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𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝖙𝖜𝖔:
𝔬𝔥 𝔥𝔬𝔴 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔱𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔰 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔫𝔢𝔡

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𝕿HE CRISP WINTER AIR CHILLED YOUR ARMS, the golden light of the late afternoon casting a warm glow over the sprawling green field of the Quidditch pitch. As you approached the field with Kyra, Isaac, and Cho by your side, you donned your blue and bronze Quidditch uniform and held your broomstick in your hand.

Your teammates' chatter filled the air around you as you walked. Upon moving closer to the pitch, you noticed the familiar figure of Oliver Wood and you internally thanked yourself for storing his Quidditch plays in your pocket to return to him — almost as if you foresaw that he'd appear during your practice.

"Oliver again?" Cho questioned, her tone a mix of curiosity and mild exasperation as the four of you made your way toward the entrance of the Quidditch pitch.

"What does he want?" Kyra groaned, her voice tinged with frustration. She was already tired of the seemingly endless encounters with him, the relentless persistence that had become a regular part of your routine.

Reaching into your pocket, you pulled out two folded pieces of parchment, the crinkled paper a familiar sight by now. "This."

As you approached, your three teammates continued into the pitch while you stopped in front of Oliver. His face lit up with a determined grin, clearly pleased to see you had arrived.

"You finished reviewing it?" Oliver called out enthusiastically as soon as you were within earshot, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

You couldn't help but sigh again, feeling the familiar mix of admiration and exasperation. "Yup," you muttered, knowing there was no way out now that you were here. You couldn't help but smile though, despite your slight annoyance.

Oliver's grin only widened as you handed him the parchment. His eyes sparkled with that intense focus he always seemed to have when it came to Quidditch. "Brilliant! What's the verdict?"

"They both suck," you stated bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat your words.

"Oh, come on," Oliver groaned, unfolding one of the notes. His eyes saw the notes you had scribbled over his play, every one of your notes criticizing it.

The enthusiasm in his eyes dimmed just slightly as he scanned the notes you'd scribbled all over his carefully planned plays. He frowned, his brow furrowing in concentration while he absorbed your feedback. You could see the gears turning in his head as he processed your blunt assessment.

"Really? You think they're that bad?" He asked, his tone somewhere between disbelief and a challenge.

You crossed your arms, your broomstick tucked under one elbow, and nodded. "It's not that they're terrible, but they're too predictable. Any decent player could see through these moves a mile away. You're still relying too much on brute force and not enough on misdirection."

Sighing, Oliver rubbed the back of his neck. "I thought the aggressive approach would catch the other team off guard."

Shaking your head, a small smile tugged at the corner of your lips. "It might work against a weaker team, but not with someone like Slytherin. Even if you don't like them, they're smart and they're cunning. They'll use that aggression against you."

Looking up at you, Oliver's expression softened as he considered your words. "You've got a point," he admitted, though it was clear it pained him a little to say it. "So, what would you suggest?"

"I'm not telling you," you scoffed, your brows furrowing slightly. "I'm already doing too much by giving the opposing team feedback. I can't just give you the answer to a good play too. Just look over the notes I gave you and make a play off of that."

"Fine, fine," Oliver sighed, nodding his head in understanding. "Then I'll just give you more plays to look over."

Scoffing playfully, you rolled your eyes at Oliver's persistence. Despite his annoying stubbornness, you had seemed to grow comfortable in her presence, which surprised you because you hadn't even noticed in the first place how comfortable you'd grown with him. "Why am I not surprised?"

He chuckled, tucking the parchment away. "Because you know me too well by now. I can't help it."

"Yeah, I've noticed," you replied with a smirk, your tone teasing but not unkind. "Just don't expect me to keep bailing you out every time your plays hit a dead end."

With another laugh, Oliver commented, "You know, you're really saving Gryffindor's neck here. Don't think I don't appreciate it."

As you shrugged, you pretended to be nonchalant even though you couldn't help but feel a small swell of pride. "Just don't forget who helped you if you win the Cup."

"If?" Oliver repeated with a hint of incredulity in his tone.

"Just because my big brain's helping you doesn't mean you're gonna win," you commented, chuckling a bit under your breath. "So, if you win the Quidditch Cup, I want some credit."

He gave you a mock salute, his grin returning full force. "Wouldn't dream of it. Thanks again."

"Uh huh," you muttered, already turning to head back to your teammates, who were now hovering on their brooms, waiting for you to join them. The rest of your team also appeared to have shown up with practice about to start.

"Good luck on your Charms project, by the way!" Oliver's voice called out as you began to leave and you bit back a smile.

As you walked away, you could feel Oliver's eyes on you, and you couldn't help but glance back over your shoulder. He was still standing there, watching you with that same determined look he always had when it came to Quidditch. For a moment, you wondered what it was like to be that single-mindedly focused on something, to have that kind of drive.

