Potions class I

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Almir was not looking forward to potions at all. He hated the class for it was his worst class and the teacher hated him. First he thought that Snape was bad but he just had something against all Gryffindors, Burke had something against him. Was it still for the prank Ace and he pulled on the Potions master when he first came here. Slughorn was the only Potions Professor he could stand. However no matter what he wanted to become in the future, potions was always necessary.

Arriving this time not too late (he would not dare it with this class) he smiled brightly towards every student. Like always he wore his uniform only half. Only the black pants and the white shirt with no tie or robes. It was barely regonizable in which house he was so to make it up for it, he wore red Dr. Martens. And of course like always his silver and leather jewelry.  “Good Morning folks! How is everybody doing on this lovely day?” He shouted through the class so everyone knew that he had arrived.

Noticing the Ravenclaw boy named Connor(if he remembered it correctly) he met before, he walked towards him. Acer wasn’t here so he could use this opportunity to build on their friendship. However it seemed that he was getting it on with a Slytherin student he knew as Acer's younger brother. Jagger walked off and Almir approached Connor. “Something wrong?” He asked the Ravenclaw as his eyes went to the girl who the Slytherin had been bothering. “So you do have a girlfriend after all?” He said as he smiled at the blonde girl who Connor had protected from the Slytherin.

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A First student entered, a Young Hufflepuff girl who took her seat. She looked rather down which worried the Professor a little. Walking up to her, he tried to make his hardened face look friendly. Hearing her mumble he sighed a little to himself. “Miss. Sharp, you are quite a hard working student. If you have trouble with anything you could just say so. However you’d need to actually walk up to a person and explain what you need. Sitting here and waiting for someone to get you help won’t be the fastest way to get it, I’m afraid.” He said in a low volume so that if other students would enter they would not hear it. “If you need help, feel free to use the class room to practice at any time you need. Just inform me that you are here and clean up the stuff afterwards. There is a big chance that I am in my office so if you are stuck with something you can get my help. Or I could ask some off your upper classmates to explain the potion.” He suggested before leaving her to make a decision herself.

Benjamin was not a mean person, he just was a little bit well grumpy often. Some thought he really was an ass, which he could understand. However he didn’t want the students to think that he was not willing to help. It was his job to guide his students to succeed and so he would do. Even with his trainees that Donovan had signed him up with. Just his way of teaching often was a little strict, but he believed it was for the best.

More students entered and if he could smile, he would have done it. Still it seemed so hard after all that happened. Smiling was something rare that only true happiness could awaken with him. Yet for the past two years there had not been a single one on his face.

His eyes narrowed at a Slytherin who started to push his luck with a Ravenclaw girl. Worst of all, Ben knew this boy. He was the son of his ex-wife’s brother. “Mr. Shafiq, I could suggest you to behave in my class. Whatever you do outside is up to you. However you are here to learn about Potions, not to test your limbo.” He said with a strict tone in his voice. These were things he really did not have time for. Teens with their hormones going wild were the worst thing about this job.

Another boy entered who he knew but all too well. Rochester... A few days ago he received a letter from his father, it was truly pathetic, he thought. First the boy should learn some manners and show some motivation. Then, when he would ask it himself, Benjamin would be willing to help.
“Good morning class.” He said as he had checked the time. “Today’s potions are written on the board. Your instructions can be found in your text book. You will be working in pairs which I allow you to make yourself this one time. However when you take too long to find yourself a partner, I’ll find someone for you. And when things don’t work out, I’ll split you and you will be working alone. Understood?”

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Vanessa hadn't expected attention to be drawn to her just because her older brother felt the need to be overly protective when Jagger Shafiq was around. "Did you have to say that to him? Really?" she asked, shaking her head to show her disapproval. It wasn't like she didn't hear phrases similar to the one just uttered by the older boy often enough to just shrug them off. He'd been going at her for a while now; she sometimes found it funny how persistent he seemed to be. It got bloody annoying when he interrupted her studies though. 

