look less shittier than normal. Congratulations." She gave him a small round of applause. Harry rolled his eyes and continued to soak up the bright red blood from his nose.
"What did I miss?" He asked.
Ron swallowed his mouthful of jello. "Only the sorting and dinners is almost done."
"Thought about saving you done for if you didn't show, but Ron and I would probably just eat it while we went up to the dorms. So it's a good thing you made it." Perci patted him on the back and turned her attention toward the Headmaster as he was beginning to speak.
"Very best of evenings to you all." Everyone stopped talking and eating for a moment. "First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff, Professor Horace Slughorn." The Great Hall politely applauded new professor. "Professor Slughorn will be resuming at his old post as Potions Master." Perci stopped clapping and glanced over at Snape. She shot him a look, but he ignored her.
Harry gave her a confused look. "What?"
"I'm supposed to be working with Snape as his assistant for Potions class." She said. What was Snape going to teach? Would she stay his assistant or become Slughorn's? She hoped not the latter. Slughorn didn't like her.
"Meanwhile, the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts will be taken by Professor Snape." Dumbledore continued. Harry scowled at this notion. "Each and everyone of you was searched upon your arrival at the castle tonight. And you have the right to know why. Once there was a young man," Perci sighed, he was going to tell them a very long story. Might as well get comfortable. "Who like you, sat in this very hall, walked this castle's corridors, stepped under its roof, seemed to all the world a students like any other. His name...Tom Riddle." The Great Hall broke out into whispers and chatter they all knew that name. "Today, of course, he's known all over the world by another name. Which is why, as I stand looking out upon you all tonight, I'm reminded of a certain fact. Every day, every hour, this very minute dark forces attempt to penetrate this castle's halls. In the end, their greatest weapon is you. Just something to think about. Now, off to bed!"
Ron cleared his throughly as the Gryffindor students went up to their dormitories. "That was cheerful," he muttered.
Perci nodded, her eyes locked on someone. "Yeah, probably took him half the summer to come up with that. Quality spokesman-ship, though." She snickered. Perci told the other a quick goodbye, saying that she needed to find someone. Ron, thinking it was Dean, gave her a look. Perci just rolled her eyes and pushed through the crowd to the dungeons where Snape practically lived. She didn't even knock.
"Snape? What the hell?" She slammed the palm of her hands on his desk. Snape's black eyes bore into hers.
"Yes, Perciana?" His monotonous voice hadn't changed.
"I thought I was going to be your P.A. for Potions. I mean I'm not bad at Defense Against the Dark Arts, but I'm not sure I could really help." Perci said.
Snape continued to gather his personal belongings from his desk. "You will still be the P.A. for Potions. Just under Professor Slughorn."
Perci's eyes widened. "Dude, no." Snape narrowed his eyes at 'dude'. "He hates me. He thinks I killed Cedric Diggory and that I work for Voldemort by association with Sirius. He'll make my life hell."
"You've dealt with worse." Snape mused. Perci groaned and pouted. "Stop acting like a child. Just see how it is and if you don't like it then drop it. You don't even need to take another Potion's class. You're far more advanced than most of the students in your grade." He muttered. Perci raised a brow. Did he just complement me, Perci thought.
Snape seemed to catch what he had let slip. He rolled his eyes. "Here's your schedule. Now, get out." He pushed her out of his office with a wave of his wand and slammed the doors shut. Perci sighed and made her way to her dormitory, ignoring everything and everyone. As soon as her head hit her pillow, she was out cold.
Perci had to wake up early that morning. She was Slughorn's professor's assistant for first, third, and fifth periods. For her even numbered periods she had Alchemy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, and Transfiguration. At least she didn't have to take Herbology; she hated that class. Perci pulled on her fitted Gryffindor robes and grabbed her wand and class list. She headed out of the dormitory and to the kitchen. They wouldn't be serving breakfast this early, so she snatched an apple and muffin.
Perci took her time walking to the Potions class. She wasn't looking forward to being with Slughorn. She knew he hadn't really taken a liking to her when they first met. Perci prayed to all the gods that he wouldn't put her through hell. Perci pushed open the dungeon door and sat her stuff on her desk right next to Slughorn's.
