VII. Classes

                                    

                                          
The first class of the year was Potions with Gryffindor. 
                          
Barty and Regulus made their way down to the dungeons right after breakfast, still whispering excitedly to one another about the meeting that they would be attending on Friday. Aside from his excitement about this, Regulus was also quite excited to go to Potions; less knowing that it was with Gryffindor, but Potions had always been quite an interesting subject to Regulus, so he decided that he would get the most out of it. 
                          
Regulus and Barty arrived at the Potions classroom just in the nick of time (they had taken a wrong turn and not realized until they were the complete opposite side of the dungeons from the Potions classroom) and hastened to take their seats. 
                          
The only seats that were left was a long table that could sit 4 students in the back of the room. Standing there already was Deacon Ackland - looking as shy and small as ever - and the overly confident Francesco Anderson. 
                          
Regulus took the seat next to Francesco, and Barty took the seat to Regulus's left. When they arrived, Francesco was going on and on about his father and how great he was at Potions and how there was no way that Francesco could possibly be bad at it. Deacon, meanwhile, looked absolutely miserable. 
                          
He was pale and had puffy red eyes with big, dark rings underneath. He was sniveling and slowly nodding along with everything that Francesco was saying. 
                          
"Alright, hello class!" Slughorn's voice boomed from the front of the classroom, and Regulus, Francesco, and Barty all looked up eagerly - Deacon just looked up without a word or hint of interest. "Today, we will be taking notes! I know, I know," a groan had sounded around the room in unison, "but it is quite important! Come on now, parchment and quills! Pip pip!" 
                          
"What do you think is wrong with him?" Barty whispered to Regulus when they both reached down for their book bags. 
                          
Regulus glanced over his shoulder at Deacon, who was halfheartedly searching through his book bag. Regulus turned forward again and shrugged his shoulders, "Dunno. Maybe he misses home or something?"
                          
Barty shrugged and sat up straight, putting his parchment on the desk before him and opening his ink pot. Regulus took longer - he took a considerable amount of time looking at Deacon, who looked like he was trying very hard not to cry. 
                          
Francesco seemed to notice too, and he reached a hand over and placed it gently on Deacon's shoulder. "They're just being stupid, Dea, it's ok." Francesco whispered, giving Deacon a smile. 
                          
Deacon just shrugged, shaking Francesco's hand off of his shoulder and putting his supplies on the desk before him. Regulus watched as Francesco sighed and looked forward, shaking his head. 
                          
The rest of the class was fairly easy. Slughorn had them all take notes on things like Bezoars, standard potions ingredients, and he helped them all understand everything that was in their potions kits. By the end of it, everyone was growing rather restless, and Regulus looked around the room after he was finished packing his things. 
                          
He looked over to see Francesco packing up Deacon's things for him, seeing as Deacon seemed to be fast asleep with his cheek pressed against the desk top. Regulus sat for a minute, debating whether or not to ask Francesco what was wrong with Deacon; he knew they weren't friends, but Deacon just looked so sad. 
                          
Regulus and Barty lingered a bit in class - Regulus was "taking extra care of his notes" ("wow, your notes are really organized," Barty had commented when class was finished). Regulus kept sneaking glances over at Francesco, who was looking at Deacon with a rather sad look on his face. 
                          
"You can go ahead," Regulus said to Barty, noticing how restless the other boy was getting while waiting, "I'll just meet you in the hall outside."