Quidditch tryouts end up surprising everyone, even Charlie. The only person they're really looking to replace is Jacob Fawley so most of the people trying out are Chaser hopefuls, including Angelina and her friend Katie Bell who Myr had briefly met the week before.

However one person clearly outflies all the rest, and it's not who any of them had expected.

"Welcome again to the team Remi. Must be nice to finally be off the bench." Drake comments in the dressing room before their first official practice with the new team. Charlie has already headed out to the pitch, but the other four boys on the team are still changing.

Remi frowns at him. "You don't need to rub it in Jarvis." He grumbles before leaving the dressing room.

Drake holds up his hands. "What did I say?"

Oliver snorts. "Never mention a man's failures to his face, he won't appreciate it."

"That sounds like a quote." Myr observes as he finishes pulling on his uniform. "Come on, the girls probably beat us onto the pitch."

"It was a quote. My mum said it once and I think it's pretty accurate." Oliver explains as they walk. "Though I don't get why. I'd want people to tell me when I'm messing up, how else can you get better?"

"No wonder Perce likes you so much, he loves telling people what they're doing wrong." Charlie jokes, clearly hearing the tail end of their conversation. "Alright guys, main team with me, reserve team you're going to be working under..." He trails off, frowning uncertainly. "Normally I'd leave Remi in charge but he's actually on the team. Okay, Greg you're reserve head now. No higher than ten meters."

The reserve players mount their brooms and take off, leaving the seven primary team members waiting for Charlie to continue.

Charlie ushers them into a slightly closer circle. "Alright, Evera, Drake, and Remi. You guys take the quaffle and just toss it around a bit. Get used to each other and try out some different plays. Have fun with it!" He shoos them off and the three depart, looking slightly confused.

"And the rest of us?" Fiona asks curiously.

"Helping Oliver." Charlie responds. "Kid you've got major potential but your save ratio is the lowest one of all four teams at the moment. We're all going to try scoring on you and you need to block as many shots as you can. Simple enough?"

Myr and Fiona nod and follow Oliver over to the hoops while Charlie collects three extra quaffles from the shed before joining them and handing them each their own quaffle.

Oliver frowns. "If you're all shooting at the same time how can I block all of them?" He points out.

Charlie grins. "We're increasing your speed, mobility, and peripherals - after this one ball will be a piece of cake." He punctuates the sentiment by tossing his quaffle at the far hoop and forcing Oliver to dive to deflect it.

Myr has to admit that it's really fun trying to score on Oliver. Of the three of them he's definitely the worst at it - he's only ever trained as a beater which is an entirely different skillset - but he manages a few goals when he times throws with Fiona and Charlie.

For his part Oliver seems to be enjoying himself as well. By the time they've been at it for fourty five minutes he's starting to try riskier maneuvers to block multiple shots at once, to the point where Charlie calls for a break.

"Oliver you're doing great but please don't fall off your broom okay? We need you to not be in the hospital wing during the first game." The captain reminds the youngest team member, who nods.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful! I'll only risk life-changing injuries when blocking during real games!"

Myr thinks that Oliver might have missed the point but Charlie doesn't correct him and they go back to the exercise for another fifteen minutes before Charlie calls them all back in and they go straight into more familiar, full team exercises.

Practices continue like this each week, with Charlie dividing people up for the first half and then returning to full team for the rest. Myr actually rather likes the method once he's gotten used to it, and he's optimistic about their chances for the Cup this year.

He's also pretty optimistic about school, which has been a lot more manageable since he's only taking five classes instead of eight and has the entirety of Tuesday free to study.

Or, technically study. Most days he ends up playing wizard's chess with his friends more than he actually gets work done for his classes.

"You're going to regret not using this time properly when your essays are all due." Nabila points out one day. It's the first Tuesday of October and Myr and Charlie are playing their fourth game while several of the other Gryffindor sixth years are scattered around the common room, either studying or playing their own games of chess or gobstones.

"Nothing is due until November Nabila, relax." Charlie counters lazily. "The teachers have already told us basically everything that's due this year and when. And there's nothing due any time soon."

"Maybe not for you." Holly counters, sounding frustrated. "But we've got a paper for Transfiguration we have to turn in next week Monday. Have you started that yet Myr? I'm having trouble articulating the theory behind basic human transfiguration."

Myr shrugs. "I was going to get to it later today." He admits. The entire month of September had been spent rigorously going through all the theories of human transfiguration so he doesn't think the paper will be too difficult to create once he sits down and focuses properly. The difficulty, of course, is focusing.

Holly huffs. "Alright fine. Nabila, Fiona, you guys have started right? May I request assistance?"

"Why are we second choice?" Fiona laughs, even as she and Nabila walk over to Holly.

Holly shrugs. "Myr's the best at theory, we all know that."

Myr feels himself heating up slightly at the compliment, and he definitely is blushing when everyone else voices various levels of agreement.

"I was better before I got a good wand." He mumbles.

"Take the compliment Myr." Charlie grins. "Also, it's been your move for about five minutes now."

"Sorry!"

Myr ends up losing the game only a few moves later - he's distracted now by guilty thoughts of the paper he should be working on. As such he concedes the defeat and lets Drake take his place while he runs up to their dorm to grab some quills and parchment.

He tries to work in the common room but after thirty minutes and zero progress on the paper he decides to move to the library where the atmosphere will hopefully be more conducive to focusing.

However there's a distraction in the library as well - namely Jemma eagerly waving him over to where she's sitting with a group of younger students.

"Myr! Hey, do you have a minute?" She asks as he gets closer. "We're going over Transfiguration and Evera mentioned once that you were really good at the theory."

Myr sighs. "Alright, but I've got a paper I need to work on so I can't stay long."

Jemma tilts her head. "For Transfiguration? I've already finished it. Tell you what, help us and I'll help you later."

He smiles. "Sounds fair enough. What are you all working on?"

Jemma does a quick introduction of the group of students with her - mostly fourth year Hufflepuffs with a few Ravenclaws and Gryffindors as well from the same year.

