╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ♡ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
THE FIRST DUEL
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ♡ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

GAMBIT SEATED BESIDE LILY, the two girls paid attention to DADA class. Scribbling down notes at Dueling was neither of their Forte, they wanted to brew potions and cast spells but dueling was hard, at least they thought so.

A boy--Xenophilius Lovegood--seated the other side of Gambit, smiled at her.
Gambit took this as a sign that he wanted to be friends with her, so she invited him to come along to their study date this afternoon. He agreed immediately.

"Now, class, I want you to all stand up. We'll be having a nice friendly duel between two students," The professor looked around as the chairs and seats vanished out of sight and a small platform appeared, his eyes landing on Gambit and another student.

"Ah, Ms. Gaunt and Ms. Greengrass, step up please and we'll have you two demonstrate a few spells commonly used in duels."

Gambit gulped as she stood, everyone's eyes on her as she faced the girl,

"Wands drawn,"
The professor instructed.

"And.... Duel!"

"Stupefy!"

"Taran--"

Gambit was a tad quicker than Greengrass, as the girl was stunned moments before coming back to her senses.

"Very quick and precise, Ms. Gaunt! Good efforts too, Ms. Greengrass, class dismissed!"

Gambit sighed, carrying her bag, arm hooked with Lily as Xenophilius trailed along side them.
⠀

⠀⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
"We've met before, but it's nice to actually be friends with you girls," Xenophilius smiled, appreciative that they listened to him talking about Nargles and had not dismissed him, "Most people calls me eccentric or special. Which isn't true at all."

Lily shrugged,
"You are special, well, you see the world in different ways others don't. Gambit is thankful you're her friend now too! Right, Gams?"

"Y-yeah! Although, I thought we'd be studying, instead we're making anklets.. I don't mind, it's nice to take a break now and then,"

Lily chuckled, picking a daisy off from Xeno's basket filled with different flowers. Xenophilius suggest he makes anklets for the three of them, but Gambit wanted to learn and so did Lily, so they discarded their books and started to make daisy anklets.

"Well, it'd be hard to study with all the bumbling from the Gryffindor quidditch team not far from us,"

The three of them laid by the black lake, near a tree while the Gryffindors were practicing. As it turns out, the Slytherin quidditch team have taken for the Quidditch pitch for their own practice.

Gambit looked back, barely seeing James whizz pass as they practiced for future games. Seeing him lead his team and being serious did things to Gambit, she never saw him this serious about something.

"James loves quidditch. A bit too much I think, I've never seen him this serious in something other than quidditch..."
Gambit muttered, adding another daisy to her anklet.

"He's serious about Transfiguration too, but I suppose you wouldn't know since you don't have that class with him.."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and Potions too, not quite but he's keeping his grades up on that class, he wants to be an Auror,"

"I see--"

Gambit was cut off short when she noticed a shadow loomed over her, turning once more, she saw James flying above her, smirking.

"Hello ladies, Lovegood, not talking about me, are you?"
His eyes sparked with mischief,

"Why would we talk about you, James?"
Gambit retorted, pretending as if they weren't talking about him.

"I heard my name in your talk earlier, must've been my ears playing tricks on me," his eyes flow down to their hands, holding flower anklets, "That's looks nice, is that exclusive for only you three or can I also have one..?"

Lily shook her head,
"Exclusive to us only, Potter. Now go back to your sport,"

"Alright, Evans."

He winked before he left, waving them goodbye.

The other two looked at Lily,

"What? I want this to be between us three, since we're a newly friend group!"
She exclaimed, resting her arm on Gambit--which was laying flat on her stomach.
⠀

⠀⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
Halloween was nearing and Sirius is throwing a party for both Halloween and his birthday. Everyone is invited, of course, the party was held near the Black lake.

Gambit wanted to go, but she couldn't. Assignments and papers flooded her bed as she rushed to get them done, in hopes to atleast attend the party a few minutes or hours before it ends.

"Don't worry, Perryl. Sirius throws parties that lasts for a few days, you'll be fine,"
A fellow slytherin--Granger Zabini--comforted Gambit, the two had gotten close as Granger would look out for her when her friends aren't able to.

"Thanks Zabini, have fun at the party,"

She waved him goodbye as she was now left alone in the common room, ripping her parchment off, she finsihed one out of six essays that were all due on Friday.

A voice echoed in frustration as the words were filled with offensive words for the subject of Herbology.

"I've never think plants would give me hell--oh."
His eyes looked up to see the girl, alone on the couch.

This boy had sharp features, features that were familiar to Gambit. Black hair same as Sirius, and a jaw that closely resembled his.

"Black..?"

"Please, that's what you'd call my father. Regulus is fine."

"I see... I'm Gamb--"

"Gambit Gaunt, yes I know. Talk of the school lately, it's an honor to meet you,"
He pressed his mouth into a thin line, his effort for a smile.

The two sat together in silence, occasionally hearing swears from Regulus and huffs from Gambit.

"I don't see you in my classes..?"
She tried to start small talk.

"I'm younger than you, unless we're the same age and you're just very bright."

"I'm not that bright, or so I think so.." she cleared her throat, "What's with you and Herbology..?"

The ravenette sighed heavily, shoving the book towards her,
"That. All of that. Herbology in general is just..." he pulled a face, pinching his nose bridge.

"I can help you with this if you'd like..?"

His eyes opened fast, looking at her stone faced but his eyes couldn't hide his happiness.

"I'd appreciate that, Gaunt. And in exchange, I'd teach you..."

"Oh, you don't have to do anything--"

"Occlumency."