Euphoria

quattuor

Over the next few days, Tom started sitting at the back in potions— liking the odd feeling that overtook his being whenever he was around the joyous girl.

--

"Hello, Tom!" A small, animated voice called beside him as the bubbly girl everyone had come to, one way or another, love took a seat beside him.

The boy smiled a small, almost nonexistent, smile as his deep, chocolate brown eyes gazed at the girl. "Good afternoon, [Y/N]." His full-toned, rich voice showing a bit more emotion than usual as he greeted the Hufflepuff.

"And hello to you too, Myeong-Eun." The boy continued, his voice lacking the slight emotion it once had as he acknowledged the boy beside [Y/N]— a now artificial smile making it's way onto his refined features.

Myeong-Eun simply smiled a happy, innocent smile as he waved at the tall boy, muttering a small "hello" as he took his seat beside [Y/N]; immediately starting a lively conversation between the two.

Tom turned his attention to the front, patiently awaiting his favourite professor's arrival as he unwillingly listened to Myeong-Eun ramble on about whatever bizarre dream he'd had that night.

Soon enough, Professor Slughorn stumbled through the door carrying a high stack of papers which he soon set down on his desk. "Good afternoon, everyone!" The faintly out-of-breath man voiced, a small smile spreading across his moderately aged features as he rambled on about why he was slightly late before getting on with his lesson.

"Seeing as we've spent more than enough time studying the potion, your task today is to make "Draught of Living Dead". Now, do remember, it is a very difficult and advanced potion to make so be sure to read the instructions carefully." He finished, looking around the classroom, having expected his students to have already made their way to the potion cupboard.

"Chop, chop, then! We don't have all day!" The man declared, directing a pointed look at his students as he urged them to get on with their potions.

Myeong-Eun's face fell as he heard what they were doing today, quickly turning towards [Y/N] and showing her his best "puppy dog eyes"; causing the girl to slightly giggle and poke his cheeks.

"Do you want me to help you, Myeong-Eun?" [Y/N] cooed, her voice sounding sweeter than usual as she adoringly patted her friend's fluffy hair.

"Would you?!" The brunet exclaimed, his tone filled with hope as he sat up, his head no longer resting atop his hands.

"Of course, you big dummy! That's what friends are for!" The girl smiled as she stood up, gently grabbing Myeong-Eun's surprisingly soft hands as she guided him towards one of the cupboards at the back.

Tom, who'd witnessed the whole thing, frowned at the sight, throwing the two friends a weird glance as he, too, moved to gather the necessary ingredients.

The three sixth years peacefully got on with the task at hand, the only noise being that of [Y/N]'s occasional whispers towards Myeong-Eun, as she guided him through the recipe.

"Myeongie," the girl softly chuckled at the boy, dropping her knife, only to grab said boy's knife instead, "crush not cut." She explained, her hushed voice laced with honey and care as she delicately demonstrated what to do.

The exchange caused Tom, who'd been quietly tending to his potion, to raise an eyebrow as not many people would be able to come to a conclusion like that— especially since the instructions clearly said to cut.

The boy smiled a ghost of a smile, somewhat impressed that the girl managed to make not only one but two perfect potions in one lesson— seeing as she did technically do almost all the work for Myeong-Eun.