Cuts Run Deep

Potions

~Neville's POV~

Bloody hell, I'm going to be late to potions. After Herbology, I offered to help Professor Sprout clean up the green house. She said she had to go check on something and I lost track of time. I'm in so much trouble.

I finally get to the classroom. Before I walk in, I catch my breath. I'm already a couple minutes late. I straighten up and prepare for the worst. Sure Slughorn isn't so strict about being late, I just hate how all eyes will be on me. I've definitely got more confidence than I used to, but I still hate all the attention. Especially when girls stare at me. It makes me feel awkward. I gather myself together and slip into the classroom.

"Ah, Neville dear boy! Finally you make it. I was just pairing everyone up. You'll be with uh- lets see... Blaise Zabini." Professor Slughorn says cheerily. I feel all the blood drain from my face. Me? Partners with Blaise?! I nod slowly and walk to the back of the classroom. Could this day get any worse?

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Blaise. Not at all actually. I think he has something against me though. He always avoids me. Usually he won't even talk to me. When I reach the table, Our eyes meet. Oddly enough, I feel shy all of the sudden.

"H-hi." I stammer. He stares at me unmovingly. Blaise blinks rapidly and shakes his head.

"Longbottom." He says casually. I nod my head and turn away. My face is burning. Is it hot in here? I didn't feel this way a couple minutes ago... I look around the classroom. Everyone looks either nervous, sick, or excited. That's odd. Usually people are focused during Potions.

"Er- what potion are we brewing today?" I ask. I missed the introduction, so I have honestly no idea what we're doing. Blaise turns a shade of red and avoids my eyes.

"Well, you see, we're kind of brewing... a love potion." My eyes go wide with shock. Blaise shakes his hands when he realizes what he said. "Not like that! I mean, kinda but... It's a short term love potion. It's not as strong as Amortentia and only lasts about fifteen minutes." I'm still shocked. Why did I have to be paired with Blaise of all people? I groan inwardly and look at the other pairs. At least it's not Goyle (Ron had the pleasure of being his partner)

"Earth to Longbottom." Blaise says while snapping in front of my face. I jump back in surprise and Blaise smirks.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" I ask.

"We have to decide who will take the potion." he responds. We stare at each other for a moment. On one hand, I don't want to embarrass myself by taking the potion. On the other, I'm horrible at potions and I don't want to mess it up. I weigh out each option and make my decision.

"I'll take it I guess." I say while biting my bottom lip.

"Are you sure?" Blaise asks. I nod. Blaise smiles and starts preparing the potion. I wring my hands and try to get rid of the knot on my stomach.

"What do they mean it didn't work?" I ask confused. I s

~Draco's POV~

We're brewing a bloody love potion. I smirk when Professor Slughorn puts me with Harry. Why couldn't this day have happened forever ago. I would have found out about Harry liking me a long time ago. Especially since, being a Gryffindor, Harry would have offered to take the potion lie he did today.

We sit down at our cauldron and start on the potion. Harry prepares ingredients and I make the potion. We have a system from being paired together for so long. Slughorn may let us pick partners normally, but Severus did not. I always had this class with Harry and he would always pair us together. Not that I really minded, but we were supposed to be acting like enemies back then. We established a system where we didn't need to talk much, we just worked separately on the same Potion.