For a second Al closed his eyes, remembering, a different day just a year ago. "You were at the desk, reading. I told you I wanted to help and you let me..."
Al smiled. "You needed a 53% decoction of Actaea racemosa in water from Hogwarts' lake, in the size 3 copper." He held up the cauldron. "This size three copper. You said it so precisely, all in order, and I liked that. It was calming. That's when I began to like you, I think..."
He hugged the copper cauldron to himself, sitting cross-legged on the bench and looking up. "You didn't share your reading, but you told a joke. About the Hand of Glory. It was rather funny once I realised what it was." His lips twitched. "I was so worried that you'd somehow realize that my Outstanding in Potions was hardly worth the capitalization of the letter.
I didn't want to be banished to Bangladesh, I much preferred your lab."