chapter iii luck be a lady

***

AVERY IS QUICK TO GET USED TO MORNINGS (and nighttime's, and daytimes, and everything in between) within the first week of living alongside Charlie Weasley. First off, she hadn't realised just how exhausting her rounds of the castle were, until she had to wake up one Saturday unable to get out of bed at 11am — after finishing rounds at 2am. It was difficult. Even after a whole nine hours of sleep.

     So, to overcome this, she always ensures to make herself a pre-breakfast coffee with the appliances provided. Just to fuel her enough to get her backside ready for breakfast, so that she doesn't end up dozing off in the shower and slipping and cracking her skull open — you know, the sore things. And purely out of niceties, she also makes her roommate a coffee. Because, it's polite, yeah? If he can be polite, so can she. It doesn't mean they're besties or even friends. (She's still kinda suspicious about him.) Usually Avery just placed the coffee, without milk or sugar because she didn't know what he liked, on the kitchen counter for him to collect.

(She had, however, found out that he liked his coffee with loads of milk and four sugars, after he'd been found waiting in the common room one of the mornings Avery slept in extra late. So she makes them like that now.)

Charlie smiled the first time he saw a mug of coffee lying in the kitchen for him, a small note attached saying I made you a coffee, but didn't know how much milk or sugar you'd like. He thought perhaps Avery was warming up to him, because she did seem quite blunt most times with him. But he still isn't sure, because they don't talk much.

They both have a habit of walking together to breakfast and dinner, but there isn't a lot of talking in between. Charlie always seems to be the one to pick her up from Ravenclaw common room at around 7.30pm exactly after his own evening in the Gryffindor abode, and they walk back to their common room together. Even in their patrols, they don't talk much. Probably just small talk initiated by Charlie.  Between Avery and Charlie, there was a lot of walking happening, but not much talking.

Avery is thankful McGonagall has stopped filling her in on Head Girl customs and standards. Because sure, she was never a Prefect, but it didn't mean she was brainless. Eventually, she could figure out the makings of a Head Girl herself. And McGonagall didn't exactly have the most interesting voice to listen to. Still, she'd prefer hearing McGonagall talk about that than hear Snape drone on and on and on about potions she'd probably never use or even need in life. McGonagall is still nice to her. Snape, who didn't really care about Avery's presence before, seems to hate her with a passion now because oh look a Gryffindor and Ravenclaw are the Head Boy and Girl not a Slytherin! Snape still hates Charlie much more, though, since the old house rivalry is strong.

     And as much as Avery does not wish she was Head Girl because: the duties were severe (she is not fond of dealing with prefect tantrums) — she missed being with her friends in Ravenclaw Tower — and its so much pressure — despite all of this she can't help but admit she loves the Heads' dormitories? Sure, she misses Ravenclaw, but this place gives her space, there are so many little quirks and it literally has everything she needs. No joke, when they ran out of Butterbeer in the cute little fridge of theirs, all Avery did was frown and tap her fingers against the counter in contemplation, and a house elf appeared? Like, an actual house elf at their service? And get this, the house elf, whose name is Haily, is the house elf assigned to the Heads — so Charlie and Avery literally have their own house elf! How cool is that? All they had to do was call for Haily and she would be Summoned!

And now, yet another morning graces the castle of Hogwarts on a Friday, and Avery leans pleasurably against the kitchen counter situation in her dorm. It was a bright morning, with the warm sunlight embracing the grounds and giving the grass an even greener appearance, looking almost emerald. The Great Lake was clear blue, twinkling happily from the refracted rays of sunlight. A nice song was even heard being reverberated from the lake below, presumably from the mermaids. It seemed even the mermaids were happy.

So was Avery. She has a free period that morning, allowing her to sip at her mug of coffee calmly and without the need to rush for breakfast. She's still in her pyjamas, and her infamous bed hair precedes her, with strands of hair spilling out of every possible direction. There is another mug of steaming coffee for whenever her roommate decides to appear in their small kitchenette.

