But We Are Worlds Apart

Noah fought to keep the shock off his face. There was no way she was letting him get away with what he did yesterday. She was being unnaturally pleasant. The possibilities ran through his head. Either someone slipped her something in her lunch, yesterday she was PMS-y, or she was planning something. But he couldn't call her out! That would be on par to suicide... So he might as well play nice.

"More cutting." He replied nonchalantly. "I already got the ingredients." He gestured to the table.

Addi nodded, getting out her book so that she would have the instructions in front of her. "Grab that silkworm and start chopping it up," she said, tone still reasonably nice, as she grabbed a root that was near her and started in on cutting up that one.

Noah shook his head, laughing to himself. No pleasantries, which wasn't surprising. But proved she hadn't exactly warmed up to him yet. He did as she told, being as obedient as possible. She chopped absent mindfully, though he was hardly sloppy. The silence, though, was getting to him. "So," he pondered aloud. "Hecate's Harmony. I am not familiar with its' uses." he glanced at Addi, who was meticulously chopping up her root.

Addi just sort of shrugged at him and continued on with what she was doing. She didn't want to bother with answering questions. What she wanted was to finish the potion, so she wouldn't have to deal with the Gryffindor anymore.

|flash forward, after class|

Noah left class pleased, but still slightly baffled. They spoke less than fifty words to each other the entire class period, and as he saw her leaving he had the sudden urge to say good bye. "Later, Addison!" He called out. "See you tomorrow!" He waved at her retreating figure, despite the fact she could not see him. He turned, and promptly bumped into Grant, the Gryffindor's beater. He was violent, and an asshole to all who dared opposed him. Noah hadn't ever really been on good terms with the guy. It didn't help that Grant was pushing nearly 7 feet, and was built like a troll. Noah forced a smile on his face.

"Ello, Grant. Howya doin'?" Grant stared at him, disgust apparent in his eyes. "Noah's friends with her?" He wrinkled his nose at Addi's retreating figure. "Noah's friends with a snake?" He frowned. "Typical Noah, playing nice with everyone. Even a bitch like her." he laughed, though the sound was anything but pleasant. "Want in her pants or something?"

Noah sighed. Grant was a fucker. But he couldn't well tell him so. "No, Grant, we're just friends." He sighed. Good Merlin, you'd think he would have been expelled already, with his record of violence.

Addi was somewhat startled as Noah called a goodbye out to her, but she didn't return it. If anyone in her house saw her making friends with a Gryffindor of all people she would probably be outcasted. She made her way out of the classroom and started up the stairs where her friends would likely be waiting.

Grant shook his head at Noah. "Just friends?" He snorted. "That's ADDISON AVERY." He snarled. "She would eat your fuckin' balls for breakfast, man." He grinned a bit at his wit, his face then suddenly turning dark again. "And she's a fucking SLYTHERIN!" He snarled some more, and Noah found it unattractive. "When does pretty-little Noah go making friends with Slytherins? Have you turned soft, Noah-boy? Become a little pussy, now, have you?" Grant's face was dark with anger and Noah had the strong urge to punch him out.

"Grant, I'd shut up now!" Called Monty, another boy on the team. Grant just snorted at him.

"No, man. This dipshit thinks just cause he's captain he's all high and mighty. And here he is being all friendly with a Slytherin. Probably wants to sleep with her, she is a whore. All of them are." Noah's face darkened at this. He had been planning on walking away, but that was over the line. Grant was an ass, and he needed to be put in place. His hand was already on his wand and he stepped closer to Grant.

"What did you just say?" He asked, his voice deadly soft. The hallway suddenly became quiet, feeling the anger radiating off the boys.

Addison turned around at the loud mention of her name. She noticed Noah and some brutish looking Gryffindor having what seemed to be an argument. Since she was mentioned, she felt it only right to stand at the top of the stairs and listen in on it. And all she did was listening until Grant called her a whore. That really pissed her off, so she walked herself back down the steps.

"Excuse me," she said politely stepping up to the two, "but what did you just call me?"

Grant narrowed his eyes at Addison, turning away from Noah. Noah, still steaming with rage, shot Addi a glare. She was only going to get herself in trouble, the little twerp. But if she wanted to... He stepped away, eying Grant warily.

"Heh, it's the bitch herself." Grant chuckled. "A whore." He said, smirking. "A filthy, rotten, lying, cheating, skank."

Noah shook his head. Dumb ass Grant... He was going to get screwed.

"Now," Addi said, "that isn't very nice a thing for you to say. Especially to or about a girl. More specifically so when it's a lie." She was quite angry, yes. But, she wasn't going to lash out. That just wasn't her style. She was, however, going to talk this guy down. And if he tried to do something, she would just evade and walk off. She was no Gryffindor after all. Addison Avery didn't do dueling unless it was life or death.