"We're just starting cross-species switching." The boy Jemma had introduced as Roderik supplies. Myr thinks he might recognize the younger boy but he's not confident enough to place exactly from where. "Professor McGonagall has spent the past week going over the theory but it's really complicated."

"Understatement. I can't wait to drop this dumb class." One of the girls grumbles under her breath.

Myr frowns at her. "Most job do require some level of comprehension in Transfiguration you know." He points out. "And regardless, knowing the theory for this class actually makes theoretics in Charms, which you'll start sixth year if you continue to NEWT level, much easier to understand."

She makes a face but picks up the quill that had been discarded on top of a pile of ink-stained notes. "Fine, explain ti then."

Roderik buries his face in his hands, apparently embarrassed by the girl's attitude.

Jemma looks rather irritated as well, a strage expression to see on her face. "Amanda be nice. I don't know what's got you in such a mood but if you're not going to drop it you can leave."

Amanda huffs but doesn't move, slouching down into her chair and holding up her quill to take notes.

Myr remembers cross-species switches well, they had made up a decent portion of the final exam fourth year, so it's not too difficult to start explaining the basic concepts needed to properly execute the transfigurations.

Of the six fourth year student there, it's Roderik and surprisingly Amanda who pick up the ideas best, though Jemma whispers to him that both of them are taking Arithmancy as one of their electives. Myr wonders if perhaps he would have benefited from choosing that class for his own elective schedule, but the past is the past and he chooses to focus on the present.

The study session wraps up when Jemma has to leave for Herbology.

"I promise we'll meet up this afternoo or tomorrow, whichever works better for you." She says as she packs up. 

"We could meet up after breakfast?" Myr suggests. "Unless you have something before History?"

Jemma shakes her head. "After breakfast then. See you tomorrow Myr, and thanks again for helping!"

Amanda also hangs back. "Um, sorry for snapping, I've been kind of moody lately but that isn't your fault. Thanks for the help."

Myr smiles at her. "It's fine, I enjoy Transfiguration so it's not really work for me."

And then Amanda smiles at him before hurrying off to her own class and Myr thinks, oh. Because suddenly he gets what his friends mean when they talk about butterflies.

He doesn't get much studying done that afternoon.

Luckily for him no one notices his slight distraction for the rest of the day, but the next morning when he meets up with Jemma she immediately gets suspicious.

​​​​​​"You're off this morning. Did something happen?"

Myr shakes his head. He definitely isn't tell the girl who just broke up with her boyfriend and still isn't really on speaking terms with him or her other best friend that he might have a crush on one of her younger Housemates. It just seems indecent.

Jemma is polite enough to drop the subject and try to refocus on the paper, and eventually Myr manages to do the same, finishing most of the essay before they have to head to History of Magic. He even ends up helping Jemma edit a few points on her already-completed essay, and she promises to help him with "something in the future - an I Owe You of sorts".

Myr doesn't really accept the offer but he also doesn't turn it down either. Jemma's pretty smart and is taking four out of five of his classes with him so he may just need to ask for her help down the line.

They arrive in History class together and Myr has a moment to be glad that neither Drake nor Evera are taking the class since arriving with Jemma would probably not look great. Drake already spends most of his time glaring at Donaghan Tremelett who's been spending more time with Jemma since her and Drake's breakup.

He takes a seat at the back next to Leona Poole, the only person other than Jemma who he somewhat knows in the class. He's the only Gryffindor who had continued it into NEWT level.

"'Sup beater boy." Leona grins as he takes the seat next to her. "You making moves on Jemma already?"

He frowns at her. "Jemma's nice but not at all my type. And anyway, I'm friends with both Drake and Evera, I wouldn't do that."

Leona elbows him lightly. "I'm teasing, chill. Everyone knows you're probably as straight as Charlie anyway."

Myr feels his face heating. "What's that supposed to mean? I like girls!"

Leona shrugs. "I mean, you're sixteen and haven't even crushed on anyone as far as I can tell. I'm not judging, Sarah dated a girl for a bit though she's with a guy now which is a little confusing but whatever. Not the point, the point is I don't judge."

"But you do assume and stick your nose into everyone business regardless of if it's welcome." Myr counters angrily. "I'm not interested in guys, but even if I was it's none of your concern. I'm going to sit up front." He picks up his bag, ignoring Leona's attempts at protest, and moves to one of the empty tables further up. He really doesn't have patience for dumb gossip and rumors today, especially on that particular subject.

An image of Amanda smiling at him the day before flashes in his mind and he glares at his desk. She's two years younger than him anyway, it's probably creepy to like her at all.

Despite this he's still distracted throughout the class and he's pretty sure he took some notes down incorrectly. Maybe he'll be taking Jemma up on her owing him one sooner than expected.

To his surprise Leona leaves him alone after class, walking to lunch with the other Hufflepuffs taking the class instead and leaving Myr to make the trek on his own.

As he walks he notices another class letting out of the Charms classroom, and he nearly trips over himself when he recognizes Amanda chatting with one of the other girls from the study group. He quickly slows down so they can get ahead of him and he doesn't have to risk an awkward conversation with the girl who's somehow wormed into his head in just a day.

"What are you doing?"

He jumps and turns guiltily to Holly, who somehow snuck up on him in the coridoor. "What do you mean?"

"You're acting like I used to way back in second year whenever Charlie was around." She replies bluntly. "Don't think I haven't noticed - you like someone."

He starts to protest but she holds up a hand. "Hey, I'm not judging. I just said I did the exact same thing. You know, when I was twelve." She grins. "A word of advice, things go better if you actually talk to the person you like. I sure as heck wouldn't be dating Emery now if I hadn't talked to him."

Myr lets out a breath. Annoying as it is, Holly is right. And being compared to a twelve year old might have pissed him off slightly.

Leaving his friend behind he hurries to catch up to the group of fourth years. And when Amanda spots him and waves, he can't help but smiles back.

Crushes .

The day before the fourteenth - the day of the October full moon - Ana is frustrated to see that it's still raining outside. It's not nearly as heavy as it had been the month before, but she's concerned that once again she'll be forced to postpone her Animagus transformation.

