Gemma and Ted lined up with the other Slytherins and Ravenclaws in the grounds. They were having their Care of Magical Creatures lesson, and Miss Periwinkle stood behind a table on which she had placed two covered cages.

'Gather round, gather round,' she said, gesturing for them to come closer. Gemma and Ted exchanged looks, but obliged. 'Today we will be handling one of the creatures we learned about in class last week. Not all however, some are far too dangerous. For example...'

She pulled off the sheet from the first cage. Within, blinking, was a strangely shaped creature the size of a small cat, with yellow fur and ridiculously large eyes.

'This is a razorcraw,' Miss Periwinkle said. 'Now do not let the cuteness fool you, children. That mouth contains six rows of teeth, and fully grown adults, like this one, could bite your entire head off in one go if they took a notion to. There are only a few dozen left in the wild, thank heavens, and as you can imagine we do our very best to keep them from muggles.'

She pulled the sheet from the second cage, and a near identical creature blinked at them.

'This,' said Miss Periwinkle, opening the cage and reaching inside, 'is a fuddlewump. Completely harmless in every way, its superficial similarities to the razorcraw have led to some unfortunate culling incidents which have dramatically reduced its population size.' She picked it up and tickled under its chin.

'A good way to tell the difference is to look out for the coarseness of the fur around the neck. For example, this one...'

She frowned and looked back at the first cage. 'Wait, no,' she said. 'That one is the fuddlewump...'

The razorcraw twisted in her grip and opened its mouth impossibly wide, giving Gemma and Ted a good view of all those rows of teeth.

Then it bit through Miss Periwinkle's hand, taking it right off at the wrist, and there was a whole lot of blood and she screamed, and Gemma and Ted's classmates screamed and ran off, and Gemma and Ted screamed and ran off with them.

.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

'I think I'm traumatised,' Ted said, as they all sat in the common room that evening. 'Burned dead people, severed hands, Avery in a towel... I'm gonna have to start bleaching my eyes.'

'Hmm yes you may,' Iz said disinterestedly, twirling a black marker pen in her hand. Then she brightened. 'Hey, Luke, can I draw a moustache on your face?'

'I genuinely don't know if your joking,' Luke said, not looking up from his book.

'I think that's a great idea,' Gemma said, a grin slowly spreading on her face. This time, Luke did look up from his book.

'No,' he said, pointing at her.

'Yes,' Ted spoke up. Luke looked like he was going to say something, but then just chucked his book to the side and made a run for it.

Unfortunately for him, Regulus managed to grab onto his leg, and he stumbled, while Ted tackled him to the ground and sat on him so he couldn't move.

'You are so heavy!' Luke gasped. 'Guys help!' But they didn't help. They were all laughing hysterically now as Gemma held his head in place while Iz ran her marker all over his face.

Finally when she was done both girls rolled over on the floor, cackling with malicious glee. With much difficulty, Luke pushed Ted off, who leaned on Regulus, both boys clutching their sides from laughing too hard.

'I'm getting new friends,' Luke said in frustration. Gemma tried to stand and he pushed her over, sending her off into a fresh fit of giggles. 'Ah shut up. Bastards, the lot of you.'

'We most certainly are not!' Iz said indignantly. 'Look!' She held up a small mirror. Luke slowly turned to her.

'You,' he said. 'This is your fault.'

'Oh dear,' Iz said. She threw her mirror to the side (Luke- style) and dashed up the stairs, Luke running after her.

'I'll save you Iz!' Ted yelled, running after them both.

'Why am I friends with these people?' Regulus groaned, clutching his head. Gemma laughed.

'Because we are hot, cool and funny people,' she said brightly. 'And you wouldn't have any more pens if you didn't talk to me.'

'Yes, I suppose that's true.'

'Oh my god. Regulus Black, is that the only reason you're friends with me?'

'Damn, I see I've been caught.'

'And are you secretly a unicorn in disguise!?'

'Oh man, you know too much. I think I'll have to kill you now.'

'No!' She gasped. 'You can't !' He made a mock gun with his fingers and mimed shooting her. She clutched her chest dramatically and fell over.

'You really are something,' he mused. She didn't stir. 'Gemma?' Cautiously he approached her. He stared for about one minute. She still didn't move.

Very gently, he poked her with his finger. She jumped and tackled him to the ground, sitting on him, but supporting most of her weight on her legs.

'Hahahaha,' she said, in her best impression of a villainous laugh. 'Now your mine, Regulus Black. You must solve a riddle before I let you go.'

'Brilliant,' Regulus said, a little breathlessly. He hoped she wouldn't notice, but knew from her smirk that she did.

'Okay. Here it is. It's shorter than the rest, but when your happy, you raise it like its best. What is it?' She saw Regulus go bright red.

'I- er- What?'

'What do you mean what? Answer the riddle.'

'Well I- like- really? Um, so you see,' Gemma realised why he'd become to nervous. She flicked his nose.

'You dirty- minded sod. It's not that.'

'Ah,' he said with relief. He though for a couple of minutes. 'Oh! A thumb!'

'Correct,' she said. She kneeled down closer to him. 'Now you get the winners' prize,' she whispered in his ear.

'Huh?' Regulus felt his mouth go dry and his heartbeat speed up. Gemma's face was less than an inch from his own.

'You get an amazing, brand- new, limited edition ball- point pen!' She said yelled, waving said brand- new, limited edition ballpoint pen in the air.

'Oh,' Regulus said dully, disappointment seeping through him.

'Are you not pleased with it?' She prompted.

'No, I- wait,' he said, noticing the way she was biting down on her lower lip to prevent herself from bursting out laughing, 'are you teasing me?'

'I might be,' she said, allowing a playful smile to spread across her face. He rolled them both around so he was now on top.

'Who's in charge now?' He taunted.

She gently pressed her lips against his. His heart stopped beating as he froze, and she pulled away.

'Still me,' she whispered.