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𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝖋𝖎𝖛𝖊:
𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔡𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔠𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔡

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𝓦ITH A WAVE OF YOUR WAND, your quill began to glide across the poster paper, as if it had a life of its own. Ron leaned closer, watching in awe as intricate drawings started to form in smooth, dark ink. Curved lines swirled into detailed designs, and what began as simple sketches turned into stunning illustrations.

"Blimey, (Y/n), that's brilliant!" Ron exclaimed, eyes wide with amazement. He crouched slightly to get a better view, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "How do you even do that? I can barely get mine to write properly!"

You rubbed the back of your neck, feeling pride swell at his words but still a bit shy about the compliment. "Since neither of us are very good at drawing, I found a spell that can enchant my quill to do it for us..." You trailed off, rubbing the back of your neck. You felt pride swell at his words but still felt a bit shy about the compliment.

Ron's eyes widened even more as he watched the enchanted quill finish off an illustration of a werewolf transforming into a stuffed dog. "A spell for drawing? That's genius! Why didn't I think of that?"

You chuckled softly, feeling a little bashful under his praise. "It's really not that complicated once you know the right incantation. I found it in 'The Standard Book of Spells'. Figured it would be useful since, well... we're not exactly artists."

Shaking his head in disbelief while watching the quill work, Ron commented, "Yeah, but even with magic, it's still your ideas making it happen. I'd probably end up with a bunch of stick figures, even with the spell."

"I guess it helps when you have a clear picture in your mind. The quill just follows what I'm thinking." You watched as the quill elegantly added the finishing touches to the werewolf drawing before starting on the next boggart transformation.

As you and Ron admired the poster, Harry approached, his expression a little frustrated. "Hey, Ron, you got extra ink? I've run out."

Ron blinked, tearing his gaze away from the enchanted quill. "Yeah, hang on a second." He rummaged through his bag before pulling out a small bottle of ink and handing it to Harry. "Here you go, mate."

Harry's eyes drifted to the enchanted quill, his curiosity piqued. "What's that?" he asked, pointing at it. "D'you reckon that'd be considered cheating?"

"Since when did you care about cheating?" Ron chuckled, lightly shoving Harry's shoulder, the two of them sharing a laugh.

"Well, we're being graded on the contents of the poster... Not on how it looks," you explained quietly, earning a nod of understanding from Harry.

"Brilliant," he muttered, smiling at the scene of the enchanted quill drawing a boggart. His eyes trailed away from the quill, gazing at your novel that sat on the edge of your desk. 'Far from the Madding Crowd' is what it had read. "That's a muggle book, isn't it?" Harry asked, gesturing slightly to the book.

You blinked, following to where he was pointing to. "Uh, yeah..." You confirmed, slowly nodding your head.

"It's a good book," Harry mentioned with a casual hum, surprising you a little.

Ron's face pulled into an expression of genuine confusion. "You read?"

Harry rolled his eyes with a smile and he lightly shoved Ron aside, earning a hearty laugh you found familiar in the Weasley family. Harry laughed, telling him, "I definitely read more than you, that's for sure."

The faint ticking of gears echoed through the spacious chamber, filling the silence between you and Ginny. You sat across from Ginny, her books spread out between you. Quills, parchment, and several textbooks on Charms and Transfiguration were scattered around.

Ginny had asked for your help with her midterm prep, and you — being you — couldn't say no.

Besides, Ginny was nice and friendly. You liked hanging out with her.

You pointed to the spell Ginny was struggling with, your voice soft but clear. "I think the incantation is where you're having trouble. You're putting too much emphasis on the first syllable. Try again, but focus on balancing the intonation."

Ginny's blue eyes flicked toward you, her concentration furrowed into a small line between her brows. She raised her wand, exhaled quietly, and repeated the spell with a whisper. A flicker of light formed at the tip of her wand, the charm she was attempting finally starting to take shape.

"There, see?" You chuckled with a small, encouraging smile. "You're getting it."

"Thanks," she laughed, brushing a strand of fiery red hair behind her ear as her face visibly brightened at your praise. "I've been trying for ages, but I think I wasn't really focusing."

"You're doing well so far," you told her, giving her a smile that you'd hoped would ease her nerves about midterms.

In the distance, in the courtyard below the Clocktower, you could hear the laughter of students and the fluttering of wings as owls soared overhead. The rushing wind rustled the leaves outside, adding to the chaotic atmosphere that matched well with the usual inner turmoil of midterm preparations.

Ginny glanced toward the window for a brief moment, her gaze distant as if briefly distracted by the world beyond. Then, she turned her attention back to you, her expression softening. "You know, I never told you before, but you've got a nice spot up here."

