Potions and Charms
James Potter never asked to be involved in family drama, especially when that family drama isn’t his. And ESPECIALLY when it’s Black family drama.
“C’mon James, I need a date so my family will stop setting me up with prissy rich girls!” Sirius is my best friend. Why is he my best friend?
“For the last time Sirius, just take Remus and finally ask him out for Merlin’s sake.” Looking at the time, I realize that I’m about to be late to potions with Professor Slughorn, the only class I don’t have with Sirius and the only class I have with his brother, Regulus fucking Black. I thought Sirius could be entitled, his brother is ten times worse because he's "the golden child” of the Black family, at least he’s not friends with Snivilus.
Unfortunately, the only seat left is at his table because it appears that Barty Crouch (demented fuck) Jr isn’t here today. Just when I thought my luck couldn’t get worse, I see that we’re brewing Felix Felicis, just great.
“Mr.Potter are you just going to stand there staring at the board or are you going to sit down and take part in the lesson?” Professor Slughorn quips.
I snap back to the lesson “Sorry Professor” and I sit down next to Regulus. He glances at me for a split second and moves his stuff closer to him even though none of it was in my way. I’m pretty sure he hates me. Slughorn continues on with the lesson and its finally almost time for class to end.
“Now for your assignment, you will be working in pairs to brew Felix Felicis, your partner is who you are sitting with. Oh, and this is 25 percent of your final grade.” Slughorn gives a sympathetic smile as if he was forced to assign the project.
After class ended, I went to Proffessor Slughorn’s office. “Proffessor, I know you said that we were to work with who we were sitting with, but I was wondering if I could switch partners with someone.”
“And why,” he inquired sarcastically “should I allow you to switch partners. Do you not have any confidence in Mr. Black’s potion brewing ability? If that is the case you must be more ignorant than you seem. You -”
“He doesn’t get along with anyone, what makes you think that he would cooperate with me?” Trying to figure out more reasons to not work with him is suprisingly diffucult.
“Mr. Potter, in life you must learn how to work with all kinds of people and learn how to set your differences aside and work together to put forward an exemplary product, I am simply giving you the opportunity to grow. Now go to your next class” He waved me out and I grab my things and trudge to transfiguration with McGonagall.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“You should have heard him Sirius, he was all ‘I’m teaching you a life lesson’ and now i have to do a project with your brother of all people”
“Yeah, Slughorn’s full of shit, but to take your mind off if it,” Sirius walks closer to avoid the passing 3rd years “have you considered-”
“The answer is still no and will always be no,” Sighing and leaning on the wall near the great hall, I see Regulus walking this way, but obviously ignore him, it is lunch. But he doesn’t turn to go into the great hall, but keeps walking towards us.
“I’m taking him, we have a project to do.” Regulus snips at Sirius as he grabs my arm and drags me to the library. Sirius just watches in shock as I’m draged away by his younger brother. I finally snap back to my senses and wrench my arm away from him.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Snapping at him as he glares at me.
“We need to do this project, well more accurately I am going to do it and you will get me the ingredients because if you touch it, it’ll blow up. Think you can handle that?” Regulus looks ready to strangle someone, and I do not want to be the target.
“Fine, fine, you do all the work and we get an easy A.” Rolling my eyes as he scowled and then spun on his heel towards the library. I followed him and was a glorified library cart. After half an hour of collecting the right books we were at a table with Regulus writing down all the ingredients and procedures we would need to start it. Finally he closes the last book, stands up with his parchment and goes to leave for his next class because lunch is almost over at this point.
~~after classes~
Sirius and I are playing chess when it dawns on me that I have a charms essay thats due in the morning.
“Oh shit”
“What the hell is your problem, you look like someone just slapped you.” Sirius glances at me and leans back in his chair.
“The charms essay is due tommorrow.” Sirius’ face pales, he obviously forgot about it too. We both rush to our bunk where Sirius throws me the parchment and a quill.
“Do you have any books?”
“Why would I need that, my mother taught me this shit when i was eight”
“Throw me the cloak, I’ll go down to the library and grab the right books.” He tosses me the cloak and I put it on as I rush down the stairs and out of Gryffindor common room and towards the library.
As I get to the library it looks like I’m not the only one there. Regulus is doing something right in front of the books I need, so I have to wait for him to finish. After about 5 minutes he grabs the book he needs and sits down at a table and takes out a roll of parchment. I ignore him and move to the shelf where the book I need should be, but it’s missing.
“Shit” I whisper and turn around to leave, and accept a zero for the charms essay.
“Looking for this Potter?” Jumping at the voice I whip around to see Regulus, how did he know I was here, I have the invisibility cloak on. And he’s holding the book I need for the essay as well as a sheet of parchment that looks to be a completed essay.
Regulus, rolling his eyes, strides over and rips off the cloak. “What are y-” He snaps his hand over my mouth and shoves me into the bookshelf, just as I’m about to bite his hand, a ghost breezes by without a sound. He backs off, letting me step to the side of him as I make a grab for the book in his hand and my cloak.
He grabs my arm and shoves me back into a bookshelf,“You insufferable git” snarling an inch from my face. “I’m going to make you a deal Potter, I give you this completed charms essay and you come to the black manor as my date so my parents leave me alone about getting a girlfriend.”He steps back as I just stare at him.
I blink at him.
I blink at him again as my mouth falls open.
I then start laughing “You need a date,” wheezing out the words, and nearly doubling over with laughter “ for a shitty family dinner and your first instinct is to go to a Gryffindor guy that is your brother's best mate.” He glared at me waiting for my response. “I would normally refuse, but seeing as I need to pass charms and you are offering me such a convenient solution, sure why not. This way I’ll be able to make sure Sirius is doing ok at home with whomever he gets as a date for this thing”
Holding out my hand for the essay, he hands it over reluctantly. “So when is this thing.” I cock my head at him quizzically.
“In a month, but we need to practice being around each other so my parents don’t get suspicious, I know a place and will send you an owl for the time and place everyday and don’t be late.”
Snapping and turning to leave as I watch him dumbfounded.
“What have I gotten myself into?”