"Maxie?" Her eyes opened in a flash and she turned to see Theon coming down the corridor wearing a look of both concern and confusion. "Is everything ok?"

"Yes." She smiled again awkwardly, though he could obviously see through her. Turning, she gestured at the door and attempted to change the subject. "Is this the room, by the way? I wasn't sure..."

He looked at her, then smiled naturally, accepting the change in conversation topic. "Yup." He stepped forward and pushed open the heavy oak door to reveal a dark dungeon a lot like the one they were straight potions in - only much nicer. Instead of the damp, clinging smell that usually lingered in the depths of Hogwarts, the scent of Mint hung in the air, giving the room a fresh feel. The walls in the room were also made of a grey stone that seemed much lighter than the dark sides of the surrounding area and were moss and mould free. Upon one side of the room also hung painting of a deep lake with rays of sunlight shining in from above the surface; mer swimming in the background and the water bubbling calmly. The desks were also of light, smooth wood, there being exactly two, fully kitted out with cauldrons and every other piece of potion making equipment that had ever existed. As well as that, along the left side of the room the walls were covered in shelves that looked house everything they needed; a huge array of ingredients, phials, labels and more. It was perfect, and Maxine was honestly spellbound as she gazed at her surroundings.

But an area in the corner diverted her suddenly as she froze, staring at a dummy on wheels that held a wand and echoed stories of her childhood, face styled like a Death Eater's mask. Rushing forward, she saw that the shelves that enclosed the area were stacked with books filled to the brim with defensive and dulling spells. A whistle stood on top, an old piece of parchment in vaguely familiar handwriting and a badge that clearly read 'D.A.'.

The span round on the spot to stare at Theon, bewildered. "Theon why didn't you mention this?" She gestured at the area with demand.

However, Theon himself was staring at it dumbly. He paused, then spoke. "Well that's the thing - that's have never been there before."

Maxine turned back to survey the corner, noting the cushions and further clues that confirmed her suspicions before returning to Theon. "This is the room of requirement." She said in wonder, almost to herself. "It's like it saved the echoes of old times...we need a duelling area and it gave us something second-hand."

"Wait - what?" Theon came forward. 

She walked forward, retrieving the badge form where it lay on the shelf. "This is a snippet of the room that Dumbledore's Army used." She turned back to him. "You know what that was, right?"

"Who doesn't?" Was his answer, following her over. "Wow...this is awesome."

Maxine turned back to it with a smile, placing the badge back on the shelf. Still, she was slightly confused. The Room of Requirement was on the seventh floor, not down in the dungeons. Echoing her thoughts, she said: "I don't understand it though...it's not meant to be down here...and there can't be two." She looked at theon, who's face was also puzzled.

"Hmmm..." He said, eyes narrowed as he thought. "Unless...ah..."

"What is it?" Maxine questioned swiftly, watching him as his face dawned in realisation. 

He looked down at her, slightly taller in stature and dark eyes understanding. "Well you know Rowena Ravenclaw was said to have designed the rooms to switch around from time to time? You know - for safety and all that? Well...."

"Yes." She said in sudden realisation. "Of course!" She averted her gaze from his. "That explains it!"

Theon grinned. "It's so cool....and very handy."

Maxine laughed, looking back at him. "Yes. Well done for working it out, by the way."

He smiled at her and there was a pause as Maxine failed to find anything to say. Then he moved, turning away to stand at one of the desks. "Anyway - let's get to work! I thought we'd try The Draught of Peace."

Maxi emailed a wry smile and moved to stand at the desk next to him, taking he bag off her shoulder. "You sound like a teacher." 

He laughed in return. "So will you when you start teaching me how to duel."

She chuckled. "Yup, I will." She turned back to him form taking her textbook from her bag. "What did you say we'd be brewing."

"The Draught of Pace." He repeated. "Page two hundred and seventy-six, I believe."

Maxine groaned. "Oh no not this one." Theon put on a look of amusement as she turned through her textbook to find the right page. "I complete;y and utterly failed at this when we did it in class."

"Well then, let's hope we can improve." Said Theon in mock sternness. "Page two hundred and seventy-six, Lestrange."

She pulled a face at him and looked back down at her textbook, giving Theon a moment to pull away and change his own expression to that of hatred and irritation. Oh yes, he could become the character of poor, darling Theon. But did he want to? No.