Avery glances over the parchment she had in her hand. Over the past week, she has carried out every task handed to her — begrudgingly, yes — but she does it well. When Avery has a task to complete she will do it until it's perfected. Because, though she doesn't seem that way, she is a perfectionist when it comes to these things. She won't stop until something is the best it can be. So, she's proven to be quite a good Head Girl so far, even if she didn't want to be. She may lack a bit when it comes to enforcing the rules, since there's been a couple of times she's seen people in places they shouldn't have been and haven't told them off — but she can work on that. One thing at a time. Baby steps, she tells herself. She didn't want to be Head Girl, but she can't really do anything about it. She's bound to this. So there's no harm in trying to find a positive side to it, right?

     As for her charming roommate. Charlie seemed like the Head Boy candidate. Great grades, pretty smile, Quidditch Captain and Seeker — you couldn't help but be impressed by his overwhelming sense of achievement. He also seemed to have a handful of girls lining after him (though Charlie continues to act oblivious to this, Avery notices). He's really enthusiastic about being the Head Boy after his older brother, although he also seems to be a bit lenient on enforcing the rules. (Main reason why Avery tells herself she needs to brush up on the rules — she may have lacked two years of prefect experience, but one of them needed to be the more professional one.)

     Another thing about Charlie; he seemed to be really eager to make conversation with Avery. Sure, they were co-Heads and sure, they shared a dorm. But Avery wasn't so sure as to why he was so enthusiastic? It was a bit off-putting for her, because it seemed like he was trying to befriend Avery — and she wasn't sure why. They were Head Boy and Head Girl. But they weren't really meant to be friends? Just professional accomplices. So she found no reason for Charlie to be so insistent on talking to her. The only time that Avery would willingly talk to him, without feeling the need to be so distant or blunt, is when she talks to him about Head-related business. A task Professor McGonagall set them, or some prefect issues. That's what they're meant to talk about, yeah? The duties they've been assigned to. That's why they share a dorm. So they can work together.

     (At least, this is what Avery always tells herself. That the reason she should be blunt to this guy whenever he's trying to be colloquial with her is because it's not necessary that they become friends. It's good enough that they get on, but there's no reason to take that extra step. But ironically, that might be what she forces herself to think. That she's been forced to be Head Girl, and that there shouldn't be this forced friendship between them. Maybe, just maybe, it's a mask for Avery's mind that she doesn't want to accept new people into her life when it already seemed to be that there were new life intrusions. Change doesn't come easy to Avery and neither does trust, so maybe that's why she doesn't allow herself to be his friend. Maybe.)

     "I've been thinking," Avery says, after greeting Charlie Weasley with a small 'good morning' as he entered the kitchenette, his luminous hair sticking up on its ends. She slides the extra coffee mug towards him and he accepts it with gratitude. "I feel like we should do something for the rest of the students," Avery begins, "Like, as the Heads. To make our mark on this school, I suppose?"

     "Oh?" Charlie detaches his lips from the rim of his mug and perks his head back in intrigue. "What exactly did you have in mind?" Charlie was surprised. He knew that Avery was originally opposed to being Head Girl, but now she seemed a bit more... enthusiastic? He wasn't sure, but it's not like he was complaining. Avery uptakes any task given to her with dedication, there's no saying that this wasn't the same.

     Avery purses her lips. "I was thinking, perhaps, a Ball?" She suggests, glancing at the parchment held in one hand, the other hooked around the handle of her mug. "Or a dance of some sort? Here, have a look." Charlie scans the parchment Avery passed over to him feeling somewhat impressed. She seemed to have planned everything down to a T. Date, theme, music, food. Avery was... thorough, to say the least.

     "Halloween, eh?" Charlie says, glancing up from the parchment momentarily to look at Avery.

     "I figured that's when people will be most happy to have a Ball." Avery explains. "There's no Halloween holidays, and if we were to do it for Christmas then people might not be able to celebrate it with their families, and if it were for Easter then exams will be right after... Halloween seems like the best time. But it is really nearby." She finishes off with an overwhelmed sigh.

