Yuju, Umji decided, either had a death wish or was very, very oblivious. It had be one or the other if she insisted on being Umji’s friend.

“I brought you something,” Yuju told her with a broad grin as she slid into the sit next to her in Charms. She held her hands behind her back, clearly wanting to surprise her. “Wait, are you allergic to anything?”

Umji smiled and shook her head. She was a quiet person by nature, never saying much, and she appreciated that Yuju never seemed bothered by that.

Yuju sighed in relief. She smiled again and presented Umji with a small plastic container holding something brown inside. “My dad is a real culinary nerd, so he’s always making and sending me things,” Yuju explained. “This time it’s truffles, and they’re so good. I just had to share some with you.”

“Thank you,” Umji murmured as she took the container from her, unsure of what else to say. When had been the last time she’d gotten a gift from someone outside her family that wasn’t SinB or Eunha? “You didn’t have to,” Umji added.

“I wanted to,” Yuju grinned. “I couldn’t just not share with my new friend, could I?”

Except, she definitely could’ve. Yuju had only known Umji for a month. They rarely even saw each other outside of Charms. If anything, one could say they were total strangers. Except, there was no way to label them as strangers when Yuju smiled so brightly at Umji and asked her about her day. Even if Yuju was known to be friendly to everyone, there was something about the way she looked at Umji that made it impossible to call her a stranger.

“Thank you,” Umji repeated shyly. Gathering her courage, she asked, “How has your day been?”

Yuju brightened at the question, and Umji knew it was because she seldomly started any talking they did. Typically, Yuju initiated and continued their conversations, asking questions when topics ran dry and keeping up endless chatter when Umji didn’t have much to say, which was often. Well, not often. Umji actually had a lot to say, but she usually saved that for SinB and Eunha, people she knew wouldn’t judge her words. She could tell Yuju probably wouldn’t judge her either, but past experiences made her hesitant to try.

“I had quidditch practice this morning,” Yuju replied. “I’m kind of out of shape, but I don’t think my captain will let it be that way for long. Even if I’ll be sore for the next few days, it’ll have been worth it. I love quidditch. Do you play?”

“More of a spectator,” Umji said dryly, thinking of all the times SinB had tried to coax her and Eunha into playing with her. The one time she’d caved to SinB’s begging, she’d almost broken her arm. Needless to say since then Umji had kept her feet firmly on the ground. “I usually go to watch SinB play.”

Yuju nodded thoughtfully. “Makes sense. Support your friend and whatnot. I’ll admit I’m not looking forward to facing their team this year. SinB’s an amazing seeker. Not to mention, ever since she got captaincy in fifth year, their team has never looked better. SinB runs a tight ship from the looks of it, and their scores prove it.”

Umji couldn’t help but be surprised by Yuju’s praise of SinB. While it was clear that Yuju didn’t really care about house prejudices (or maybe she was just oblivious to that too), it was still a shock to hear someone speak so kindly of SinB. It warmed her to know her new friend genuinely didn’t mind friendship with SinB or SinB herself, especially given the whole scene by the lake the other day.

“When I do play your house, will you still support me?” Yuju asked, smiling sweetly. Was this girl ever not smiling? It was too endearing. “Maybe wear a Hufflepuff scarf or wave a yellow flag?”

“I’m not sure how my house would feel about that,” Umji teased. In the beginning, she was only serious with Yuju. Teasing could be so easily misunderstood that Umji hadn’t wanted to risk it, but eventually Yuju calmed her nerves with gentle jokes and understanding smiles. Again, with the smiles. “I might be able to sneak in a pin of a badger though,” Umji added when Yuju’s face fell into a playful pout.

Immediately, Yuju’s face brightened again as she nodded happily. She told Umji she’d even buy her the pin herself if it meant she’d wear it. “Maybe you could wear it to more than just the games,” Yuju suggested shyly. Her words made Umji blush, but before she could reply Professor Im started class.

After class, Yuju made sure Umji still had the container she’d given her. “Tell me how they are,” Yuju said, stilling wearing that same smile. “Feel free to share them with SinB too, if you want.” With that, Yuju left Umji feeling utterly bemused.

The rest of the day Umji went through the motions of her classes, not entirely paying attention. Her mind was on Yuju. It would probably be safer to start pushing her away now before she got too attached. Sooner or later, people would notice that Yuju was her friend, which could only end in them turning their cruel taunts on her. Umji shuddered at the mere thought. It’d been years since she was bullied for her above intelligence and struggles in some social settings. They’d ended abruptly when SinB had entered the picture and scared them off, but Yuju didn’t have SinB to scare bullies off for her. Maybe Umji could convince SinB to do it for her too?

“It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you thinking this hard.”

Umji had been absentmindedly walking back to her dorm and startled at SinB’s voice. The owner of said voice was leaning casually by the bronze eagle, evidently waiting for Umji.

“I didn’t know we were hanging out together?” Umji said with a questioning lilt toward the end.

SinB shrugged. “I finished my homework early, and Eunha kicked me out for being annoying.”

“How were you being annoying?”

“I was throwing my jellybeans at her,” SinB said with a smile filled with childish glee. “I walked around and figured I’d bother you if you weren’t doing anything important.”

Umji just smiled and shook her head. “You’re lucky I finished my homework during my free period.” She finished walking up the stairs and stopped next to SinB. “Why didn’t you just solve a riddle and wait for me in my room?”

“How do you know I didn’t try?” SinB retorted.

“Please, these riddles are child’s play for you,” Umji rolled her eyes.