"Ah, Ms. Potter, you're quite early." Slughorn came out of his office carrying a few cauldrons. They began to tumble. Perci rushed over and caught them just before they hit the ground. "Nice hands," Slughorn said. Perci mustered a smile and say the cauldrons on the front table. "You must be on the Quidditch team, yes?"
Perci was not a fan of small talk, but she nodded. "Yeah, Chaser." Slughorn nodded and pulled out a piece of parchment.
"Er, I must finish getting the room ready. Will you whip up these brews?" He asked handing the parchment to her. Perci nodded taking the list. She began getting the ingredients for Amortentia. She had memorized the ingredients and ways to brew over a hundred potions. It took her years to do so, but she enjoyed the hobby. It was one of her favorite things to do. She wasn't sure why, but on of her dreams were to come back and teach the Potions class.
Perci finally finished the Amortentia brew. And wave hit her when she got to close to it. The scent had changed since the last time she was near the love potion. She breathed it the sent of fireworks, ash, cinnamon, and an old box of crayons. She remembered what Snape had said the last time he caught her sniffing the very same potion. Perci pulled herself away from the cauldron and continued to brew the other potions listed.
It was not long before the first few students showed up. She would have this class with many sixth and advanced fifth years. Hermione gave her a grin when she saw her.
"What're you doing here?" She asked, setting her books down on a table.
"I'm the new professor's assistant. I've been here since bloody 5:15." Perci groaned. Hermione took out a napkin and handed it to Perci. Perci raised a brow and unfolded it. The incredible scent of bacon filled her nose. Perci's eyes widened as she took a bite of the bacon. She moaned at the lovely taste her mouth. She grabbed Hermione and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Gods, thank you. You have no idea how long it's been since I've had bacon. I could actually kiss you right now," Perci laughed. "But I know a certain ginger that would be overcome with jealousy." Perci wiggled her eyebrows.
Hermione blushed but ignored it. "I figured you might want a snack since you weren't at breakfast. Also, Dean Thomas was looking for you." Perci grinned. "What's going on with you two."
Perci shrugged, taking another bite of her bacon. "Nothing, just someone I keep bumping into." Slughorn called her over. Perci said goodbye to Hermione and internally groaned as she headed over to him. "Yes, sir?" She asked through gritted teeth.
Slughorn handed her a book. "I would like you to go around helping and observing the students today. Can you handle that?"
Perci narrowed her eyes. "Well, considering I'm not ten years old, I can." She said through a fake smile and gritted teeth. Slughorn nodded as the bell rang. Perci turned around. All of the class was there–surprising. She caught a glimpse of a poofy black Afro sitting atop a very tall darker skinned boy with a grin. Dean. How lucky was she?
"Ah, welcome to Potions class 6, sixth years. I appreciate all of you being on time. I am Professor Horace Slughorn, I will be your Potions Master indefinitely." Slughorn greeted heartily. Many of the Gryffindor students grinned, happy to finally be free of Snape. Slughorn motioned to Perci. "This is Ms. Potter. If any of you request help, she will be there to guide you." Perci sighed and sat in her chair after giving them a fake smile. "Well, let's get started, shall we?"
Perci didn't listen at all to whatever Slughorn was saying. She just sat at her small desk, staring into space, thinking. Nothing really ever went well when she used her brain. Slughorn's voice and every other noise seemed to fade away. Perci saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She frowned and turned trying to find the object. Her heart thudded in her chest when she made eye contact with it. Her hands shook and she began to sweat.
The glassy eyes of the man she killed, Edgar Roy, stared back at her. He grinned maliciously and began to weave his way around the desks until he got to her. He laughed, seeing her frightened look. Edgar stretched out his hand and dropped something on her desk. Perci tried to scoot away, but she was glued to her seat. All she could do was stare as Edgar's face shone bright as a green light illuminated him. The light finally hit him, and he was thrown back. His body hit the ground with a loud thud, his eyes still opened with a fading twinkle in them. Perci wanted to scream, but nothing came out. Her hands moved involuntarily to the crumpled piece of paper and unfolded it. Edgar, his children, and his wife moved in the picture, laughing and hugging. Perci wanted to vomit. She wanted to scream and cry.
