Potions [Dimitri]

Time flew faster than the witch expected. It felt like yesterday that school had started, yet, here they were. The first day of February had rolled in, and Nerisei was simply trying to survive it. After the talk she had had with Dimitri, both parties seemed to be in lighter moods. Of course, there were times when Neri couldn’t really keep herself from feeling kind of sad, but overall, they were doing great.

To be honest, Neri thought that the more time they spent together, the harder it would be for her to handle her feelings, yet, it had been surprisingly easier. Not because her feelings were slowly slipping away, but because she was coming to grips with them. Nerisei was in love with Dimitri, that hadn’t changed. But his company was enough for her. And she had that as his friend. She was careful not to overstep the boundaries of the friendship, since she didn’t want to make Dimitri uncomfortable for a second time. But all in all, it was okay.

But then, February came, and the whole castle had been going on about that bloody day. The 14th of February, best known as ‘Valentine’s Day’. The Ravenclaw witch simply didn’t want to remember that bloody day, for multiple reasons. First of all, she was not going to celebrate it. No one would ask to be her Valentine, so she would -once again- spend that day hiding away, hoping to not walk in on someone doing the dirty. And then, the second reason was, she didn’t know what Dimitri was going to do, and she simply didn’t want to ask, because that would look like she cared. Which, she did, but she promised to herself she wouldn’t make any romantic moves. So, that was out of the question. Plus, what if he told her he had asked someone? The witch wouldn’t be able to hide her hurt at that moment.
The better choice would be to keep silent and just avoid him that day. Yes, that was the wise thing to do.

Focusing on the task ahead, Nerisei pushed past the crowd of witches that were going on about what they would wear and where they would go and who had asked them out, and towards the Study Area. The place was practically empty, and that is why Nerisei had told Dimitri to meet her there. Dimitri had kindly asked her for help with his Potions assignment, and Nerisei didn’t even have to think to accept. She loved Potions. She wanted to become a Potions Mistress, in fact.

Walking inside, she smiled as she spotted Dimitri already waiting for her. Moving to the desk he had occupied, Nerisei placed her things aside and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey! Sorry, I am late. There was a horde downstairs. It was a nightmare,” she whispered to him before taking out her notes. “So, what seems to be the confusing part?”

As Dimitri asked about the horde she had mentioned, Nerisei let out a giggle and shook her head. This was not what she wanted him to focus on, but since he had asked… “A horde of crazy, love-sick girls. Believe me, you don’t want to know!”

The things the witch had heard, while she was trying to walk past them were… intense, someone could say. It certainly would make anyone blush.

Though they were soon focused on the Potions homework that he seemed to be needing help with, and Nerisei paid attention as he explained everything. Indeed, Professor Holmes was… not the best Professor they could have. He was gloomy, cold, and simply, not the best for her tastes. But she didn’t care about him. She cared about the subject. And she was really good at Potions. If only he could make the lesson more pleasurable.

Thankfully for Dimitri, Nerisei had, of course written down her notes. But, not feeling like working right away, Neri decided to tease him just a bit.

“I got your back, Mitri. But, tell me. What had you so lost that you couldn’t pay attention?”

Nerisei gave the other Ravenclaw a small, playful smirk, before reaching into her back to pull out some more notes and a few book she had borrowed from the Library the other day. If she was going to help him get better at Potions, she was going to do it right.

But first, the wizard had a question to answer.

As Dimitri explained the cause of his lost mind, Nerisei couldn’t help but stare at him in awe. Of course she knew he could write music, they were both excellent musicians, Neri never doubted that. She, too, had tried to write some music of her own, but she always got stuck and gave up. She always blamed it on lack of motivation. But as the Ravenclaw male showed her his notebook, Nerisei paid extra attention to the composition, humming the notes as they went. It wasn’t finished, as Dimitri had informed her, but it already sounded beautiful.

“Wow.. it’s beautiful..,” the witch admitted, just as Dimitri took his notebook away, flipping the page. She had to get him to play it for her, sometime.

Then, Neri pulled herself together and focused on her notes. Looking between her papers, Neri grabbed one of the borrowed books and opened it where the bookmark was.
Reading over a few lines, she nodded to herself before turning to Dimitri with a smile.
“Well, as you know, the Professor didn’t have the time to say much, since the Ministry asked for him. But, firstly, you should say what the Burn-healing paste is. As you know, it is not a potion. On the contrary, it’s a thick paste, that’s orange coloured and -obviously- heals burns.”

Opening the other book, Neri scanned her notes once again before turning back to Dimitri with a smile. “Also, as I am sure you know well, there is a variety of spells and potions that Healers use. These are a part of Medical Magic,” the witch explained. “As you can see here,” Neri started as she placed her notebook in front of him, “I have made a list of all Healing spells. I have a list of the healing Potions as well, but that is a long one. I suggest you pick out a few of them. Maybe the Skele-Gro?” The girl offered.

Then, Neri pulled back to look around, making sure no one was looking at them, before pulling another book from her bag. She gave Dimitri a look that meant ‘Don’t ask’, since she didn’t want to explain how she got the book, before showing him the pages.
“You could also mention.. Other ways of healing. “

Clearing her throat, Neri leaned a bit closer and whispered.

“Chocolate is known to have special properties. It’s commonly used as an antidote for the chilling effect that’s produced when you come in contact with a Dementor. But also, against really bad cases of Dark Magic. Then, there’s the Phoenix Tears. Amazing healing powers. They say, a person can be revived even if they are at the brink of death.

