The Reckoning of Emmie MacKenzie

The Charm Offensive

Emmie sat in the library going over her homework as quickly as she could. She was a bit sore from practice earlier, but only had about an hour before she had to meet up with Flint in Ravenclaw Tower for that night's patrol and didn't particularly want to be up later than necessary going over it afterwards. She had practically finished it during her break in between charms and practice, but still wanted to give it another look. Especially potions.

A thump had her looking up into the dark eyes of Flint as he put his books down on the table.

"What are ye doin'?" she asked, a bit thrown by his sudden appearance.

"Saw you here as I was leaving. Figured since we don't have long until we start rounds, I'd join you so we can go together from here," he replied easily. Emmie just watched him as he pulled out his potions book and opened it. "Seriously, MacKenzie. I'm only going over my work for class tomorrow - not here to bother you."

She nodded wordlessly and looked back down at her parchment, going over her essay again. She was beginning to hate quills. It meant that for every mistake she found, she'd have to re-write the damn thing all over again. Perhaps she should have taken Percy up on his offer yesterday to do their work together.

"That your essay for potions?" Flint asked. Emmie glanced up at him and nodded. He sat up and held his hand out.

"Just what in the hell are ye doin' now?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously. Flint sighed and shook his head.

"Looking it over. From the look on your face, it seemed you were a bit confused," he said. Emmie just stared at him. "You know I'm near the top of the class, MacKenzie. I'm not going to muck it up."

She then handed over her parchment and continued to watch him closely as he looked it over.

"Not bad," he said after a bit, glancing up at her. "This Percy's help?"

"Did it myself, though he explained some things," Emmie replied.

While she knew she needed Percy's help more often than not, she had been rather proud of herself for writing this one on her own. He nodded and looked back down at it.

"You're getting better," he said.

"Well... suppose that is thanks to Percy. Once ye get past his gruffness, he's no so bad," Emmie said, looking down at her book.

"I'm trying to give you a compliment, MacKenzie," he said, marking something down on the page and then handing it back. "That bit I underlined there - might want to double check the reading on it."

Emmie glanced at it and then back up at him, studying him closely before turning her attention to the book. He was right. She had gotten part of the explanation off. She pulled out another piece of parchment and set to work re-writing, grateful that he had allowed her to figure out what exactly was wrong without just giving it to her. Percy often got frustrated and just told her the answer, but she preferred working through things herself. She remembered it better that way.

"Why are ye helpin' me?" she asked suddenly, looking up at him. He just shrugged.

"Looked as though you needed it," he said, leaning back in his chair. "And as much as I don't mind watching you pore over your homework, I prefer talking to you more. This way you'll get done faster."

She just blinked a bit and then returned to writing out her essay again, being sure to slow down when she got to the section that needed re-working.

As soon as she was done, she glanced over it again before rolling it up and putting it into her bag. She wasn't as eager to talk to Flint, though she was grateful to have her homework out of the way.