     Charlie gives her an affirming nod of the head. "Don't worry, Avery." He smiles. "We can get it all done."

     Avery exhales deeply, pressing her lips thinly together. "I hope so," she says, "First thing's first, before we get started — we have to ask Professor Dumbledore if it's fine."

     "Oh, yeah. That should be no problem at all!" Charlie exclaims confidently.

     "Why so?" She asks curiously. Doubtfully, even.

     "It's pure genius!" He tells her blatantly. "You literally have it all planned out. They have absolutely no reason not to say yes. Besides, we hardly ever have any fun activities like this! People will absolutely love an excuse to get all dressed up have some fun!"

     Avery chuckles to herself, an overwhelming sigh escaping her mouth. "I hope you're right about this, Weasley." She says, massaging her temple with her spare hand. After taking another sip of coffee, she asks, "Should we go ask him at breakfast? When the teachers will be at the table?"

     "Sounds good." Charlie grins.

     And so, they move their separate ways and go to breakfast in their respective tables; Charlie joining his best friend Roy Rothchild at his table, Avery joining Dominique and the rest of their friends at Ravenclaw table. The first comment Avery hears as she seats herself down to some scrambled egg and toast is by Hannah Liu, with it being about none other than her infamous stars.

"The stars are saying it's a happy day today," Hannah says informatively, before spooning some cereal into her mouth.

"...Happy day?" Juliet questions with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Hannah replies persistently, "That the constellations are saying people should be happy today. Ursa Major was crossing paths with Auriga, which means—"

"Hannah," Rowan begins, her teeth gritted in a way that showed them there was a chance Hannah's stars weren't the most accurate, "Your stars are incorrect!" Rowan seethes. "You know why? I have been getting bombarded by students below third year about trying out for quidditch when half of them don't even know how to ride their broom yet! Apart from that first year Roger Davies, he seemed decent. Point is, the stars are rubbish! I'm not happy today. At all."

     "Well, at least you'll have me on the team." Eric says, his self-confidence imminent. "That has to be good news."

     "That just makes my day even worse, Eric," Rowan says, an exasperated sigh escaping her mouth. She cradles her head between her forefingers and rocks it on the table, her honey blonde locks swishing from side to side. She tilts her head to the side slightly, giving Hannah a half-hearted glare. "Your stars are corrupt, Han. Corrupt, I tell you!"

     Hannah grunts, before giving Avery her attention. "Avery!" She says a tad abruptly, making Avery jump midway drinking her pumpkin juice.

     With a calming inhale and wiping the spilt juice off of her chin, Avery looks at Hannah alarmingly. "..Yeah?"

     "Do you believe in the stars today?" Hannah asks solemnly. "What I mean is, are you having a good day so far?"

(Bless Hannah, honestly — but sometimes it takes all the strength within Avery to not burst out laughing with the significance that Hannah puts towards her beloved stars. But, she'd never put her friend down like that. Hannah likes the stars, and Avery would have to put up with it. Even if it was to her own chagrin.)

     Avery begins to nod slowly. "I suppose so..." She begins, "I didn't get soap in my eyes this morning when washing my face so thinks are looking up, I guess?"

     Hannah smiles with satisfaction. "See! The stars are correct."

     Avery plays along with this, smiling with wordlessly. (What was she supposed to say? That she worshiped the stars as Hannah did?)

     "So, Aves," Dominique begins, folding her arms astutely upon the wooden table. Her eyebrows were raised in amusement, a pompous smile settled on her pretty, ringlet-framed face. "It's been nearly two weeks since term started. How do you feel about the Head Girl life now? You know, seeing how much you hated it before you even started your role."

     "It's... alright?" Avery answers, somewhat confusedly. She begins to fiddle with the collar of her white school shirt as the smile on Dominique's face transforms into a more conceited smirk.

     "I knew it!" She shrieks gleefully, her hands shooting in the air. "You like being Head Girl! I always knew you would come around—"

     "Dom," Avery persists, her eyes dead-set. "That's not... true. I don't necessarily like being Head Girl."

