"Morning beautiful."

Sipping gently on my pumpkin juice I turned quickly on my seat to stare directly into the leering face of Nott. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively as I grimaced in response, my pumpkin juice resurfacing as I gagged slightly. An uncomfortable moment passed as I stared blankly into his toothy grin; unsure of how to deal with this latest breech of my personal space. Nott really needed to be made aware of social conventions. And deodorant. A soft chuckle to my left stole my attention away momentarily.

"Nott, get your ugly face away from my girlfriend, you disgusting git."

Nott switched his attention to Cass, as he quietly slipped his tall frame into the space beside me; fixing Nott with a faux stern glare. He shrugged in response, strutting away with a smirk, his hulking frame pushing past the throngs of students milling in the opposite direction. "Can't be everywhere Zabini. See you on the pitch."

Swivelling around to face Cass; I was relieved to see he seemed to be in one of his better moods. Picking at my plate absently; he plucked up half a slice of toast. "Not going to eat this?"

I shook my head; offering a small smile.

He rolled his. "'Course not. Mind if I finish off yours then? I'm fucking starving. Had to set the pitch up again this morning after the Hufflepuffs. Their incompetence never ceases to marvel. "

I shook my head again with a grin; motioning for him to continue his demolition of my breakfast. I don't know why he bothered. There was a lengthy table of fresher and warmer food right in front of him; yet he insisted on finishing mine every morning before starting his.

"You training tonight?"

He nodded between mouthfuls; wolfing down whatever was left of my breakfast before pilling up his own plate. "Yup- match is in a week. Gotta train every night."

Wonderful. I hope enjoyed his relationship with his broom. I really did. If he kept this training regimen up; it was likely to be the only one he had. Frowning slightly; I looked over at him sideways; hoping he would quickly catch up on to the fact that I was not happy with this. He paused, mid fork to mouth.

"I'm sorry- I know we haven't seen much of each other lately. Come to practise again?" He shot me a hopeful glance; inky brown eyes beseeching.

I rolled my eyes; taking another sip. "Why; so you can make another scene in front of all your friends?"

His face clouded over in an instant as he dropped his fork noisily; turning to face me fully. "So this is what you've been pissy about? That I made a scene in front of my friends? Or is it that I made a scene in front of Lupin?"

His tone was scathing; his lips twisting into a scowl as he spat Teddy's name. I glared at him in response.

"What is it with your ridiculous infatuation with Lupin? He's just a boy Cass. I don't ever remember him doing anything to you."

His glare intensified in an instant. "Are you seriously defending him? You know- Lys mentioned you'd seen him in the hospital wing. I guess I didn't realise the two of you were so close."

Eyeing him frostily; I decided to give him a few seconds to withdraw that accusation; however veiled. But he held his nerve; watching my face for any sign of weakness. My eyes narrowed even further.

"I visited Lupin in the hospital wing because I put him there. And yeah- he is an arrogant prat and he irritates me; but it doesn't explain why you seem to hate him. Furthermore; I'd appreciate it in the future if you kept tabs on me directly instead of hassling my friends."

His expression softened a little at hearing my admission of how conceited Lupin was. Or at the reminder of how I'd knocked him out; I couldn't tell which. He opened his mouth to apologise- or at least diffuse the argument- but I wasn't done. I was sick of him mollifying me without actually agreeing with anything I said or accepting any guilt. This time- he was going to listen. I cut across him quickly; continuing with my rant.

"I'm not annoyed that you made a scene. What I'm annoyed at- is that you insinuated that I can't take control of a situation myself. That if through some ridiculous notion, Lupin had wanted to get with me- that I wouldn't have been able to stop him. You made me look like an idiot."

He frowned over at me; mulling through my words. He then broke into a grin; his dark face crinkling as he leaned into me. "You know you are really hot when you're angry. I have a free period before Charms… Do you wanna-"

"CASS. I am trying to make a serious point here!"

