Like Real People Do (R.A.B)

9

~ I bet, I promise

"Hey Kendra, wait up!" Dorcas Meadows called out in a corridor full of people.

It was Monday once more. The start of another week full of classes.

Kendra walked towards the wall and out of traffic to wait for her friend. In her arms she held her potions book and slung across her shoulder was a old bag that James had given her to carry miscellaneous school things. She wore her Gryffindor robes and new black loafers that the room had gifted. Her hair which was usually down, was tied in a low bun with a few pieces falling out to frame her face. It was her designated potions hair-doo.

"Hey D," Kendra said as her friend finally made her way through the sea of students.

Dorcas wore her Gryffindor robes too, though they weren't done up as formerly as Kendra's. Her tie was missing and in place of it was two thick tiger's eye necklaces stacked with the McKinnon family crest pendant. Her hair was braid intricately on her scalp and she had beautiful light brown dreads that fell to her elbows. Thick golden clasps were wrapped around various dreads giving her a whimsical look.

"Hey Kendra, where you headed?" Dorcas asked, a little out of breath.

The blonde girl motioned to the textbook in her hand, "Potions, its my last class of the day."

A funny look crossed across the eccentric witches face at her words. But, she didn't tease her friend this time.

"Sorry I chased you down in the middle of the hallway," she said changing topics. "I just wanted to apologize for the other day and make sure you were feeling alright."

She twisted a golden ring anxiously on her finger as she stayed in stride with Kendra, who looked through her eyes and saw days worth of guilt and worry. The pale girl just smiled at her friend and shook her head dismissively.

"I promise I was never upset with you. I just startle easy when it comes to things like the dark wizard Remus mentioned." Kendra said.

Dorcas knew few details about Kendra's upbringing but she remembered distinctly the stories of her friends mother. A paranoid witch whose delusions had very much impacted Kendra's way of life.

"I understand Kendra," Dorcas started, "and if you need someone to talk too or a shoulder to cry on I promise to never judge you."

Then as they turned to head down the final staircase before Slughorn's potions classroom she held out her pinky.

Kendra looked at the finger puzzled. James and Sirius's voices filled her head as she tried to recall what they had said over winter break. During that time they had spent many hours keying her in to different teenage slang and norms.

As if the very thought of him conjured his presence, James Potter, her saving grace appeared on the opposite side of the staircase heading up. Sensing his sisters stare he caught her eye and saw her confusion. In less than a second he had seemed to somehow read the situation and he brought his too hands up and subtly joined them together with his pinky's.

Kendra was quick to follow his example and she wrapped a tiny pinky around Dorcas's equally small finger. Her friend smiled brightly at her and leaned in to affectionately press her temple to Kendra's.

As James passed the two girls on the staircase he gave a cheery grin to them both and passed a sly wink towards Kendra. She smiled gratefully in return.

"Well I'll see you later Kendra, wanna get early breakfast tommorrow like last time?" Said Dorcas hopefully.

Kendra stopped briefly outside of the classroom door to respond. Students poured in and out of the busy door besides them.

"Of course sounds great!" she said.

Her heart lifted happily at her friends sentiment. She knew Dorcas was anything but an early bird.

She was a real friend.

_____

Kendra was pulling out a short quill and pouring ink when her potions partner, Regulus Black, stepped foot into the classroom. Like every other time he ever entered a room she was in, Kendra felt the air shift. The tall boy walked by Slughorn's desk, dropping his eight-inch essay on the slowly growing pile before he turned towards his potions station.

The hair on Kendra's arms and legs stood up when they made eye contact. Something about his very being made her heart skip a beat. Little did she know, he felt the same.

As he pulled his stool out to sit down he shot Kendra a small smile which she quickly returned.

"I heard we are supposed to start brewing the dreamless sleep potion today," Regulus started. He then rustled around his bag in search on something.

"Oh merlin, of course."

He looked up at Kendra hopefully. "It seems as though I left my book in my dorm. Do you mind if I read over your shoulder?"

The suggestion made her pulse quicken.

"That's fine," Kendra said cooly in reply.

She moved to get out her textbook, trying not to seem nervous, and laid it open between the two of them. Regulus moved his stool closer to hers and Kendra could now feel their shoulder's touching and his hot breath on her neck. A chill shot down her spine.

Out of the corner of his eye, Regulus, watched the beautiful girl shiver. He suppressed a smirk as his heart lifted, the Black heir was glad to know she was equally effected by this invisible pull.

As they read, Slughorn entered the classroom. He was a plump old man with a kind face and bushy eyebrows. He wore his usual three piece suit with the chain of his pocket watch dangling elegantly.

The potions master was a man of favorites, and as he took his suit jacket off he glanced at his favorite pair.

Regulus and Kendra.

Horace was an old man, an old fashioned one at that. But he did appreciate a proper love story. Gazing at his two students, he felt like he was watching the beginning of a heartfelt muggle rom-com. The two mindlessly flirted and danced around each other like no other. It was quite endearing to watch. 

It seemed as though he wasn't the only professor to notice the two as well. Of all people, Minerva McGonnagall had approached him in the Great Hall with a bet (though they already had one going with Lily Evans and James Potter). The older witch always did have a sly eye and an incredible knack for hearing things.

Shaking his head, Slughorn pulled himself out of his thoughts and made his way to the center of the classroom to begin his class. His meddling eye, drifting often to land upon the two oblivious students. 

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AN: Sorry guys shorter chapter! But its a little cute and fluffy so hope that makes up for it! If you are a reader please comment it would definitely make me happy!