     "What, then?" This time it was Benjamin, scowling lightly. Avery was surprised; she'd never thought Benjamin capable of scowling, he hardly ever frowned as it was. He was a smiley guy, and Avery found that adorable.

"Well, it's exhausting," Avery starts, counting the reasons on her fingers, "The rounds are late, the prefects moan so much, the teachers keep giving me tasks, not to mention Charlie Weasley, oh and it's exhausting-"

"You said exhausting twice—"

"I know I said exhausting twice!" Avery cries. "I'm trying to get out a point."

"What about Weasley, then?" Dominique asks, narrowing her eyes. "What could be so wrong with 'Mr Perfect', as you love to put it?"

Avery sighs, trying to grasp for words. Truth be told, she couldn't really point a finger on what was wrong with Mr Perfect. He was, quite literally, perfect. Right from the chiselled jawbone, to the way his hair mystically tidies itself in a way that prides it by looking somewhat neat for being so disheveled — to the fact his homework is always done spot on, and he makes enough time to have his fun and play his quidditch. Deep down, she knew it wasn't him who had the fault. It was her. She was the one who didn't want to be friends with him when he did, and for reasons she didn't want to confront.

"I — but — fine." Avery sighs. "It's like, he tries so hard to be friends with me and I don't know if it's what I need?" She says, trying to reason. It seemed to be that this logic made sense to Avery and Avery only, for the rest of her friends were looking at her with the most bizarre of expressions held within their faces.

"What do you mean, it's not what you need?" Juliet asks.

Avery inwardly groans. Of all times for her to be ruthlessly interrogated but her friends, did it have to be now? "I just — I don't know if a new friend is what I need, okay?" She says in defence. "But he's so friendly and it's like — I don't know how to handle it!"

"You don't know how to handle it?" Julian questions. "Or you don't want to let yourself accept it?" The tall blond sighs. "Look, Avery. We all went through this exact treatment when we first met. It took you time to let us be friends with you. But you don't regret any of it, do you? Who's to say you'll regret having Weasley as a friend?"

"I just — this — this is different!" She releases, exasperation evident. "We're Head Boy and Head Girl! We're meant to keep things professional!"

"Oh, cut the crap, Aves!" Dominique yells. "You just don't want to open yourself up to a new friendship! You know there's nothing wrong in the way he's treating you, and you know you're being irrational. And you most definitely know you're not being like this because of a stupid label."

For goodness sake, she thinks as she massages her head with her two hands. This was not the day to be questioned so aggressively. Hannah's stars ended up not being correct, then. She knew her friends meant well, but she just couldn't handle it! The same way she couldn't handle Charlie Weasley's kindness in the same way everyone else wanted her to.

"Okay, but — can we please not argue my head off, today, of all days?" Avery pleads. She doesn't have to look up to know the eyes of all of her friends are trained right on her. "I already have this Ball to ask Dumbledore about with Weasley, and—"

"A Ball?" They all seem to exclaim one unison.

Oh, shit. "I wasn't meant to say that," she mutters to herself. "Ruddy well done, Avery." She glances back at her friends, staring harder at all seven of them. "You heard nothing."

Dominique grins. "If that's the way it is," She says. Her gaze falls to something behind Avery, "Aves — Charlie's here."

Surely enough, when Avery turned her head exhaustively around, she found Charlie, leaning with ease into his souls, his trademark grin preceding him. "Morning, all." He greets everyone at the table. (He didn't know them, but he wanted to be nice!) Charlie looks to Avery, giving her a smile. "You ready to go ask Dumbledore?"

Avery nods, pressing her hands against the table and dragging her legs out from underneath the bench. A drastic sigh escapes her lips. Some ruddy morning it'd turned out to be. Before she's able to make her way up the the teachers' table, though, a voice stops her. Dominique's.