Turning back, however, he wore a smile, grinning at Maxine as she looked up. "Ok, let's begin."

*  *  *  *  *

Maxine felt both pride and satisfaction as she finished pouring the bright turquoise potion into the Crystal phial with completion, screwing on the top and labelling it carefully in her slanted wiring. Her first truly successful Potion. She had Theon to thank for it.

"Thanks so much." She turned back to him and uttered those words for the umpteenth time but still got the smile, though it was a little stiff as Theon lapsed slightly. She didn't notice, however, and turned back to place the potion on an empty shelf. "I couldn't have done it without you, truly."

Theon finished bottling up his now and came beside her, placing it next to hers. "No problem. In fact, it was very enjoyable."

She smiled at him again, shyness got and her expression open. It had ben fun, actually - for once she could forget about Nick and Wesen and the danger she was in, forget about her troubles and guilts and secrets - even those involving Theon. She had simply knuckled down and studied - and had had fun whilst doing so. Theon seemed both charming and innocent, as well as guarded and polite. For once it was good not having someone who knew her inside out talking to her. Theon was' going pester her about safety issues or temper revolts or trust missions. Theon was just going to teach her potions.

She turned away form the cupboard and dusted her hands down on her jeans, turning to him with a grin. "So - it it my turn now?"

Theon chuckled back at her. "Yup." He answered. "You have the impossible task of teaching me how to duel."

She tutted at him in fun. "You're underestimating yourself. Now, I suppose you know the disarming charm?"

He nodded, hiding the irritation inside with an innocent look of unease. Little did Maxine know, Theon was a swift and capable dueller - but he wasn't going to show her that, of course. He was going to draw her in with pathetic displays of hopelessness and gradually be reformed by her kind, giving side that made her such vulnerable prey.

"I think so." Was his convincing reply. "But I've walls been awful at it."

"Well, try on me." Maxine walked over to the duelling area, facing Theon and standing with her wand raised. He walked over to face her with nervousness and shouted all of a sudden;

"Expelliamrus!"

Theon was good at faking it. Oh, he was very good. Maxine, as she watched him, almost laughed at the spastic way he attempted the wand movement and looked like a demented jellyfish, simply grinning landholding back chuckles to walk over rand guide him.

"Right, so..."

"-I think you see that I'm absolutely hopeless." He said with ashy laugh, confidence seemingly shattered. "I just get really nervous and distracted when I'm meant to be attacking someone."

"That can be fixed." Answered Maxine resolutely. "First you juts have to clear your mind and concentrate only on the spell you're going to cast and your target. Now, do the wand movement for me."

Theon looked at her with both hopefulness and a grateful gaze before turning back to attempted at the moment again. It wasn't as bad that time, only still an indefinite mess. Reaching up and trying not to feel embarrassed as she took hold of his arm, Maxine directed his wand trough the movement. "You've got to have it precise." She told him, still a little self-cocnisou about actually touching him. "Not just a few slashes in the air."

"Ok..." Theon gripped his wand as Maxine let go of his arm, facing straight once more. Maxine walked over to afce him once more, arm also outreached. 

"Now remember." She told him again. "Make the wand movement sharp and clear and concentrate only on your target. Don't rush it to much."

Theon nodded, then quickly flicked his wand in the movement, echoing the shape Maxine had traced holding his arm. He let go of himself slightly, however, inwardly annoyed that he was having to act so immature when he could have disarmed her at that very moment. As a result, the wand movement was perfect and he disarm her immediately - though luckily was a little slow with it and made it appear a little more genuine. Maxine, however, seemed to notice nothing amiss. In fact, she was smiling widelyy, turning back to pick up her wand before coming forward to congratulate him, Theon not missing the pride in her eye and smiling to himself. 

"Well done! And the first time as well!" She grinned at him and pushed his shoulder slightly. "See - I told you you weren't hopeless."

He put on a shy, modest look. "Thanks." He looked down at his wand. "It's so helpful to have some one to show me exactly what Im doing wrong."

"The same thing goes for me and potions." Maxine answered with a smile. He looked ups nd smiled back, then said:

"So...are we gonna do some more?"

"Of course!" She grinned, walking back to the duelling corner. "I'm only just getting started."