- Chapter Thirty-Three -
"I just need your Ravenclaw smarts."

"JAMES, NO-"

"I know what I'm doing."

"Dude, you should try it the other way."

"You Gryffindors are so half-witted."

"Shut up Snape, at least they don't have you in their house."

"Nico, you're Slytherin too."

"And I hate myself everyday because of it." Nico deadpanned, snapping her kitkat in half and holding one stick of it in her hand whilst she started chewing on the other. "Especially with that lurking around all the time."

Sherry looked across the table at Snape amusedly who was just sat glaring at Potter whilst the boy tried to stir together the ingredients that had been piled into the cauldron by the group of six. Slughorn had clearly doomed them to fail. Potter, Sherry and Snape all in the same group, maybe it was another attempt at trying to force them to make amends but so far it hasn't worked.

Stephen was stood by Potter, haven given him the instruction to try stirring it the other way which Potter had started to do; Flora stood next to Stephen, the contrast of their heights rather humorous as she peered worriedly at the contents of the cauldron. Nico and Sherry were just doing their part by watching after having collected the ingredients for the potion.

The ingredients in question had been scurvy grass, green stems and leaves with white petals producing a flower; lovage which was another plant similar to celery and finally, sneezewort which looked exactly like scurvy grass. Sherry hoped she had gotten the two separately and not two of one, if so that would be on her.

They were to be making the Befuddlement Draught thanks to Flora's genius idea about what to do for the project. The group would be making a potion the colours of the rainbow and presenting them in a diagonal downward pattern from red to purple, the Befuddlement Draught was their red and once it had been presented in the way they wanted, Slughorn would test them to see how well they had brewed them.

No matter how much Sherry had said Flora should take the lead, Potter had been relentless in his volunteering especially when Lily Evans walked past the group and when they had ignored him, his constant disapproving noises made Sherry's brain rot so much that she had willingly given him the spoon to stir the potion with.

Obviously, that was now a huge mistake.

"What have we done wrong?" Flora whined slightly as she stared down into the cloudy potion, it should be green and bubbling before they cast the spell they needed on it instead it was murky white colour.

"Nothing, we've done nothing wrong." Potter fretted, shaking his head at the potion as he carried on stirring anti-clockwise. Sherry raised her eyebrows and gave him a significant look at his statement, to which he just met with nervous eyes and stirred quicker.

"It says here to stir it clockwise." Stephen read, looking down at the book they had been studying this year. "So I'm guessing we should...stir it clockwise."

"What do you think I'm doing?" The Gryffindor Quidditch captain grumbled under his breath and Sherry surveyed his harsh movements before reaching out and grabbing onto his arm to stop his stirring. He stopped and looked at her for an explanation as to why she had stopped him.

"Stirring anti-clockwise is what I think you're doing." She smirked amusedly and he looked away from her eyes and down to the murky substance that had started to simmer. Slowly, she watched him put together what he was doing and groan whilst starting to stir it the other way and she released his arm.

"James Potter everybody." Nico joked, finishing off her kitkat and Sherry smiled as Potter let out a fake laugh in the Slytherin's direction; the whole group cracked a smile except for Snape who sat there grumpy as ever.

"I didn't even notice we were stirring it anti-clockwise." Flora pouted slightly, narrowing her eyes at the potion they all knew was failing and just didn't want to admit it.

"Cheer up, Flora." Stephen nudged her, looking down at her and she slowly looked up to meet his eyes and smiled slightly. "None of us noticed it...well maybe Snape did but I doubt he would tell us."

"I want a good grade too, this count towards our O.W.Ls you know." He snapped, glaring at them all as the five of them exchanged glances with one another. "I just don't pay attention to whatever Potter is doing because he bores me, now cast the spell before the potion evaporates."

All six of them glanced down to see the potion bubbling wildly and Sherry stepped back in order not to be burned by the scolding liquid that was splashing out of the cauldron slightly, Potter took the spoon out of the cauldron and put it carefully down on the table before pulling out his wand and pointing it at the odd concoction.

