Storms Ahead

|Chapter eight: Secretive skills|

Staying in my seat I watched as the rest of the class filed out as I packed my cauldron away

"I'll meet you guys back in the common room" I told Blaise, Pansy and Daphne as they all nodded and left as I looked up to Snape who was peering at the phial curiously

"Tell me Miss Black as to how you made this potion, not only exceptionally quickly but also to perfection" Snape said quietly, dragging the letters out as he looked at me with a look mixed with curiosity and suspicion

"You didn't follow the instructions yet it turned out better than it should have"

"I just- I've made potions different ever since I was kid"

"What do you mean?"

"I had been experimenting when I was a kid and from there I've changed recipes and instructions and made the process of developing some potions quicker and easier"

"How long have you been doing that for?"

"Since around about six years old, I practised a lot more when my mum was training"

"Have you tried making your own?"

"Not since I was nine- Holly tipped the cauldron over and it burnt a hole in the living room door, I wasn't allowed near a cauldron for months after that" I explained at him as I tried to suppress a laugh at the memory as he looked back down to the phial before setting it aside and picking up the holly leaf

"I'll need to speak to Professor Dumbledore about this and I'll do that before dinner- if you're here at six o'clock tonight-"

"Em Professor, I've got to be down at the quidditch pitch tonight at six"

"With Mr Flint, trying out for the quidditch team?"

"Yes sir"

"Very well, Saturday evening at eight o'clock sharp then, we'll see what other potions you're capable of brewing. That will be all" he told me as I nodded and grabbed my bag before leaving as I headed to the common room

"Amelia!"

"Huh? Yeah?" I asked as I turned around and looked at Marcus Flint who was making his way towards me as we stood outside the common room entrance

"Was that your broom that arrived this morning?" He asked as I nodded and pulled the box out of my bag and his eyes widened

"You said you had a broom, I thought you meant an actual broom- not a keyring" he said slightly exasperated as I started laughing

"This is my broom- an actual broom. My mother has shrunk it so it wasn't detected and taken away from me when it arrived this morning" I explained to him laughing as relief flashed across his face as he let a laugh get the better of him

"Well thank god for that- are you still good for six tonight?" He asked as I nodded and we walked into the common room

"Yeah, I'll see you down there- Jesus Christ!" I said loudly as my arm was grabbed suddenly and I was pulled towards the couch and forced to sit down as I started laughing

"What do you lot want?"

"Rude-"

"How the hell did you finish that potion so quickly?" Blaise asked as he dropped down onto the space beside me as Pansy and Daphne took the seats on my other side and I tried to suppress my laughs while I tapped the side of my nose with a smirk

"Oh no no no, that doesn't answer my question"

"I know, I just want to be difficult and secretive"

"Well that's obvious" Pansy scoffed as I let my laughter get the better of me and I looked between them before resting my head against Blaise's arm with an amused smile

"What are you doing?"

"Using Blaise as my pillow" I explained to Daphne smiling as they both stood up laughing and disappeared as I looked up at Blaise with a smile as he raised an eyebrow at me

"Bold of you to assume I'm okay with this"

"I know, it's a risky move- I don't want you to take this the wrong way but your arm is really comfy and now I'm very confused"

"Is that a compliment?"

"That's the best way to take it" I said to him laughing as we stayed there for awhile before heading to the hall for dinner

*Published ~ 25/06/20*