Chapter 1
The Potion professor's voice bounced off the damp stone walls, reverberating through the chilly air of the dungeon-like classroom. The atmosphere felt colder than usual, a biting chill that seemed to seep into their very bones, heightening the tension that always accompanied Potions class. "Today, you will brew the complex Wolfsbane Potion," boomed Professor Slughorn, his authoritative voice echoing in the dimly lit room. "Work with your assigned partners and follow the instructions carefully." Marlene glanced at Mary, who turned to her at the same moment. A silent agreement passed between them with just a simple nod; they had always paired alphabetically for Potions class. Macdonald and McKinnon were almost always partners, a routine that had provided them with a comfortable rhythm over the years.
However, Marlene's mind began to wander as she contemplated the upcoming Quidditch match against Slytherin. The Gryffindor team needed a win badly; it was not just a game but a matter of pride for their house. The entire Gryffindor community was counting on them to bring home the Quidditch Cup this year. Marlene imagined herself soaring above the pitch on her broomstick, feeling the exhilaration of the wind rushing past her face as she dodged Slytherin players and aimed for the goal hoops. The thrill of victory was palpable in her mind, and she felt a surge of determination to make it happen.
Suddenly, Professor Slughorn began to read out the partner list, pulling Marlene back into the present moment. She snapped back to attention as she heard Mary’s name called. "Macdonald and Evans," Professor Slughorn announced, his voice ringing out like a bell in the stillness of the room.
Marlene turned so fast that she felt her neck crack, and she and Mary exchanged looks of utter confusion. This was not their usual arrangement at all. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Marlene wondered who her partner would be now. She hoped it would be someone like James or Sirius—someone who could keep things light-hearted and fun. But deep down, she reasoned that anyone would be better than some of the Slytherins. The mere thought of being paired with Snape sent a shudder down her spine; his greasy hair and sneering attitude were enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
“McKinnon and Meadowes,” Professor Slughorn continued, his voice echoing off the stone walls like an ominous warning. As he carried on reading down the long sheet of paper, Marlene felt her heart sink further into despair. No, not Dorcas Meadowes—she was the last person Marlene would ever want to be paired with in Potions class. Their rivalry had begun back in third year during Quidditch practice when they had fiercely competed for positions on their respective teams. Dorcas's snarky comments and cold demeanor were enough to make anyone's skin crawl, and Marlene felt a wave of frustration bubbling within her at the thought of spending an entire class working alongside her nemesis.
As Marlene stood there, the weight of her reluctant partnership with Dorcas settled heavily upon her shoulders. The atmosphere in the potions classroom was thick with tension, and she could feel the unspoken judgments hanging in the air. Professor Slughorn’s authoritative tone echoed in her mind, reminding her that there was no escape from this arrangement. With a resigned sigh, she picked up her equipment, the clatter of her tools mirroring her internal frustration. She forcefully slammed her notes onto the desk beside Dorcas, who merely rolled her eyes in response, clearly unimpressed by Marlene's brashness. This only fueled Marlene's irritation further.
“Got something to say?” she challenged, raising an eyebrow defiantly. The silence that followed felt charged, as Dorcas scrutinized Marlene with a critical gaze before dismissively returning to her worn workbook. It was infuriating; who did Dorcas think she was? Marlene couldn’t help but feel a wave of indignation wash over her. She had always been a capable student, and yet here she was, being treated like an incompetent fool. "So… what are we doing again?" Marlene asked, trying to mask her annoyance with a casual tone. The sharp look from Dorcas told her that she had crossed a line. "We're making the Wolfsbane Potion," Dorcas replied, her voice dripping with exasperation. "You would know this if you listened." Marlene nodded, feigning compliance while internally rolling her eyes at the condescension that dripped from Dorcas’s words. “Uh huh, yeah…” she responded dismissively, trying to brush off the comment like water off a duck’s back. Dorcas sighed heavily, pushing a rebellious strand of box braids behind her ear as if to signal that she had better things to do than babysit Marlene's lack of focus. "Just read the instructions, McKinnon. And try not to blow anything up," she added with a hint of sarcasm that stung more than it should have. Marlene bristled at the implication that she was somehow less competent than her partner. "I know how to brew a potion, Meadowes. I'm not completely useless, you know." With a quick motion, she snatched the instructions from the table and scanned them hastily.
"Alright, let's see... we need powdered moonstone, wolfsbane..." "Aconite," Dorcas corrected sharply, pointing at the ingredient list as if it were a matter of life and death. "Whatever," Marlene muttered under her breath as she grabbed a vial of dark purple powder—wolfsbane or aconite; it hardly mattered to her at this point. In her haste, she nearly knocked over a jar of dried salamander scales that sat precariously on the edge of their workspace. “Fuck, McKinnon. Be careful,” Dorcas spat out in frustration just as Marlene felt herself teetering on the edge of retaliation. But before she could muster a retort, Professor Slughorn's voice boomed across the cold and damp room like thunder rolling through a stormy night sky.
“Oh children, before I forget! As you all know, your OWLs are coming up,” he announced cheerfully, oblivious to the brewing tension between his students. “So I decided to switch things up a bit.” He paused for dramatic effect before continuing, “The groundskeeper Hagrid has recently found many new plants growing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest—plants that are absolutely fantastic for many potions you will need to master for your OWLs.” Marlene’s interest piqued momentarily at the mention of new ingredients; perhaps this unexpected twist could provide an opportunity for redemption in their potion-making endeavors. “So I thought,” Slughorn continued with an air of excitement, “as a treat, in our pairs we could make a potion completely from scratch! We will gather the ingredients, prep them all, and then brew Intentio Verum—the True Intentions Potion!”
In our pairs
The words sting deep in her heart.