The next morning I slept a little later than I should have, but I reached the Great Hall in time to grab some toast and be handed my schedule.

“Double potions?” Marie groaned.

I grinned. Potions was once class that I loved… Professor Slughorn normally always gave out some kind of a prize at the end of the day, and I was the apt receiver for them. Potions were my good spot.

I grabbed my bag, another piece of bread, and led the way down to the dungeons. Professor Slughorn smiled at me then closed the door. I walked to my table, set down my bag, unloaded my cauldron, and waited for class to begin.

“All right, all right, settle down class,” Slughorn said, sweeping to the front of the room. “For the next two weeks we shall review what we learned last year… However, I won’t be like the other teachers and go over how difficult this class will be, since it’s your N.E.W.T. year, because I’m sure that you already know. The instructions are on the board and the required items are across the room. Begin.”

I squinted at the board to read the title Polyjuice Potion. After that, I didn’t need the instructions. I worked heavily and quickly, my mind in the potion, until the bell rang.

“Excellent, excellent everyone! It seems as if Miss Evans has gotten the farthest again! I suppose the summer didn’t faze you any, no?” he smiled, humor in every word. “Very well, then! Fifteen points to Gryffindor! You are dismissed.”

We walked out of the room and I split paths with Marie; she had a free class and I had Muggle Studies. I’d almost decided to drop the class, but since I wanted to be an Auror I figured that it was good to know the wizard’s view on Muggles, too. My whole family was made up of them, of course, but to find that they were threatened unknowingly with games such as “Muggle Hunting” was just a bit scary.

Professor Grengat slammed the door and automatically began to talk, her voice filling the classroom with an instant sleepiness. “As you all know, this is you N.E.W.T. year. I expect the highest mark from all of you and serious study… your whole future depends on this grade and no matter how well you did in the past, if you fail this class every employer will take it into consideration. Now, open your books to page five-hundred and eighteen, read the highlighted section, and do the review questions on the opposite page.”

Though it was annoying boring work, I’d fully consumed myself into it when a note popped me in the head.

“Ouch!” I whispered, and picked the wiggling note up of the floor where it’d fallen. I opened it hurriedly, hoping not to draw any extra attention to myself.

Evans,
Me, you, and a drink in the Three Broomsticks this weekend?
- James

I rolled my eyes. He just wouldn’t give up.

Potter,
It’s bad enough me having to put up with you in every class I have, much less out side of school. I completely decline.
- “Evans”

Then, feeling smug, I continued to work.