Three's Company

Chapter 2

I pushed my breakfast around the plate, a sense of nausea settling in at the mere thought of going to potions class. "Just kill me now, Blaise. I can not do this," I groaned, picking at my bacon between sighs.

Blaise regarded me with an amused expression, casually reaching across the table to grab the salt and sprinkling it nonchalantly over his eggs before responding. "I've got a plan."

"A plan?" I eyed him skeptically.

"Yeah. It's high time you got a little payback for what they put you through," he said, scooping up a spoonful of eggs. After swallowing, he continued, "Make them crazy about you."

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" I scoffed, taking a sip of my orange juice and peering at him in disbelief over the rim of my goblet. I glanced around the room and caught Enzo's eye. He winked at me before continuing his conversation with the girl next to him. 

"Hear me out. Get them to the point where they're practically begging for you, like, crazy obsessed and would do anything to get with you. And then when this partner shit is over, ghost them," he concluded, a smug smile playing on his lips as if reveling in his own cleverness.

"So, you want me to make them fall for me and then just ditch them like they did me in the Forbidden Forest that day?" I asked, my concern for his sanity growing.

"Exactly."

"And how the fuck do you expect me to pull that off? In case you've conveniently forgotten, we can't stand each other," I mumbled, grabbing a piece of toast while contemplating the idea of those dumbasses being attracted to me.

"You're going to use that hot ass body of yours, obviously," Blaise replied as if this were the most obvious thing in the world. 

"Not you calling me hot, Blaise," I scoffed, pretending to gag before playfully nudging him.

"Bitch, you know it's not like that," he grimaced, echoing my expression. "I'm just saying, their eyes practically follow your every move. They watch your ass every time you walk by them. Utilize that. Make them beg for it." Taking a final sip from his goblet, he wiped his hands on his napkin, already scanning the room for Pansy.

"You know what? I'm into it. I mean, how hard can it be?" I declared, pushing my plate away and starting to gather my bags.

"Well, if you plan to start today, I'd recommend you make a trip to the bathroom. That just rolled-out-of-bed look is probably not going to cut it," Blaise teased, standing up beside me.

"Bitch, did I ask?" I retorted, shoving him playfully. We strolled out of the Great Hall, and Blaise laughed loudly as I veered straight into the nearest bathroom.

"See you in class," he yelled over my shoulder as I flipped him off. 

I studied my reflection in the mirror critically. I released my hair from the haphazard bun I had hastily thrown together earlier and ran a brush through my long brown strands. Evaluating my skirt, I casually rolled it up a few inches and nonchalantly loosened my tie, unbuttoning the first couple of buttons on my shirt.

Delving into my bag, I located my red lipstick and meticulously painted it onto my lips. One last survey of my appearance assured me that I had achieved the desired effect and had probably lost my mind in the process.  I draped my robes over my shoulders and confidently walked out of the bathroom, making my way toward the dungeons.

Upon entering the classroom, Theo and Mattheo were already stationed at a small table in the corner, radiating unmistakable irritation. They rolled their eyes in unison as I approached. Shedding my robes, I caught Theo's gaze fixating rather conspicuously on my chest. I arched an eyebrow at him as he looked back up at me. Flustered at being caught, he averted his eyes to whatever Snape was doing. I glanced at Blaise, who had observed the interaction with amusement, and he winked at me knowingly.