Sighing impatiently, he pulled away. "I get it! I get it alright? Don't make a scene- don't assume you aren't capable of kicking Lupin's ass if you wanted. Lesson learned. Happy?"

Irritated that he was acting like such a child I ignored him; scowling into my empty plate. He sighed again; this time more resigned, as he pulled me closer to him; whispering against my neck.

"I really am sorry. You know I think the world of you. You could kick my ass; never mind Lupin's. I just… get jealous sometimes. You don't see the way guys here look at you. Would you believe it if I said I only do these things because I love you?"

Trying to supress the small smile tugging at my lips I turned into him; my eyes much kinder. "I believe you. I love you too."

He grinned happily, already content with the world again. He was too easy to please. "Come to Quidditch tonight? I'll be on my best behaviour- promise."

I smiled back in response. "I dunno. I'll have to cancel my date with Lupin but… I'll see what I can do."

He smirked over at me. "Not funny."

I grinned. "Too soon?"

He shrugged. "Nah it's ok actually. Makes me feel less guilty about shacking up with Bursnell all these years."

Stealing the last slice of toast with a quick grin; he sauntered away, leaving an empty seat beside me for Lys to slip in to. She watched him leave the hall with a happy smirk. "Looks like the Prince of Darkness has cheered up. You two talk?"

I frowned. "Kind of. Well… yeah. We didn't say much; but the issue is resolved."

She nodded sagely; helping herself to some cereal. "And what was the issue again?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Him acting like a chauvinistic prat- and worse- expecting me to be grateful for it."

She sighed. "Wish someone would act like a chauvinistic prat for me. I'd be grateful." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively at me as I laughed; coughing on some pumpkin juice.

"You want a boyfriend so bad- try actually saying YES to someone who asks you out."

She frowned. "That'd be no fun."

"Add the monkswood. Vic- add the monkswood!"

Blinking; I snapped back to reality, quickly grabbing the monkswood and dropping it into the cauldron. It turned a bright blue colour in response. Lys glanced dubiously at me.

"Is that supposed to happen?"

I checked the cauldron again. "Yeah. Bright turquoise is what we want." I supplied absently; my gaze drifting again.

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"Well shit then. You sure it's not supposed to be nice, rich maroon?"

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I spun around quickly; Lys following my motion as she gazed up at Lupin in surprise; her eyes flickering between the two of us uncertainly. He leaned easily against the edge of our table; peering nosily into our cauldron at the brilliant sparkling blue. Cutting his gaze to me he smiled sadly.
"Do either of you ladies want to break the news to Aelius? I don't think I have the heart."

We all slowly turned to watch Aelius frantically stirring his cauldron; the steam from it's depths matting and frizzing his hair as his brows contorted in concentration; muttering and whispering to himself across the room.

I cracked a lazy smile in return. "You'd think by now he'd know to just assume that whatever he's brewed is wrong."

Lys sniggered slightly; before quickly falling quiet; her gaze shooting to Teddy worriedly. He grinned down at her, amused.

"It's okay. You can laugh- it was funny. You must be Lys. Nice to meet you."

He proffered his hand; smiling warmly at her as we both fell silent in muted shock. Lys turned wide; surprised eyes to me and I instant l knew what she was telepathically communicating.

You two have talked about me?

How often do you two talk that he would instantly recognise me without introduction?

Why have you not mentioned this?

Why is he being so nice?

Are you… friends?

Best I could; I tried to communicate that I was equally shocked- that I had no idea how he knew this. I'd mentioned it, but… in passing. I never expected him to actually… Oh God.

He quirked an eyebrow at the two of us; hand still outstretched expectantly. Slowly and uncertainly; Lys raised her hand to meet his. He shook it firmly, with a relieved smile. "Teddy Lupin."

She answered his smile with a small one; still very unsure of what was happening.

"I know who you are. Alyssa Booth."

