Summary: Hogwarts AU. Beca and Chloe have disliked each other since the first year at Hogwarts. Beca's sly, scheming Slytherin and Chloe's a pampered, sheltered Gryffindor. When they're partnered together in one of their classes, will they learn how to put their differences aside? Bechloe, Beca/Chloe.

A/N: Thanks Sharp, I think your idea's awesome and I'll be sure to use it in later chapters! Well, when I think of a name for the duelling competition, of course. I can include the duels it in with the Bechloe-centered plotting and the 'great climax' of the story perfectly! Thank you so much for all these great ideas, I appreciate them all!

Right, so as I'm back at school (as of today, fantastic…I want another six weeks off, school's already tired me out and it's only been the first day!) and I've got exams on my mind already, updates will be less frequent then they have been. That doesn't mean to say I won't be working on my stories (including Falling for the Enemy, when I get my mojo back for it - hopefully that'll be soon) it's just I need to dedicate quite a bit of 'once-free' time to studies. For the meantime (probably up until December, I'm not sure yet it up) they'll still be weekly, but then from January to May they'll be fortnightly. Well, to be honest, I can't even guarantee that, they may be monthly. And, as of my study leave in May until the last exam in mid-June I won't be updating at all for that six week period. And then, well…all I'll be doing is writing my fanfiction for the nine weeks I've got off! I know, I know…I'd rather be reading and writing Pitch Perfect fanfiction too, but I need to crack on this year. It's a little warning in advance, so I do apologise for that.

Oh, and enjoy the chapter everyone, we'll be getting some more Bechloe action very, very soon!

Of Chocolate Frogs and Butterbeer

Chapter Four

Beca was right, the year certainly had got off to an interesting start; but not for the reasons she would've envisaged.

Her first class of the day, Herbology, was with the Hufflepuffs. Whilst many Slytherins in her group disliked the subject with a firery passion, the caring, soft-touch Hufflepuffs adored it. Beca was paired up with the bubbly, 'happy-go-lucky' Jessica Jackle, a blonde girl who'd had a blatant crush on Jesse since the third year. Professor Sprout had instructed the class to feed a Fanged Geranium, a magical flower with sharp teeth. As Herbology was Jessica's speciality (and Beca's worst, most dreaded subject), she'd decided to deal with the plant herself. Beca wasn't particularly bothered, she was terrible when it came to partner work. Somehow, Benji had got himself bitten on his neck by a 'larger than-the-average' Fanged Geranium, his pet frog escaping from his bookbag during all the chaotic commotion. Professor Sprout had dismissed the class early, calling in a nurse from the Hospital Wing to tend to Benji's wound and searching for the slimy, croaky creature.

Next was Arithmancy; Beca had opted to take the 'maths-centered' subject for her O.W.L.s. It was difficult in a nasty, mocking way, but the brunette had a sharp mind when it'd come to numerology. It was somewhat similar to the Muggle maths she'd learned in elementary school back in America, only Arithmancy centred itself around 'predicting the future using numbers' rather than the pointless concepts of Pythagoras' Theorem and algebraic expressions. Many Ravenclaws had taken this O.W.L, and they'd taken up three-quarters of the classroom, of which irritated Beca; after all, Aubrey sat on the next table, her hand scrambling up to answer every question the professor had asked. All Beca could hear was 'ten points to Ravenclaw! Well done, Miss Posen, you're my star pupil' for the majority of the hour. Nonetheless, Stacie was present to help her survive the torturous class.

"I was praying I wouldn't end up in a class with her…" Beca groaned, "If I'd have known she was taking this subject, I would've taken Divination instead. Trelawny's a total whackjob, but I would've easily chosen her over Posen."

"She took Divination too." Stacie smirked, poking her tounge out.

"Seriously, dude?"

"I'm just kidding, Becs, she's not in my class," The raven-haired, tall girl giggled teasingly, placing a hand atop of Beca's shoulder, "I think she took Study of Ancient Runes. Boooring," To emphasize her point, she opened her mouth wide and pretended to yawn. Beca chuckled and shook her head, "Oh, what other elective subject did you take? Did you go for Muggle Studies in the end?"

"What's the point?" Beca shrugged, "I grew up in the Muggle world for eleven years of my life. I know it inside and out, Stace. The class is encouraged for pure-bloods to take as far as I'm aware. Y'know, the ignorant ones that don't even know what electricity is. I got that in Diagon Alley, guy didn't know what headphones were," Stacie muttered 'idiot', rolling her eyes, "In the end I went for Care of Magical Creatures. I've always wanted a pet, some animals are awesome. Apart from Benji's slimy-ass toad, that thing gave Ashley and Flo the jitters in Herbology when it'd hopped around the greenhouse."

"I'll never forget the time when it landed on Bumper's head back in the first year! God, Hooch went wild!" Although Beca wasn't present when this had occurred, she had heard this story countless times, "Benji got banned from Flying from the rest of the year, had to wait on the Prefects instead. Poor guy, that's why he's got a fear of broomsticks and playing Qudditch…never got a proper chance to learn how to fly."

