15 Chapter 15 - Candice

Sitting in Charms class - their second lesson of the day - Candice and Lyra were bored out of their minds.

"I s-swear. T-this lesson is d-dragging." one spoke quietly to the other.

"I could agree... Or perhaps I could say that maybe you just can't wait for a certain extra session." Lyra teased.

"T-that's tomorrow." Candice attempted to cool her flaming cheeks with her forever-freezing hands.

"Actually, lucky you! We have double potions after lunch, so you won't have to wait long to-"

"D-don't!" Candice gasped a bit too loud, earning a few strange looks from her classmates.

"Oh shush! It's the truth." Lyra jokingly punched her arm.

The targetted girl looked away embarrassed, while the other just giggled. Candice then had a moment to consider her friend's words.

"W-we have double p-potions after lunch?!" she exclaimed, "Oh g-god. I completely f-forgot!"

Now Lyra was having a full on laughing session. Their little outburst caught the attention of not only the students, but the Charms Professor.

"Everything alright here? Miss Black? Miss Lorax?" Professor Flitwick came to investigate.

"Yep. All good." the laughing girl replied mid-breathing.

Flitwick gave her a curious look, but thankfully didn't question further. Lyra gave a last snort, then went back to practicing the Summoning charm as they were instructed. By the time lunch rolled around, the two mastered the charm perfectly. The two troublemakers were to leave when Flitwick's squeaky voice pulled one back.

"Miss Black? Candice! May I have a word?"

Lyra told her that she'll be in the Great Hall, and the new girl returned to the classroom. The little man no longer stood on the pile of books he taught on, showing to Candice their actual height difference. Of course, the girl only just smiled briefly at the thought of him not being able to reach the top of her head; she respected Flitwick greatly.

"Y-yes, Professor?"

"You see, you are one of my best students, and I was wondering if you wished to have any extra sessions to train you further."

Thr girl stopped herself from gaping at his words. True, charms class was the only she felt confident in and knew she wasn't falling behind. But was she to take up on his offer? She carefully considered her answer.

"I w-would love to Sir. B-but perhaps after C-christmas? I still h-have a lot to c-catch up on, having h-had missed four y-years." she smiled nervously, not wanting to waste such an opportunity, yet she knew right now she had too much on her plate.

"Oh of course Candice. I apologise, I keep forgetting you have only just joined us. You're too good in this lesson!" the little man joked, "Anyways, after Christmas then, or as soon as you wish, I would love to teach you some non-verbal spells. I know Defence against the Dark Arts is not my known expertise, however I was a duelling champion back in the day."

"W-wow Sir! That is t-truly amazing to hear."

Candice felt even more honoured to be in Flitwick's presence. Finally, the girl realised his offer might be good for her after all.

"On t-that note Professor, w-would it be too late t-to ask for you t-to tutor me now in DADA?"

The Charms Master was overjoyed with her query and they agreed to meet twice the following week. Candice felt a small weight shift off her shoulders as she perceived that she could talk to her other professor individually - and so she would have to only spend a Potions tutoring session with Snape. Her plan seemed fool-proof, as throughout lunch, she successfully secured another two tutorings: one with Professor Lovegood (Care of Magical Creatures) and another with Professor Longbottom (who was a Herbology apprentice).

Before she knew it, her freetime was over and Lyra scolded her, while lining up for Potions. Before her friend could express her truly felt distress towards Candice's lack of meals, the door next to them flew open.

"Enter." a voice boomed from inside, and everyone shuffled in without a word.

"Also I require a new boy-girl seating plan. In the last few lessons you have proved yourselves to be incapable of working together with your friends, therefore I insist you all find someone new to sit next to," Snape said before anyone could take a seat, "Of the opposite gender." he added as a reminder.

Noone let out a sound of protest - in fear of angering the Potions Master - however their faces showed enough to say they were not happy. Candice especially had a look of worry on her face, as she had to take a seat next to Dais Penmark (the boy who has had been picking on her since her arrival). This was a class Slytherins shared with Ravenclaws, meaning despite the new seating arrangements, Slytherins and Ravenclaws were clearly split into the two sides of the room. No matter how hard Candice wished, she knew she couldn't sit next to a Ravenclaw but had to put up with her Slytherin partner instead.

"Good. Now then, today you will attempt to make the Draught of Peace." the professor flicked his wand and an ingredients list appeared on the blackboard, "You have 90 minutes. Begin."

From then, everyone rushed to get the ingredients listed. Dais seemed to be okay with making the potion in silence, so Candice didn't interrupt but added the ingredients she got as contribution. After around half an hour, the girl looked wide-eyed at her partner as he poured a much higher amount of syrup of hellebore than required. Candice immediately put her hand out to stop him but he just shook her off.

"W-what do you think y-you're doing?!" she whispered angrily.

They had such a perfect potion going, and now he completely ruined it, she thought. The one time she could have successfully made a potions; that could have even gotten Professor Snape's approval. It was a dream she was not ready to give up.

"Just making it better." Dais shrugged, as if it was nothing and added more powdered moonstone.

"S-stop it! You're m-messing it up!"

"O-oh c-come o-on!" he mocked, "Have some fun."

Before she could respond to criticise his idiocy, Candice felt a presence behind her, which made her stomach flip like she was on a roller-coaster.

"Miss Black! What do you think you are making?" his voice snapped.

Of course he would blame her. He hates her guts, she reasoned. All three of them looked in the cauldron with caution and saw a pitch black solution. The girl was about to lean closer to observe, when Snape roughly pulled her back by her robe.

"Do you even know what you made you insufferable child?" he shouted in a patronising tone, making her slightly wince.

"N-no, s-sir." she replied, the whole class now silent, as they watched the events unfold.

"Detention tonight at 6pm. And as for your information, you made Potion No. 86. A forbidden solution in schools as it is highly toxic and poisonous." he said while flicking his wand like before and the potion disappeared.

He walked off saying "Start again". If the Slytherin girl had not been shaking in her skin, she would have glared at Dais, who was biting his lip in amusement. She restarted the potion, and without Snape noticing she did the whole thing by herself because the boy was busy flirting with another girl next to him. In all honesty, it calmed Candice to see him not take a second glance at her. Better being ignored than bullied, she thought.

By the end of the lesson, she was tired but managed to finish the potion. The Potions Master came around to check and when he got to hers, he just gave a nod. Disappointment filled the girl at his lack of acknowledgement for her effort, although she knew it was wrong of her to expect anything more.