"This isn't finished, Aves." She says pointedly, her stare prominent. Avery lets out another deepened breath. She knows it's not finished. Her friends didn't give anything up so easily, especially Dominique. Turning back to Charlie, Avery releases an exasperated breath, and sees him glancing at her with a raised eyebrow.

"What was that about?" He asks.

"You don't want to know, Weasley." She says, dismissing his concerns. Charlie doesn't bother to approach the topic further as they approach the long table at the topmost end of the Hall, the teachers seated upright and gazing down at the students they would begin teaching shortly, fuelling themselves with breakfast. Professor Dumbledore is seated in the very middle, Professors Sprout and Flitwick on one side and Professors McGonagall and Snape on the other. Flitwick gives Avery a gentle smile, while Snape did the complete opposite and shot fine, dagger-like glances her way. So bloody rude, she thinks. Avery realises that Charlie stepped back a little bit to allow Avery to be the first one to speak — it was her idea, after all. She gives him an acknowledging nod of the head, before meeting professor Dumbledore's expectant eyes, glazed with the glisten from his half-moon spectacles.

"Everything all right Miss Carmichael, Mr Weasley?" Dumbledore asks politely, placing his work down and looking at the two seventh years with a gentle smile.

Avery smiles. "Brilliant, Professor." She says, finding herself beginning to retract her steps back slightly. Why am I getting nervous? she asks herself. Lucky for her, Charlie took note of this and assuredly stepped forward, so that they were aligned in step with each other. He hoped to be of assurance to her. Little did he know, Avery felt a rush of relief engulf her at him having done so.

Professor Dumbledore looked at her with curiosity. "Anything I can help you two with?"

She smiled again. "Yes." She says affirmatively, ignoring the extent of Snape's glare on the side of her face. If he could've, he would've probably burnt my face off by now. She takes out the parchment folded neatly within her robes, placing it in front of Dumbledore. "Actually, we had the idea — well, I had the idea," She corrected herself, after Charlie resolutely cleared his throat, "For an event for this school. For Halloween. A Ba—"

"A Ball!" Dumbledore exclaims, cutting Avery off. "What a great idea, both of you! This is simply splendid."

"Er — yes," She says, feeling somewhat relieved. Dumbledore seemed to think it was a good idea. "And we were hoping that you would give us the permission to have it here in the castle?"

"Why, absolutely!" Dumbledore bellows ith glee, handing the parchment over to McGonagall to glance over. She looked deeply impressed with the detail of Avery's plans. "By the looks of things, you two have the entire thing planned out!"

Avery grins bashfully. "Thank you, Professor."

McGonagall looked up at Avery after the parchment passed from Snape to Sprout and Flitwick. "This is impressive work, Avery." McGonagall says with a pleasant smile. "I have a feeling you and Charlie will have it all sorted between yourselves, but do pass on the arrangements to us and let us know if you need help at all, alright?"

     "I knew the both of you would do wonders working together." Dumbledore says with a self-assured grin.

Overwhelmed with the relief of her plan not going awry, Avery nods, a smile curving up her tinted lips. The parchment rounds off from Professor Sprout and back to Avery, and she looks at the yellowing page with a newfound sense of achievement. She gave one last look at the Headmaster and Heads of House at the centre of the table. Dumbledore, McGonagall and Sprout were grinning with joy. Flitwick looked like a proud dad. Snape however, was still scowling from beneath the two veils of grease he called his hair. Don't let the Snape get you down, she thinks to herself, before bidding one last thanks and goodbye to the teachers and heading back to the Ravenclaw table.

     "Just as I thought," Charlie says from alongside Avery, a smile gracing his face. "The teachers loved it."

     "Yeah," Avery breathes, her voice brimmed with alleviation. "Now... on with the preparations."

———

AVERY ADORES HER BEST FRIEND DOMINIQUE, don't get her wrong. Dominique has been the sister Avery never had, her home away from home, and she could never be more thankful that someone as compassionate and encouraging as Dominique entered her life — even if she can be a bit envious that she always gains all the boys' attention at first glance, with a simple flip of her ravishing and shiny ginger ringlets. But, as much as she appreciates and loves Dominique, sometimes she can just be a tad bit too much for Avery to handle.