"Ms. Potter, will you bring over the Amortentia cauldron?" Slughorn's voice broke her out of her head. She nodded numbly, the picture no longer in her hands or on her desk, and went over to retrieve the potion. Grabbing the cauldron, she quickly brought it to the Potions Master, checking the floor for Edgar Roy's body. He was nowhere to be seen. Slughorn nodded a small thank you and beckoned the students out of their seats.
The dungeon door swung open, grabbing everyone's attention. Slughorn turned, ready to chew out whomever interrupted his class, but when he saw Harry and another boy, a grin spread across his old face. "Harry, m'boy. I was beginning to worry." His eyes found the companion Harry brought. "Brought someone with you, I see."
Ron stoked forward with a dopey smile. "Ron Weasley, sir. But in dead awful at Potions. A menace, actually so, I'm jus going to–"
Slughorn waved him off. "Nonsense, we'll sort you out. Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine." He offered the nervous red head a smile. "Get your books out." And motioned to join the class. Hermione have them a slight wave to come over by her.
Harry turned slightly pink. "I'm sorry, sir, I haven't gotten my books yet nor had Ron."
Slughorn's smile didn't waver. "Not to worry. Grab what you want from the cupboard." He motioned to the back of the classroom before turning back to the class. "Now, as I was saying, Ms. Potter has prepared some concoctions for you this morning." He waved his hands above the cauldrons. "Any idea to what these might be?"
Hermione's hand instantly shot up, as eager as she had been her first Potions class. She only hoped, this time, she would be called on. Slughorn nodded and pointed at her. "Yes, Ms..."
"Granger, sir," Hermione finished for him. She pointed to the first cauldron. "That one there is Veritaserum, a truth-telling serum." Hermione frowned at the next one. "And that one is..."
"It's terrible tricky to make–" Perci raised an eyebrow at that. "Amortentia." Slughorn said.
"The most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumored to smell differently to each person according to what they are attracted to." With each sentence Hermione got closer to the potion. For example, I smell...freshly mown grass, new parchment," Hermione gulped and turned red. "and spearmint toothpaste." She blinked out a daze and stepped back to her original spot with her face red and timid.
"Now, Anortentia doesn't create crush love, not that is impossibe, but it does cause powerful infatuation and obsession." Every word Slughorn spoke, the front row girls; Lavender, Pansy, Katie, and Ramilda, stepped closer to the love potion with greedy looks on their faces. Perci even noticed Ramilda Vane sending Harry a few wanting looks. "And for that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room." Slughorn gently put the lid back onto the cauldron and the girl stepped back with embarrassed looks.
Katie cleared her throat. "Sir, you haven't told us what's in that one," she nodded over at a third cauldron on the front table.
Slughorn nodded, now remembering. He shuffled over to the last cauldron. "Oh, yes. What you see before you, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion, Felix Felicis. It is more commonly known as–"
Hermione interrupted him. "Liquid Luck," she piped in.
Slughorn nodded with a smile, seeming to not notice that she rudely interrupted him. "Yes, Ms. Granger, Liquid Luck. Desperately tricky to make, disastrous should you get it wrong." Perci shivered, remembering the first time she attempted that potion. It took her weeks to fully grow back her eyebrows. "One sip, you will find that all of your endeavors succeed." Slughorn chuckled. "That is, until the effects wear off."
He closed the cauldron and stepped in front of the table. "So, this is what I offer you today. One tiny vial of Liquid Luck to the student who manages, in the remaining hour, to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Dead. Recipes for which can be found on page ten of your books. If you need assistance, Ms. Potter is happy to help, isn't that right?" He looked over at Perci with a raised brow. Perci tried to conjure up a fake smile, but it turned out to be a grimace. "Good luck to you all. Let the brewing commence!"
Each and every student hurried off, pushing past each other to get a good desk. One girl was even trampled. Perci was pleased to see that it was Lavender Brown. She stifled her laughter and watched as she cursed getting up. The rest of the classroom was completely chaotic. Students pushed each other's cauldrons off the table, tore each others book pages out, and cursed at each other.
