In third-year halls, their paths first crossed,
A Raven boy, a Blonde girl lost.
"Stay out of my way," she warned with a glare,
But something lingered in the frosty air.
Crimson with his scar and fame,
Emerald with her secrets untamed.
Two worlds ap...
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Classes at Hogwarts were in full swing the next day, the first class of the day being Herbology. In the middle of the greenhouse, Professor Sprout was showing the class the ugliest plants Aria and Onyx had ever seen. They were standing side by side, with Blaise, Draco, and Theo nearby, all curiously eyeing the thick, black, slug-like plants squirming out of the soil. Aria nudged Onyx, who wrinkled her nose.
"Gross," Onyx muttered, her gloved hands clenched at the sight of the shiny swellings on the plants.
"Bubotubers," Professor Sprout announced briskly. "They need squeezing. You will collect the pus—"
"The what?" Blaise said, his voice half-amused, half-revolted, leaning slightly toward Onyx.
"Pus, Zabini, pus," Professor Sprout repeated, "and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus in these bottles. Wear your dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted."
Onyx grimaced, glancing at the Bubotubers. "Is this really what they're making us do now?"
"I think I'll pass on having my hands burn off," Aria chuckled softly, but pulled on her gloves nonetheless. "Better than last year's stink sap, though."
Theo, standing with his arms crossed, sighed. "I don't know if I can take much more of this."
"Don't be dramatic," Draco drawled from behind them, though his own expression betrayed his disgust. "It's not exactly high-class work, but at least it's easy."
Squeezing the Bubotubers was both disgusting and oddly satisfying. With every squelching pop, thick yellowish-green liquid squirted into their bottles. Onyx shuddered each time one burst. Aria, more focused, collected the pus with precision, shooting the occasional amused glance at Blaise, who was struggling to keep his disgust in check.
"Careful, Blaise," Aria teased. "Wouldn't want to get any of that on your nice robes."
"Right, because I definitely signed up to ruin my wardrobe today," Blaise retorted, but grinned back at her.
Once the class finished, Professor Sprout praised the students. "This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy," she said, holding up a bottle. "An excellent remedy for stubborn forms of acne."
"Like Eloise Midgen," said a Gryffindor in a hushed voice. "She tried to curse hers off."
"Silly girl," Professor Sprout said, shaking her head.
As the lesson ended and the bell rang, signaling their next class, the five Slytherins made their way across the wet grounds to Hagrid's hut.
