Elliot had had a wonderful holiday. He got to see his brother and sister and they told him stories about dragons and all kinds of things. He heard the teacher say to partner up and immediately his brow furrowed. He was excited to work with someone but who? Would anyone pick him? He looked around and was about to raise his hand when a small boy was plopping down next to him.

Elliot blinked as the boy spoke. He'd seen him around the common room and some other classes before but they hadn't interacted much. He seemed apprehensive in asking to partner. Like he was hoping Elliot wouldn't set the whole dungeon on fire or turn him orange. He grinned nodding. "I'd like that very much." He settled his excess belongings under the table to make more room. "I'm Elliot by the way. Promise I won't get us killed."

It was strange, the professor not being in the classroom when Tia arrived in the Potions Lab that first lesson back after holiday. Though it wasn't particularly surprising, given all that she'd seen in her time at Hogwarts. And it wasn't long before the Professor arrived either, addressing his rat baby first. Well he said good morning to them, but then he addressed his rat baby. Priorities, obviously. Just as her workstation was cleaned and ready for use, her labcoat donned. And they were partnering. She noted two Slytherins partner up and debated for a second asking Yoongi if he wanted to partner, but decided against it. Because her efforts could be better used on a younger student.

"You can be my partner, Kitty," Tia waved to the young eaglet, with a smile. "My workstation is already cleaned up." SO she had to come sit with her, basically.

"Morning, Professor," Hady greeted warmly with a small smile as he entered the room and greeted them all. Her holiday? It had been lovely honestly! And she didn't mind one bit in telling him that! "My holiday was great Sir, I spent it with my father and cousin. How was your holiday?" Don't worry everyone she wouldn't be going on to tell about everything she'd done during the break.

With her work station clean and nothing for her to do yet Hady listened as they were told to work with a partner.

Whoa, no no.

Potion guy say what now?! Couldn't she just work alone please???

Getting high grades in the class was essential. That meant no messing around and no partners to mess her up and cause her grade to fall. Hady frowned slightly slumping down into her chair just a little. She wouldn't be asking anyone to partner up...but she also wouldn't turn someone away because that wasn't how she rolled. Hopefully whoever wandered over to work with her knew potions.

Partners?

Davie perked up from fiddling with various instruments and tools at his work station, and adjusted the collar of his lab coat with a soft, "Hemhemhem," upon hearing the professor's announcement.

He loved Potions, and he enjoyed Professor Netwon, but uhhhh, for some reason today, he couldn't stop staring at Rachel's face. And not for the usual reasons. There was... hmm, well, there was something zig-zaggy on there. On her face there? Yeah. There was something there that wasn't there before. Were those zits? "R-r-rrrr...rraaach...." He started to say aloud, squinting over toward her and her flock? Squad? Squadron? Teammates? with questionable confidence.

...then better judgment kicked in. Mmmmm nahhhhhhhhhhhhh, he wasn't going to push the zig-zag thing. Actually, he wasn't going to push anything at all. He was probably just not seeing things correctly. Davie's glasses most likely needed a new prescription, because he was growing and his pants were all looking like highwaters, whatever those were, he didn't know, his mum just said things at him sometimes, like that time she shouted at him to hair cut and he'd gotten his hairs cut but it hadn't been enough hairs apparently, and really who knew what women wanted anyway? Who could understand them sometimes? Or most times? What if those WERE zits and he pointed them out to Rachel and then she hated him forever and would not only NOT be his partner in potions, but also not be his partner in ANYTHING ELSE EVER AGAIN, so it would be best to just not risk it, nope, so he was just going to keep standing over here in the back of the room, with his arms crossed over his chest, while Rachel stood over there on the other side of the room, with her... bevy of ladies, doing lady things.

Yes, that was the proper terminology. Bevy. A bevy of ladies, and he was alone in a pity of prisoners here in the back of the potions room...