“Lastly, it’s the Unicorn’s Blood. It’s not particularly a healing substance, but it keeps someone alive. Immortality. Which means they are immune to sickness, in a sense. Of course, anyone who slains a Unicorn and drinks its blood, will have to live a cursed life.”
Closing the book, Neri put it back in her bag. “Anything else I can help with?”

Nerisei watched as Dimitri wrote down everything she was telling him, but the lack of enthusiasm was obvious. He didn’t like potions, and it was written all over his face, but Dimitri like to know things, and he was an excellent student. So he kept trying, pushing himself to do the best he could manage, and in Nerisei’s eyes, this was the best, and the rightest thing to do.

But then, once that was done, Nerisei didn’t know what else to say. Maybe it was the fact that Valentine’s Day was only a week away, and she was scared of saying something she shouldn’t.

“Actually… I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

At that, Nerisei perked up, turning her full attention on Dimitri. Of course she would help him with anything he needed, as long as it was within the boundaries of her capabilities.
Hopefully, the wizard wouldn’t ask for something crazy. But knowing Dimitri, he would never ask for something like that.

“I have a friend, who’s struggling with this problem of his. He wants to ask a girl to Hogsmeade this weekend -- for Valentine’s Day -- but he wants to go as friends. He knows it’s a little bit confusing, spending the one day of the year that is dedicated to romance with someone who is just a friend, but he… I guess he just wants to make sure the girl has a nice day…

“He asked me how he should go about that. Or, you know, whether he should just ignore the whole situation, so that nobody gets the wrong idea. I don’t know what to tell him, because… well, it’s a sensitive issue…”

Neri had to blink a couple of times. When she had asked Dimitri whether there was something she could help him with, she meant homework. She never expected that what he would ask of her was advice. Especially advice on whether a friend of his, should ask a girl to go to Hogsmeade for Valentine’s Day. But as friends.

Nerisei wasn’t dumb. Of course, she didn’t know all of his friends, but she knew the people he hung out the most. Which were Ravenclaw boys. And she knew that those Ravenclaw boys would never had a problem like that.They would casually ask a girl out, the girl would say yes because, let’s be honest, most of them were good looking. And they would go to Hogsmeade with no problem. And she doubted a friend that didn’t hung out with him that much would ask for advice on such a sensitive matter.

So that left only one explanation.

He was talking about them.

He was going to ask her out but as friends? On Valentine’s? Was he serious?

Nerisei took a deep breath, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. What was she going to say? She wanted to spend Valentine’s Day with him. Badly. But going as friends? On the day that’s dedicated to romance and love? Could she bring herself to do that?
Well, would you prefer if he went with someone else?, the voice in her head inquired, and for the slightest of seconds, Neri’s eyes were wide. Oh no. No, no, no.

“Well,” the witch started, but she didn’t know what to say. Biting her lip nervously, Nerisei decided that she should give him an answer. But she should give him advice as a friend. Not as a girl that desperately wanted him.

“I think, and that’s just my personal opinion, that if he wants to go with her, he should just ask her. He could be like ‘Hey, we’re friends, but I’d just love to spend that day with you’. Or something like that.”

Clearing her throat, Neri brushed some hair out of her face and gave him a small smile.
“People will always talk. Whether you go out with a friend, a girlfriend, a boyfriend… anything. This is how it works. So, unless they both care so much about it, they should go. As friends. And have fun. It doesn’t matter what the world says. As long as they are okay with each other, and that arrangement, no one can stop them from having fun. It’s up to them. Their choices define them.

“That’s what I think.”

Giving him a bigger smile, Nerisei started gathering some of her things. She was proud of herself. Because she had made the right choice. She was being a good friend, even if it was hard.

As Nerisei was gathering her things, a million thoughts were running through her head. Yes, she had done the right thing, and the advice she gave to Dimitri was simple but the right one. Yet, even if a part knew, or more like hoped, he was talking about them, there was the small chance of him actually talking about his friend. And that meant that his plans for Valentine’s Day were either nonexistent yet, or he had arranged something and he was keeping it from her. Because he didn’t want to hurt her.

And yes, she was avoiding his eyes, because there was a trace of hope there. Hope that, even if they went as friend, he was going to ask her to accompany him, instead of some Pureblood. Even though he should be doing exactly that.

“And… if I asked to spend Valentine’s Day with you, as friends, would you be happy to do that? I mean, unless someone else has asked you, in which case, please go with them, and have fun, but, if you haven’t arranged anything…”

Nerisei inhaled sharply and turned her face away even more, in an attempt to hide the enormous smile that had touched her lips. Her heart was beating faster and louder than ever, and even a few happy tears were stinging her eyes. Oh my God.., she thought. He had actually asked her to be his date, or well, his friend-date, on Valentine’s Day.

His explanation that it didn’t even have to be Hogsmeade and that if she preferred to do something else with him it was fine, made her melt even more. He was so sweet, so caring...


“But, if what I’m asking would be… in anyway, difficult, or something that makes you feel anything other than comfortable, then I will understand if you tell me no.”

Neri’s eyes found his at that moment, the bright smile still on her lips. Her eye were shining as the tears that hadn’t yet fallen were gathering. She couldn’t believe this…
“If…” The witch had to stop and take a deep breath at that, trying to calm her beating heart before it jumped out of her chest. “If you asked me, I would say yes, Mitri. I would be honoured.”