"James? Maybe I should do it?" Flora offered meekly and Potter was about to put his wand back in his pocket before Lily walked past them to get a sprinkle of basil they needed for her groups potion and he cleared his throat loudly as Flora shrunk back into herself and Stephen pat her back a couple of times.

Sherry stepped even further back as he was about to cast the charm and that was when she felt something under her foot. Curious, she moved her foot off of whatever it was and stared at what was now a flattened flower on the brick floor below her and she narrowed her eyes at the sight of the sneezewort before widening her eyes again and turning around.

"No, don't-"

"Confundo."

A loud bang echoed around the classroom before Potter could even hear Sherry's instruction and a large cloud of smoke shrouded the table. The potion had literally blown up in their faces and all of them began to cough and waft the smoke away from them; Potter was the first person Sherry saw through the smoke and he stood frozen in place with his wand still outstretched and hair stuck up from the blast.

Stephen, Snape, Flora and Nico were the same though the girls' and Snape's hair just blew back before floating back down slowly. All five people in front of Sherry had soot on their faces and she supposed she looked the same; the classroom had fallen silent at the explosion and she risked a turn around to see everyone staring shockingly at them.

Slughorn was stood beside Remus who towered over him and had his eyes blown wide open in pure terror of the noise, their professor was nearly quivering with rage as he stared at all of them and Sherry clamped her mouth shut to stop herself from laughing...especially when she could see Amber praying in Spanish from where she stood at the table beside them.

"I'll see you all Wednesday after school for detention." He stated before coughing and Flora let out a mix between a whine and a cry from behind Sherry, Snape made a sound of disgust and Nico sniggered.

Sherry smiled and turned slowly back to the group so her back was facing Slughorn and she met eyes with Potter almost immediately; she shook her head at him and mouthed 'you suck' and he just rolled his eyes before looking down at the table with a small smile.

•*•*•*•*•

"I can't believe you got us into this mess." Snape snapped at Potter on Wednesday evening as the group spread over the Potion's classroom, three doing the work they were set and three watching them do the work.

Wednesday had come quickly, the rest of Monday had been filled with laughter of Oliver recounting the story to anyone who would listen; Sherry blamed it rightfully on Potter every time and would simply roll her eyes when Oliver brought it up.

Tuesday also passed with no hinders, the only notable thing was Quidditch practice Matt watching from the stands and wrapping an arm around Sherry when she exited the changing rooms to tell her how great she had been; she accepted the praise gratefully and fell asleep as soon as she was comfortable in bed and her eyes closed.

The days were getting more and more comfortable and as well as making her glad for the absence of confusion and awkwardness, it was still so scary to be away from home and actually getting used to it; she supposed she had her friends to thank for that.

"I did not get us into this mess." Potter defended himself, glaring over at Snape as he scrubbed harshly at one of the many cauldrons they were instructed to clean. "I don't know what happened."

"Shut up, Snape." Stephen rolled his eyes, having enough of the Slytherin boy. The two had arrived together, most likely having seen each other in the corridors but it seemed that in the minute of their company, both had become angry at the other.

"We're all tired of your voice." Nico added from where she was sat on the window sill, looking out into the view of the soil they were given. The top part of the window opened for air but the rest of the classroom was underground and prevented them from seeing anything else, it was dark outside anyway.

"Whatever." He scoffed, rolling his eyes and leaning against the wall behind him moodily. "I could've done the whole project by myself already, I just happened to be stuck with this stupid group."

"Yeah right, you wouldn't get anywhere without Flo." Stephen said, he and Flora were stood next to each other whilst cleaning their cauldrons and she looked up at him gratefully but stayed quiet in the conversation as she continued to scrub the black metal.

"I don't need her. I'm great at potions."

"Yeah because you have your super secret diary thing." Potter said scathingly and Snape snapped his head toward him, glaring as the boy continued to clean the cauldrons without any help from Snape leaning against the wall, Nico sat on the windowsill and Sherry lying on one of the tables with her hands holding Witch Weekly in front of her eyes.

"You'd know all about secrets, wouldn't you, Potter?" Snape said, staring piercingly at him and Sherry glanced at them in slight interest, she could potentially get some good blackmail material out of this.

"What are you talking about?"