There had been that moment of wondering if it was worth showing up to Potions without Professor Culloden teaching. The fact that she’d been greeted by a rat when she’d first arrived hadn’t done anything to change Brooklyn’s opinion, but she’d taken her seat and waited. Either the rat was going to prove to be an Animagus, or the professor would arrive, and she’d been right. The professor had arrived, and she’d given him a slight incline of her head. “Good morning professor,” she’d greeted him, staying quiet regarding her holiday. It hadn’t been anything special, not when she’d had to deal with certain people who were now part of her family.

The partner assignment hadn’t done anything to make her feel better. She hadn’t had fond memories of partner work in Potions, but at least she knew she was fairly skilled on her own. It just meant she had to find someone who she could trust wouldn’t explode a cauldron. That eliminated quite a few people, but as her blue eyes had landed on Hady, she’d decided. At least she could trust her housemate. “Hady,” she said, walking over to where she sat. Partner chosen.

"Thanks Tia!" Kitty smiled shyly at Tia and moved over to her table, feeling both shy and greatly honored that the Head Girl wanted to partner with her. She bent underneath her own table and brought her bag with her, not wanting to forget it like she did last time. "I wonder what we're going to study today?" Potions wasn't her best subject, but she wasn't bad at it either.

Shrugging slightly, Esme performed the spellon Rachel. "It worked!" she said happily. At least the problem had been fixed. Or well... one of them had been. She wasn't going to get into it since it wasn't any of her business, but she thought it was immature to draw on someone's face. Hopefully they would make up soon...

Kitty came in and said hi to everyone in the group besides her. That made Esme wonder if she had done something wrong? They didn't know each other very well, but a hello would have been nice. Whatever. She wasn't going to dwell on it because the Professor had just arrived.

"Hello, rat man - errr, I mean Professor." Esme blushed slightly and hoped that he wouldn't mind the slip up.

SHE NEEDED A PARTNER.

"I choose you, Rachel." Because she could.

Olivia nodded with a friendly smile as Rachel thanked her anyway. And there was Esme able to help the other Ravenclaw lose her face scribbles so it was all good. Everything seemed to be a-okay when the professor made his appearance and the first year made sure to switch her attention to the man as he started gathering them for the start of class.

Oh...partners.

Sure she wasn't shy, but she always seemed to have to look for partners, debating who to go with. And with Kitty, Tia, Esme, Hady and Rachel quickly paired up, Olivia's group of options was dwindling as she looked around the room. There was Haddie...who might turn her down given her seeming preference to stick by Rachel's side during their separation. There was also the Ravenclaw boy, David who seemed partnerless as well.

"Anyone need a partner?" she asked the room in general?

He remembered that. The boy's name. He'd seen it on the card in one of the other classes, and he had made sure he remembered it. This was the boy from Astronomy. They'd stolen things together! He went about setting up his various things and straightened his little white coat out, pointing at the name tag. Neatly written on it was his name, both the English-y way and in little Korean letters underneath it. He was both, so both were on there!

"I'm Jaemin... some people call me Jay though." He nodded, looking at Elliot seriously. "I won't either. I'm glad we both agree on that."

Agreeing with one's partner about not dying should really be the first step in any group activities. Jaemin finished busily straightening out his things and felt in his sleeve for his wand, just to make sure it hadn't taken off.

Haddie frowned at mention of the holidays. That was the last thing she wanted to think about right now. Oh, Look! Esme was scourgifying Haddie's handwork off Rachel's face. As if Haddie would commit to a prank that easy to fix.

Nope. Keep dreaming. Haddie had made sure the enchantment she used would keep scourgify from cleaning it away. It had taken her the entire time to figure it out, and of course, she hadn't been fully successful with that goal, but she actually liked how it worked now. Gave them a false sense of hope.

Haddie smirked as she watched Rachel's face, counted backwards from 10, silently, with her fingers. ...5...4...3...2...1 Slowly the sharpie lines faded back onto Rachel's face, until they looked exactly as they did before Esme cleaned them away. That's right. Any time anyone managed to clean it away, it'd just fade back onto her face. Haddie had pink glitter in her hair all day, so Rachel was going to have to wear this for a whole day too. Fair's fair.