He cracked an abashed smile; running a hand through his dusky hair; but doing little to calm it down. God I would love to just attack that hair with some grooming charms; the same way-

What was I doing?

I was not going to be grooming Ted Lupin's hair anytime soon. I shook my head clear of the thought; refocusing on the bizarre scene in front of me.

"Why does everyone say it like that?" His gaze shot to me; a small grin on his lips; and I knew he was thinking of our first encounter on the train. Coughing pointedly; I looked away in annoyance. I didn't care if it seemed rude. What was he playing at? Trying to have a fucking moment in the middle of potions? The story of how we first met was not a sweet; nostalgic story that we could look back and laugh at, like two old friends- or some (God forbid) couple. If anything it the means by which someday; I would have him arrested for assault and battery.

Thankfully the moment was shattered by loud screeching from the opposite side of the room.

"Teddy! Get back here now! The situation has… escalated!"

All our heads snapped up to where Greenwood was standing beside his cauldron; a slightly manic expression on his face as he glared over at our trio, his wand shaking rather dangerously in his hand. Lupin stared speechlessly at him; turning slowly back to us.

"Do you think- for the safety and wellbeing of the entire class- you might be able to help us?"

Smirking; I shook my head softly. "Sorry Lupin. But this mess is all yours."

Mock wounded; he turned beseechingly to Lys. "Alyssa- make her see reason. She listens to you."

Lys turned dubious eyes on me. "Does she? I'm beginning to question that."

Despite her doubtful expression; I could see a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. And I knew I had already lost. Curse the both of them! I wouldn't do it. The last thing I needed was word getting back to Cass about how I had helped Lupin in potions. And in a class of Slytherins and Gryffindors- it was sure to get back to him.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to help out our fellow classmates. In the interest of promoting unity and teamwork." She smirked lightly at Lupin; who beamed in response; the two of them sharing a little moment. Ugh. I stared resolutely at my potion; ignoring the two of them.

"No." I responded curtly.

Lupin's grin grew; if it were even possible. The slimy git. "Is she always this stubborn?"

Lys laughed; tossing back her hair. The traitor. I stirred the potion jerkily; trying not to take out my frustrations on what was surely an Outstanding level potion. "Always. I'm beginning to think you know her better than I've given you credit for."

My mouth fell open as I dropped my wand onto the table.
They both turned to look at me in bemusement as I silently fumed at them.

"Something you wanted to say Victoire?" Lupin smirked at me; thoroughly satisfied with himself; Lys all but mirroring his grin.

Aaaargh!

I whirled around; angrily grabbing my wand from the table and stomping away from them without another word. The two of them as a team was more than odd; it was infuriating. They didn't even know each other! Lys was all too aware of how much Lupin got under my skin! What was she playing at? And encouraging him no less. "I'm beginning to think you know her better than I've given you credit for."

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?

There was only one place in this room I could avoid them. Only one person more annoyed at them than me.

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And he wore man-bangs.

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"Move the fuck over Greenwood before you kill us all."

He spun around on the spot as though electrified, pointing a scalpel accusingly at me. "What do you want, Weasley?"

I narrowed my eyes. "I want to be over by my perfect potion; planning the rest of my day and leaving early with my outstanding result. But thanks to your dimwit of a partner; I'm forced to save your remedial asses. So I repeat. Get the fuck out my way and do exactly as I tell you; before I change my mind."

He considered me for a minute; his gaze flickering between the frothy mess in his cauldron and then resting in distaste on me. I could tell he was debating between reluctance to accept my help and frustration with his own potion. Eventually he stood aside slowly.

"Thanks." He choked out.

Grabbing various herbs and ingredients; I gave him a sidelong glance. "Don't mention it."

"Seriously." I added under my breath.

Greenwood stood back far enough to let me do my thing; occasionally leaning forward and asking questions or observing my progress. Generally we worked pretty well together; maintaining enough civility to work cohesively. Whatever supplies I asked for; he offered them readily; fetching whatever I wanted.