     "Okay, but I'm telling you, you just have to give him a chance!" Dominique persists, slowing down her steps in the midst of their stroll along the autumnal castle paths.

     "Oh, yeah? I have to now, do I?" Avery retorts challengingly, marching Dominique's slowing pace. When Dominique said "this isn't finished", this is exactly what she meant.

     "You know what I mean, Aves." Dominique explains, "You can't just keep him at arms' length like this! You don't have to ultimately go toe-to-toe with him, but you have to at least return his kindness. It's only fair."

     Avery lets out an incredulous scoff, looking at her red haired best friend with sheer absurdity. "It's fair, is it? By forcing me to be friends with Weasley, that's fair?"

     Dominique sighs into her palm. "That's not what I mean, Aves. You know that."

     "Listen." Avery says, closing her eyes momentarily and taking a moment to herselfZ "I don't want to have to force a friendship between us just because we have to share a dorm now. It doesn't feel... right."

     "And being so cold with him is?"

     "We're co-Heads!" She reasons. "There's no reason for us to have a friendship that's not purely professional."

     "You need to stop being so uptight! It's not illegal for you to gain a friend through all this." Dominique says, "Heavens knows you need it, the way you're feeling about this Head Girl stuff."

     Avery grimaces. She hates that word. Uptight. Years of people always calling Ravenclaws uptight, calling Avery uptight, when people hardly know the truth of anything that goes on within walls.

     "I — I'm not uptight." Avery says, ensuring her voice keeps steady. "I just don't think him wanting to be friends solely because we're Head Boy and Girl is right. And you of all people know it's not that easy for me to get accustomed to new people so easily."

     "I know." Dominique says with a sigh. "But by the sounds of things, you've adjusted into life as Head Girl quite well. Better than you've ever adjusted into something, I'd say. That Halloween Ball idea? McGonagall and Dumbledore thought it was genius. And I know you two don't talk that much, but you seem to get on with him too. You always make him coffee in the morning, right?"

     Avery nods, before saying, "Where are you getting at with this?"

    "What I mean to say is that Charlie Weasley seems like a pretty sweet guy." Dominique clarifies, peeling back the hair being blown into her face. "And I feel like you two could have an amazing friendship, if you just give him and yourself the chance to develop something that's not forced like you say it is. It's only forced if you keep telling yourself that, Aves. Friendships happen naturally, and that element gets taken away when you make your mind believe that it's not what it might be. Then it becomes forced. But not the way Charlie is being with you. Him wanting to be friends with you is only natural. You're Avery bleeding Carmichael!"

     Avery chuckles in response to Dominique's grin. "I appreciate it, Dom. How did you get so wise?" Dominique shrugs her shoulders contently, before Avery grimaces slightly and says, "I just... it still doesn't sit well with me. The whole new friends thing. Heavens knows how long it took me to soften up towards you and everyone else. I didn't even think you guys had the patience to wait for me to open up."

     "Well, you would've been friendless if it weren't for us." Dominique adds. "Becoming friends with us really wasn't such a bad thing, and I think the same applies with Charlie. We all just think, perhaps, you might have jumped to conclusions a bit too quickly? I know we were harsh on you this morning, we didn't mean for it to come out like that." Dominique sighs, placing a comforting hand on Avery's forearm. "The point still stands, though."

     Standing within the castle grounds, the clouded sunlight held it's grasp lightly over the hospitable plants and trees, reminiscing in the near-orange autumn afterglow creeping upon the castle and it's natural inhabitants. Nearby, crisp, thin, disembodied leaves were following it's trail in the gusts of biting wind that ravaged its way through the unsuspecting grounds of Hogwarts. It's safe to say that pretty soon, when Autumn-nearing-Winter was in full swing and scarves and gloves were no longer able to be held accountable as protection in such weather like so, Avery Carmichael and Dominique Hawthorne would have to reel their lunchtime walks further up and into the castle walls.