All the while though, Haddie's eyes kept being drawn to Tenacius. And his hair. He seemed cool, though Haddie hadn't really had the chance to talk with him. Did he have a partner yet? She could ask, but... Haddie shook her head. No, why would he want to partner with her, she was horrible at Potions. Never know unless she asks, right? No, he's probably already teamed up with a friend. Right?

She looked around. It wasn't like anyone else was lining up to be her potions partner. Might as well try. She flashed Rachel once last grin, gesturing to her face to indicate, that it was still there, and then turned her attention back to the Gryffindor. "Uh, Tenacius... Would you like to be partners?" Yeah, sure, maybe if you didn't sound so nervous... "Or do you already have a partner?"

When Colt was doodling, he heard the Professor walk in. He looked up and noticed he was a nervous fellow. Wait why was he stuttering? I mean come on it couldn't be that nerve wracking talking to students. He sighed and went back to doodling when he heard the Professor asking them to partner up? Is he serious? He groaned to himself and rolled his eyes. Now he had to walk around and look for a partner? He hated partner work. He rather be doing things alone. But what are you gonna do?

He got out of his seat and began to wonder.

Still, even with a bevy of ladies surrounding Rachel, and despite his determination NOT to go NEAR THEM, one sort of stuck out to him. She was at least speaking up and asking the room in general if anyone needed a partner, and she was also in his house. Maybe she would be okay to work with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesian Feline

Olivia nodded with a friendly smile as Rachel thanked her anyway. And there was Esme able to help the other Ravenclaw lose her face scribbles so it was all good. Everything seemed to be a-okay when the professor made his appearance and the first year made sure to switch her attention to the man as he started gathering them for the start of class.

Oh...partners.

Sure she wasn't shy, but she always seemed to have to look for partners, debating who to go with. And with Kitty, Tia, Esme, Hady and Rachel quickly paired up, Olivia's group of options was dwindling as she looked around the room. There was Haddie...who might turn her down given her seeming preference to stick by Rachel's side during their separation. There was also the Ravenclaw boy, David who seemed partnerless as well.

"Anyone need a partner?" she asked the room in general?

"For Ravenclaw," David murmured reassuringly to himself, edging out from behind his cauldron and taking a few paces toward the front of the room. A few more paces and he was there, beside the girl.

"Hi. We can work together." He maintained a safe distance from the bevy of ladies as he said this, and gestured between himself and the firstie, whom he was sure was named Olivia. But just in case she didn't know his name, he added, "I'm Davie, Davie Truebridge." And he nicely held out his hand, though she'd probably have to take a step closer to him and away from her bevy to shake it.

Anything for Ravenclaw tho.

Elliot smiled, eyes honing in on the Korean writing. He was always excited to meet another Korean person, especially someone from his own house. "Nice to officially meet you." He idly brushed some stray lint from his own wand before flipping through his potions book. "You're a first year too right? I think I remember seeing you at the sorting."

Her head didn't move from her hand as their Professor moved into the classroom. The red head sighed as she tried her best to remember the fact that she really liked potions; she didn't want to sleep through one of her favourite classes and mess up later when she had hurry to catch up. After all, Aunt Hazel always said that potion-making was an art.

She nodded once. She had had a great holiday and that was the problem. She missed her siblings and her parents already, having not re-adjusted to not being with them every day. She would get there, but right now she was in a mood... upset and cranky.

"At least we don't need to move." Marsha finally said, looking at her best friend... who apparently wasn't getting any choice on working with her today. Hope that's okay bestie, 'cause she didn't think anyone else would put up with her attitude today. "Do you think we are making anything interesting? Griffin, she hoped so.

SPOILER!!: David

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Still, even with a bevy of ladies surrounding Rachel, and despite his determination NOT to go NEAR THEM, one sort of stuck out to him. She was at least speaking up and asking the room in general if anyone needed a partner, and she was also in his house. Maybe she would be okay to work with.