If you were being honest, you kind of envied people like Oliver — people who had the drive and ambition to achieve their dreams.

You didn't even have dreams.

Your life was all planned out in front of you by your parents.

And if was just simply your job to follow it.

Being 14 and dreamless was sad.

You had no idea what you wanted to do, or who you wanted to be. Sure, you were young now, but you were sure that if someone asked you the same question in five years, "What would you wanna be?", you would still only say, "I don't know".

The Black Lake at Hogwarts shimmered under the midday sun, its surface a mirror of rippling water reflecting the vast sky above. The gentle lapping of the water against the shore was accompanied by the occasional rustle of leaves from the nearby Forbidden Forest.

You knelt by the edge of the lake, your fingers carefully sifting through the smooth, round stones scattered along the shore. You were on a mission to find rocks for your Charms presentation, where you planned to throw a bunch of rocks at Adrian. As always, you preferred to work alone if Kyra were preoccupied with her own classes, finding comfort in the solitude and the soft sounds of nature around you.

The rocks you needed had to be just the right size — small enough to be easily enchanted, but large enough to showcase the spell's effects. Your brows furrowed in concentration as you picked up one stone after another, examining each before either placing it in your small leather pouch that had an extension charm or discarding it back onto the ground.

As you were so absorbed in your task, you hadn't notice the tall figure approaching from the direction of the castle. Fred Weasley had been wandering near the lake after a particularly successful prank involving Filch and some enchanted fireworks. His footsteps were light, his excitement still visible in his expression.

"Oi, (Y/n)!" Fred called out as he approached, his voice breaking the tranquil silence.

Jumping slightly, you were startled by the sudden interruption. You looked up to see Fred standing a few feet away, his hands casually shoved into his pockets.

"Hey, Fred," you sighed, trying to calm down the race in your heart caused by Fred startling you. As you glanced back down to the rock on the edge of the lake, you asked, "What brings you out here?"

Fred grinned, his usual mischievous spark in his eyes. "Oh, you know, just avoiding homework. Figured I'd take a stroll and see what trouble I could find. Didn't expect to find you here, though. What are you up to?"

You held up one of the stones you had just picked up, showing it to him. "I'm collecting rocks for my Charms presentation."

Raising an eyebrow, Fred questioned, "Rocks? What for?"

With a laugh, you answered, "I'm gonna pelt Adrian with 'em."

"No way," Fred laughed in his usually boisterous way. "Who knew (Y/n) (L/n) would use a Charms presentation as an excuse to throw rocks at Pucey?"

You couldn't help but chuckle at Fred's reaction. "Well, technically, I'm using the rocks to demonstrate how Adrian could use the Reductor Curse in a dueling situation," you clarified, holding up another stone for emphasis. "But if they just so happen to hit him, well, that's just a bonus."

Amusement sparkled in Fred's eyes as he crouched down beside you, picking up a stone and examining it. "I like the way you think. Creative, educational, and a bit of harmless fun all rolled into one."

You shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant even though you were secretly pleased by his approval. "It's not like he'll get hit. Since he's a Quidditch chaser, he's got to have fast reflexes. Besides, it'll keep the presentation interesting."

Tossing the stone in his hand into the lake, Fred watched as it skipped across the surface before sinking with a quiet plop. "You know, you could always use one of George's and my tricks to make the demonstration even more spectacular. Maybe add a bit of extra flair?"

"What kind of flair are we talking about?" You questioned. Raising an eyebrow, you were intrigued but cautious.

Lowering his voice conspiratorially as if sharing a well-kept secret, Fred leaned in closer to mutter, "We've got these special fireworks that are enchanted to go off with different spells. Imagine, right as you throw them at him, the rocks ignite with a burst of color. Pucey won't know what hit him."

Laughter erupted from your lips and you shoved Fred away. "No way! I don't wanna actually hurt the guy!"

Fred stumbled back a step, laughing along with you, his hands raised in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, maybe that's a bit much. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble with Flitwick, either. But it would've been quite the show, don't you think?"

Shaking your head, your smile never left your face. "It definitely would, but I think I'll stick to my original plan. Besides, the point is to demonstrate a practical spell, not to give Adrian a heart attack."

"Fair enough," he chuckled, taking another stone into his hand. "You need a hand? I'm great at finding rocks, or at least I'm great at skipping them." With those words, he threw the rock into the lake and watched it skip four times before sinking beneath the calm waves.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind the help," you responded with a grin, placing the pouch with the extension charm onto the dry land between them.

"Consider it done, Captain (L/n)," Fred joked with a mock salute before crouching down beside you.

The two of you worked in silence for a while, with Fred occasionally tossing a stone into the lake just to see how many times it would skip before sinking. You focused on your task, placing good rocks into the extensive pouch, but you appreciated Fred's presence.

After a few minutes, Fred broke the silence. "You know, (Y/n), I think you might have a future in this. Rock collecting could be your calling."