To think, back in fourth year she had thought that as soon as she turned sixteen she would be able to transform. It's no wonder so few people actually become animagi.

The thirteenth is a Friday, and thankfully a lecture day in Divination so Ana doesn't have to deal with Clary and Elspeth's impatience over her inability to speak properly. Unfortunately she also has her fourth Apparition class in the afternoon and the first one in which they're starting to learn the pronunciation and wand movement for apparating.

Ana is able to practice the wand motion at least, but when the teacher, Wilkie Twycross, checks that she'll be able to speak again in the next class she's quick to confirm.

"Oh excellent. You'll need your voice for the remaining classes." The wisp of a man practically sighs - his voice in general is quite weak and Ana finds listening to him to be tedious most days. Still, he's the professor so she does her best to stay on his good side. It's not hard considering most of the other students mock him behind his back.

There are sixteen students in their Apparition class, including Elspeth who Ana is now acutely aware of, much to her distaste, and of course Jerome who Ana usually sits with. Unfortunately Aidan, like Amelia, isn't able to take the Apparition classes until the following year so Ana is rather stuck with her least intelligent friend.

Oddly enough she's actually gotten closer to Jerome since they're the only two in their friend group currently in the class, and though he regularly jokes that he'll probably end up having to retake it until they graduate Ana finds he's not quite as hopeless as she recalls him being in their first few years.

"Here's hoping it clears up tonight, huh?" Jerome sighs, glancing out the window. "Say, you just have to do it in light of the full moon right? We should stay up all night and see if we can't get a quick glimmer. You have the potion on your nightstand, we could just stay in the common room and keep it nearby."

Ana frowns at him, and he quickly answers the unspoken question. "Evie told me about the potion when we were talking about some transfiguration stuff yesterday, I swear I'm not somehow spying on you girls."

Ana smiles, nodding. Didn't think you would anyway.

Jerome flushes and glances away. "Of course not, I'm a gentleman."

Another side effect of spending more time with Jerome has been learning some of his tells - mainly the one where he gets incredibly nervous whenever someone mentions liking girls. Ana figures he's got a crush on somebody but despite how obvious he generally is she hasn't yet figured out who. She even mentioned it to Alec in her last letter to him, sent off a few days before.

"Anyway." Jerome continues. "Do you think that would work? As long as it's after midnight it's technically the fourteenth, right?"

Ana thinks about it. Technically it won't be a perfect full moon, but it will still be one, and the idea is tempting. She's ahead in her work as well so the sleep deprivation won't impact anything to drastically and really it can't be worse than her two AM Astronomy classes on Sunday.

So she nods, and Jerome absolutely beams.

"Awesome! I know how to get food from the kitchen, Leona showed me last year. Any requests on snacks?"

They don't really accomplish what they were supposed to for the class, but by the time it lets out they've compiled a solid list of food they're going to collect for their all-nighter.

"Should we invite Shaun and Amelia?" Jerome ponders as they head to join their friends in the library. "Though if Amelia comes Evie will want to as well, and we shouldn't leave out Finnigan or Fitz either..."

Ana shakes her head. Just us. She writes. Could upset the prefects otherwise - we already have to sneak out after curfew, the more people there are the higher chance we get caught.

Jerome hums. "Good point. We'll have to wait until they all fall asleep then. Maybe we meet at midnight? You can't take the leaf out until then anyway."

Ana nods confirmation and sets the parchment they'd used to suss out the details on fire for good measure. No sense in carrying around evidence that could be found later.

Jerome jumps. "Jeez, you're getting good at nonverbal stuff huh?" He observes, sounding suitably impressed.

Ana wouldn't admit it, but she definitely swells up just a bit.

The two of them keep their plan successfully from the rest of their friends, though that's easy for Ana who simply has to not write anything down. She had been slightly concerned that Jerome wouldn't be able to keep quiet but he actually does a really good job acting like everything is normal, making Ana wonder why it is he's so terrible at hiding his discomfort over romance. He even successfully hides that he's going to get snacks from the kitchen after dinner by saying he needs to ask Leona something and he'll catch up with them later after dinner is finished and they're heading back to the Tower.

Shaun smiles knowingly as he vanishes. "I'm pretty sure he likes Leona." He observes idly.

Amelia raises an eyebrow. "You think? He doesn't really seem to treat her any differently than anyone else." She points out.

"You didn't realize Henry liked you until he asked you out." Shaun replies, grinning teasingly.

Amelia laughs. "Okay, fine mister love guru. Ana, pitch in here, what do you think?"

Ana just shrugs. She's not a big fan of these kinds of conversations, even if she's honestly curious if Shaun might be correct.

Maybe she'll just ask Jerome during their rendezvous after curfew. There's nothing wrong with being direct, and she  always prefers when people are upfront with her anyway.

That night she keeps herself awake by mentally going over her Arithmancy homework, and when she's finished that she resorts to finding patterns in the raindrops pattering against the window. To her slight hope they seem to be getting lighter as the night wears on.

Finally, after casting nearly twenty Tempus charms in her impatience (and maybe she should ask Alec to get her a Muggle watch for Christmas, it seems like a very useful tool despite its origins) it's finally twelve oh five in the morning and she carefully slips out of bed, snagging the potion bottle and ingredients on her nightstand as she does.

She beats Jerome to the common room, and she wonders if he's perhaps fallen asleep. However, after five minutes he appears from the boy's staircase, moving very slowly and carrying an armful of snack foods.

Ana hurries to help him and the two of them manage the transport almost silently.

"You ready?" Jerome asks with a grin as they settle next to the tallest window in the common room. "It's been getting slower all night, we're almost sure to see some moonlight in the next few hours."

Ana wishes she could share his optimism, but after almost a year of failures she's hesitant to think anything is going to go well.

They end up playing a strangely addicting Muggle game that Jerome calls dots and boxes on the parchment she'd brought for communication purposes for nearly an hour and a half before Ana blinks and realizes that the sound of the rain has faded almost entirely.

She looks out the window - and there's a gap in the clouds. Jumping up she grabs the potion and tries to position herself so that when the moon appears in the gap it will be directly on her.