"For Ravenclaw," David murmured reassuringly to himself, edging out from behind his cauldron and taking a few paces toward the front of the room. A few more paces and he was there, beside the girl.

"Hi. We can work together." He maintained a safe distance from the bevy of ladies as he said this, and gestured between himself and the firstie, whom he was sure was named Olivia. But just in case she didn't know his name, he added, "I'm Davie, Davie Truebridge." And he nicely held out his hand, though she'd probably have to take a step closer to him and away from her bevy to shake it.

Anything for Ravenclaw tho.

Haddie went and claimed a Gryffindor boy so she was definitely out of the running for partners. Then as her vision passed towards the back of the room, Olivia was greeted by the presence and greeting of one David. “Hi…” she greeted back before nodding in acceptance of his offered partnership in spite of the fact he seemed not to want to move any closer to her. Or perhaps it was Rachel the girl her own best friend had outed to have a crush on him which made things awkward. She briefly glanced at her friend as if to check if it was alright before realizing it was just partnering for a class.

Clearly fine and simple.

“Olivia…” she said retrieving her bag and moving closer. “Olivia Stone,” she added accepting his offered hand to shake. And seeing as his spot in the back was clearer of people, Olivia supposed that was where they should be working.

It's a good thing that Kaycee hadn't started setting up her station. Apparently they were working in pairs today. Cool. Well, maybe cool. It depended who she partnered up with.

She looked around the room to see if she could spot someone who was still looking for a partner.

When Rachel entered the classroom and smiled at her, Ava couldn't help but blinked at her face. She was about to ask what happened to it, maybe someone was being funny to her. That kinda reminded her about what she had done to uncle Archer when she was.... eight.

And then the Professor Mad Scientist Newton came. "Hello, Professor! I hope you too also had a nice holiday." Maybe awkward scientist is a better nickname for him because of the stuttering and the nervous kind of thing.

Partner work? If Zander was still here, she would love to work together with him again but.... No. He's already graduated, Burton. Just.... forget about him, okay? Let's look around and find a partner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

When Colt was doodling, he heard the Professor walk in. He looked up and noticed he was a nervous fellow. Wait why was he stuttering? I mean come on it couldn't be that nerve wracking talking to students. He sighed and went back to doodling when he heard the Professor asking them to partner up? Is he serious? He groaned to himself and rolled his eyes. Now he had to walk around and look for a partner? He hated partner work. He rather be doing things alone. But what are you gonna do?

He got out of his seat and began to wonder.

"Hey, Colt!" The young lioness called his name. "Do you wanna work together?"

Ok apparently the face tattoo wasn’t something Rachel had willingly signed up for. Tenacius had to laugh, not a mean laugh, just a this-is-such-a-hilarious-situation-because-I've-seen-this-before laugh. One of his BFFs had pulled this before, he just doesn’t remember by who and on whom.


Oh hey Potions Master has entered the building. And he was asking about their holiday break? For this Tenacius beamed his brightest happiest grin. "Had a FANTASTIC break Mr. N!" he replied enthusiastically "Got myself a new Mom!!" he was so proud of that, and it shows. Its an incredible aura when someone exudes genuine heartfelt happiness. "We had like a huuuuuuuge party at the farm and everybody was there and we had lotsa food and lotsa cakes and hey there were even baby reindeers! " that was the kicker he thought. Baby reindeers. It wasn’t everyday that you see a few prancing around the buffet table or nicking off fancy table ornaments "And dad let me stay up super late with my friends and we went go-kart racing all around the lake and YEAH!" It was awesome. He hoped of the Hogwartians that he managed to get an invite for, they had enjoyed the wedding.



