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"[color=springgreen]That's not enough, Beatrice, if you don't add more, it's not going to come out right.[/color]"

"[color=crimson]Quiet, you, I know what I'm doing![/color]"

"[color=springgreen]You were supposed to brew it [i]counter[/i]clockwise.[/color]"

"[color=crimson]Shut up! You're distracting me![/color]"

From the moment the class had officially begun, Kal was in hell. He wished he could say it was because of Demi, but somehow even the pain he suffered from his broken heart didn't compare to the disaster that was Beatrice Balthazar. He couldn't wallow on the love of his life possibly exiting his life forever because Beatrice wouldn't follow his directions, it was almost like she was content on failing on purpose. And as vindictive and petty as she was, Beatrice took her grades very seriously. Hell, they used to be partners back in second and third year, and she was actually a decent potions maker. So the fact that she was messing everything up infuriated him to no end, he had no idea why she was suddenly so bad at Potions, especially now when his N.E.W.T. was so important to him--and to her! She [i]needed[/i] the N.E.W.T.! So why was she doing this?! The entire time she was unfocused, shaky, constantly bickering with him, but he wasn't going to let her drag him down.

It took Kal some very unconventional methods to salvage the potion. Kalder never did follow the books to a tee, often taking creative liberties and experimenting in his own time as a personal hobby. Beatrice seemed determined to fail them both, so it took Kal every ounce of concentration and pulling out every bit of knowledge he had to make the potion serviceable. Serviceable! He was the top of the Slytherin class, and he had to settle for a serviceable potion because Beatrice had her head who knows where! The massive disappointment in Professor Blackthorn's face was punishment enough, though he could have sworn that it wasn't just about the potion.

Kalder considered it a mercy when the class was dismissed. As he packed up, he felt a stinging pain from his hands. Opening his palm, he realized his right hand was burned. It must have been when Beatrice had dropped the entire ladle into the potion, and he had dove his hand in without even realizing it. Great. He blew some air onto it, using his left hand to pack the rest of his belongings. As he got up, he realized Beatrice was looking at him, a very guilty look on her face.

Letting out a sigh, Kalder sternly looked at her. "[color=springgreen]Hate me all you want, fine, but I'm not failing because of you,[/color]" He informed her coldly. 

Beatrice shook her hand, wringing her hands. He wasn't the only one who had gotten burned, it seemed. "[color=crimson]It's...I just--whatever, you take the lead from now on, then,[/color]" She huffed, still trying to save face.

Rolling his eyes, Kalder repressed the many, many negative thoughts he wanted to tell her. But he couldn't insult her, especially since she looked so damn guilty. "[color=springgreen]Come along, then, Madam Appleton is sure to have something that'll fix you up,[/color]" He said, taking her bag in his left hand.

"[color=crimson]What--Oh no you don't, Sigourney--[/color]" She started, attempting to grab her bag from him, but she let out a shriek of pain, immediately releasing it. "[color=crimson]Ow, ow, ow![/color]"

"[color=springgreen]That wasn't a suggestion. Let's go,[/color]" He stated, his left hand taking her by the elbow and having to drag her out of the class. He stole a glance over at Demi and Noel's desk, but after seeing Demi's expression as she watched Noel leave, he found his anger flaring up again as he noticed Noel's wink. Pulling Beatrice along, he ignored her resistance as he led her to the infirmary. Dropping her bag onto the floor, he pushed her in. "[color=springgreen]Get that treated, I'll find you when you finish.[/color]" He said.

"[color=crimson]Huh? What?[/color]" Her face paled.

What the hell was wrong with her? "[color=springgreen]Potions homework.[/color]" He reminded her.

She nodded slowly, remembering. "[color=crimson]Fine, we can meet up in the library,[/color]" She said, seemingly recuperating, though that turned into a scowl as she tried to pick her bag up again.

