- Where did I put it ? - asked Poppy as we were just about to exit the humid glass walls of the herbology classroom.
I didn't think she actually meant to ask me that question, it was more like a muttering to herself.
I stopped walking to look back at her for a second.
- What is it ? - I've asked.
- My shopping list . I was going to meet up with my gran to get some food for Highwing. I researched her favourites and that list had them all. All the ingredients and everything. -she sighed. She looked truly worried.
- We can come back and look around later. - I tried to lighten her mood a little. We didn't have time to search around for it.
I didn't want to sound rude, but our next class  was going to be  double Potions and there was no way in hell I wanted to be late for one of Professor Sharps lessons.
She looked up at me .
- I have to find it !
- Poppy ! - I crossed my arms in front of my chest.
- She always has a go at me for forgetting things. I can't listen to one of her lectures again about not being organised enough.
This was the same girl that sneaked out of school on a daily basis to rescue beasts. Wondering into the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night.
The same girl was frightened because she feared her grandma would have a go at her for loosing a list, she probably remembered anyway.
I shook my head in disbelief.
- You were supposed to be my lab partner. If Slytherin gets points deducted because I fail my potion..- I took a sharp breath - I will be telling Professor Sharp just why exactly it all happened.
She chuckled.
- I see. You also got one of Nellie Oggspires owl this morning about the challenge.
She was talking about the letter every Slytherin student received .
And of course that included me as well.
A challenge.
The high and mighty Griffindor student made it perfectly clear how much better their red and gold colored flag would suit the Great hall at the end of our year. Winning the house cup was a competition for everyone. Some took it lightly, some not so much.
One of the latter people was Nellie Oggspire.
Knowing it all, proud to be chivalrous, courageous and all that humbug that she thought represented her house.
I didn't hate her.
To be perfectly honest I haven't even thought of her anything at all. If she hadn't sent that letter I probably would have walked past her in the castle corridors without even blinking twice.
But I was a Slytherin. And I was proud of it.
I loved the fact that I got sorted to be ambitious, clever and resourceful.
So for her to say she wanted the walls to be painted red and gold, it hurt my pride as probably anyone else's from our house.
Gaining points throughout our classes and not to lose any. That was something I had to do.
- Precisely.- I nodded.
- I'm glad to be a Hufflepuff.- she laughed. - If I can make it to the second class ..
- It's a double lesson. Even if you do, I'll probably be paired with someone else by the time.
She glanced at me with an apologetic look.
- I'll make it up to you ! I promise.
I've turned my back to her and raised my hand for a small wave before I started running towards the lower floors to make my way to the Dungeons.

I got there just before Professor Sharp. He took long strides, his cape fluttering behind him.
- Nearly late .- he made a remark seeing me slipping through the door just before he reached it.
I held the door open waiting for him to come through as I smiled .
He passed me with  his eyebrows raised.

I quickly sat down on my usual seat before arranging my cauldron and needed books on the table.
I looked at the empty seat next to me.

- A double lesson of Potions alone. Absolutely fantastic.- I glanced around in the classroom. It was a joint class.
Green and yellow robes all arranged around the tables. I wasn't the only one sitting on my own. A few Hufflepuff students had their desk partner missing. It was a relief, but also a worry. I knew none of them. I didn't know if they knew how to brew Potions. And I definitely didn't want to fail. Maybe it will be self brewing. At least that's what I was hoping for..

Sharp stood up, with a book in his hand. Quietly made his way around the room.
He never talked much when teaching it wasn't anything unusual. He pointed his wand at the chalkboard and we all waited to find out what we were going to be doing in the next 2 hours.

' Veritaserum'

-What ? - I heard the muffled wispers around the classroom. All of us were looking at Professor Sharp.

- Page 506. - he said not even flinching.

- Professor !- one of the Hufflepuff girls that were also sitting alone, raised her arms up in the air. - It's a restricted potion. Is it not? Are we even allowed to practice this without any official papers from ...
- Minus 20 points from Hufflepuff. - he turned around and started walking to the middle of the classroom while the girl that just asked that question, slowly sank back to her seat trying to hide from her fellow housemates that were shooting daggers at her with their eyes. 
I chuckled.

Professor Sharp was quiet. And he liked his classroom to be exactly the same .
Asking a question before being allowed to speak was the worst mistake anyone could have done.

I didn't realise he stopped in the front of my desk.
- Having fun miss ?
I quickly wiped the smile off of my face.
I shook my head .

He pointed at the empty seat next to me with his wand.