Noah watched Addi cooly. He respected her actions, but if he was she, he would punch that mofo in the fu...Noah shut down that train of thought, tuning his thoughts back to Addi. Grant was the unpredictable one in the situation, and Noah was worried about his potion's partner.

Grant bared his teeth. "Are you calling me a liar?" He asked, throwing in a bitch for added affect. Noah winced. Grant was getting pissed, and the vibes off Addi could kill a dementor. His hand stayed glued to his wand, and he sent Monty a worried glance.

Addison just nodded at him. "Why yes, I think, no I know I am," she said, "because that's exactly what you are. You are a liar, and you think you can get away with saying anything because you are a jock and because you are taller than most people, so you think they won't retaliate."

Grant looked at her stupidly, before deciding on the rather articulate and well-rounded, "What?" before snarling again. Noah took this time to step back into the ring of people.

"She means, Granty-kins, that your a dumbass." He grinned, helpfully, and smiled up at his friend. Grants face darkened.

"Snake girl said what?" He turned and faced her, his face hardening into a mask. Grant had been known to hit girls before, and Noah was suddenly very, very fearful.

"Look," Addi said, "I suggest you watch and be careful who you tick off, because as you may or may not know my father is a very powerful man that many people listen to. One wrong move against me or any people I associate myself with and you will be out of this school on your behind faster than you can spell Quidditch."

Grant blinked stupidly at Addison. "Are you threatening me, Missy? Are you THREATENING me?" He rose his voice, louder, and Noah instantly brought out his wand. And not a minute to late, as Grant had swung his arm back, as if prepared to slap her. Within a millisecond, Noah shouted the command for freezing; "Impedimenta!"

And then it is over. Grant is frozen, looking rather dumbstruck, while Noah stared on. "He...he was going to hit you!" He proclaimed, looking wide eyed at Addi. He cursed, underneath his breath.

Addi was looking at Grant, not terrified like she probably should have, but rather looking incredibly pissed off. "Thanks, Noah," she said, having not quite expected it. Yeah, he was a Gryffindor, but Noah didn't come off as the type to hex people in the hallway. "Now, if you boys will excuse me, I have a letter to write." Then with one last scorning glance at Grant she turned and made her way back to the stairs.

Noah watched her go, still slightly shocked. Yes, he knew Grant was violent, but to this point. He was fuming, actually. And he knew Grant would be none too happy when he woke up. "Monty!" He called, and the boy came running to attention. "He's in your charge." Monty nodded, his eyes slightly frightened. A pissy Noah was not a nice Noah. Not at all.

He stormed out of the hall way, heading for his room. He changed into his practice uniform and headed out onto the field. Nothing better to do when pissed than to fly. He straddled his broom effortless, and begin to zoom around the track, lost in his thoughts.

Addison returned to her friends, and told them that she would just seem them later. Then she headed directly to the owerly, deciding to just write the letter to her father there. He would see to it that, that stupid brutish Gryffindor was removed from the halls of Hogwarts.

Noah remained pissy for the rest of the day. He ended up sleeping else where in the castle, in an attempt to avoid Grant, which turned out to be easier than he thought. Grant was avoiding him, too. Still, Noah went out of his way to avoid places he might be spotted.

He arrived to Potions the next day early as usual, and set up. This day consisted of more dicing and shredding. He read down the list. They also had to make another separate potion to add in, but it didn't seem too hard. He pulled out a spare cauldron and started a flame.

Addison made her way to potions again, to find that Noah was once again there and set up. "Hullo," she said, voice not faking pleasant this time. She was still grateful that Noah had stopped Grant hitting her. "What's on the agenda for today?"

This time, Noah knew the pleasantries weren't faked. He smiled up at her, his day already better. "We have to brew a Warming potion, to add in later. I could do it, if you like; it shouldn't take me long." He smiled again and his mind suddenly thought about how weird it was that he was now speaking to Addi. Like normal people. What a difference a day could make, he pondered.

Addison tucked a loose bit of bangs behind her ear and shook her head. "You can handle the big, main stuff. I can make the extra potion," she said. She looked a list of steps for that potion, getting ready to start on it.

He shrugged, flicking his wand and sending the supplies over to her. He glanced over his part and smiled. It wasn't too hard, really. He had to make a paste. He pulled out a stone bowl and a mallet, and begin setting to work.
"So...about yesterday." He offered. He was curious, considering so far it hadn't been brought up, and he wanted to make sure she was all right.

Addi looked up from the first step of the second potion, having started it as soon as the supplies for it were within her reach and the cauldron was ready. "What about yesterday?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Noah looked up at her, surprise flitting across his features. "Well, I mean..." He coughed, uncomfortable with her eyes on him. "I want to apologize for my friend's behavior." Though we aren't much friends, he thought to himself wryly. "Not all Gryffindors are like that, I assure you." He shrugged. "And I guess I wanted to make sure you were... alright?" It wasn't really a question, but he ended it like one.