"Yeah, I guess," Beca didn't know Benji too well, so she couldn't sympathize with the boy's severe phobia. Instead, she had taken the most appropriate action, and that was to change the subject, "Damn, Arithmancy's dead…and this class is dead, too. Nobody's got any sense of humour in here, Professor Vector's got the personality of a plank of wood," Stacie sniggered, slapping a hand against her mouth. Aubrey shot them an angry glance from the other side of the classroom, her jaw clenched tightly, "Ooh, Posen's pissed."

"Must be the chick's period." Stacie figured, "You said she pressed her wand up against you and everything, Becs. I'm actually quite shocked she never said 'don't you know who my daddy is' during all that comforting. Mind you, she started going on about 'killing her dad' with Avada Kedvra and all that bollocks, fucking freak she is. That's just damn creepy, she's fucking jacked up in the head."

"Yeah…well she's a complete weirdo, Stace. Always has been, always will be."

"True, true."

"Professor," For what had seemed like the hundredth time during that lesson, Aubrey rose her hand. Septima Vector, Hogwarts' only Arithmancy specialist and professor turned away from the blackboard, the chalk hovering in mid-air. She politely nodded at her 'best student', informing the blonde to lower her outstretched arm, "Beca and Stacie keep talking. It's distracting and rather irritating."

Professor Vector crossed her arms over her chest, locking eyes with the 'talkative misfits' in a stern, serious way, "I do not appreciate unnecessary chatter, that goes for the pair of you. Settle down and try to learn something please, it's what school's for…and, besides, every single word I state in these four, confined walls could be absolutely essential in your upcoming examination, it could determine between a grade 'Poor' and 'Acceptable'; mainly on whether you'll be permitted to advance onto N.E.W.T.s or not. I also find it incredibly rude and obnoxious that you've not only ignored my teaching, but have disturbed the education of others," Beca blew out a sharp breath, muttering 'load of fucking shit' under her breath. Stacie nodded in agreement, "Miss Mitchell, five points from Slytherin. Miss Conrad, five points from Ravenclaw," She quickly looked away from Beca and Stacie and directed her gaze back towards a smug, self-satisfied Aubrey, almost forgetting anything had occurred, "I'm certain you'll be able to regain them, Miss Posen. Your rapid progression and participation in Arithmancy has been phenomenal, I'm rather sure you're already hitting the 'Outstanding' grade."

"Thank you, Professor," Aubrey plastered on a sickly-sweet, nauseating smile, satisfied and deeply amused by Beca's punishment; she'd wanted revenge on the 'tiny Hobbit' ever since her horrid, awful outburst on the Hogwarts Express. It was far from necessary, with Beca hardly understanding the concept behind a 'polluted, imperfect world' if dastardly 'Mudbloods' and half-bloods remained roaming the corridors of Hogwarts. Of course, Aubrey always managed to get her way, whatever the expense, and she'd stop at nothing until she did, "I thoroughly enjoy Arithmancy, it's absolutely fascinating to educate one's self on the numeracy behind magic. My, my…it's amazing. My father was an Arithmancer, you know. I must've inherited his phenomenal results in the field of academics. Well, the great Posen 'family tree' has a history of exam success. We're perfectionists, Professor. Perfect perfectionists."

Beca growled at the Minister's daughter, slumping down in her seat; Aubrey couldn't become more , "That stuck-up, snotty, spiteful, stupid 'daddy's princess'. God, I hate her…can't fucking wait to beat that spoiled bitch's ass at Qudditch, it's all she deserves," Stacie rose an eyebrow; she was a teammate of Aubrey's (much to her annoyance) on Ravenclaw's Qudditch team, taking on the position of a speedy, swift and agile Chaser, "No offense, Stace. You're like my sis, but y'know…Posen's my enemy. I want to knock her down a peg or two, clearly my little 'speech' on the Express wasn't enough. It's all she deserves, Stace. It's all she deserves."

Defense Against the Dark Arts was Beca's favorite subject by far. She'd excelled in the final exam at the end of the fourth year, achieving the most solid 'Outstanding' grade out of everybody in her class. For sure, memorizing defensive spells and 'dark beings' wasn't enjoyable, but she'd been successful in the 'lack of studying but still doing well' method.

However, in spite of last year's achievements, the brunette had found herself ten minutes late to the lesson, her hair unruly and her shirt untucked from a gray, pleated skirt. Second-hand robes were dirtied and torn at the seams, scraping across the muddy, waterlogged grass. Somehow, it had slipped her mind that the staircases 'liked to change' in the duration of her nine-week holiday.