SinB shrugged again. “It freaks out your housemates when I walk in without you.”

“Cowards,” Umji muttered under her breath. She reached out and knocked.

“What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in one thousand years?”

Umji turned to SinB and waited. SinB wasn’t paying attention and blinked when she realized the door hadn’t opened yet. She turned to Umji questioningly and was met with an impatient glare. SinB frowned and said, “You do it.”

“You do it.”

This time it was SinB who rolled her eyes as she answered simply, “M.”

The door swung open. Umji led the way with SinB trailing after her. She noted that SinB had been correct about her housemates’ unease about her presence. As they walked through the common room, whispers filled the air as her housemates stared at them with a weird mixture of admiration and trepidation. Umji and SinB ignored them though and made it to Umji’s room. Her roommates scattered as soon as SinB crossed the threshold, muttering something about needing to study in the library.

SinB watched them go with an amused smirk. “Now imagine if I had walked in alone,” SinB teased. She paused then a frown marred her face. “Actually, it might’ve ended with them attacking me, so it really is a good thing that I didn’t come alone.”

“I don’t think they have the guts,” Umji pointed out.

“Then it’s a good thing that you aren’t a Gryffindor.”

Umji watched as SinB flopped down at the end of her bed. She forgot SinB had Potions again today. She could only imagine what had happened. This was another reason Umji was reluctant to become close with Yuju. While Yuju was rather unbiased toward Slytherin, her friends certainly weren’t. She’d seen Yuju hanging around Yerin and Sowon in the past, but she never thought it would’ve become an issue for her. Now, she and Yuju were in the uncomfortable limbo as a result of the tension between their respective Slytherin and Gryffindor friends.

If it came down to it, Umji would give up on Yuju’s friendship in a heartbeat. It would certainly hurt. Yuju was so kind and bright, a much needed ray of sunshine in Umji’s life. However, Umji could never give up SinB. SinB had been her first real friend, her protector. Yuju’s sudden interest couldn’t erase years of friendship with SinB. All Umji could hope for was that she wouldn’t have to make that choice.

Noticing SinB’s pensive silence, Umji asked, “Do you want to talk about whatever happened in your potions class today?”

SinB glanced at her and patted the space on the bed next to her. Umji didn’t question it and laid down next to SinB. They both stared up at the ceiling for a moment, and Umji couldn’t help but be reminded of the first time they laid together like this, almost five years ago. It made her smile.

“I don’t know what I ever saw in Yerin.”

Umji’s smile immediately became a frown. She looked at SinB but the other girl was resolutely staring at the ceiling.

“What happened?”

SinB shook her head. “The same thing that always happens in Potions. She treated me like I’m a terrible person, so I acted like a terrible person.”

If there was one thing that Umji never understood about SinB and Eunha, it was their insistence to play into the stereotypes that haunted their house. She would’ve thought it’d be better to prove to people that they were more than their house. She mentioned it once to them when they’d just become friends, but the Slytherins merely shared a look before Eunha said gently, “We tried to be ourselves back in first year, but… People still treated us horribly. They thought we were just pretending to be nice. After constantly being attacked, it was easier to be the one who attacked first.”

Umji thought that was such a poorly thought out defense mechanism, but she knew she couldn’t convince SinB and Eunha to change their ways, even when they were only twelve years-old. Instead, Umji proved their insecurities wrong and stayed with them despite their different houses, to be a constant. It was the least she could do for them.

This granted Umji the unique perspective of knowing SinB and Eunha and their nuances better than anyone else, maybe even themselves. This was how Umji knew SinB was in no mood to talk about her day, so Umji talked about her own.

“Yuju gave me some truffles today.”

SinB finally looked at her, an amused smile curling at the corners of her lips. “Yeah? Are they any good?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t tried any.” Umji bent over to retrieve the container from her bag and handed it to SinB. “Try one with me. Yuju told me to share with you.”

Predictably, SinB was surprised by the kindness and smiled. It was a good look for her, making her appear softer. Umji wished more people could see her like this.

SinB and Umji cheered their truffles before popping them in their mouths. Umji hummed in delight while SinB unabashedly moaned before saying, “Umji, do whatever it takes to keep Yuju in your life if that’s what it takes for us to have these truffles all the time.”

“I am not going to be friends with Yuju just for the truffles.”

“If you won’t, I will.”

Umji laughed and playfully slapped SinB’s arm. “Don’t be a jerk. Besides, her dad made the truffles, so your evil plan has a gaping hole in it.”

“I guess we will just have to be friends with her for real then,” SinB sighed dramatically.

“We?” Umji repeated, smiling.

SinB rolled her eyes. “Don’t be like that. I’m just saying, Yuju isn’t the worst person you could’ve chosen to befriend.”

Before Umji could tease SinB more about her apparent fondness toward Yuju, the door swung open with Eunha on the other side.

“There you are!” Eunha huffed. “I can’t believe I didn’t think to check here first.” She hopped onto the bed with them. “Oh, truffles! Can I have one?”

Umji handed her the container then paused. “How’d you get in?”

“The only way you can get in? I answered one of those dumb riddles. What has one eye but cannot see? Obviously a needle. Ravenclaw’s standards are lowering if those are the riddles nowadays.”

This still didn’t assuage Umji’s worry. “And you just walked through the common room alone? SinB refused to.”

“Of course,” Eunha laughed as she reached for another truffle. “I’m pretty sure I made a first year piss his pants.”

Umji could only sigh as SinB cackled and high-fived Eunha.