     And grudgingly, Avery tries to dig up a part of her persona that'd have to agree with Dominique. Their words, was that she was being harsh, and cold, and ungiving to Charlie. And she initially thought that perhaps she did so as a means of self-defence in front of a new person; keeping herself at bay, shielding herself and her emotions. But it wouldn't be self-defence if she'd already thought t out beforehand, and Avery knew for a fact that treating Charlie like this wasn't a natural reflex. It's almost like it was ingrained within her system that she'd have to treat certain people like that — people that she knew wanted to get closer to her. That instinct came out many times in life, most notably when she met her friends for the first time and now — with Charlie.

     So what's the point hiding itself in all this? A small part of Avery, hidden beneath all the self-preservation and protective instincts and especially the trust issues, feels that maybe, her friends do have a point. That she was being unfair on Charlie. That she needed to give him more of a chance. But she wasn't sure if she was ready to confront this occult part of her person.

     "I — I don't know, Dom." Avery tells her. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I am being too hostile with him. I just — I don't know how I can stop feeling like this? Like, the need to preserve myself? I don't know how I can let go of this feeling."

     Dominique smiles, a simper laced with affection and sympathy. "Take a leap, Aves. Put some trust in him. Give him a chance."

Take a leap.

All this time she's told herself to take things in baby steps. One step at a time, one day at a time. Perhaps now was the time to make a leap. After all, a baby will eventually have to take a leap for themselves. Maybe, Avery does too.

Either way, Avery looks at Dominique hesitantly. She doesn't know if she can do it. If she can take the leap, like she's been advised to. To trust Charlie. Guess she'll just have to wait and see.

"Look," Dominique says, gesturing to a body strolling his way down the leave-engulfed pathway of the school grounds, in the direction of the Greenhouses along with the Care of Magical Creatures classroom. It was Charlie, his hands braced tightly in the folds of his robes and his red and gold scarf compact around his neck. His red hair was still sticking up in certain places, yet it seemed much more tamed than it did every morning, an atomically flaming hue. One thing never changes, though — the near-automatic grin he held upon his lips, one that charms almost half the girls he passes by — and breaks their hearts when he so innocently struts past, ignorant to his trail of fans. "Charlie's here."

"Afternoon Avery, Dominique," Charlie chimes, stopping at a halt in front of both Ravenclaws. Avery gives him an acknowledging nod of the head.

"Hey, Charlie," Dominique greets him. "You good?"

"Brilliant, thanks," Charlie smiles at his fellow redhead. He directs his gaze onto Avery's figure, who was seemingly trying to avoid his eyes. "We have Care of Magical Creatures now, don't we, Avery?"

"Oh — er, so we do." Avery replies.

"That reminds me!" Dominique exclaims, a look of reminiscence flashing across her features. "I need to go see Professor Vector about upping my Arithmancy grade. Guess I'll see you later, Aves?"

Avery nods, and even as she witnessed Dominique walk briskly back up the pathway, she can't seem to get her previous words out of her head. And not the ones she spoke prior to her exit.

Take a leap.

Paying a final glance back to Dominique, who was growing smaller and smaller in the distance with her curls bounding after her, she sighs. She won't leap today, Avery knows. Her heart isn't in its right place to take it's leap — to step out of her comfort zone. She hoped she could leap someday, but it just wouldn't be today.

"So — er — have you started anything for the Halloween Ball yet?" Charlie asks, his initial hesitancy dissipating. They continue to set along the path, heading on the downhill route to the Care of Magical Creatures classroom.

"Well — erm — yeah." She answers him. "I started making a list of all the things to be done to be split between us, and Professor McGonagall caught up with me in Transfiguration to talk to us about deadlines for it all. I can give it to you tonight."

"That's — that's great," Charlie says, "I still think it was a bloody amazing idea to come up with, Avery." When Avery glances to her side, she sees Charlie is smiling again. She can't help but give him her own smile out of pure natural gratitude.

