Y/n was hurrying down the corridors – school had started a week ago now, and she was just starting to get used to the new timetable: fifth year had turned out to be even harder than how older students had told her it was going to be; with very difficult lessons and constant homework overload.

Ancient Runes was probably the worst subject under that aspect, as she had found the schoolwork for it considerably heavier ("it feels like I'm living off of this" she'd confessed to Jisung a few nights before, while they were studying in the Gryffindor Common Room).

And, even worse, the Ancient Runes class was exacty where she was heading right now; her bag full of books and her heart of anxiety, as she was running late – who would've thought a chill heads up with Felix would cause her to almost get told off by the strict and borderline terrifying teacher!

Speeding up (and getting in the way of some other tardy students), she finally got to the classroom, just a few seconds before the teacher did.

Letting a loud sigh of relief, she was however not surprised at the fact that all the seats but the ones in front row were occupied – who would ever want to be sitting right before the teacher's eyes for two whole hours?

Just as she was finishing to unpack her Ancient Runes schoolbook alongside a few pieces of parchment, the door burst open once again and two more students entered the classroom, their arms clutched on their bellies as if they were trying to restrain themselves from laughing to hard.

Their identities, once the Gryffindor managed to match the faces with their names, were not a shocker: other than Hwang and Seo, who else would have had the nerve to come into Ancient Runes class not only being late, but laughing?

"Get a grip, you two!" scremed in fact the teacher, a mid-aged woman with thick squared glasses.

Still giggling, the friends at last managed to sit down in the only two places left – the ones beside Y/n.

The Gryffindor had never actually talked to the two, but as they had been taking Ancient Runes classes together since third year, she still knew who they were – and would've known either way thanks to hearsay (the school pranksters were not exactly the type to go unnoticed).

When the two finally settled into place, Y/n noticed that their vests were covered with a thin coat of white powder, and were even scratched in some points. She tilted her head left, just slightly, to have a better look: what had they been up to that early into the day, to be looking like that?

"Class, enough talking!" snapped the teacher suddenly, but managing however to obtain perfect silence at the first try. "I've corrected your latest homework, and I'd like to spare a few words about it".

The students looked at each other in confusion: that was very unusual of her, as she always claimed like correction was a work to be done alone (and that she did not have the time to do that during classes anyways) – and it furthermore seemed especially odd as the translation they had due for their last lesson was one of the easiest they'd done so far!

"Dare I say surprisingly", continued the teacher as if there hadn't been any reaction whatsoever to her worlds, "it's not about the actual translation – you did a great job, but it was also pretty easy, so don't get too excited.

"My main concern after analyzing your work was your ability to write, structure and refine a speech or an essay: an ability that, let's be clear, is almost unexistent" she immediately added, as if she did not want to give them false hope. "All the parchments were full of such dull, simple grammatic; no linkers, no adjectives, no nothing!" she yelled, holding her head with her hands dramatically – done or not on purpose, thought Y/n, the effect had been achieved.

"To make up for your embarrassing lack of skills", she went on, "I have decided to do something different today".

The news were welcomed with mixed reactions: what could that be? was she going to test them? would they be forced to come up with 'structured sentences' on the spot?

"What is it?" asked one of the two pranksters (Hwang), sat comfortably on the bench as if the scolding did not concern him in the slightest.

"You must raise your hand before you talk!" snapped the teacher. "And stand still!", she added, obliging the boy to sit more formally.

Clearly pissed, she finally explained the project she had planned for the lesson: "What I want you to do during these two hours is an activity that will force you to come up with mildly-structured speeches – a debate, to be more accurate".

A loud chatting immediately filled the class: theachers never let them do debates! A lesson where they could actually be allowed to stand, talk, do strange hand gestures? It honestly didn't feel real.

"Class!" called the teacher to restore order, hitting her desk's surface hard with the tip of her wand. "I want two groups of three people" she stated, getting up and moving closer to the students to select those who would take part to the first debate.

"Hwang... seems reasonable" she muttered, but loud enough for the whole class to hear. "You and your deskmates, first trio!"

Stunned, Y/n got up, not able to believe in her unexpected luck – she loved debates, they were so fun and a great way to allow her to scream and start rows with everybody!

Her only worry lay in her two debate-mates – would the two Ravenclaws be able to handle it properly?

When the teacher finished selecting the other three students, – other two Gryffindors and a Ravenclaw – she finally revealed the topic of the discussion: "Since you're the first group, the topic will be quite easy – House Elves: should we set them free, or keep them as servants? The first group" and she pointed at Y/n, Hyunjin and Changbin, "will be defending the first option. The second group – the other. Now onto the debate!" and she sat back at her chair, wich she somehow managed to make it look like her personal throne.

"Just to be clear" murmured Y/n, making sure only her teammates could hear her, "I am not the only one who shares the second opinion, am I?"

"Nope".

"Not at all".

The short answers she received did not help with the whole goal of the debate – now she really had to fight hard to demonstrate that the opinion she disagreed with was actually the better one.

"House Elves are our servants because they want to be our servants", started a Gryffindor, his eyes fixed on them. "To deprive them from their task would be cruel and stupid!"

He's so so right, thought Y/n.
"They want to be because they don't know what it would be like if they weren't forced by cruel and stupid wizards you mentioned!" she snapped back out loud instead.

"Yeah, don't you know under wich conditions they work?" agreed Changbin hotly "Underpaid, underdressed, lacking of any kind of affection! It honestly surprises me that you haven't been made aware of it!"

"Then go down in the kitchens, pull one random House Elf and gift them with a piece of clothing!", replied the other Gryffindor. "See how well they respond! They like being where they are and doing what they do, and years of living under those tremendous – just to quote you –conditions hasn't stopped them from working!"

"They are scared" explained Hyunjin, not really sure about what he was saying. "Because they have got used to being punched if they don't obey orders!"

"Owners don't randomly punch people, elves or who for them!" shot the Gryffindor who'd first started talking. "And I must admit I am surprised to hear such words coming out from the mouth of a Ravenclaw. Aren't you supposed to be the smart ones? What's happened – was the Hat perhaps in the wrong?" he then added, an evil smirk on his face.

Changbin's reflexes jerked immediately and he wrapped his arms around the friend, who had become red of anger – no one could dare insult his House, and Changbin was kind of happy that the Slytherin didn't know any better: they were now in for an epic fight.

"YOUR BEHAVIOR", started Hyunjin, screaming at full lungs, "IS. SO. URGHHHHHHHH!!!"

Y/n pulled her hands to her ears, genuinely concerned about how that puncturing scream could potentially affect her hearing. But despite that, she couldn't help but look at the two guys with admiration – after all, it turned out they werent as bad at debating as she'd thought them to be.

~🤍~
I am backkk! Sorry for not posting last week, but it was a living hell – I basically lost my phone under the rain, and I had no means to even write a full sentence!

But after Christmas things are back to normal, as I was gifted with a new phone :)

This chapter is probably going to remain my fave – I really wanted to include the Hyunjin meme, it's so funny and I think having him and Changbin as debate mates would be super amazing, lmao.

And as far as the debate is concerned – team #LetsFreeTheElves or team #LetTheElvesBe?
I'm team 1, duh. Let me know what your opinions are though – we could have our little debate with mildly-structured sentences ;)

Until next week, have a great one everyone~

Vic🌙.