"Just saying that secrets are things you hold very deer, aren't they?" He asked, narrowing his eyes and Potter froze up slightly before putting on an expression of confusion towards the boys. "How exactly did Prongs come about as your nickname?"

"Prongs?" Sherry laughed, turning her head to face him and Potter only spared her a single glance, pulling a face at her which she just grinned at.

"It's my patronus." He shrugged at Snape, focusing down on the cauldron again. "Sirius is padfoot because his patronus is a dog, Peter is wormtail because his is a rat and Remus is moony because his patronus is-"

"A wolf." Snape finished, nodding his head slowly and Sherry was no longer amused, instead on edge as she listened carefully to the conversation. She looked at the boys and saw Snape smirking slightly as James gave him a weird look. "How do you even know what your patronus' are? We haven't done those yet."

"Then maybe I'm just a better wizard then you." Potter snapped, stopping his work on the cauldron and facing Snape who yanked his wand out of his pocket and pointed it towards the Gryffindor who took his wand out just as quickly and the two boys squared each other up.

"Why is Lupin's patronus a wolf?" Snape queried and Potter hesitated slightly, staring dangerously into Snape's narrowed eyes as the tip of the boys wand pressed into the skin of his neck.

"Guys, calm down." Flora sighed.

"Yeah guys come on, this is stupid." Stephen backed her up, abandoning his own cauldron for a second and going to stand in the middle of the boys whilst Sherry put her magazine to the side and eyed Snape suspiciously. "So what if Lupin's patronus is a wolf? It means he'll protect his friends and family fiercely, the guy is an angel on earth, what's so bad about that?"

"Yeah, your patronus reflects the person you are inside so tell me Snape," Sherry spoke up and everyone turned to face her. "...Is your patronus a pile of shit?"

"Bitch." Snape spat and went to her instead, pulling out his wand again and pressing it to her throat. She sat calmly and just smiled at him whilst Stephen walked forward and pulled Snape away from her.

"Calm down, mate." Stephen shoved him slightly and Flora nervously shifted as he was pushed towards her. "Sherry...good joke but uncalled for and Snape, calm down man who cares."

"It's just years of pent up sexual frustration because we all know he has the hots for Evans but there's no way she would ever willingly hook up with him." Nico said, smirking as she adjusted her position on the windowsill and Sherry smiled as Stephen gave her a look.

"Nico." Flora scolded and shook her head.

"I'm not sexually frustrated!" Snape spat angrily at Nico who sniggered slightly and exchanged a glance with Sherry who raised her eyebrows at his outburst. "I-If anything, Potter is the sexually frustrated one! He's the one Lily will never go for!"

"I still have sex." He scrunched his nose up at Snape.

"With who?" Sherry snorted, facing him now in disbelief and he smirked at her, adjusting his position so he was leaning cockily against the table and staring at her. "Sirius?"

His face dropped in disgust and he stared at her with more incredulity then she could ever muster on her own face. "Sirius? Why would I have sex with Sirius, he's my best friend. It was with a girl, I'll have you know."

"Wait, you're not gay?" Flora asked confusedly and Sherry burst out laughing as Potter turned his head to face the genuinely confused girl, she had her eyebrows furrowed towards him and her lips slightly parted in confusion.

"N-No." He shook his head, looking confusedly around at Nico and Stephen who were also facing him confusedly.

"Really?" Stephen asked.

"You all thought I was gay?" Potter asked in shock as his head turned to every person in the room, his mouth fell open as one by one they nodded...even Snape nodded but he seemed like he knew for a fact that he was gay.

"Dude, I totally thought you were gay." Nico nodded her head and he spluttered out nonsense as they made noises and faces of acceptance. "Like, what straight man has hair that good?"

"Sirius." He offered and they all gave him sceptical looks once more. "What now?"

"Sirius as in Sirius Black?" Flora asked him and he nodded as the Hufflepuff girl looked around at the rest of the group, Stephen was staring at Potter like he was ill and speaking gibberish and Nico just had her eyebrows raised. "I thought he was gay too...I thought you were dating."

"Sirius is like the definition of closeted gay." Nico said and the whole group nodded in agreement as he stammered and looked around at them all. "And yeah, I totally thought you were dating Sirius too."

