good omens (james)

There was one class a week where Defence Against the Dark Arts NEWT students worked together: meaning the sixth and the seventh years combined together. It was usually for practical lessons where the numbers were greater for working in pairs, and that was the case for this particular lesson on shield charms. The NEWT students were already at a level where they could use Protego, but there were certain spells that could break through that shield. In today's lesson, he was teaching the students how to conjure a greater version of the spell: Protego Duo.

He had split most of the students into pairs already to practice the spell, and had now reached James.

"Ah, James. Who do we have left?" He glanced around the room. Faye Phiera hadn't been placed with anyone yet, nor had Atticus Nott. Somehow he didn't think either of them would test James in the way he'd prefer...

"Rowle, over here."

He'd seen the boy leaning into Alayna Nott. Rowle turned, looked over at James and the Professor, and looked particularly smug about the pairing. "Yes, sir?"

"You're with James. And Miss Nott? With Miss Phiera."

Professor Riddle had already swept away from them at that point.

He sat in class hoping to be paired with Lien to see how well they worked together in a proper classroom setting, but luck would be that Lien was among the first to be paired. Damn alphabetical order! That's what he got for being born a Potter. James was twiddling his thumbs as he had been making an effort to be sober and punctual for Professor Riddle's classes; he needed to prove that he was serious about wanting the extra lessons outside of school hours.

It would be his luck. He glanced over at Ptolemy and rolled his eyes wishing to just get it over with; the less time he had to deal with the git, the better. Too bad this wasn't transfiguration... James got up from his desk and crossed his arms.

Professor Riddle liked to torture his students, didn't he?

@Ptolemy Rowle

It was the beginning of November, and tomorrow marked the day when he would finally be out of the dormitory again in the evenings, free to do whatever he chose. There had been some instances towards the end of his suspension where he had tried to escape the common room while transformed into Perdita, but word had already got out about the mysterious blonde girl who had kissed Carina Malfoy. Then he had to do another week of it as punishment.

It had been awful. He was frustrated, fed up and needing a reason to curse someone. This was the perfect opportunity. That's why he was standing before James, and looked delighted about it.

"What are you so miserable for? Were you hoping to be paired with your boyfriend?" he chortled, gazing over at Chang. "Merlin, you truly are pathetic if you're still pining over him. He's probably grateful that he gets to be away from you for five minutes. I hear you're buzzing around him like a fly." He laughed, then took out his wand.

@James Potter

"He and I were never dating, Ratmy." If only he could be surprised that Ptolemy's first action would be to make fun of him. Professor Riddle had to be doing this on purpose. On the other hand, it would allow him to curse Ptolemy without being reprimanded. He could just say it was part of learning. James pulled out his wand from his holster trying to figure out which spell he'd like to hit Ptolemy with first; he wouldn't mind if the Slytherin's shield failed... "Do you know what 'friends are? I guess not."

How did that rat have friends? Then again, his friends seemed to just be bedmates.

@Ptolemy Rowle