But We Are Worlds Apart

Addison Avery sat in her NEWT level Potions class, bored out of her mind. Slughorn's monotone voice droned on and on about some potion or other; Addi hadn't listened to hear which it was. She probably already knew it anyway. Potions was by far her forte when it came to things magical, although her other classes fell close behind it. If she were going to be anything upon graduating school it would have to be something that dealt with potions on a daily basis. Maybe she would even become a Potions Master. That seemed like an interesting career.

Addi doodled around the edge of her notes page, which was already covered from top to bottom in her nice, neat handwriting. If she had any friends in this class she would have been passing notes, but none of them had scored high enough on their OWL to qualify for the class. And Addi didn't have any friends outside of her house, so even the mixed house class didn't help her out.

She frowned slightly, vaguely hearing that they would be making whatever potion was being discussed next class, since they would soon be finishing up their Drought of Mirth, and soon the class would be full of giggling teenagers, caught up in the fumes.

Noah, too, was not paying attention, but for obviously different reasons. In fact, he should have probably been paying attention, for Potions was his hardest class. Though far from disastrous at it, Noah was after all in a NEWT level class, his grade was ever slipping farther and farther downwards. Perhaps it was the fact that Slughorn bored him to tears, or perhaps it was because his mind was always on other...things.

Or better yet, on someone. A particular someone, who sat in front of him and smelled like lemon drops. Cindy was her name, and she was positively the most distracting element in this class. Forget the glaring Slytherins, or the exploding potions, or even the thoughts about his Quidditch team, Cindy put them all to shame. Noah was usually so focused, it was rather embarrassing to admit that a nice smelling blonde who sat in front of him was the cause of his recent grade slip. Mayhaps he needed a tutor?

Shaking his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts, he caught a snippet of what Slughorn was saying. Something about the next potion, a Hecate's Harmony, and...partners? This was new, Noah though to himself. He had only been in the class for a couple months now, but Slughorn hadn't ever used partners before. He figured in a NEWT level class, it should be all about what you can do by yourself, but apparently Slughorn thought differently.

Addi frowned. Partners? That was just lovely. She didn't know anyone in the class. Well, technically that was a lie. She knew the other people, but she didn't particularly like any of them, or know any of them well enough to want to work with them. And knowing Slughorn, he would probably assign the partners himself. Once this was all said and explained, Slughorn told them to start setting up to finish their droughts, which were due at the end of the hour.

The class was soon a bustle of motion as they set up cauldrons, got ingredients, and dug around in bags for their books. Addi set hers up in silence and was brewing away before anyone else had even reached halfway set-up. She started up on the step she had left off on the class before and began going down the list, making sure she did everything accurately.

Noah slowly pulled out his stuff to finish the Drought of Mirth. He was only half done, due to his little distraction, and it was due today. In other words, if he didn't start working, he'd be screwed.

He glanced around the room as he set his work station up. Only one person had set faster then he. Her name was Addison, he believed, and she was a Slytherin. He crinkled his nose. Slytherins. Addison, however, was one of the more intellectual of the bunch; she definitely had a higher grade then he in this class. Mayhaps he should ask her for help...

Who was he kidding, he thought, smiling to himself. A Slytherin? Help him? Right.

The class was rather uneventful, if you could get passed all of the giggling seventeen years olds, being caused to giggle from the fumes of their potions, well that is if they had brewed them correctly. If not it was the secondhand fumes. Addi finished her potion early having almost been finished already, so she spent the second bit of class just reading and trying to ignore the giggling, while trying not to giggle herself.

The rest of the class passed uneventfully for Noah, and he was soon off to the fields for practice. He had just barely finished his Drought on time, and he reminded himself that if he didn't keep up his standard A+ grade, he would be in for it. Noah didn't really stop to think how'd he'd be in for it; he just knew he would be. This is the consequence of growing up in a family like his; there would always be a punishment for less-than-superior quality, but one never knew exactly what it would be. And anything less than the highest was unacceptable.

The rest of the day, and night (;D) passed uneventfully for Noah. Soon, too soon he thought to himself, he was back in Potions. He sat himself down in his desk, and waited patiently for Slughorn to begin the day's lessons. Today was the day they would be getting their partners, he thought. What we're they to be making? Oh, right, Hecate's Harmony. Noah had never heard of that particular potion before. He knew Hecate was an old Greek Goddess, one of the original in fact, and he suspected that it was another potion that favored positive feelings. They really hadn't begun any of the hardcore, death-creating potions yet. He settled himself farther into his seat.

