The 101 of Working With Your Enemy

Chapter 4

I woke up to someone violently shaking my shoulder and my name being called. With a groan, I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

"Finally! I thought you'd never wake up. We're gonna be late for Potions if you don't hurry," Scarlet said, leaning over me. Her blond hair was perfectly curled, and framed her tan face.

Her words made me scramble up. My legs got tangled up in the duvet and I crashed to the floor, a curse leaving my lips. Scarlet helped me up, and I searched the floor for my uniform. Gathering my skirt, blouse and tie, I rushed in the bathroom, sticking my head out again to look at my best friend. "I'm sorry that you'll have to skip breakfast because of me." I squeezed paste on my toothbrush. "I swear, I'll make it up to you." My words were muffled with the toothbrush stuck in my mouth. At the same time, I changed out of my pyjamas and into my uniform.

"It's fine, Callie. I can wait until lunch. Just don't make me miss that as well," she joked.

I spit out the toothpaste and rinsed my mouth with water. Looking up in the mirror, the first thing I noticed were the dark circles under my eyes. I looked like I hadn't slept in weeks. Fixing my dark brown waves with my fingers, I darted towards the bed to grab my shoes.

We were halfway out the door when Scarlet handed me my robes. I shrugged into them, shooting her a thankful look.

In front of the Potions classroom, we nearly crashed into Harry and Ron, who also seemed to be late.

"Morning," muttered all four of us in unison, tired from being up this early. I hadn't got used to getting up at an ungodly hour again, and my sleep schedule was thoroughly messed up.

Harry opened the door, letting us through first, and I shot him a smile. He averted his gaze, but I couldn't help but notice the flush covering his cheeks.

Professor Slughorn turned around, and his eyes found Harry in the matter of seconds. "Ah. Harry, old boy. I was beginning to worry." His eyes darted over to me and the others. "We've got a couple of mates with us, I see."

"Ron Weasley, sir," said Ron, introducing himself first. Scarlet and I followed his lead. "I'm dead awful at potions. A menace actually, so I'm probably just gonna–" Ron started backing away, but Harry caught his shoulder.

"Nonsense. We'll sort you out. Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Get your books out." Slughorn already turned back to the class, who were following the conversation intently, but Harry spoke up again. "Sorry sir, I haven't actually got my book yet. Nor has Ron."

While both of them went to fetch books, Scarlet and I made our way over to the others. She silently greeted Pansy and stood next to her, and I had no choice but to squeeze in between her and Draco.

I felt his gaze on me, but didn't dare to meet his eyes. He was probably wearing his usual scowl, especially after what I've said to him last night. I still regretted my words, even though I was right. He hated me and I hated him. It's how its always been, and it wouldn't change.

"This is Amortentia. The most powerful love potion in the world," Hermione explained, referring to the different potions that Slughorn had asked us to identify. I was fairly good at Potions and was excited to get the opportunity to smell the potion for the first time.

"It's rumoured to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts them." She stepped closer and described what it smelt like to her. I wasn't exactly sure who it could refer to, but I had my assumptions.

"Now, Amortentia doesn't create actual love. That would be impossible," Slughorn stated. "But it does cause powerful infatuation or obsession. And for that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room."