"Ew! Gross! I'm his sister," she responded to the Gryffindor that was apparently on speaking terms with Connor. If she knew her brother, and she liked to think she knew him well, he didn't have a great number of friends. He'd always been shy and introverted, while she was the one that started conversations about desk bells with a goblin. "Are you going to just stand there or sit down," she asked the older boy, knowing that she was being rude with the question, which was how she'd wanted to come across.

She groaned when the teacher made a comment to Jagger about his behavior, desperately wanting to shove Connor off his chair now for having drawn so much attention. "I think it'd be unfair if we were partners," she told her brother, glancing up at the Gryffindor once more, "No doubt the Gryffindor could use some help though." 

[Zeke Harland de Lioncourt]

Zeke liked Potions. He especially liked the hands-on activities more. A believer that one can never truly learn without action; he wished there were more hands-on activities for this year. Entering the room, he saw a friend in the form of Vanessa Collins and smiled, "Vanessa" he smiled and then greeted her brother before moving to a desk just across and greeting the professor, "Good day to you professor, gravely sorry for the tardiness" he tilted his head slightly.

He wasn't there when the instructions were made so he leaned towards the table of Vanessa, "Is this individual work or with a partner?" he didn't really mind either way. The instructions were all in the textbook, no problem there.

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Jagger glared at Burke when he reprimanded him in front of everyone, especially after all he had done was a little harmless flirting, but he didn't say anything. He didn't need another detention from his ex-uncle. There was such a thing as too much attention from authority figures. So he looked away and barely registered the instructions they had been given. The only word that stood out to him overly much was "partner." Oh hell yeah, he would ask Vanessa to be his partner anyway! He would piss her brother off further, but he didn't care about that.

But then another Ravenclaw came in and sat close to him then talked to Vanessa. This guy rubbed Jagger the wrong way, and he didn't want to admit that he was jealous of the kid already. Jagger rarely got jealous, because he rarely had strong feelings for anyone in particular. So if he was feeling this now, did that mean he actually liked Vanessa as more than a friend? Nah...couldn't be. Jagger was past feeling after his romantic history. But he looked at Vanessa and wondered if maybe he did like her more than he was even admitting to himself.

"Yes, it's partner work," he answered the other guy himself. "And I was just going to ask Vanessa to be mine. What do you say, Miss Collins? I promise to behave."

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“Whoops sorry about that then.” He said as the Ravenclaw girl explained that she was his sister. Perhaps it was a little bit stupid that he kept seeking for something that confirmed the fact that Connor in fact was single. Why? He had no idea himself. Grinning at the same girl as she asked if he was going to sit down, he wrapped his arms. “Well at first I thought about standing so everyone can enjoy looking at me. Now it seems better to sit down.” He glared at the teacher. “Before someone nails me to a chair.” He added in a lower volume and sat down next to Connor with a big smile. “Hey Connie. Yep I must admit the Ravenclaw blue does look wonderful on you.” His eyes glittered even when there was just a little bit of light.

Burke started the class and Almir already wanted to go back to bed. Even when his father tried to get him to do good, he knew it was useless. Almir sucked in potions and it would be a miracle if he managed to pass this year with an okey mark. His head slightly moved up as he heard Connor’s sister suggest that he’d take Almir as a partner. “You’d want that?” He said as his spirits lifted a little even though he was surprised with the suggestion. It would be fun to do this together. “I must warn you. I suck at this… I don’t want to bring you down along with me.” His volume was low, he didn’t want the others to hear. It seemed to be clear that he was embarrassed about his failures while the rest of his family always had been perfect students.

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“Mr. Lioncourt, you are just on the edge and Lucky that I am in a good mood today. Though I must suggest you to get a new clock.” The teacher said as another student entered, almost too late. The boy had an awful familiar last name but Benjamin would not let it bother him during class. The same reason why he had to act like a normal teacher in front of the other students. His eyes shifted to Jagger once again and he could not help but shake his head. “Nice try Mr. Shafiq.” It was weird calling someone with the same last name as his ex-wife. “Mr. Lioncourt will be your partner for this class.”

