History of magic was boring. Mumbo prided himself on being able to focus on any menial task, but even he had to concede that Professor Binns' endless monotone droning stretched his limitations.

The class was almost two hours into double History of Magic, and Mumbo was pretty sure that at least half the class was asleep from the soft snoring coming from numerous directions behind him. He stifled a chuckle as Scar's head slipped from where it was propped on his arm and landed on the table with a soft thud. To his left, Stress sketched flowers over her notes in color changing ink. She caught his eye and stuck out her tongue, making Mumbo smile and mimic her expression.

He heard a giggle from behind him and turned his head slightly to see Grian watching them and hiding his laughter with the back of his hand. Mumbo whirled around to face the front, his cheeks burning.

How did I forget this lesson was with the Slytherins...

Something was nudging his leg. Slightly annoyed, Mumbo looked down and saw a small paper bird flittering around his waist.

What the hell?!

He grabbed at it quickly, looking around to make sure no one noticed.

"Open it"

What?

"Pssst! Mumbo Jumbo! Open it" Grian's whisper floated up from the paper bird.

Wiping off his hands on his robes, Mumbo opened the note, being extra careful not to make any noise.

Mumbo smiled, his fingers twitching to pick up his quill. Would anyone notice?

Stress was still drawing, Scar was sleeping, Binns was still droning.

Maybe just one note...

But what to write, what to write... something funny yeah? Maybe sarcastic? No, sarcasm doesn't come across well over writing. Derision? Yeah, yeah, you can be satirical. You can be mean but, like, in a fun way. Like the Slytherins.

Mumbo quickly scrawled a message

Yeah. Yeah that's good.

He folded the paper back into a bird and tapped it with his wand before he could change his mind.

The little bird flew behind him and after a moment he heard a small snort. Mumbo's chest felt bubbly at the thought that he had made Grian laugh, and he waited anxiously for the next note. Who knew misbehaving was so exciting?

The little bird landed on his lap again and Mumbo unfurled the paper only to have his tongue catch in his throat.

What?! How could he possibly...

I mean, he hadn't not been maybe glancing over at the Slytherin table occasionally from time to time during meals, and definitely wasn't not sitting at a new table in the library for the last month so he could overhear the Slytherin study sessions.

He hadn't noticed had he? He must have! Oh god you're a creep! A stalker! This is it. This is where you die.

Mumbo's hand shook as he scribbled his reply.

He quickly sent the note and chewed on his thumb nail.

Oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god...

The bird flew into his hand and Mumbo almost ripped the paper with how fast he tore it open.

He... he was kidding... oh my word... I feel sick.

Mumbo put a hand on his chest and took several deep breaths to try and calm his beating heart.

Before he could muster the courage to write back, the class finally ended. The sudden scuffle of bags and feet filled the room, and Scar jolted awake beside him.

"Huh?" He looked around, a dazed expression on his face. "How long was I asleep?"

"At least the last hour" Mumbo commented, twisting his neck to try and see if Grian had left yet.

"Oh crap" Scar rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and did his best to fix his disheveled hair. "Mumbo can I have your notes?"

"Um..." Mumbo glanced down at his roll of parchment where his writing had trailed off into nothing. "I didn't exactly get them all"

"What?" Scar widened his eyes and gasped in a dramatic manor. "Even Mumbo Jumbo got distracted? Either this lesson was especially boring..." he narrowed his eyes at the paper bird in Mumbo's hand. "Or someone caught your attention"

"Ridiculous" Mumbo huffed, checking to make sure his hair was covering his burning red ears.

"Mumbo?"

Mumbo jumped and turned to see Grian looking at him, his head tilted slightly and chewing on his thumb nail.

"Grian! Hey, um, hi, how-how are you?"

"Hey Grian" Scar smiled, walking over to the short Slytherin and slinging an arm around his shoulder. "Were you as bored as I was?"

For some reason Mumbo felt himself tense at the sight of Scar and Grian so close, but he pushed the uncomfortable feeling to the back of his mind.

Grian laughed.

"Yeah, but I did my best to keep entertained"

He stole a glance at Mumbo, making the taller boy flush and look down at his hands.

"Well I feel very refreshed after my nap" Scar said, stretching. "And I'm about ready for lunch. Mumbo? You coming?"

"Uh, yeah, I'll meet you there" Mumbo said softly. "I still need to put my stuff away"

"Grian? Want to eat with us?"

"Oh definitely, but I want to drop my books off in my common room. Meet you in ten?"

Scar gave them both the thumbs up and shuffled away, leaving the two third years alone in the classroom.

"So, listen" Grian began, jumping up to sit on Mumbo's desk as the taller boy began to load his things into his book bag. "I know you're still upset, but I really am sorry about the potions thing. I didn't mean-"

"Wait what?" Mumbo cut him off, forgetting his usual self-consciousness in his confusion. "Why would you think I'm upset with you?"

Grian blinked.

"You... didn't respond to the apology note, and every time I look at you, you look away, so I just assumed..."

He trailed off, his thumb nail flying back to his mouth as he kicked his feet awkwardly in the air.

Cute  Mumbo thought with a small smile. He had never seen Grian embarrassed before, and he thought the light dusting of pink across the blond boy's cheeks suited him.

At least it was nice to be on the other side for a change.

"Grian, don't worry, I'm not mad at you. Besides" he raked a hand through his hair. "Iskall is at fault too"

Grian nodded and gave Mumbo a sad smile.

"Yeah... I don't think your friend likes me very much"

"I-it's not you!" Mumbo stuttered. "Iskall is... well he's competitive, and you're really amazing, so..."

"Excuse me?" Grian interrupted, leaning towards Mumbo with a smirk. "Did you say I'm really amazing?"

Oh crap.

"At flying!" Mumbo blurted, ducking his head. "You're a really amazing flyer! I-I mean not amazing, you-you're probably above average, not... not particularly awe-inspiring or anything... like that... would I say extraordinary? No, no I would probably maybe not at all say magnificent, or-"

Grian's resolve broke and he doubled over in hysterics, wiping tears from his eyes as his shoulders shook.

"Hahaha Mum-Mumbo" he was laughing so hard he could barely get the words out. "Mumbo it's-hahaha-it's ok!"

Mumbo covered his face with his hands.

How mortifying.

"Mumbo" Grian raised his head and forced himself to calm down. "Mumbo I'm sorry, you're just-hahaha- so fun to tease"

Mumbo peaked between his fingers and a smile tugged at his lips at the sight of Grian's face, flushed pink from laughing, his shoulders still shaking a bit from his giggles. However, his beaming smile seemed genuine and he couldn't detect any malevolence in his silver eyes.

"I'm glad you had your fun" he grumbled, unable to hide the upward curve of his mouth.

Grian snorted and jumped off the table.

"Come on Mumbo Jumbo! I'm hungry, and Scar is probably waiting. Besides-" he turned to Mumbo and winked. "I have a funny story to tell him"

Mumbo's cheeks burned.

"You wouldn't dare"

Grian smirked.

"Try me"

I know not much happened in this chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway! If you did, please consider leaving a like and a comment to let me know what you think!