- Miss Poppy Sweeting ? Is she off to chase her dreams to own a zoo ?
- I'm not sure Professor. - I lied. He looked at me with a  questioning expression and then turned around and walked towards his table grabbing the attendance list.
- Mr Sallow.

Oh no. DO NOT SAY THAT !!

Sebastian was also a Slytherin student. He was well liked by the girls in our year. He was always positive and polite and never refused a duel if challenged. His skills in Defence Against Dark Arts were honestly amazing and we sometimes sat in the same row in charms class.
But Potions.
Merlin save me.
If I wanted to lose a leg or an arm, he would be my first choice to pair up with for brewing.

He didn't do great.

I looked over at his direction. He was laughing at something with his desk mate. He only looked up, when he tapped Sallow's arm to warn him to pay attention after his name was mentioned.
Professor Sharp smiled.
- Would you mind joining Miss Hamnett for this lesson ?

That wasn't me.

All that air that has been stuck in my throat slowly exited in relief.
Sharp made Sebastian sit with the Hufflepuff girl from before.
Sebastian happily grabbed his books and loudly sat down next to the blushing girl.
Although it was probably meant to be a punishment in Sharps eyes she definitely was way more happy than she should have been.

Sharp looked at my direction this time.

- You can join Mr Gaunt at his table.
I also grabbed my books while Sharp arranged the rest of the students sitting alone. Some happy, some not so much. I had to say, I felt slight relief, being paired with a Slytherin.

- Morning. -  i heard the smooth voice from next to me.
I've looked at him  after carefully setting down my cauldron.
- Morning Ominis. - I greeted him.
He rested his hands on the top of the table, one of them holding the slim and elegant wand, he always had out to guide him around the castle walls.

I carefully raised my eyes up from his hands towards his face.

Ominis Gaunt.

I knew of him, but I didn't know him that well.
Other than the fact that he was Sebastian's best friend,  and they were practically joint by the hip, and the countless rumours that were circulating in Hogwarts I didn't know much.

We exchanged greetings a few times, but it was mainly out of politeness instead of anything friendly.

Professor Sharp leaned on the wall near us .

- I want everyone to study, and discuss their recipe and use of ingredients in the first half an hour. After that you will have another thirty minutes to prepare everything you need. In the last hour you will submit a 1000 word essay about Jobberknoll feathers. How to obtain them and all of their usages.

Everyone sighed disappointed.
- The potion will take one full lunar phase to brew, so you all need to decide a place to keep them safe. Both of the pairs will have to check on them without fail.
He walked towards his desk and took a seat while opening his book. Looking up from the pages for the last time.
- After the 28 days passed I will be teaching you the antidote for Veritaserum and on the same day one of the students of the made up pairs will be trying the Truth Potion. You will be equipped with the serum to end its effects, but your grades will be judged from its success.
-Oh!- he smiled. - The pair with the most translucent liquid will receive 100 points towards their house cup.
Without me noticing I grabbed Ominis's hand.
I had to do my best !

When I heard a muffled laugh coming from my side I finally looked his direction.
He was smiling.
- Sorry ! - I apologised - I think I've got way too excited then. - I removed my hand from top of his.

He shook his head and leaned a little towards me.
- I guess I wasn't the only one feeling a slight pressure to perform well for our house upon receiving such invitations from a certain Griffindor student.
- I know, right. - I smiled in agreement.
He held out his hand as if he was waiting for me to shake it, so I slowly placed my fingers in his palm.

Instead of shaking it, he softly rubbed his thumb over my knuckles.
It was probably something he did since he couldn't see, so I didn't pay much attention to this all.
- Let's do our best ! - he said with a small smirk lingering in the corner of his lips.
After our little exchange we both turned towards the table.

- You want me to read the recipe out ? - I asked even thought  i knew, he never needed help with anything. I watched him a few times as he worked his way through potions sometimes alone, sometimes with Sebastian.
He just shook his head to answer my question and waved his wand a little in front of me as it lit up with a tiny red light on top of it.
It was mesmerising.
He carefully pointed it to my direction, as I was observing it from every angle possible.
- I know it's inconveni..
- AMAZING! - I shouted with way more force than I intended earning a raised eyebrow from Sharp.
- T-the recipe Professor.... the recipe is amazing.. - I said hoping he would believe my panicked response, but he just looked back in his book, continuing the probably tear jerkingly boring pages, he was so occupied with.

Ominis was hiding his smile with his hand.
- I'm sorry.- I apologised - I .. erm .. yeah.. Let's  read this and divide the work, shall we ?

