The Serpent and The Bird

There's an obvious tension between us.

- Settle down, people.

Professor Sharp wasn't the most jolly man generally but that morning his mood was especially foul. Perhaps because it was only Wednesday and the week had felt longer that it should have, for everybody. Everleigh was in a station between Garreth and Natty. She had lost a game of Giants, Wizards and Goblins to the latter, which was the equivalent of rock, paper and scissors in the wizarding world.

The loser was given the spot next to Garreth, acting as cushion if, or rather when, one of his experiments went wrong. The redhead boy had been glancing at them with a expression of disapproval that had made Everleigh and Natsai laugh for entire minutes.

- I'll have you know that I haven't had any accidents in two weeks. - He had said proudly.

- It's been two weeks too long. It's bound to happen at any minute now. - Natty had murmured towards Everleigh and she had to restrain another laugh.

Until she remembered that they were going to share the Potions classroom with Ravenclaw and Slytherin that morning.

The Slytherin party had been last weekend and she had managed to avoid Sebastian since them. To be truthful, that seemed to be their whole dynamic since they've met.

Sharing an intimate moment and then steering clear from each other.

She was sick of it. But she also couldn't look him in the face after what happened. She was ashamed of herself and how expeditiously she had come undone under his touch.

Ominis and Anne hadn't changed their attitude towards her, which could only mean Sebastian hadn't said a thing about the "incident" to his sister and his best friend. Not that she would peg him for someone that would speak of their intimacy so freely. But still.

- Alright, everyone. Gather up. Clopton, pay attention.

The whole class formed a circle around professor Sharp's station, where three humming cauldrons were sitting.

- Here we have three of the most powerful potions known by wizard-kind. Mister Sallow, care to let me know what the first one is?

Everleigh had been avoiding looking on his direction the first few minutes of class, but couldn't help to stare at the Slytherin boy as he approached the first potion. He stirred it, brows furrowed, and inhaled deeply.

- It looks like Draught of the Living Death, sir. - Sebastian finally answered with confidence. - It is an extremely powerful sleeping potion, sending the drinker into a death-like slumber, similar to suspended animation. The Wiggenweld Potion is the only known cure, capable of reversing the effects of the Draught.

- Very good. Ten points for Slytherin.

Sebastian took various steps back until he had reached his classmates. Everleigh ventured to look at him again but he seemed to be ignoring her just like she had been ignoring him the last few days. At least he was doing everything on his power to not look up to her. And it was saying enough since they were facing each other, just separated by Sharp's potions station.

- Now, Miss Dale. Would you be so kind to give us the name for the potion in the middle?

Samantha Dale took a few steps forward, eying Sebastian out as she leaned towards the cauldron to smell from it. Everleigh tried not to be rattled by this. Why would she?

She had no right to be bothered if he decided to give attention to another woman. After all, she kept avoiding him. But a quick glance to his face let her know that the boy wasn't paying attention to Samantha either. His eyes were focused on the thick book he was holding and that he had been reading since the class started.