You laughed softly, shaking your head. "I think I'll stick to Charms, thanks. But I appreciate the vote of confidence."

Fred grinned. "Just saying, you've got a good eye for detail. And hey, if you ever need a rock-skipping champion for your presentation, I'm your guy."

"I'll keep that in mind," you chuckled.

You stood near the front of the classroom, feeling the weight of this very moment pressing down on you. Next to you sat Adrian with his dark hair, sharp features, and a calm, composed demeanor that contrasted with your internal conflict.

"Right, the next presentation..." Professor Flitwick called out from his perch atop a stack of books behind his desk. His eyes scanned his list as he had already written the order of presentations. After about four presentations, he finally said, "Next is (Y/n) (L/n) and Adrian Pucey with the Reductor Curse."

A deep breath left your lips as Professor Flitwick announced your turn. The classroom felt more stifling than ever. You could sense the expectant eyes on you and despite your usual preference for working quietly, there was no escaping.

From across the classroom, Oliver and George gave you a small nod of encouragement. Angelina and Cedric sent you encouraging smiles. Fred, Rowan, and Lee put up an excited thumbs up.

Next to you, Adrian seemed unfazed by the upcoming demonstration, his composure only adding to your nervousness. As he stood up from his seat, you followed behind. You cleared your throat and stepped forward, holding the small leather pouch filled with the stones you had carefully chosen by the Black Lake.

"Alright," Adrian began, his voice steady as if he weren't worried at all. You and he had already made an arrangement that you would barely have to talk for the duration of the presentation. "For our Charms presentation, we're going to demonstrate the Reductor Curse, which is primarily used to blast solid objects into pieces. To show the practicality and effectiveness of the spell, (Y/n) and I will be dueling."

A murmur of interest rippled through the classroom as Adrian's announcement caught everyone off guard. The idea of a duel during a Charms presentation was unexpected and instantly grabbed the attention of your classmates. You shot a quick glance at Adrian, who offered you a reassuring smile.

"So, we're gonna have to make some room," Adrian continued, taking his wand out of his pocket. With a simple wave of his wand, all the desks in the room were rearranged to allow a clear area down the center of the classroom. Students gasped at the suddenness in which they were moved, but they quickly calmed down. The way he did it so effortlessly made you realize how he'd managed to skip ahead in Charms.

Making his way across the room through the clear opening he made, Adrian shrugged off his school robes and tossed them aside before pushing his sleeves up his forearms. "Ready, (Y/n)?"

With a hesitant nod, you carefully took your uniform robe off and gently placed it on the clear desk next to you. Opening the extensive pouch, you dropped it onto the ground next to you and let out a shaky breath.

The classroom buzzed with anticipation as you dropped the pouch beside you, its weight landing with a soft thud on the floor. Your heart raced, but the encouraging glances from your friends helped steady your nerves. You took a deep breath, gripping your wand tightly.

Adrian stood at the far end of the room with his wand at the ready. You met his gaze and you two shared a silent understanding. With a swift motion, you summoned the first stone from your pouch and it was sent hurtling towards him in an instant.

Much like he did in the library days before, Adrian reacted instantly. "Reducto!" He called out, his voice firm and confident. A bright blue light shot from his wand, hitting the stone with pinpoint accuracy. The stone shattered into dust, slowly spreading across the floor.

The class erupted in applause, but there was no time to bask in the praise. You quickly summoned two more stones, sending them in quick succession toward Adrian. He responded with practiced ease, blasting each one apart before they could reach him.

A small smile stretched across your face and you could almost forget the nerves that plagued you before. With a quick flourish of your wand, you sent three more stones simultaneously — one straight, one arcing high, and the last low to the ground.

Adrian's brow furrowed in concentration, but he didn't hesitate. "Reducto!" He shouted, directing his wand at each stone in turn. The first and second stones shattered, but the third — the low one — nearly caught him off guard. He managed to destroy it just in time though, but the effort drew nervous gasps from the onlookers.

You couldn't help but smile as you saw the slight surprise on Adrian's face. "Really?" Adrian silently mouthed, though the grin on his face told you that he was also enjoying this.

One last time, you summoned more stones from within the extensive pouch. Summoning five stones at once, they hovered above you menacingly while Adrian waited for your move. Within the blink of an eye, you sent them flying toward Adrian, weaving them in unpredictable patterns.

Despite his eyes widening at the unexpected complexity, Adrian responded with the skill that showed you how he had managed to move up in Charms. His wand moved in a blur, casting the Reductor Curse with precision. One by one, the stones exploded into harmless fragments.

As the last stone shattered, the classroom exploded into cheers and applause. Even Adrian looked mildly impressed as he lowered his wand, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Well done!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "A most impressive demonstration!"

Breathing a sigh of relief, you exchanged a glance with Adrian, who offered you a nod of respect. As you gathered