Skittish...
Tom knows Slughorn wasn’t exaggerating Evans’ skill since the first class of the first day of their last term.
Its potions, and they are brewing the fire protection potion. It’s fairly difficult, and Slughorn has his ears all but raised for any explosion, any injury as careless Gryffindors half-heartedly stir the angry grey liquid in their cauldrons.
Evans stands at the second desk, straight, eyes bowed at the cauldron and not skimming once to the textbook in front as he adds ingredients and stirs.
Tom’s eyes cannot help but be drawn to his slender hands as he chops the beetroot. Expert twitches, sharp and exact, and unnervingly quick. Evans sees nothing, and nothing but his work, tuning everything around.
Cygnus just stands there content at not having to do anything, and a bit awestruck by the way his lips stand parted. His eyes not leaving Evans once.
There are two people who leave the classroom with an outstanding, and an invitation to slug club, with an order veiled in suggestion to partner together for the other classes.
Tom does not mind it for once, but the strain of Evans eyes say otherwise. He doesn’t object though, and curiously asks Cygnus if he would mind.
Cygnus doesn’t look happy about leaving Evans, but one raised eyebrow from Tom is enough to send Cygnus nodding a yes. It’s remarkable however when Cygnus starts hanging around the new Slytherin, talking with him, and enjoying his company.
It’s a pain to see Evans answer back as eagerly, and yet a start.
“Partner then.” Tom says in passing, a charming fake smile on his face. “I look forward to working with you.”
Evans does not reply, instead spares a lazy nod in Tom’s direction, as he moves to the next class, somehow having memorized the layout of the castle without a guide. Cygnus follows not long after, when he had have a word with Tom.
It doesn’t mean he can catch up, of course.
For a boy this interesting, Evans sure is skittish.