She can hear Jerome making muffled squeaking noises behind her as she waits, barely daring to hope that this might actually work.

The light bursts through for only a few seconds, but it's enough. Ana pulls out the leaf, drops it into the vial, and quickly begins to add the rest of the ingredients.

One strand of hair, one teaspoon of dew fetched from a special location she'd hidden away from the rest of the common room to ensure it wouldn't be disturbed, and the Death's-head Moth Crysalis are all put on top of the leaf and she quickly corks the potion and swirls it gently as the moon vanishes back behind the cloud cover.

The potion is silvery in color, and Jerome tilts his head, clearly in awe.

"Is it complete? Are you gonna be an animal now?" He asks softly, and Ana stifles a laugh - she's feeling incredibly giddy.

"Not quite, we just need to put in where I left the dew and wait for a lightning storm. If it turns red then we got it right." She explains, her voice higher than normal in her excitement.

"I guess we don't need to stay up all night then." Jerome observes. "Also it's nice to hear your voice again." He adds with a grin.

Ana returns the smile. "We can stay up a bit longer. I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a while anyway. Where did those snacks get to?"

They stay up for another thirty minutes, eating and talking quietly, before Ana thinks to bring up her question from earlier.

"So hey, sorry if this is invasive and you can totally tell me to back off and mind my own business, but do you like Leona? Shaun says you do but I think it's more than that."

Jerome immediately looks nervous. "Um, no, I don't like Leona. Like, romantically, she's a good friend." He adds hurriedly. "But not like..." He hesitates. "Can you keep a secret?"

Ana tilts her head. "So long as keeping it won't put anyone in danger, yes." She agrees, and he nods.

"It won't. So, um, I don't like Leona, obviously, I said that already. I, um, I actually don't like girls? At all?" He stares intently at the floor as he speaks. "So I um, don't like Leona. I..."

It clicks for Ana just before he admits it. "You like Shaun." She murmurs. "Got it. I admit, I didn't even consider that possibility."

Jerome blushes bright red. "You don't... it's weird though. It's not natural."

"I can set things on fire without words or a wand Jerome." Ana points out. "We may have Arithmancy to prove things but the fact is we break the laws of physics regularly. This isn't really that weird comparatively."

Jerome blinks. "I.. guess. I feel kind of stupid for worrying so much now." He mutters.

Ana shrugs. "Hey, there are people who would be weird about it. Full honesty I don't get it, but I won't tell anyone." She hesistates, and then adds. "And so we have mutually assured destruction, I've been talking to Alec about basically everything in life, not just Curse-Breaking. He's a really good friend and confidant."

Jerome looks up at her finally, a small uncertain smile on his face. "I kind of figured. You sure it's just friendship though?" He adds, slightly teasing.

Ana rolls her eyes. "Don't push it Boot, I've told you enough already. We should probably get to sleep though, I need to be awake tomorrow to tell Professor McGonagall about the potion."

Jerome nods and the two of them leave the remaining food in the common room for the House Elves to clean up and sneak back to their dorms.

It still takes a while for Ana to fall asleep, but despite the late hour she still wakes up at eight with Evie and Amelia.

"Good morning." Evie yawns.

Ana waves mutely back, used to not being able to speak.

"Tough luck, looks like it's still raining." Amelia observes, making a face at the window.

Ana blinks, and then grins. "There was some moonlight earlier that I used. Hopefully that will be the last month I need to keep a mandrake leaf in my mouth."

Evie nearly falls out of her bed. "Holy crap I wasn't expecting you to talk. What even? When was there moonlight?"

Ana decides against telling them about her midnight hang-out with Jerome and simply says, "I couldn't sleep, and when I saw the clouds parting I took the chance. The potion is down in a hidden section of the common room - now we just have to wait for a thunderstorm."

"Shouldn't take too long with all the rain we're getting." Evie observes. "Man I can't wait to see! You've got to let me be there when you take the potion, I wanna see what animal you become!"

"Maybe. I'd have to ask Professor McGonagall." Ana responds, though she already knows that if she lets anyone be present other than her teacher it would be Jerome. Or Alec, though she's not sure how that would even work. "And it's safer for there to be as few people present as possible."

Evie pouts. "Fine but you'll transform for us afterwards right? I'm way too invested in this to be left on a cliffhanger!"

Ana rolls her eyes. "I'll show you both, and the boys as well if they like. I plan on practicing the shift a lot anyway, to get used to the sensation."

Evie continues eagerly firing off questions as they get dressed and head down to breakfast, resulting in Shaun and the other two boys cluing in to her success with the leaf the night before.

"So now you can become an animal?" Finnigan asks quietly.

Ana sighs. "No not yet, and no Evie I don't know what animal I'll become. There's no clear theory behind animagus transformations, though if someone cracks it we'd probably have solved patronus forms as well."

This thankfully sets off a different conversation about the theories behind patronuses and Ana is able to step away from the center of attention to walk beside Jerome.

"This all goes right over my head." He laughs, but she shakes her head.

"I think you'd be able to make a corporeal patronus." She muses. "You've got a lot of optimism. The happy memory is key after all, and the hardest part for most people."

Jerome looks genuinely stunned, and maybe a bit teary. "I, um,"

"If you want I'm going to ask McGonagall if you can be there when I drink the Animagus potion. I think it would be useful to have a second person I trust nearby in case things go wrong." She continues, and he blinks again, thoroughly caught off balance.

Finally he nods. "If that's alright, I'd be honored."

They share a smile before Ana has to step back into the conversation to correct Evie's horribly incorrect declaration about lust impacting patronuses.

But even as she lectures the other nothing can stop the feeling of warmth spreading across her body. She's finally almost there.

She's going to be an Animagus.

Despite it being a bit cognitively dissonant, Rajani actually thinks Tabs and Terrence are her preferred Head Girl/Boy team since she started as a prefect. For one thing she actually gets to patrol with her friends in Slytherin, and for another they're generally more lax about point taking. Willow and Bill had always been incredibly strict on the rules but Tabs and Terrence generally tell the prefects to follow their best instincts in situations rather than following the exact letter of the law.