Addison sat in her seat in Potions, wondering how the lesson was going to be playing out today, since they would be getting partners, and Slughorn wasn't the best at assigning partners without at least one pair of people being unhappy with it. And Addi knew she would probably be upset with her partner regardless, since she didn't really like anyone in the class.

She propped her chin on her elbows as she stared blankly at the blank chalkboard behind Slughorn, waiting for him to start talking, which he did a moment later. "Okay, class," he said, "today, as mentioned the last time we were all here, you will be divided up into pairs of partners. There partners will not be chosen by you, but assigned by me. Once you are paired off, get to the same desk as your new partner and start the potion. No partners will be changed once they are assigned." Then he got the class roster and started pairing people off.

Noah rolled his eyes at Slughorn. Whatta drab, he thought to himself. He listened subconsciously as the teacher called out pairs of names. He was, of course, hoping for Cindy, but he knew the probability was beyond slim. But he wasn’t too worried; he liked mostly everyone in the class.. He heard a rather distinct groan as his friend Grover’s name was called, and glanced over at his disgruntled friend. He stifled a snicker as he saw his friend going over and sitting by a smiling Henrietta. Henrietta was a Ravenclaw, and a pure genius at anything school-related. Socially, though, she was a bit of a failure, he thought as he glanced over her. He grinned at Grover, who shot him a dirty look. Grover wasn’t exactly the most patient, or understanding person, but he was a mean chaser.

“Noah, and Addison.” Slughorn’s voice called out, and Noah stood. Addison, Addison. Ah. Addison. The Slytherin sitting towards the back, a small frown on her lips. This would be fun, Noah thought warmly, and he smiled and made his way over to her desk.

Addi frowned as she finally got paired off. She didn't have a clue who this Noah person was. She actually didn't know the names of any person in this class. Never bothered to learn them. But she soon found out as she noticed a Gryffindor making his way over to where she was sitting. Lovely.

Noah put his charmer face on as he slid into the seat across from Addison.

"Hello," He said, smiling wholeheartedly. "I don't believe we've met. I am Noah St. James." He stuck out his hand in an awkwardly formal greeting, but he felt that anything less than that would be shaken off. This Addison looked pretty rigid, and he knew that she positively excelled at Potions. Together, they could probably do the best in the class.

Addi looked at the boy who had taken a seat next to her, frown planted firmly on her face. She ignored his out-stretched hand and his introduction. She made no move to introduce herself back. Instead, she said, "Look, I'm the best in this class full of rejects just trying to get somewhere in life. Don't bring me down and we won't have any problems. Comprende?"

There are many different ways to respond to a reaction like that. One could get pissed, one could become silent, one could become shell shocked. Noah? Noah laughed. Laughed right in her face, not caring when people turned to stare at him. When he was finished, he smirked at her. "I'll do my best to stay out of your way, yes?" He grinned up at her, his face never once faltering in it's happiness. He was honestly not offended by her words. He laughed once more, shaking his head, and then pulled out his textbook. "Shall we?"

Addison raised an eyebrow at this boy. His action were totally unconventional. And Addi had been so hoping to rile him up so she could launch a complaint and get Slughorn to give her a new partner, even through his no switch policy. But, now all hopes of that was ruined. Addi's eyes narrowed to show him her displeasure. Her book was already on her desk, since she had pulled it out before partners were even assigned. There would have been no way or reason that she should move. She was obviously the best, and the best got what they wanted every time.

Addi was silent, looking at Noah. It would be up to him to get the ingredients if he expected to do anything. If she didn't have to, Addi wasn't going to mix with the throng of people around the ingredients cabinet.

Addi's silence was met with another laugh. Npah grinned. "While your sitting there, I'll just run along and get the ingredients, yes?" He smiled, and hummed a small tune. He flipped through the pages of the textbook, landing on the page for Hecate's Harmony. "Now what do we need..." He mumbled to himself, totally oblivious to Addi's stare.

Mean people just didn't phase him. Well, not truly. Of course, there was a point where he could be shocked, but this elitism? He was used to this. It was rather typical from Slytherins, especially. It was a bit of a pity, though, that they couldn't be friends. She seemed, despite her cold demur, to be be an intelligent witch, and good looking to bat. Together, they could produce babies to rule the...Noah coughed, shaking himself from his reverie. "Best not to think about making babies with the cold-hearted Slytherin potion's partner."

Addi waited for Noah to get back with the ingredients. When he sat them down on the table she noted that they were mediocre at best. There were ones of much better quality in the cabinet, but in light of just getting this whole ordeal over with, she did not comment on the quality of the ingredients. Instead, she read over the first line of instruction and followed it thusly, working mostly independently, leaving little for Noah to do.

