"Don't say anything stupid"

"Gee thanks" Mumbo muttered.

"Sorry" Stress replied with a small smile. "Just... Iskall is probably going to be upset about losing his first game"

"Yeah I still don't understand that" Mumbo said, crinkling up his eyebrows. "Gryffindor was in the lead the whole time"

Stress rolled her eyes.

"The Slytherin seeker caught the snitch"

"... and?"

"AND" Stress let out a sigh. "Gryffindor was only 80 points ahead, and the snitch is worth 150 points"

"That's... so stupid"

Stress elbowed him in the side.

"Shh! Here he comes"

Iskall walked out of the Gryffindor team changing room, still straightening his tie, a dark look clouding his face.

"Hi Iskall!" Stress chirped, her best smile wide across her face. "You played so well!"

Iskall offered her a small grin.

"Thanks. I wish we would have won though"

"You'll get 'em next time" Mumbo offered weakly, awkwardly putting out his fist. Stress pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger and Iskall laughed.

"I appreciate the effort Mumbo" he said, returning the fist bump. "But please never do that again"

Mumbo sighed, trying to cover his embarrassment with a laugh.

"Thank God"

The door to their right opened with a bang. The Slytherin team stumbled out, elbowing each other and laughing uproariously.

Iskall turned away, the frown returning to his face until the thud of a door opening and closing echoed down the hall.

"Hurry up!" A low gravelly voice shouted from behind them, making Mumbo jump.

They turned to see a tall boy with dark brown hair still holding open the Slytherin team's door.

"Wasn't he one of the beaters?" Stress whispered, leaning towards Iskall. "He's massive!"

"Well Doc is a sixth year" Iskall said, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.

"COME ON!"

"Hey!" Iskall called, making the sixth year turn to look at them. "There are other people here so maybe you can shut up for a sec"

Doc scowled and straightened up, making his intimidating height and build more obvious.

"And if I don't?" He snarled.

"Doc!"

A boy ran out of the changing room and grabbed the sixth year by the sleeve.

"Please don't"

Mumbo felt his palms start to sweat as the boy with the silver eyes shot an apologetic smile in their direction.

Please look at me, please look at me

"Sorry for the noise. We'll leave you guys alone" he said. "Wait... Iskall right? The new chaser for Gryffindor?"

Iskall nodded curtly.

The boy's bright smile lit up the dark hallway.

"You were awesome! Our chasers have nothing on you"

Doc grunted indignantly, but the small boy ignored him.

"Thanks" Iskall grumbled, clearly a bit upset he no longer had a reasonable justification for being angry at the Slytherin seeker.

The boy's smile faltered at the cold response, but he quickly rearranged his features.

"Well uh... good game! See you around"

With a tug on Doc's sleeve, they walked away briskly.

Stress waited until the door closed before turning to Iskall with a displeased expression.

"You didn't have to be rude"

"He was rude first!" Iskall said, pointing in the direction the Slytherins had gone. "Come on Stressy, let me pout. I'm upset"

Stress struggled to keep a smile from curving her lips.

"Still. You shouldn't yell at people who can kick your ass. Back me up here Mumbo"

"Huh?"

Iskall snapped his fingers in front of his face.

"Dude why are you spacing out?"

"Are you sick Mumbo? You're very red"

"I'm fine" Mumbo said, swerving away from Stress's hand as she tried to feel his forehead. "Just... got distracted"

"Mm hmm" Iskall grunted, narrowing his eyes.

Why does this feel like déjà vu?

_________________________________________________
"Mumbo please? You're the best in transfiguration!" Scar pleaded, widening his eyes and sticking out his lower lip. "I can't get that damn cup to turn back into a stupid mouse!"

"It's not my fault you left the assignment to the last second"

"Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaase"

Mumbo rolled his eyes and looked over the mess of books spread across the small table in the Hufflepuff common room. He had planned on studying for potions, objectively his worse subject, but... his motivation for such a tedious project was dwindling with every passing second.

"Fine! Fine I'll help you" he said, unable to keep a smile from his lips as Scar hugged him. "But if I do, can you help me with potions?"

"Potions?!" Scar drew back with a grimace. "Mumbo you know I'm no better than you in that class. Snape hates me! I'm sure he would fail me on personality alone if he could"

"Yeah, well, he's a git" Mumbo said, mimicking Scars disgusted facial expression. "But come on! Two brain cells are better than one"

Scar laughed and tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"Why don't you ask one of the Slytherin's for help? Maybe the small blond one? He seems to get the best scores"

Mumbo's heart skipped a beat.

"Small blond one?"

Scar rolled his eyes.

"Right, right, I forgot how ridged you are in class. There is a Slytherin boy in our year who always gets perfect scores when we have potions with them. I've talked to him a couple of times and he's actually really nice for a Slytherin!"

Mumbo's mind raced. There was no way the boy had been in his classes for almost three years now?! He surely would have noticed a little silver eyed bunny smiling over at him...

He shook his head.

"I-I've never noticed him"

"Mumbo, you sit front and center in every class and only take your eyes off the teacher to take notes. I'm surprised you even notice anyone else is in the room at all"

Mumbo felt his face heat up and he ducked his head.

"Well it's the best way to make sure I pay attention" he murmured defensively.

Scar chuckled and slung an arm over Mumbo's shoulder.

"Look how about this. Meet me in the library Wednesday afternoon and I'll see if I can ask the Slytherin kid for help"

"Ok"

____________________________________________________
Oh god. Oh no no no no no. Why Scar? Why did you bring him here?

Mumbo dug his fingernails into his palms as he watched Scar wave over the silver eyed boy.

"Scar" Mumbo hissed under his breath. "Why is he here?"

"I thought you wanted help with potions?" Scar questioned, looking confused.

"Yes but..."

How do I say this in a way that doesn't make my weird fixation on a boy I've only talked to once so obvious?

"I thought you were just going to talk to him and get some tips. Not... invite him"

"I'm sorry Mumbo I didn't realize. He's great though, I promise"

Scar stood up to greet the boy, while Mumbo tried to inconspicuously wipe his sweaty palms off on his outer robes.

The boy was dressed casually in a simple white button up, half untucked from his black trousers with the sleeves bunched up around his elbows. His green tie hung loosely around his neck and a black messenger bag was slung over his shoulder.

He looked adorable.

"Mumbo? Did you hear me?"

"What?" Mumbo's eyes flickered away from the boys clothes to realize both him and Scar were staring.

Mumbo gulped.

"S-sorry. Dazed out" he stuttered, awkwardly standing up.

The boy smiled and Mumbo felt his retinas burn from the dazzling brightness directed his way.

"No worries" he stuck out his hand. "I'm Grian"

Grian

Mumbo took his hand, hoping Grian couldn't feel his rapid pulse when his fingertips brushed Mumbo's wrist.

"Nice to meet you. I'm, uh, Mumbo Jumbo"

A smirk flickered on Grian's lips momentarily.

Mumbo Jumbo? What's wrong with you?! You never use your full name!

An awkward silence fell over them, which was thankfully broken by Scar.

"So we were just talking about rodent untransfiguration"

"Oh I suck at that!" Grian complained, crinkling up his nose like a bunny and letting his bag fall into the seat next to him with a thud. He turned to Mumbo. "Scar says you're really good at this stuff. Can you help me out?"

Mumbo stared back into Grian's silver eyes.

This was going to be a long day.

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Sorry it took so long to come out, I've been having some writers block, and I apologize. If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider leaving a like and a comment to let me know what you think!