But We Are Worlds Apart

Addi nearly smiled. "I realize that not all Gryffindors are like him. You're a prime example of that one," she said. "And I'm fine. Nothing happened to me at all. Although, if you hadn't been around then maybe it would have." She shrugged.

Noah's eyes widened slightly. That was...that was an implied compliment! A slight thank you! He could have whooped for joy. Instead he settled for smiling his great, big, wide smile and continuing to work on the potion. Glancing over at the instructions, he realized with sadness that this potion was almost done. And when the potion was done, they'd likely never work together again.

"You're a weird guy, you know," Addi said, noticing the big smile, "getting all grinny over that. It wasn't even anything that big." She went back to working on the potion that went with the main potion.

"I am a weird guy." Noah nodded to himself. He was still grinning as he went back to pureeing the rest of the ingredients. He looked up at Addi, with a wicked grin. "But you find it endearing!" He said in a sing song voice.

"Do I now?" Addi replied, raising an eyebrow at Noah. "Do I really find it endearing? Because last I checked you aren't an empath or a mind reader. So, you wouldn't know, would you?"

Noah pouted. "But you haven't given me a degrading look all day! That MUST mean you find me at least somewhat adorable." He did his best to put on his best puppy dog face with out collapsing into giggles. He enjoyed this new Addison, who didn't seem to want to kill him. The thought made him smile.

Addison allowed herself just a small smile. "And if I do?" she said, before changing the topic. "Get back to work before you mess up the potion."

Noah scoffed, but smiled when he saw Addison's smile. He returned to his potion, before blurting out, "You look much prettier when you smile. It works for you." He offered her a wry smile, not sure how she would take it, but hoping she believed it, as it was the truth.

"Thanks, I suppose. But, don't get used to it," Addison replied. "I don't smile very often." She didn't miss how he said prettier, which made her conclude that he thought she was pretty to start with.

Noah was in a strangely good mood, and he couldn't help shooting her a grin. "You should try smiling more!" He proclaimed loudly, just enough so Slughorn cleared his throat. He blushed, laughing at himself, before continueing his thought. "Honest, Addi...may I call you Addi?" It was a rhetorical question as he yammered on. "Smiling is good for you; good for everyone, really!"

It seemed as though Noah's good mood was contagious, because Addi smiled again and this time almost laughed along with it. "I'll see what I can do," she said and then moved to answer his question even though she was sure he didn't care if she did or not. "And only my friends can call me Addi, so I suppose you can." She shrugged nonchalantly, wondering just how he would react to that one.

When she smiled again, Noah felt his insides positively glow. He even felt more glowier when, by transitive property, she called him a friend. "So I am on friend basis, huh?" He teased, resisting the urge to poke her. That was certainly not something he had expected to happen.

"I don't see any reason for you not to be a friend of mine. I've put up with you for three days at the least, without trying to kill you once, so that pretty much means your good in my books. Plus, you protected me. So, we're friends."

"Friends." Noah mused, tasting the word on his tongue. "Noah St. James, the golden Gryffindor, and Addison Avery, Slytherin Princess." He winked at her. "We are an odd couple, darling." He laughed, again, before continuing his puree. Not looking up, though, he said, "So now that we are friends, you should tell me about yourself."

"Well, firstly, I'm far from being Slytherin Princess," Addi said. "And I don't really know anything else to tell you. I'm more of a you know about me what you learn by being around me type of person, so if you wanna know stuff you gotta hang out with me sometime, now don't you?"

Noah nodded, still not looking up from his mixture. He was silent for a moment, before proclaiming loudly, "We should hang out, then!" He shot her a smile, wondering if he was going to be shot down. Friends was one thing, but hanging out? Out of class? He was pushing the boundaries, and loving the response.

Addi allowed herself to laugh. "I just said that didn't I?" she asked, still giggling just a little. "No hush it down a little before someone hears you."

He shrugged off her scolding. "You tell me when, I will be there." He said. "Or would you rather me pick the place?" He smiled, running a hand through his hair while he yawned. He hadn't slept well the night before.

"Hogsmeade weekend this weekend, sound good?" she asked. "Although, it will probably be all secret-y since my friends won't approve. I'll just give them some excuse for not hanging out with them...that is if you're okay with then?"

Noah felt his eyes widen. They were actually going to meet up? He hadn't expected this. "My friends probably won't, either, so the secret will be for both of us. Three Broomsticks, noon?" He asked, a smile still lacing his face.

Addi smiled for what felt like the millionth time that day and nodded. "Sounds good to me," she said. "But, remember, hush hush about it. And no more exclaiming things. People are bound to notice that. And we can't act like friends in public."

"So it's a secret romance then?" Noah wiggled his eyebrows, but in side he was thinking to himself. This was almost a date. A secret date, nonetheless. The idea thrilled him, to say the least. She could kill him, hurt him, maim him for life. But the risk...he grinned. Definitely worth it.

Addi shook her head. "No romance anywhere, silly Gryffindor," she said. She rolled her eyes slightly at him, but having somewhat expected it, as it did sort of sound like one, even to her.

Noah pouted, but he wasn't really miffed. After all, he'd have most of Saturday to...he rolled his shoulders and cocked his head. Well, he had plenty of time to work his charm. Because now that he thought about, Addi was really unlike anything he had ever seen. Smart, sexy, powerful...He grinned, baring his teeth. Game on.

"Drop the look," Addi said, noticing it from the corner of her eye. "Or I will cancel hanging out." She was sort of serious about that too.