Shaking his head, Kalder left Beatrice at the infirmary, quickly making his ways through the halls. The noise from the students gave him a headache, but he had to ignore it. He had just enough time before Transfiguration to get his target, and sure enough, he managed to catch Noel, Benjamin, and Coco speaking to one another. Coco grinned at Kalder. "[color=darkgreen]My main man! You look like you have a spring in your step![/color]" He greeted him cheerfully, though paused as Kal had to catch his breath. "[color=darkgreen]A bent spring, but a spring nonetheless.[/color]"

"[color=green]He's right, you look like shit,[/color]" Noel said, examining Kal's face.

He really didn't care right now. "[color=springgreen]What were you--and Demi--[/color]" He stopped to take in a deep breath, stabilizing himself. "[color=springgreen]How did you end up getting Demi as a partner?[/color]"

The three raised their eyebrows at Kalder. "[color=yellowgreen]...'Demi'? You mean Graves?[/color]" Benjamin asked.

Crap. "[color=springgreen]Isn't that her name?[/color]" He tried to cover himself. "[color=springgreen]Demi Graves.[/color]"

"[color=darkgreen]Man, here I was thinking it was Demitria, I need a better memory...[/color]" Coco grumbled to himself.

Noel chuckled, though he shook his head at Kal. "[color=green]Professor Blackthorn said I could use the help, I'm actually okay with the change,[/color]" He admitted, a sly smile on his face. "[color=green]She's brilliant, so it looks like I won't need your tutoring anymore.[/color]" It looked like Noel didn't know the reason behind the transfer. That was fine and all, but Kalder had the urge to wipe that stupid, smug smile off his face. His stomach was starting to hurt, too. Kal figured he was getting sick. "[color=green]I don't blame your frustration, was Balthazar [i]trying[/i] to fail you both?[/color]"

"[color=yellowgreen]She got Exceeds Expectations, which means she should know what she's doing,[/color]" Benjamin said.

"[color=springgreen]I'm convinced she's trying to blow me up,[/color]" He admitted bitterly, rubbing his temples. Of course he would get a headache now. "[color=springgreen]There's no way I'll get an Outstanding with her sabotaging me, I don't know what to do.[/color]"

Coco had a mischievous grin on his face. "[color=darkgreen]I'd let her blow me,[/color]" He chuckled, delighting in his childishness.

"[color=green]I want to agree, but she's so temperamental,[/color]" Noel admitted. "[color=green]Like I can definitely picture her ripping someone's dick off.[/color]"

"[color=yellowgreen]Yeah, but those types of chicks always get super shy in bed, you know,[/color]" Benjamin grinned. "[color=yellowgreen]Like, 'oh I'm only doing this because I like you!' or something.[/color]"

"[color=darkgreen]She's gorgeous, too. And those lips...[/color]" Coco nodded in agreement.

"[color=green]You two actually have a point. She was a nervous wreck in class, kind of acting like a girl in love,[/color]" Noel suggested, his arm around Kalder. "[color=green]Maybe our main man Kal can finally lose it to her if he plays his cards right.[/color]"

This was getting ridiculous. "[color=springgreen]Yeah, no, she hates my guts. I don't know what was wrong with her, but I promise you that I wouldn't touch her with a fifty-foot pole,[/color]" Kalder stated, shrugging off Noel's arm. The movement made Kalder dizzy, and he ended up putting his hand to the wall to keep himself from losing balance. The only person he wanted was Demi. Beatrice was just a former friend. That's all. But Demi was what he wanted. His thoughts were seemingly getting scrambled, Demi's words starting to play themselves over in his head again. Demi, Beatrice, Noel--everything was getting too much for him, he couldn't focus. Actually, wait, that wasn't mental. The next thing Kalder knew, he was looking up at the ceiling, falling back as his head hit the ground.

"[color=yellowgreen]Kalder? Oh shit, are you okay?[/color]" He could hear Benjamin's voice, but it sounded so distant, and as their faces came into view, they blurred in front of him. What was happening? He could hear their voices, could distinctly tell that Coco ran off for something, but his chest and head hurt too much to get a grasp on what was happening. "[color=yellowgreen]You're gonna be fine, Kal! Noel, help me![/color]"

But none of it mattered. The last thing he remembered was him hallucinating Demi's face.