He actually spoke to her. And cordially too. Then again, what did she expect? Him to jump and scream around, swearing about having to work with her? She wouldn’t have blamed him but Joel had had his time to scream and shout at her. He had gotten it off of his chest already. It had been too long. If there was any more need for that, Cora would have been surprised.
 
“Want to fetch the ingredients while I get the cauldron going, then?”
 
“Oh…ummm….sure….” She checked his page of the book that the potion was on and opened hers to it. It would take quite a fair amount of potions. Looking up, her eyes traveling to where the class ingredients were kept, a line was already forming. Calling it a line was generous. A mad rush was more like it.
 
“Wish me luck,” she joked, laughing, and then making eye contact with him. That shut her up real quick. Cora looked away, her laughter dying, pink blushing her cheeks.
 
“I…ummm…I’ll just go and get the ingredients.” She started toward the feeding frenzy and then had to come back when she realized she needed her book. Clearing her throat, she looked at Joel again before quickly turning way and rushing over to the other partners that were either requested or did the requesting of getting the ingredients.
 
Cora waited her turn. Others shoved their way in but she was polite and orderly. She was a prefect and needed to set an example. Eventually it was her turn. The very last one which meant they were a bit behind the others. A tiny bit but still behind.
 
Reaching the table, she started to organize the ingredients according to the order they would need to be used. “Uh…so, here we are,” she said, clearing her throat once more. “Why don’t you start cutting these up?” she suggested, sliding the first ingredient over to him. “And I’ll-“ Cora looked down at the directions, “grind these ones.” She grabbed the ingredients she had assigned herself and blushed. “I mean, if that’s alright with you of course.”

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