"Thanks," she tells him. They'd reached the Care of Magical Creatures classroom a few spots away from the Greenhouses, a transparent-walled room ridden with diagrams, annotations and models of various types of magical creatures. Professor Kettleburn was a very practical teacher, and divided their time between learning in the classroom to learning outside when he'd managed to get his hands on certain special creature. He kept his classes fun, enjoyable and motivating, though kept the difficulty on a medium that'd be able to challenge his students well. And Avery respected him for that. She was about to go join her desk partner Nico, when Professor Kettleburn appeared in front of her and Charlie, his arms stacked high with parchment. And Avery was now near to smacking her forehead out of frustration because that looked like—

     "Your essays?" Kettleburn requests, looking at them both expectantly. They appeared to be the last couple to have had to arrive in the already minimised class, standing in the near-opaque doorway. Charlie hands in his own essay — while Avery continues to stare at Kettleburn as if a slate's been wiped clean within the pools of green surrounding her irises.

     Rowena's bloody rooster, Avery thinks to herself. They had homework that day. The essay on Occamy feeding methods that she'd completely forgotten about, due to being so enthusiastic on making the plans for the Halloween Ball. And what was she supposed to do now? Just tell him she forgot? Avery never forgets a piece of homework; she'd ruined her track record.

     "I'm so sorry, Professor," She begins to say, unclamping her teeth from her bottom lip. "I—"

     "Completely my fault." The voice from beside Avery says. She'd snapped her head to the side so fast she could've sworn she'd heard a crack. What was Charlie doing? He fixates his eyes onto Avery, giving her an all-knowing look as if to say go along with it. So, she does. Whatever Mr Perfect had planned, it better have been good.

     "What I mean to say is," Charlie continues, "Avery doesn't have her essay because I forgot to bring it for her. I had trouble understanding one of the terms, so she lent me her essay. Point is, it's not Avery's fault at all that she doesn't have her essay. It's mine. So, don't punish her for it."

     Avery's eyes have widened extensively by this point. Charlie was taking a blow for her? Why on earth—? Why did he care?

     "Is that true, Avery?" Kettleburn inquires. Avery takes another look at Charlie, who'd kept the same prominent stare upon her, and she slowly begins nodding her head.

     "Yes, Professor. Sorry," She tells the older man. "I'll get it to you as soon as I can."

     Kettleburn narrows his eyes at the pair of them, before allowing them to get to their seats and beginning the lesson. (Avery had never had any homework issues before, so Kettleburn didn't think too much about it — he thought of it as a one-time thing.) Before Charlie can take a right to head to the seat beside his deskmate, Avery stops him discretely, gripping onto the sleeve of his robe.

     "Weasley!" She whispers harshly, seeing Kettleburn occupied at his desk, "What was that about?"

     Charlie turns his head to meet with Avery's eyes, an intent smile planted upon his lips. "We're a team, yeah? One of us takes a fall, then we both do, right?" He's turned away before Avery can respond, staring after him as a lost puppy would in unfamiliar crevices. A team.

     Avery shakes her head out of the tranced state, letting her bag drop to her side as she plants her backside on the provided chair at her desk. "Hi, Nico." She tells her the Slytherin sat beside her. She stares at the blank parchment in front of her, unable to shake away the possible reasoning behind Charlie saving her. Why? Was it so that Avery could owe him in the future? So that he could have leverage over her?

Or perhaps, he just did it out of the niceties of his heart.

     Her thoughts were interrupted by the amused chime of the boy beside her. "Avery — me and you both know you didn't do that essay," Nico speaks, smirking maliciously. "Lucky you, eh? Weasley coming to save the day."

     Avery sighs. Lucky me indeed.

***

introducing...

froy gutierrez as nico valdez

***

chapter 3 is here <333 and so is nico ✨ he'll be a minor character in this like his part is small but he still had a role in the overall plot😎

I hope you guys are enjoying this!! it's pretty boring as of now but TRUST ME bear with me it will get better!!! but I hope i'm not boring you guys too much LMAO

-- saar xx