That doesn't change the fact that patrolling with Tabs is incredibly trying.

Rajani somehow avoids having the Head Girl as her patrol partner for over a month before her luck finally runs out and she's scheduled for a ten to twelve patrol - what they call a "midnight run" - with Tabs for Wednesday night.

"Bad luck, you're taking the Astronomy Tower route too so it's the long one." Eugene sympathizes when they check the week's patrol schedule posted in the Prefects' bathroom. "At least when I had her a couple weeks back it was the dungeon run so I only had to listen for so long."

"She's not so bad if you can get her going on one topic." Hector offers. He's leaning awkwardly around Alana to try and see the schedule as well. "Then you can kind of tune out and think about other stuff while she rambles."

"The key is finding the right topic though. The same one doesn't always work." Trevor points out. All six of the Slytherin prefects had checked the schedule together after the Sunday meeting. "Last year I once got her going on species-switching but she barely had anything to say on it when Ed tried using it a couple weeks later."

"Her interests move as fast as ." Eugene jokes.

They all head together to the common room when they've determined that none of them have a Sunday night patrol and they're greeted by Queenie who'd been working on a paper prior to their arrival.

"Eugene! Good, you're back. We need to talk." With zero preamble she jumps up, grabs her fiancé, and drags him right back out of the common room.

"I hope it's not a long talk, curfew is in an hour." Gabi points out, frowning as the common room door closes behind them.

"It shouldn't, it's probably more wedding stuff." Rajani sighs. While she is excited for her friends, she doesn't see why they can't plan the wedding next year instead, when she'll probably be too busy to want to hang out anyway. Most days she's stuck third wheeling Alasdair and Cadfael since Clary has gotten weird about Rajani spending time with her and Lenox, and Elspeth and Nia are rarely around the common room at all.

Gabi rolls her eyes. "Weddings. I'll never understand tying yourself down this young." She grumbles.

Rajani shrugs. "I mean, if you find happiness, latch onto it I guess. But yeah, I'm happy single." She agrees.

Something at the back of her mind whispers that she's absolutely lying, but she shoves it down angrily. She's perfectly happy by herself for the moment, and she doesn't miss kissing and cuddling with another person whatsoever.

"Well if you ladies ever need happiness-" Trevor starts with a lecherous grin, but Gabi cuts him off with a sharp whack to the back of the head.

"No finishing that sentence, I would like my dinner to stay down." She grumbles. "I'm turning in, Alana, Rajani, if he tries anything hex him."

"I wouldn't!" Trevor protests, then grins at the two other female prefects. "Not without permission of course."

Alana makes a face, but something in Rajani pushes her to flirt right back.

"You'd have to woo me first. Prove you're not just all talk." She challenges him.

Trevor winks. "I never say anything that isn't true."

Alana makes a gagging noise and follows Gabi towards the girls' dorms, leaving just Rajani, Trevor, and an awkward-looking Hector in the common room, along with a few other students who aren't paying the trio any mind.

"So Hector, how are you finding fifth year so far?" Trevor asks, dropping onto one of the couches and taking up most of it.

Rajani rolls her eyes and takes one of the love seats for herself while Hector uncertainly sits on the floor. As much as she generally likes him Rajani thinks the younger male prefect is missing his Slytherin bite in a major way. She wonders if maybe she could try and fix that. It would certainly give her something to do while her friends are all busy pairing off without her.

Hector shrugs. "It's stressful because of OWLs obviously, my sleep schedule is completely shot because of patrolling, and Quidditch practice takes up a lot of my weekends, but it will all look good on my resume so I can't complain. I've been studying with Flint anyway, he's got some top-grade Ravenclaw tutoring him so he gives me notes from that which helps a lot."

One of the things Hector lists catches Rajani's attention. "You're on the quidditch team?"

Hector smiles proudly. "Beater. Captain Macmillan said I've got good potential for it, and a great aim. Leacock's been showing me the ropes and we've got some really good plays to try out against Gryffindor next month." His eyes are bright and determined, and Rajani thinks she's finally figured out why the kid is in Slytherin.

"Not bad. I used to be a reserve Chaser but school ended up taking over my priorities list." Rajani says. "I'm the one who got Lenox to try out though, so you're welcome."

Hector laughs. "McLeod is a fantastic Seeker, but he and Captain Macmillan bicker a lot. I'm not sure he's going to stay on the team next year - he's already grooming Terrence to take over for him."

Rajani tilts her head, recognizing the name. "Terrence Higgs? Good for him, making reserves. And I'm not surprised to hear that Alas and Lenox aren't getting along, they've always had divergent opinions on most things."

Trevor ends up falling asleep on the sofa as Rajani and Hector continue talking Quidditch right up until Queenie and Eugene return from their talk.

"Isn't it past curfew?" Queenie asks. "As prefects you guys are really not setting a good example." She adds with a grin.

"As prefects we get to decide when the rules do and don't apply." Rajani returns cheekily. "But I guess we do have class tomorrow."

They have to rouse Trevor from his nap before they can head to their dorms, but once they've arrived in their room Rajani decides to ask Queenie what she had needed to talk to Eugene about.

"I'm going to Peru again this summer!" She explains excitedly as the two of them sit on Queenie's bed. Clary, Elspeth, and Nia are all listening in as well, though they've taken over Elspeth's bed much to the actual owner's irritation. "My cousin invited me down as a mised bachelorette party and an apology that she can't fly up for the actual wedding. Eugene and I had some stuff planned for the summer so we had to rework our timeline was all. We're doing cake tastings over Christmas now instead."

"Request to be the officla cake tester." Clary raises her hand immediately, grinning. "I will ensure nothing is poisoned."

"My worry is that you would be too thorough and no one else would get any cake." Queenie shoots back teasingly, though Clary actually wilts slightly, one hand self-consciously covering her waist line.

"Why is that even needed? Cake is cake." Elspeth grumbles. "Seems like a lot of fuss. When I get married it's going to be a small event. None of this over the top nonsense."