Checking the clock, the class should start now. The remaining students who hadn’t found a partner yet would be given one by him. “Okey, Ms. Sharp and Mr. Caverly you will be working together. If you have any questions or need help, just alarm me. Ehm... Ms. Stevenson will be joining you as well please help your younger fellow student around. Mr. Boivin and Mr. Rinaldi will also form a duo and Ms. Collins, you can choose if you join your brother or Mr. Lioncourt’s group.” With this everyone should not have to work alone, though he would always allow it may the person finish the potion with good quality. The groups were allowed to start with their potions. Benjamin himself remained at the desk may someone have a question.

[Connor Micheal Collins]

Blushing when Almir came up to them, he looked down to his sister when she spoke up about them just being siblings, Connor only nodded in agreement. "Uhm, yeah. She's..this is Vanessa. Nessa." Unsure of what to say really, he just watched the other boy, but when Nessa started to tell him off over Jagger, he turned back to her, unphased by her words. "He walked away and he's not bugging you anymore right? Come one Nessa, he's a prick. I don't want you to deal with that. I didn't mean to embarrass you." He said truthfully, he didn't want to upset his younger sister, but he didn't want to pushed over by her either. Jagger was trouble, and Nessa was too good to get wrapped up in troublesome play boys.

When Professor Burke started on Jagger, Connor couldn't help but feel a little good that the younger boy wasn't being let off. Even though he didn't technically do anything, he still bothered Connor trying to hit on Nessa like she was just an average girl. He couldn't help but notice how Almir's name hadn't been called, nor had Connor's, did that mean that the two were working together anyway? Licking his lips, he turned to his sister mouthing an 'I'll owe you' with a grin, because if the Collins worked together, they'd pass nearly anything. He'd probably go out and buy her something in Hogsmeade. Connor was a wizz for his classes, and his sister was just as smart, but while Almir wasn't good at potions, he wanted to be able to spend the class with the other boy.

Turning to Almir, "Uhm..I think your my partner anyway. He didn't say your name..I don't, you know, mind showing you how to do this." They were in the same year, so they would be working on the same potions. "I...I'll go get the stuff." Connor got up to walk to where the ingredients were stored, trying to get himself under control, Almir's presence could get him blushing let alone when they actually spoke to each other.

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Artemis blinked in surprise as Professor Burke approached her. She was a little terrified that he was about to single her out, but when he simply explained that she was a good student and could ask him for help, her fear subsided and she gave a shy smile. "T-thank you sir." She nodded lightly. She'd always figured he was just a mean looking grouch, and had never considered just asking for help, but now she'd spend all of her time working in this very classroom in order to succeed. Sitting up straight with a bit of confidence, she waited for class to begin. When she was assigned to work with two Gryffindors she didn't know, that confidence faltered lightly, but not by much. She got up from her seat and slowly approached the two. "Hello," she said in greeting. The boy was in the same year as her. She remembered him from the sorting ceremony, but the girl she'd never seen before. "Shall we get started?"

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His stomach dropped when Professor Burke said that he would be paired with that other Ravenclaw he had already felt a twinge of jealousy over. This kid already had ties to Vanessa through their house, which meant Jagger had no chance. And then Burke offered her the choice of being with her brother or with him and he was no longer sure he knew what he wanted her to pick. If she chose him, would it really be him she was choosing or Lioncourt? But if she chose her brother, he would have to be faced with that smug-faced bastard the rest of this class. He was already tying himself in knots and the potion-making hadn't even begun yet. 

He decided he would ignore Vanessa and move on to some other girl who was far less trouble. This wasn't anything serious anyway, it hadn't been serious for two years now, and that wretched girl had broken his heart. He didn't want to fall for anyone ever again. That was until he looked up and saw the way her hair fell perfectly and he knew he was done for. He did like her, God damn it. And he hated himself for it, almost as much as he hated how her brother and Burke had both taken turns to separate them. He was staring at her, his face pleading, without really knowing why. He wanted her to join his group, even if it was for Lioncourt, even if her brother wouldn't like it. He just wanted her to be close to him. He was waiting for her smile...just one little smile, that was all he needed to know if she would be joining with him today or not.