Was it time to cook? It was time to cook!-- oh wait what? Partnering up? What does he need a sous chef for? But there was a Ravenclaw that neared him with hello-- sparkly hair! First it was face tattoos and now disco ball hair. Did someone put up a beauty salon at the Ravenclaw Common room? "Hey Dazzling Denaker...." thank you lab coat labels, but with hair like that she's gonna need a stage name. "Nah I don’t mind, pull up a seat." he said as he made room for her on the table

Norah smiled at Professor Newton but opted out of talking about of her holiday, considering that it'd involved much more yelling than she would've liked. Partners were THE BEST news, though, because people meant fun and also distractions and also probably assistance if she was about to blow up her cauldron. Not that she planned to or anything, but you never knew. The entire world of potions turned upside down after Culloden left, after all. It'd been months and months but the prefect still hadn't gotten used to it. The lab coats were pretty snazzy, though. Even so, this required a REALLY GOOD partner, so when Yoongi asked if anybody wanted to be partners, Norah didn't hesitate before grabbing her bag and rushing over to his seat.

"Meeeeeeee me me me pick me!" Did she have to bat her eyelashes? 'Cause she WOULD. Not that she knew how to do that without looking like she'd gotten something unpleasant in her eye, but she'd try anyways if it came to that. Without waiting too long for his response, she pulled up a chair and sat down beside him. Yeah, she wouldn't be as much help in potions as Sophie Brown would've been, but she was good company ok?

It was so HARD to be in Potions without her Sophie, and since Dot had lost her primary Potions partner (or not lost... Kyroh wasn't lost. He just wasn't hers anymore), she was hoping desperately for a friendly face.

And that face right there would do nicely.

"Let's burn this place down," she slid over to stand next to Kaycee, giving the girl a tiny smile and a hip bump for her troubles. See? She was doing GREAT, kthx. She was not a liability partner at all.

Hugo greeted Newton with his usual 'What's up' and proceeded to sit down waiting for the class to begin. After a few mintues the professor gave the first instructions and it looked like they were going to work in pairs, which was cool for Hugo.

First step: find a partner.

Everytime he spotted a person to work with someone else came in and claimed them. So here he was: forever alone.

Haddie was thrilled. Thrilled. She tilted her head a little in confusion at his nickname for her, but caught twinkles of pink in her blonde hair and suddenly it made sense. It had been weeks since Rachel pranked her, and while most of the glitter was gone, she was still finding plenty still in her hair on a daily basis. The glitter seemed to cling hardest to her hair while washing it, so they were persistent. Haddie just hoped to be entirely glitter free by the end of the year. She liked the name though. Dazzling Denaker.

She smiled and set her stuff down. "Rachel's doing," she explained. "Surprisingly hard to wash out. Got most of it, but there's still enough that stubbornly refuses to wash out." Haddie glanced back at Rachel briefly as she set up her station next to Tenacius'. The shapes were just as strong as ever despite Esme trying to clean them away. "Got her back, though. Did you have a nice break?"

So they were working with partners. Usually Janelle would be happy about that, today not so much. With Potions, she was kind of used to getting into her own groove and working alone. She wasn't sure how it would work out with a partner. Well apparently they didn't have a choice on that one.

Looking around, Janelle tried to find someone who was still in need of a partner. Everyone seemed to be paired up already. "Anyone still need a partner?", she asked hopefully. Then Janelle noticed a Slytherin boy who seemed to be alone. Walking over to him, she said, "Hi, do you still need a partner?" "If so, I'm you're girl. I'm Janelle."

Bastien probably could have gotten away with skipping this class if he were so inclined, considering how this was one of his best subjects, but skipping classes meant not getting caught by professors and trying to fill his time with some other tedious task. It was easier just to come to class.

It helped that the professor was alright.

He was quiet for all of the lesson so far up until it came time to pick a partner for it. No way he was going to risk loosing his awesome seat near the front, Bast would just let someone come to him.

He had first choices for partners in potions, but approaching said people was not advisable today. Dima instead stayed where he was, opting to let someone find him rather than seeking out a classmate. That was his role often enough, anyway. Change of pace could be nice.

Idly drumming his fingers on his leg, he scoured the room for free students.

Anyone?