Nia immediately pounces on the comment. "When? Don't tell us you have a secret lover Els, and you never mentioned it?" She teases, poking her friend mercilessly in the side.

Elspeth tries to roll away from the assault and ends up pushing both herself and Clary off of the bed.

Clary giggles, apparently recovered from Queenie's weight joke. "When Lenox and I get married we'll invite everyone! No secrets here."

"Ooh, has he proposed? Or are you just that confident he's going to?" Queenie asks eagerly.

Clary blushes. "Well, I mean, he hasn't asked yet, no, but we love each other so I don't see why he won't once we graduate. Maybe ever beforehand - his parents married really young too."

Rajani doesn't realize she's frowning until she spots Nia giving her a weird look.

"Oh my gosh we could totally do a double wedding!" Queenie squeals. Elspeth rolls her eyes and Nia just laughs as Clary and Queenie proceed to plan an overly elaborate wedding to share.

Rajani mostly keeps quiet as they talk, and she eventually declares that she's tired and heads back over to her own bed, with the others following suit shortly thereafter.

Rajani doesn't fall asleep for quite some time afterwards, though.

The next few days are normal enough, though Rajani does stop asking about Queenie and Eugene's wedding plans and tries to keep the focus on Queenie's Peru trip or their upcoming papers and assignments that are due when she does spend time with her best friend.

However, she's spending a lot more time with Trevor, who is proving an excellent distraction from both her friends and her studies. He'd asked her Monday night, when they were patrolling together, if she was serious about the wooing.

"I totally get that this would be a rebound relationship, but I want to make sure that you know that as well. Because you're super hot and I'd totally be fine just being a physical outlet." He wags his eyesbrows suggestively and she smacks him.

"You won't be if you think that's how wooing works." She grins at him. "But honestly, pure physicality sounds just about perfect right now. Relationships kind of ."

"They kind of do." He agrees.

They haven't actually kissed or anything - Trevor has insisted they at least have one semi-date at Hogsmeade first "for wooing purposes" - but already Rajani is feeling a lot more comfortable in her own skin again.

Then Wednesday night comes and her mood drops considerably when she remembers she has a midnight run with Tabs to get through before she can go to sleep.

The other girl is already waiting in front of the Great Hall, bouncing cheerfully on the balls of her feet. "Hey Raj! Ready for the Astronomy route? Honestly this is my least favorite patrol, so many couples thinking no one will see them making out if they hide behind tapestries. But hey, someone has to do it!" She grins.

Rajani attempts to force a smile back. "Hi Tabs. I dunno, at least they aren't shacking up." She replies somewhat tersely.

Tabs gags. "Oh trust me, some of them do and it is not comfortable for anyone when we catch that. You're lucky it hasn't happened to you yet."

Rajani is so startled by the news that she forgets to be annoyed by Tabs' presence. "Wait seriously? Why would you ever do that outside of your dorm room? That's just asking to get caught."

"Right?" Tabs exclaims, laughing as she does. "Well here's hoping tonight isn't the night you have to learn how to keep a straight face while two teens try to get dressed without tripping over themselves."

Rajani actually snorts. "Lovely mental image, thanks for that."

Tabs beams. "As Head Girl I must prepare you for all possibilities! Oh, speaking of have you encountered any of the pranks that have been left around the school this year? We're finding a lot more than normal and some of them are pretty dangerously situated - Adrian nearly lost a finger yesterday, but luckily Saundra was able to react fast enough to protect them both."

Rajani frowns. "I've found a couple but nothing like that. He's alright though?" Despite Adrian being a Gryffindor he's proven surprisingly decent to patrol with, having a dry wit and easy-going attitude that's begun shining through now that his initial wariness of Slytherins is starting to wear off.

Tabs nods. "It's worrying though. Terrence and I are planning to organize a full search of the school next Sunday if everyone is okay with it. I know it's the first Hogsmeade weekend but yesterday showed that these pranks could seriously hurt someone if we aren't careful." She looks genuinely apologetic, and Rajani blinks.

"You're a really good Head Girl." She blurts out, then flushes. "I mean, I figured you would be but-" She tries to correct herself but is cut off by Tabs bursting into laughter.

When she's calmed down the older girl turns to look at Rajani. "I didn't think I would be a good Head Girl, so that really means a lot to hear." She smiles, a bit watery. "We all figured Gabi would be Head Girl this year honestly, so I'm doing my best to fill those shoes."

"Well I think you're doing fine just as yourself. And I can definitely stay this weekend, keeping the castle safe is our job as prefects, right?"

Tabs beams.

The patrol is a lot less awful that Rajani had been expecting. Tabs still rambles excitedly about everything under the sun, but Rajani finds that if she mentions that Tabs is talking too much the girl will actually cut herself off sheepishly and let Rajani talk for a bit.

"It was surprisingly nice." She tells Trevor when she finds him waiting for her in the common room after the patrol is over. "I think Tabs just needs people to tell her when she's being too much - she doesn't really mean to be. Also our Hogsmeade date is being postponed."

Trevor's face falls. "Aw man, why?"

Rajani grins. "Tabs or Terrence will tell us in the Saturday meeting I'm sure. It's a good cause, I promise."

Trevor grumbles slightly. "You know, if you're not comfortable with our arrangement we don't have to-"

Rajani cuts him off by straddling his legs and getting into his face. "Does this look like I'm uncomfortable?" She teases. "Seriously Trevor, just relax. We're not conventional and that's totally fine. Screw what society says we should do first. I like you, you like me, and we're both fully aware of the limits of this relationship. Any further questions?"

Trevor grins. "How the heck did Ed let a girl like you get away?"

Rajani shuts him up by kissing him.

Franziska is actually quite excited about the first Hogsmeade weekend of the school year. She's going with Evie and Fitzwilliam, neither of whom she's really gotten a chance to talk with outside of classes since most of her free time is spent with her Housemates.

She is slightly concerned that the first visit is landing only a week before Halloween - Jemma and Aidan had warned them about an increased number of pranks lying around and Franziska just knows it's only going to get worse after the students are able to access Zonko's Joke Shop. The week before Halloween has always been bad for pranks, even without a prank war (and thank goodness that was just a one-year thing).

