𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐏A𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄, jp

Falling Behind.

The dungeon was filled with the heavy scent of herbs and simmering concoctions, Isabella hated it. She hated potions, she hated how stupid she was at it, and she hated how bad the stupid classroom smelt. It smelt of damp.

She sat at her usual spot near the back of the classroom, hunched over her cauldron. Beside her, Mary Macdonald was measuring powdered asphodel, and she was the only one of the pair who seemed remotely confident about the task at hand.

"I don't get this," Isabella muttered under her breath, glaring at the half-brewed Calming Draught in their cauldron. It was supposed to be lilac but was instead an unsettling shade of muddy green.

Izzy wanted to throw it on the floor.

Mary glanced at her sympathetically. "I think we added the lavender too early. Or maybe not enough valerian root? Should we start over?"

"We don't have time!" Isabella cried, panic rising in her chest as she glanced at the clock on the dungeon wall. "We'll fail this, again! That's the third potion I've messed up this month! If Slughorn doesn't kill me, you're going to want to

Mary gave her a reassuring smile. "We'll fix it. Just breathe. Remember what Lily said? Slow and steady."

"Easy for Lily," Isabella muttered. "She's brilliant at everything."

As she grabbed for the powdered asphodel, her hand shook, scattering a little too much into the cauldron. The potion hissed angrily, and a puff of unpleasant smoke curled upward.

Mary winced. "Well... that's not ideal."

"Well I don't know why it's making angry noises at me, it's one that's being so complicated!" Izzy slumped back in her seat angrily.

Across the room, laughter erupted as Sirius Black whispered something to James Potter. Isabella's attention flickered toward them involuntarily. James wasn't laughing, he was looking at her again.

Their eyes met briefly, and James immediately looked down at his cauldron, his messy hair falling into his face. Isabella felt her face grow hot and forced herself to focus on the disaster brewing before her.

"Isabella, concentrate!" Mary whispered, elbowing her lightly. "You're staring at him again."

"I am not," Isabella said quickly, though the pink in her cheeks betrayed her.

"Why don't you just talk to him? Screw Remus."

"It's too late now," she shrugged, "besides, Remus seems chirpier knowing James and I aren't really friends."

"To hell with Remus' chirpiness!"

"To hell with Remus," Izzy muttered, glaring over at her brother.

Mary gave her a grin but dropped the subject when Slughorn began making his rounds, his jovial voice growing closer.

"Miss Lupin, Miss Macdonald," Slughorn said, stopping in front of their table. He peered into their cauldron, his brow furrowing. "Hmm. Not quite the calming lilac we're looking for, is it? More... swampy than soothing."

Isabella's stomach dropped. "I'm sorry, sir," she said quietly. "It wasn't Mary's fault, I —"

"Nonsense, my dear, no need for apologies," Slughorn said, though his tone was tinged with disappointment. "Potions takes patience. Your father was quite talented in my class, you know. I'm sure you've got it in you, too."

She nodded mutely, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her — especially Remus's.

From the next table, her brother muttered under his breath, "Patience isn't going to fix that disaster."