After that, the first half an hour went smoothly and so did the second one. We prepared the ingredients without a single flaw.
It was honestly magical watching Ominis work. His long slender fingers were touching the ingredients so carefully, discovering their texture, how they feel or smell.
I wouldn't be lying when I say, we worked together better than when I was assigned with Poppy.
He didn't ask many questions and I was happy not to stop to explain things.
We were done before our time ran out and still had a few minutes to spare.
- What do you think about the placement? - he closed his book and turned towards me.
- What do you mean ?
- Well Professor Sharp said, we needed to find a place for it to brew for the 28 days.
- Hmm. - I rested my face in my hands on the table. - I'm not so sure. I feel like if we put it in a place accessible for anyone, there would be someone that would definitely want to mess with it. I don't trust our fellow students.
He smiled as if I told him an amazing compliment. Scratching the back of his neck, he raised his head so he was directly facing where my voice was coming from.
I felt like my stomach did a backflip.
He was way too close.
Did his wand not made him sense our distance?
- Agreed! - he tilted his head to the side. And his lips curved to an even wider smile.
I've looked down at my hands and tried to think about a location that would be suitable for both of us. And it suddenly got to me .
- My room ! - we both said it at the same time.
- Oh. I should be jinxing you right now. - he laughed and I felt myself not being able to hold back my smile.
- So why don't you?
He looked away for a second, brushing his long fingers through his light brown hair.

At that moment Professor Sharp stood up from his seat and without a word and exited the classroom.
- Was that Sharp leaving just now ? - Ominis turned his head towards the door, but before I could answer Sebastian Sallow already reached our table.

- Oi Gaunt ! What a misfortune is this ? - he leaned on the table with both his hands supporting his weight and shot a huge smile towards me. - I feel like we barely started brewing, but I have already burned my potion.  Being separated from you, truly will become my miserable ending in this class. 
- Nobody to fix your mistakes ? - Ominis made a sarcastic remark on his friends failure.
- Exactly!!- Sallow grabbed Ominis's hand and pulled it to his mouth. - I'm dying without your excellency. 
- Well. - he pulled his hand back and placed it on the bench right next to my leg. - You better be dying on your seat, because Professor Sharp is on his way back .
- Oh crap ! - exclaimed Sebastian and shooted back towards his seat.
And only seconds right after that, just like how Ominis foresaw, Sharp entered back into the classroom .
- Amazing. - I muttered under my breath, but he heard me despite not meaning to share my thoughts with him.
He smiled again.
- So about the placement of our cauldron... I said before it would be probably the best to have it in my room, but I didn't count in my dear friend, Sebastian. I fear if I had it in our sleeping quarters, he would knock it over in minutes. Or curse it. Or worse.. Probably drink it.
- Well, there is always my room. - I suggested. - My roommate tend to be in the library all the time. And when I say that, I truly mean that. I bumped into her once this year. And it's already January. - I let out a small laugh.

- Peculiar.
- Yeah. So I think my room would be just perfect and I can just put it in my corner, cast a disillusionment charm. Nobody would ever get to it. 
Ominis's lips slightly parted, as he was thinking and  I was patiently waiting for a reply from him.
- But it's in the girls quarters.
- Glad you noticed I am one . - I replied without thinking. I didn't mean to say it with such sarcasm, but I was used to the way me and Poppy spoke. Without any limits.
For a second I thought he would take offence to it,  but he just looked at his wand with a smiling face.
- I'll bring it out .- he looked back at me
, when I said that. -I'll bring it out every night !
His pale eyes widened at this .
- Every night ?
- Yes . I promise.
Just as I finished saying that Professor Sharp tapped the back of his table indicating, that it was time to finish the potion and start working on our 1000 words essay.

The last hour flew by, like it was only seconds we spent studying the Jobberknoll feather and all its uses, and before we knew it, Professor Sharp had already left the classroom.
I started packing my things and levitated the cauldron next to me, making it follow every step I took.
But before I could exit, I felt something pulling the back of my robe.
- I'll.. I'll wait for your owl. - said Ominis pointing his lit up wand into my direction.
I just nodded.
None of us moved for a second.
As I quietly studied his face, he smiled a little and then held his hand out to me, but before I could even think about reaching for it, Sebastian Sallows arms were already around his shoulders.
- Princess Gaunt ?! - he laughed with an open mouth as he looked at him and for only a second I felt some sort of frustration towards this fellow Slytherin student.

- Sebastian..- he murmured under his breath.
- Oh it was nice to see ya! - Sallow looked at me this time and hurriedly pulled his friend away from me towards the exit of the classroom.

I watched them both go and for a second it looked like Ominis was trying to look back in my way.

I shook my head and made my way back to my room.