Still, she's staying optimistic, and the fact most of the prefects are staying behind to scour the school for pranks does make her feel slightly better.

Still, when Evie suggests they hit Zonko's on the walk over Franziska is very quick to shut down the idea.

"Okay, no Zonko's, I can live with that. I guess." Evie frowns. "What did you want to do then? Halloween is Tuesday, we need to do something spooky!"

"We don't have to." Fitzwilliam points out nervously. Despite being in the same House as Evie Franziska has quickly realized that the two don't really know each other that well. She's already resigned herself to being the middle man for the entire day. "Hogwarts does plenty without us."

"You have to admit though, third year was hands down the best Halloween yet! That prank Sarah coordinated was amazing." Evie grins. "Even if Jerry and I were in detention for two weeks straight because of the distraction."

Franziska frowns. "Distraction?"

"Long story." Evie laughs. Fitzwilliam looks distinctly less pleased with the memory, and Franziska is inclined to think she'd probably agree with his analysis if she knew the full story.

"Anyway, I was thinking we should go to Honeydukes." Franziska finally answers Evie's question. "It's not spooky, but having candy is very Halloween."

"It'll be really crowded though." Fitzwilliam mutters. "I don't really like crowds."

"We can go later, we have all day." Franziska assures him quickly, though Evie looks a bit annoyed by the decision.

"Yeah, we can go later. How about we stop by the Post Office first instead?" She suggests, and Franziska is glad her friend decided not to argue over the order of their store visits. "I need to send a letter to my folks anyhow, and I imagine you've got a full stack to send to Rosa, right Frannie?"

Franziska grins, shifting her bag higher up onto her shoulder. "I might. You don't mind Fitz?"

He shakes his head quickly and the matter is settled. Franziska continues to try and coax Fitzwilliam into talking more whie Evie goes on about Occamies, which they're starting to study in Care of Magical Creatures.

Franziska fails to get Fitzwilliam to open up on the walk over, but she resolves to get him talking before they head back that evening. She wants her friends to get along with each other.

There are a few other Muggleborn and Half-Blood students already in the Post Office when they arrive, and because Evie hadn't brought her own envelopes they end up having to stand in line so she can buy one for her letter.

"I don't get why you don't just owl them. Your folks know about magic, right? They'd have to." Franziska observes curiously.

Evie shrugs. "I mean, yeah, but I don't have an owl and it costs more to use the school owls than to use the post." She explains. "The conversion rate between pounds and wizard money is complete baloney."

Fitzwilliam speaks up nervously then. "Um, is it really? I've never had to use it before..."

"Well yeah, you're a pureblood. No offense." Evie replies easily, though Fitzwilliam recoils like he's been hit. "You wouldn't be caught dead doing anything that required Muggle money I'd imagine."

"Evie!" Franziska scolds, genuinely shocked by the comment.

Evie looks at her in confusion. "What? Am I wrong? Purebloods tend to be really wizarding-world focused. Name one pureblood who cares about Muggle matters."

Fitzwilliam is starting to fidget uncomfortably so Franziska decides to let the matter go to avoid making thing any more awkward. It's only the start of the day - she doesn't want the entire trip to be this tense.

"Isn't there a Weasley in charge of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts? They're pureblood. But you're right, there are certain norms across all blood purities. Just maybe don't generalize so much? Every person is an individual after all."

Evie shrugs. "Fair enough." She concedes, moving on easily from the conversation.

Franziska rather envies her friend's ability to do so - she's still feeling a bit tense. Still, things proceed smoothly from there and in a few minutes both Evie and Franziska have posted their letters and the three are heading back out onto the main road.

"So what now?" Evie asks. "Honeydukes still too busy for you Fitz?"

Fitzwilliam's shoulders rise defensively.

"Evie lay off. I'm not a fan of crowds either." Franziska places a hand on her friend's shoulder. "How about we check out Tomes and Scrolls? They might've gotten some new shipments over the summer."

Both her friends perk up at the suggestion and Franziska stops herself from laughing openly at how stereotypically Ravenclaw that reaction is.

Evie rushes off to the Beings and Beasts section while Fitzwilliam wanders over to the area with old legislative scrolls. Franziska considers trying to get them to stay together but she ultimately decides to do some browsing in the fiction section instead. As much as she'd love to she knows she can't force a friendship.

She ends up getting wrapped up in a novel about a witch and a muggle in a forbidden romance, which Evie catches her with.

"It's been over an hour, we can probably safely hit Honeydukes now." She grins. "Good book?"

"It has fantastic character development." Franziska shoots back. "Find any good books on trolls?"

That gets Evie going on Security Troll training and the history of it as the two girls go looking for Fitzwilliam further back in the store, both carrying the books they intend to purchase.

Fitzwilliam is buried in about a dozen scolls at the back of the store, looking absolutely thrilled. He looks up as they approach and tilts his head curiously, apparently catching the end of Evie's latest comment on the process of figuring out how to actually train trolls.

"The reason it took so long was due to high resistance within the Wizengamot. Many of the members were still Beast-wary back then." Fitzwilliam says quietly when Evie pauses for breath. "It wasn't until Mr. Scamander that proper funds were even alotted to the training team - it's amazing they managed to perfect the training process as quickly as they did all things considered."

Evie scoffs. "Batty old people, always afraid of change."

Fitzwilliam smiles awkwardly. "That's why the new generation has to come in, right?"

Evie beams and slaps him on the back, sending him stumbling forward. "Darn right! I like you Fitz, how come we haven't talked before?"

Franziska just beams happily.

Honeydukes is still quite crowded, but Fitzwilliam declares that he can handle it. Franziska somewhat doubts that, but Evie takes him at his word and drags them both into the store.

Fitzwilliam keeps close to the entrance, as Franziska had expected, so she does her best to collect some extra sweets to give to him while she and Evie peruse the selection.

As she fills up her bag Franziska is struck by an idea that has her grinning goofily enough for Evie to ask if she's snuck some cheering solution.