"See, I would think that but Sirius flirted with me like 5 minutes after we met." Sherry said, shrugging. "He has immaculate taste."

"Sure if he likes bratty Americans." Snape commented and Sherry glared at him. "Sorry let me rephrase, bratty Americans who don't have naturally blonde hair and instead dye it whenever it starts to go back to brown because she simply does not have natural beauty."

In one swift move, Sherry had crossed the classroom and swung her hand towards Snape's cheek, sending his head to the side with a red mark as her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. The room had gone silent as Sherry took her wand out of her pocket and used her hand to get Snape to face her, he struggled but as much as he hated to admit it, was no match for her iron grip.

"Let go of him, Miss Opal." Slughorn's voice rang out and they all turned to see him entering the room. Sherry practically had steam coming from her ears as she pushed Snape backwards away from her and he fell onto the floor. "You're all free to go but I expect you to be back tomorrow."

Sherry was the first one out, walking away from the group and checking shoulders with Stephen by accident as she went.

Due to his very athletic build, it probably hurt her more then it did him but she couldn't be bothered rubbing the forming bruise now...not when she desperately wanted to get back to the common room and cry as well as escape the footsteps that were approaching her from behind.

"Opal."

It was Potter, of course it was Potter, always sticking his nose into everyone's business where he's not needed or wanted. Three nights she would be spending with him this week, today, tomorrow and the day after that for their usual Friday rendezvous. She attempted to walk faster but he was at her side in no time and once again she cursed his long legs.

"I don't want to talk about it." She said as she turned a corner and began walking down the dungeon corridor to get to the staircase that lead to the ground floor.

"It's not about that." He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop, the two of them standing in the middle of the hallway as Flora and Stephen walked past them with faint smiles in the dim candlelight.

Sherry didn't quite appreciate the way he was towering over her, it only made her feel smaller then she knew she was but she put up with it for a single moment whilst tilting her head up at him and wanting him to speak before she lost her patience, jammed her knee into his crotch and then walked away.

"Look, I don't wanna talk about it and honestly it's none of your business that I dye my hair, it's a subject that I'm not comfor-"

"Shut up." He whispered to her and she took her arm out of his grip, crossing her arms and glaring up at him as he checked up and down the corridor. As she went to open her mouth to tell him off before kneeing him in the balls and walking away, he spoke again. "Wanna prank Snape with me?"

She stared at him for a moment, lips pursing as she glanced around the dark hallway in consideration. "...tempting, very tempting but what makes you think I'd team up with someone as dense as you?"

"Because I wanna prank him for saying shit about me and he said shit about you too and..." He looked like he was struggling with what he wanted to say next and she raised an eyebrow at him, cupping a hand over her ear. "...you have great ideas." He finished in a mumble.

"Sorry, what was that?" She asked, tilting her head again.

"You know what I said." He snapped and she smirked as she faced him again, crossing her arms over her chest for the second time. "I couldn't care less about your hair and I seriously don't give a shit whether you're Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn, Remus made me watch those movies, I just need your Ravenclaw smarts."

He held up a bottle of something and she looked at it, furrowing her eyebrows before she read the label that had 'seriously cool shit' scribbled on it and under that in brackets it said 'hair-raising potion'. She slowly began to smile at the sight of the label and glanced up to meet his smiling face.

"Miss Greene's hedgehog is gonna have some competition." She snatched the potion from his hand and brushed past him back down the corridor towards where the Slytherin common room hid.

Her long blonde hair whacked him slightly as she turned and he just smiled in accomplishment and followed the smell of coconuts. It was quite creepy how Snape knew what she did with her hair and that was one of the many reasons they were currently pranking Snape. As long as Sherry liked her blonde hair, he really didn't know why Snape felt it was such a big deal or why Sherry had slapped him over it.

She had also said she didn't want to talk about it, so if she wasn't comfortable then he'd respect that...he remembered seeing how hurt she was after his own comment about her appearance.

•*•*•*•*•
A/N: very sorry about the late update
my bad things have just been very stressful recently
but here's a lot of progress to make up for it