"Boomslang please."

"Here you go. Does that have to be cut like that?"

"No. But if you cut it smaller; it dissolves more quickly. Plus it makes it easier to accurately sense the colour change; prevents you adding too much you know?"

He nodded thoughtfully. "I'll remember that. It's a good trick."

I smiled over at him without thinking and he grinned back; our differences set aside for this one task.

Another few hours had passed in the class; only us and a few other stragglers left in the room. Greenwood and I bent anxiously over the cauldron; all our concentration absorbed in the precise; clockwise-anticlockwise stirring of my wand. I bit my lips; nerves mounting within me. We had spent the last 2 hours fixing this potion; and it all came down to this moment. Greenwood shot me a nervous smile; the two of us only inches apart in our anticipation.

"About done yet?" Lupin interjected from the wall where he had just spent the last two hours chatting with Lys. Turning to face him I saw an annoyed expression spasm across his face; glaring at his friend. So he thought I would wander over and fix his potion in ten minutes and he'd be free for the day. Sorry to disappoint Lupin, I growled internally. The ungrateful swine.

Greenwood waved him away; not even looking up from the potion to face his friend. "Two minutes! This is it! We're gonna see if it worked or not!"

His excitement was infectious; a grin forming across my face subconsciously. God I hoped this worked. He shot me an equally excited smile and I slowly reached for the small purple vial on the table.
"This is it." I eyed him warily.

He nodded in affirmation. "Do it. I can't stand it any longer."

Slowly unscrewing the lid with heavy fingers I dumped the contents in the cauldron unceremoniously. We both paused expectantly; eyes scanning the cauldron desperately for a swirl of blue- anything.

"Come on- Come on…" Aelius muttered eagerly. "There! Right there! Do you see that?"

I leaned forward; staring at the spot he pointed to excitedly. "Yes- Yes- That's it! Quickly- stir it! Stir it!"

He froze. "No- no you should- I don't wanna mess it up-"

I placed a soothing arm on his shoulder. "You can do it! Clockwise- anticlockwise- just like we practised."

He nodded; at first uncertainly; then more determinedly; picking up his wand shakily.

I watched excitedly as the familiar turquosise became more and more pronounced; spreading throughout the cauldron; slowly but surely.

"You're doing it! You're doing it!"

He laughed in excited disbelief. "I am! It's turning blue! YES! We did it!"

The two of us were jumping up and down in excitement; laughing hysterically with an arm slung over each other's shoulders as we danced around the cauldron. Attracted by the noise; Slughorn advanced over; inspecting the cauldron dubiously. He looked up at us; baffled.

"Excellent work Greenwood; Lupin. An exceeds expectations." He nodded his approval as Aelius turned beaming to me.

"I haven't got an exceeds expectations since the OWLS! Yes! You're fucking awesome!"

Laughing; I was enveloped in a bear hug and swept off the ground before I even knew what was happening. Giggling embarrassedly as he set me to my feet; we both turned around at the sound of a pointed cough.

Lys was watching the two of us in puzzlement as Teddy glared at his companion; who was suddenly looking very abashed. She slid of the wall she'd been leaning against. "We should head Vic, if you're gonna watch Cass at practise. We got an Outstanding... if you were wondering."

Flushing at her amused smirk I quickly grabbed my things. What had I been thinking? Aelius fucking Greenwood?! Since when were we best friends? He offered me a sheepish grin and I returned it fleetingly; for some reason unable to face Teddy. Finally gathering the nerve to look at him; I saw that his face had darkened considerably at the mention of our result. Or at the mention of Cass; I couldn't tell which. His hair had changed from that warm dusky blonde to a dark brown; his eyes from a honey golden-brown to the same inky brown of Cass's. The darker look suited him; made his cheek bones appear more angular; his lashes longer; his jaw line more pronounced. Although that might just have been the fact that he was jutting his jaw angrily.

It was kind of hot.

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Did I just say that?