"Nope, just had a thought. Can't share, sorry. Hufflepuff stuff, you know how it is." Franziska hums happily.

Evie raises an eyebrow in amusement. "I have to say, I wouldn't have pegged Hufflepuff to be the House with secrets." She jokes as they finally head back to the register to pay for their selection.

Franziska shrugs. She'll have to ask the rest of her friends, but she thinks introducing a rewards system to their first year first week party could be a lot of fun, with the right rewards.

"I mean, I'm sure the other Houses have something they do that they don't tell the rest about." She says as they pay. "That seems like it would be pretty common."

"Well Ravenclaw doesn't as far as I'm aware." Evie replies, and then frowns. "Although... Hey Fitz!"

Fitzwilliam startles from his place waiting by the door. "Um, yeah?"

"Was there some secret Ravenclaw thing I was excluded from? You guys didn't like me for our first few years!"

Fitzwilliam shakes his head. "I... don't think so?" He offers uncertainly. "Nothing I was invited to."

The rest of the visit proves very enjoyable, and Franziska walks home with Evie and Fitzwilliam debating how long a law should be deliberated on before the courts make a decision on it. She may not be able to participate in the conversation, but she's thrilled to see her friends getting along with each other.

As they approach the castle Fitzwilliam suddenly stops and shuffles nervously.

Evie frowns. "Shoot did I say something rude again? Sorry for whatever it was-"

"We didn't dislike you." Fitzwilliam blurts out. Evie blinks in confusion.

"Our first few years. We didn't dislike you. Um, mostly we worried about the fire and disaster that tended to follow you around, but we didn't dislike you." He clarifies awkwardly. "So, um, yeah."

Evie grins. "Aw that's nice of you to say. Also fair, wandy here did throw some major tantrums. Say, what sort of wand do you have? I bet we could get Holly to tell us more about what it means and if it has any special abilities like mine does!"

Franziska waves to her friends with a laugh. "I'll leave you two to it. I've got to go find Jemma, but I'll see you both in class!"

Evie waves distractedly, more focused on dragging Fitzwilliam off on her hunt for Holly Kiddell, but Fitz does try to call back a proper farewell before he's out of earshot.

Franziska laughs and heads off to find her Housemates. She needs to share her ideas for their first year party before she forgets.

The next day is suspiciously quiet considering it's the day before Halloween - even Peeves seems to be lying suspiciously low. The whole thing makes Franziska twitchy.

Other than Muggle Studies in the morning she has the whole day off, so she ends up helping the prefects with a secondary sweep for prank items in the corridors. Both Jemma and Aidan have class so she takes Henry with her. He's already been patrolling that morning with Amelia so he's able to show her how they're doing their checks.

"It's a really simple charm, even I can do it." He jokes.

Franziska frowns. "Don't say it like that, you're a very talented wizard. You just learn differently."

Henry shrugs. "Eh, I've accepted it." He grins. "But seriously, let me show you so we can get going. Amelia is super twitchy that no one has checked the corridors between the Great Hall and the dungeons yet."

The spell is indeed quite simple, and Franziska has the hang of it after only two attempts.

"Is this a standard thing they only teach prefects? I feel like it could be taught to third years." She observes as she and Henry make their way towards the Great Hall.

He shakes his head. "Saundra came up with it actually, with help from her Ravenclaw friend."

Franziska frowns. "Saundra. The same Saundra who turned everything pink back in her first year? Who set a flock of birds on half the school by accident in her second? The one who just last year made it rain in the dungeon for two weeks? That Saundra actually created a spell that does what it's supposed to do?"

Henry laughs. "I'd forgotten about the birds. But yeah, that Saundra. She's a prefect this year, didn't you know? Cleaning up her act and all that."

Franziska scoffs. "I didn't realize it was an act. I thought she was just a walking disaster."

"I mean, she's still that. She nearly blew up several windows before getting this right, at least according to Amelia." Henry replies cheerfully. "But still, pretty impressive for a fifteen year old, right? And here we are, better start casting." He adds as they arrive at their destination.

Franziska mutters to herself as she reluctantly casts the charm repeatedly in areas where she thinks a prank might be hidden.

"What are you doing?" A voice pipes up curiously and Franziska nearly drops her wand in surprise.

"Looking for pranks. What are you doing?" She asks, turning and blinking in surprise, momentarily thinking she's seeing double before remembering that twins exist. "You two." She corrects herself.

The one on the right grins innocently. "Oh nothing, just walking around, getting to know the school."

"First year stuff." The one on the left agrees, equally innocently.

Franziska is immediately suspicious. "Hand over the pranks." She instructs firmly.

The red-haired twins double down. "What do you mean?" The left one asks, blinking up at her.

"We don't have any pranks!" The other insists loudly. "How would we even get them?"

"We're only first years." Right agrees.

Franziska frowns. "You two are Charlie's little brothers, and you've got another older brother who I'm pretty sure is in third year now. You may not be able to go out but I remember when Charlie used to get into pranks our first few years. So again, pranks."

Left looks at Right uncertainly, but before they can decide whether to try and continue lying to Franziska or not there's an explosion behind them and suddenly they're all three knee deep in muck.

Franziska just stares at the sudden swamp covering the Great Hall Entrance with resigned frustration.

"Oops, that wasn't supposed to do that! Sorry!" The familiar voice calls, and as Franziska had expected Saundra comes around the corner, wand up and frowning. Her Ravenclaw friend trails close behind her, looking vaguely amused.

"That was-"

"-so cool!" The twins exclaim, splashing at the swamp water excitedly.

"This is very disruptive." Franziska corrects them irritably, but she's ignored as the two wade over to Saundra and her friend and begin pestering them with questions.

"Found a prank!" Henry laughs as he struggles over to Franziska. "Well, at least it could have been worse. There's plenty of time to clean up before dinner."

Franziska just sighs. "Let's just start."

They do manage to get things mopped up before dinnertime, but only barely, and Franziska is utterly wiped. She ends up stumbling back to the dorm as soon as dinner is over and snuggling into her bed with a book.

 She is not looking forward to the next day.