"I will not tolerate tardiness, Miss Mitchell," Professor Abernathy-McKadden frowned at the young Slytherin, fairly but firm. A couple of Gryffindors snickered at Beca's disheveled appearance, whispering and pointing excitedly, "Oh, and this year just call me 'Professor Gail', it's a lot easier than Abernathy-McKadden. First years find it a bit of a mouthful. Anyways, back on topic… because, and only because, you achieved one of the highest grades in last year's exam, I'll let you off with a warning; no points will be deducted from Slytherin, much to your luck. But, for now, I'd like you to sit down right at the front where I can keep an eye on you, I know you've got a tendency to doze off in class…hmm, well there's an empty seat beside Miss Beale," As Beca's eyes widened in pure horror, so had Chloe's. The brunette could feel her heart thumping in her chest, the pit of her stomach churning and gurgling as if it were doing somersaults, "That'll be your place for the majority of this year, so I hope you two get on. And if not, with either one of you accusing me of being 'unfair' or whatever…tough bloody luck, life's not fair. It's unfair in the Muggle world, and it's unfair here. You and Miss Beale will be working together in partner-orientated assignments, get used to it. Now chop chop, sit down; we've got a brand, spanking new year of Defense Against the Dark Arts and a lot to cover for the O.W.L.s! Slytherins and Gryffindors, get those thinking hats on! There's a whole two hours of double-defensive fun!"

I didn't even know she'd be in this bloody class! First Posen, now Beale! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Oh, fuck no! Two fucking hours a week. Two, straight hours of fucking torture with Beale! Chloe motherfucking Beale, the second most spiteful, spoiled bitch alive next to bloody Posen. This cannot get worse, it can't. I'm not even going to pass my Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L with her whining and complaining down my ear. This is fucking unfair, Abernathy-McKadden can just fuck off. Reluctantly, Beca placed down her Defensive Magical Theory textbook on the wooden desk she'd be sharing with Chloe. For the entirety of the year.

"Okay, class," Professor Gail begun, "Open your textbooks to page five, titled 'Basics for Beginners'. Next lesson you'll be having a practical on the defensive spells you've learnt, so I want you all to pay close attention…" As the teacher entered a long, tiresome explanation on the content of fifth year Defense Against the Dark Arts, Beca took out her slightly discolored, chipped wand and positioned it beside her textbook.

"Ew, it's like…broken," Chloe whispered, poking the tip of Beca's wand, "Don't you get a new one every year?"

"I can't afford to. Not everyone's rich like you, Beale." Was Beca's short, curt response.

Chloe narrowed her eyes and nudged the brunette's elbow harshly, "What is your problem, bitch? Oh, is it because of your Muggle, 'Mudblooded' boyfriend?" She taunted, smirking triumphantly, "Awh, love at its finest. You two really do suit each other, Mitchell. Mr and Mrs Swanson, I bet you write that all over your notebook in big, block, bold letters-"

"Okay, let me stop you there a sec," Beca interrupted, rubbing up and down her elbow "First of all, that wasn't necessary! Christ, the damn force you put into that…and for your information, bitch," She fired fired back, her voice raising ever-so-slightly. Chloe growled, pursing her lips together to form a thin line, "We're not going out. News flash, there's such a concept called 'boys and girls can just be friends'. Get it into your thick skull, Beale."

"Fuck off, I am not thick!" The redhead snapped, clenching her fists together as tightly as possible.

Beca nodded noncommittally, humming to herself, "Mmm hmm, yeah…yeah, sure. Biggest lie of the century, dude." She propped her chin up with her palms, resting her elbows on the desk. Looking straight ahead at Professor Gail scribbling down key notes on the blackboard, she hadn't noticed Chloe's nostrils flare up, her cheeks turning as red as her hair.

"Ugh, I can't wait to work with you. Oh, what fun we're going to have these next nine months," She smiled falsely, picking up a white quill from her pot of ink, "Ugh, it's bad enough being seen talking to you, let alone sitting next to you. God, it is so humiliating."

"I get it, you hate me; the feeling's mutual." Less than fourty-eight hours ago, Beca had stated to Jesse that she 'hadn't hated Chloe, but had rather disliked her'. At this particular moment in time, the witch wasn't sure if this was the truth anymore. From having more confrontation with Chloe in the past two days than in the last four years, Beca had grown to understand the pure-blood's awful personality; she hadn't even ceased her 'Mudblood' taunts towards Jesse, as much as Beca's closest male friend believe she had. If anything, Chloe had seemingly grown worse throughout the summer holidays, becoming more bratty with every passing minute in the classroom.

"Shut it. I'm trying to concentrate, Hobbit. I don't want you to make me fail."

"You'll fail regardless of that, ginger."

"Don't call me ginger! I am 'redheaded', not ginger!" Redheaded!"

Beca flashed her trademark smirk, chuckling lowly; she'd finally found something to wind Chloe up with, "Same thing, ginger."

"Whatever, just…shut up, I'm trying to listen to to the professor…unlike some people."

Beca scoffed, "Dude, I am listening."

"Oh my God, I am not a 'dude'! You're so dumb!"

Beca rolled her eyes at the older girl and twisted her head around, making eye contact with Jesse, Fat Amy and Cynthia-Rose. They'd all laughed silently, earning another eye roll from Beca, with Jesse shooting a 'thumbs up' and mouthing 'good luck, have fun' across the room. Beca formed her fingers in the shape of a gun and pointed it towards her head, pretending she was firing a bullet at herself; she'd mouthed back 'fucking kill me now', of which only increased Jesse's ever-widening, teasing grin. Fat Amy and Cynthia-Rose both sniggered

Defense Against the Dark Arts had gone from Beca's favorite subject to Beca's least favorite subject in the blink of an eye. Literally.