Chapter Seven: A Budding...Rivalry
"I mark the hours everyone, Nor have I yet outrun the sun. My use and value, unto you, Are gauged by what you have to do." -Time Turner Inscription
Nervousness and pent up anxiety fogged up Azalea thoughts at the moment. Yesterday had gone by way quicker than she hoped and classes were starting right now. She wasn't usually nervous about these kinds of things; actually, she was normally ecstatic when classes started back up, this year was different though. She pulled out of the table and left the Great Hall to go to her potions class.
Entering the familiar classroom she had become accustomed to, Azalea went to take her regular seat in the middle of the classroom when she noticed that she wasn't the only presence in the room. Seated a couple of spots away from her was none other than Riddle, his desk neat and organize. He did nothing to acknowledge her presence and nor did she.
Azalea sat in her desk fidgeting awkwardly, uncomfortable with the dead silence that laid between them. The tense atmosphere was soon broken though when one student and a string of others entered, filling the classroom.
"Good morning class," said a professor with a gingerly-blonde moustache that was slightly turning grey and thick straw-coloured hair. He wore a lavish, old fashioned waistcoat with gold buttons that looked like they were ready to burst off from trying to contain his enormous belly.
"Good morning Professor Slughorn." The Slytherin and Ravenclaw mix responded in union to the professor's friendly greeting.
"Today we'll be working on how to brew Amortentia. Can anyone tell me what it is and what it does?" The professor had barley gotten the question out of his mouth before two hands shot into the air.
The professor's eyes averted to the owners of the hands and smiled before saying, "Riddle, as a star student, I already know you know the answer, how about we let Miss Rosefield give it a go."
Azalea gave a side-glance at Riddle, curious to see his reaction. The calm and indifferent face never washed from his expression, she couldn't even detect a small hint of annoyance!
"Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world. Of course it doesn't cause actual love, but just an obsessive infatuation in the drinker." She said, slightly smiling as she saw the impressed glances of her peers.
Her miniature smile faded though when she saw Riddle's hand shoot back into the air.
"Although Miss Rosefield's answer is correct, she forgot to mention that Amortentia's smell is different to everyone. It varies on what the drinker is attracted to."
She whipped back around to look at him, her expression holding unadulterated shock, embarrassment and anger. Shock because no one has ever corrected her on anything - ever. Embarrassment because he just pointed out a flaw in her answer to the entire class. And finally, anger because he had the audacity to correct her in the first place.
"Well done, well done indeed! Ten points to Slytherin. Five to Miss Rosefield, and five to Mr. Riddle."
Azalea's temper only flared at the praise. She shouldn't have even had to share the glory in the first place!
The rest of the class was still as bumpy as the beginning. All they were doing was talking notes while the professor talked about the history of Amortentia and how to brew it. During that time though, Azalea and Riddle's need to prove themselves to be better than the other didn't stop. Whenever the professor asked a question, they were always the ones to answer, trying to over-shadow one another. It was that, or seeing who could write down their notes faster.
For the rest of the day that was what it was like: her and Riddle trying to one up each other.