PERFECT // JAMES POTTER

15. A New Friend

Dylan O'Brien

As

Milo Sloan

"I don't need help from a filthy Mudblood like her."

-=+=-

It was the last few weeks of school.

Scarlet Winters was rushing down the dungeon corridor, trying to get to Potions on time. As she passed the Slytherin common room, the portrait swung open and someone stepped out of it, knocking into Scarlet and making her fall down.

"Oh! I'm er...sorry." A masculine voice said from above her.

Scarlet looked up and saw a boy with short, dark brown hair and brown eyes staring down at her with his hand stretched out, offering to help her up. She gently took it and hoisted herself up, brushing the dirt from the floor off of her.

"I'm Milo. Milo Sloan." He said, smiling slightly.

Scarlet knew who he was. She shared a few classes with him and he was often seen hanging around in the transfiguration courtyard with his pose of friends.

"Scarlet Winters." She nodded at him, aware that he was a Slytherin, but not wanting to judge.

"Heading to Potions too?" He asked.

Scarlet nodded as the two began to walk together, slowly beginning to get to know each other. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Potion, just in time. Professor Slughorn was just about to start the lesson. She quickly said goodbye and went to join Lily, while Milo left to join one of his friends.

"Who was that?" Lily whispered to her as Scarlet sat down.

"No one, I just met him while walking here." Scarlet answered, pulling out her Potions textbook. 

"Today, I want everyone to make a Draught of Peace." Slughorn instructed the class, "You have the whole lesson, instructions are in you textbook, you may begin."

Scarlet and Lily immediately got to work pulling out their cauldrons and adding powdered moonstone, only stopping until the potion turned green.

At the end of the lesson, Scarlet was pleased with her result. Granted, she may of put one too many drops of hellebore but that was fine. Slughorn walked over and inspected both of their potions.

"Well done Miss Winters and Miss Evans!" He exclaimed before moving on.

Scarlet and Lily high-fived and started chatting until they heard Slughorn shout.

"Mr Sloan! This - This potion is extraordinary! Why, it could help the most stressed person on the planet!"

All eyes turned to Milo, who was looking rather bashful. Scarlet made eye contact with him and sent him a small small, unaware of the blush that had formed on his cheeks. However a certain pair of hazel eyes saw the exchange and couldn't help but feel the bubble of jealousy erupt in his stomach. 

"Class dismissed." Slughorn called and everyone began to pack up their cauldrons.

As Scarlet was about to leave the room, a hand landed on her shoulder. She spun around to see Milo smiling down at her. Only then did Scarlet realize how tall Milo actually was. Then again, everyone was tall to her. Many times she had been described as comically short and the Marauders often made jokes about her height.

"Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to hang out with me and do some homework by the Black Lake? You seem rather interesting and I'd like to get to know you more." Milo said, while wearing a small blush and scratching the back of his neck.

"Yeah, sure! I'd love that. Is now okay?" Scarlet asked.

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Okay, let me tell my friends not to wait for me then." Scarlet ran off and ventured back into the room to find her friends.

She quickly reached the Marauders and explained that she was going to hang out with a friend for a while and do some homework. The boys nodded and told her that they'd be in the common room if she needed them. Scarlet approached Milo again with a smile.

"Let's go."

-=+=-

Hanging out with Milo proved to be rather fun, even if they were doing boring homework. They had similar interests and hobbies and immediately bonded over them. The year was coming to a close and they had both agreed to owl each other.

Scarlet had asked Milo if it was okay if she brought Cleo along, just so she could stretch her legs. The kitten had grown bigger and bigger each day and it was now the size of a normal cat. Cleo had settled herself on Scarlet lap and was contently purring and the girl stroked her. She had been wary of Milo initially but had soon gotten familiar with the boy as the afternoon passed, even allowing him to gently scratch her chin.  

The two chatted and laughed until evening, when they both stood up and went to dinner together, dropping Cleo off at the common room as they passed. When the passed through the doors of the Great Hall, the two separated and headed to their respective table. Scarlet wedged herself in between Remus and Sirius.

"Who was that Slytherin boy you entered with?" Remus asked respectively. 

"Oh, that was just Milo. I met him on the way to Potions." Scarlet answered, beginning to dig into her mashed potato.

"Was he the 'friend' you hung out with this afternoon?" Sirius questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. Why?" Scarlet said, swallowing.

"We thought we were hanging out with Lily in the Library or something!" Sirius said, "We didn't think you'd be with a Slytherin!"

Scarlet hit him on the arm. Hard.

"Sirius! Stop with the house prejudice. Just because there has been a few bad eggs in that house doesn't mean that they're all mean!"

"'A few bad eggs.'" He scoffed.

Scarlet rolled her eyes and continued her meal with only one thought on her mind:

He's not that bad. Is he?