Noah was bored. He was smart, too smart to be playing back seat to Addison while she did all the work. Every time he attempted to at least somewhat contribute to the potion making, he was shut down coldly. Every time he made an effort to help, she shook him off with a glare. He was getting pretty bored, and class still had thirty minutes left. Finally, having enough of this nonsense, he made a comment. "I am not a complete idiot, you know. I could do something." He gestured to the items that still needed to be diced up, and smirked. "I'm good with my hands."

Addison stopped what she was doing and looked at Noah. "I'm taking no chances with you. Gryffindors have a history for being bad at Potions. My grade is on the line here. You are not getting involved so that you cannot mess it up. Don't take it personally or anything. I just care more about myself than I do your want to help out."

Noah coughed. "Take it personally?" He rose his eyebrows. "You just insulted my house! My valor! My....DIGNITY!" He placed his hand over his heart, and turned his head up. "By gods, I should be ashamed that you think such thoughts about me." He made a sighing noise, then ended his mock dramatization. "Look." He said, facing her in the eyes. "It's my grade, too. And as much as it would be just dandy for you to do all the work, it would be an insult to whatever pride I have left after your little monologue. So. I am going to help. The only thing left to debate is what you want me to do."

Addi calmly raised an eyebrow at Noah's dramatic antics. "I never insulted anything. I just said that your house had a history and that I wasn't taking chances. Those don't sound like insults to me." She then tucked a stray bang behind her ear. "And what I want you to do is nothing, now shut up and sit there like a good boy."

Noah slumped his shoulders and glared beneath his scrunched up eyebrows. He was full on pouting at Addi, completely unabashed. He stayed in this position for a few moments before huffing. "Have it your way..." He muttered, turning around in his seat. "Not!" He spun around and flicked out his wand. "Now, you listen here, blondie. I AM GOING TO CUT UP THAT EARTHROOT OVER THERE, and I'm going to cut it up perfectly. And NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING, will stop me. And you will take that earthroot, and you will use it, and we will make this potion, and that's final! He snatched the earthroot from the table and set it on the counter, glaring at Addi, daring her to say something back.

While outwardly she betrayed nothing, on the inside Addi was about ready to murder this stubborn, somewhat arrogant prat. "I suggest against doing that," she said, voice calm and betraying nothing. "See, I like getting my way. And if I don't I get really angry. And when I get angry I don't really think. You probably don't want to deal with that, since I would probably ruin the potion, just to cripple your grade, even if it did the same to mine. Now move away from the root, and sit down, and shut up, before I glue you to that stool with magic."

Noah arched his eyebrow. He was not one to give up, but he was also not one to provoke dangerous witches past their comfort zone. He locked eyes with Addi, his own face just as blank as hers. They stayed in that position for a while, neither blinking, magical vibes radiating off their body in waves. Slowly, his eyes still locked with Addi's, he raised his wand beneath the table. 'Sectimcide" he thought to himself, with all the force he could muster. Relaxing to himself as he felt the spell go through his wand, he never let one blink of recognition show on your face. "You win." He said aloud, breaking the trance. He stood up, and walked up, not letting a smug grin appear till he was half way across the room. Now, if he could only avoid getting hexed when she found out that he had cut the earthroot.

Addi looked at Noah, suspicions held openly in her eyes. She had no doubt that he wouldn't just give up like that, so she was going to find out why he had done so. Her eyes ran over the remaining ingredients, searching for anything out of place. And then she noticed it.

Addi's eyes narrowed at the root on the table which was run through with barely visible cut marks. That boy was going to die. Although, she forced herself to admit, he had done a good job at the cutting for not even having been looking at what he was doing.

|flash forward, one day|

Noah had made sure to stay out of Addi's way for the next entire day. Granted, it's not like they ever saw each other anyways, but he avoided the cafeteria like the plague. He had just gone straight to the kitchen, instead. The house elves were used to him; he had been visiting them since first year, ever since James Potter showed him how. The next day passed quickly, and soon enough it was the afternoon, and time for Potions.

He arrived in class early, to make a point to be set up before Addi arrived. He sat down, opened his textbook, and scanned through the chapter. Hecate's Harmony took only four days plus brewing time to make. He could survive that. If she didn't kill him first... He chuckled nervously, glancing around anxiously for her to show up.

Addison walked into potions class that day to find her partner already there with the stuff set up for the lesson that day. She walked over, pretending that she had forgotten the last lesson already, pretending that she wasn't going to get him back for cutting up the ingredient after she had said not to. He would never suspect a thing.

She flounced over and sat in her chair, looking directly at Noah. "So, what's the plan for today?" she asked, tone pleasant.