Different colored smoke flew about the room as they followed the directions in their books. Perci went around the room observing the class and occasionally helping. Her eyes eventually caught Malfoy's. He had been watching her, just as he did when Bellatrix tortured her. Anger bubbled in her stomach. She clenched her fists, making her way over to him. Her eyes burned a bright orange, yellow, and red; her irises swirled, showing her rage.
However, a voice caught her attention. She turned around, her eyes still glowing. She stopped abruptly seeing the slightly glowing body of Fred. He looked down at her with a grin, his hands in his pockets. Perci glanced around, confused. Fred stepped closer to her, bringing his hands out of his pockets. He towered over her, now. Fred placed a large, gentle hand on her cheek. Perci could feel her anger slightly fade and her eyes sizzle out.
"It's okay," his voice was distant, far away. "Ms. Potter?" Fred said, although his voice didn't sound like him. Fred began to fade; Perci reached out for his hand but he was already gone.
"Ms. Potter?" The same voice said again, but this time not in Fred's body. Dean stood patiently at his delaying calling for her. Her little distraction had a big job ahead of him. Perci couldn't stop thinking about Fred, as her hallucination showed her. Perci painted on a smile and headed toward Dean. "Will you help me? I can't seem to cut this sophophourus bean."
Perci nodded. "Show me what you're doing." She said walking slightly behind him, but off to his side. Dean picked up his knife and tried slicing at the bean. It wobbled out of his reach. Perci shook her head and laid her hand on his that held the knife. "No, no, crush it with the flat of the blade." She turned the knife on its side, still in his hand. She placed both hands on his and brought the knife over the sophophourus bean. She pushed down, the bean now crushing. Its juices began to leak out at the seams of the bean. Dean grinned down at her, and squeezed the juices over his cauldron.
"Thanks, Per–" He paused and turned toward her, leaning his back against his desk. "Or should I call you Ms. Potter?" His flirtatious smile would've fazed any other girl, but Perci didn't feel anything. She could only imagine Fred staring at her, hurt. She shook it off and smirked up at Dean. Perci stepped closer to him and stared into his deep brown eyes. They were nothing like Fred's, though.
"Since I am your teacher, I think it would be inappropriate to call me anything else." Her eyebrow raised and her crooked grin enchanted Dean. He could feel himself getting flustered.
Ron and Harry watched the scene from a distance with dark, angered eyes. Ron could only think of what Fred would do or think. Harry wanted to brutally murder Dean for even looking at his sister, and the thoughts he must've been thinking. Harry flared his nostrils and tried to focus on finishing his potion, but he could help it when he called for his sister to come help him. He wanted her to get out of that situation.
Perci sighed and made her way over to Harry. He didn't look up from his mysteriously altered book. "What're you doing?" Harry asked.
Perci sat in the stool across from him. "You said to get a distraction. I'm just working on it."
Harry frowned and looked at her. "When I said 'distraction', I meant like a hobby or a book or something. Not a person." He whisper-yelled, leaning toward her.
"A hobby or a book is not going to distract me from him." Perci said. She got up from her seat. Perci scowled and threw the sloth brain at him and strolled off from Harry, Ron, and a frazzled Hermione.
An hour later, Slughorn visited each desk and tested each potion. None of them, however, were executed perfectly. That is, until he got to Harry. "Merlin's beard!" He exclaimed after watching the lead he dropped in Harry's cauldron sizzle and disintegrate. "I dare say it's perfect! So perfect one drop just might kill us all."
Slughorn brought his prized student to the front of the room and made all of the other students gather around them. He took out a minute vial of Liquid Luck, and put an arm around him. "Here we are then, as promised. One vial of Felix Felicis. Congratulations. Use it well." He ordered. The bell rang above them. Everyone gathered their books and hurried out of the room. Perci told Ron, Harry, and Hermione to go on without her.
She grabbed her things from her desk, and started toward the door, but Slughorn stopped her. "It seems that I might have misjudged you, Ms. Potter." He sighed. Perci turned to face him with an eyebrow raised and her arms crossed.
"Oh, really?" She asked sarcastically, leaning against one of the desks. Slughorn placed his bifocals on his desk. He wanted to say something else, but wasn't sure what he should say. "Well, I'm not looking for an apology. I'm just going to get through this year without any drama." Without another word she left the professor.
Oh, how she should've knocked on wood.