You blinked before smiling as you looked around the cozy space of the Clocktower chamber. The large windows framed the view of the sprawling courtyard below, bathed in the soft afternoon light.

"Yeah, it's peaceful up here," you mentioned, glancing back at Ginny. "I like the quiet. It's a good place to study or just get away from everything, like the crowds."

"It makes sense. I can see why you'd come up here." She paused, as if debating whether to say more as her eyes flickered around the room before settling on you again. "I don't know how you manage it all, to be honest. From helping others with school, to staying on top of your own schoolwork, to Quidditch, and still finding time to... well, be calm about it."

You raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by her words. "I'm not always calm, trust me. I just—" You hesitated, thinking about how to explain. "I think retreating to quiet places helps me reset when things get overwhelming. It gives me a bit of space, y'know?"

Ginny smiled, a touch of admiration in her eyes. "I think I need to take a page out of your book. It always feels like everything's happening all at once. Sometimes, I don't know where to start."

"Well, if you ever need a place to reset, you can always come here," you offered, your voice warm with sincerity. "It'll always be open to you."

"Really?" Ginny questioned, her expression brightening.

"I mean, it's a public spot," you laughed lightly, waving your hand dismissively. "Plus, I've got plenty of other spots like these. I'm more than happy to share one with you." You glanced around the cozy corner, where the golden afternoon light filtered through the tall windows, illuminating the dust particles that danced in the air.

Her eyes softened, a flicker of admiration shining through that you were too busy to notice as you gazed back down at the textbooks spread between the two of you. "Thanks, (Y/n)."

Glancing back up to her, you smiled again and replied with a sincere warmth in your tone, "Anytime, Ginny."

The air in the library was filled with the scent of old parchment and ink, a comforting backdrop that often enveloped you as you studied with Theodore across from you. Soft whispers echoed through the aisles, interrupted by the occasional rustle of turning pages.

You sat at your usual secluded table, a pile of textbooks spread out before you, trying to focus on the intricate spells that danced across the pages. Theodore was engrossed in a Charms textbook, the faint light from the nearby window cast a soft glow on his features.

After a moment of silence, you glanced up to find Theodore with a look of frustration etched on his face. "I don't get it," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Why does the incantation for this spell have to be so... complex? It's like they make it unnecessarily complicated on purpose."

You smiled softly, sensing his frustration. "Some spells are just like that. The theory can be tricky, but once you understand the core concept, it usually gets easier."

"Easy for you so say, you natural genius," Theodore scoffed with a playful roll of his eyes. As he rolled his eyes, his gaze landed on the book peeking out of your bag. "Isn't that the book you got from Tomes and Scrolls?"

With a confirming hum, you gently pulled the book 'Far from the Madding Crowd' out of your bag and showed it off to him. "Yeah. They've got a whole section for muggle books."

Theodore leaned forward, curiosity evident in his expression. "What's it about?"

You flipped the book open to the first page, revealing the charming illustrations and vintage print. "It's a classic novel. It follows the life of Bathsheba Everdene, a strong-willed woman in the English countryside. It's full of romance and drama, but it also touches on themes of independence and the struggles of rural life."

"Sounds interesting," Theodore replied, his eyes scanning the cover. "You finished it yet?"

"Not yet, but I've started it, and I've heard a lot about it. I thought it'd be a nice change from the usual textbooks," you commented, setting the book back down. "Even Harry says it's good too."

"Harry... Potter?" He questioned, his eyes narrowing at the name as his tone dripped with something you couldn't quite pinpoint.

You caught the hint of annoyance in Theodore's voice and tilted your head slightly, trying to read his expression. "Yeah, Harry Potter. Who else?" You laughed, brushing off the tension. "He mentioned it during one of our classes."

Theodore's lips twisted into a skeptical grin, his eyes remaining in a questioning narrow. "Since when were you friends with Potter?"

"We're not friends," you clarified with a chuckle. Sensing that his irritation was more than being 'friends' with Harry, you figured it had something to do with talking about books with someone other than Theodore as you teased lightly, "It's just a book, Theodore. You don't have to be jealous."

"Jealous? Please. I just think there are better sources for literature," he retorted, though the corners of his mouth threatened to betray a smile.

"Like who? You?" You challenged, raising an eyebrow.

He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Exactly."

"You want to recommend a book to someone? Recommend one to Indie," you laughed, rolling your eyes. "She'll probably love your book recommendations."

Theodore blinked at the sudden mention of her name before chuckling and shaking his head in mock disapproval. "Indie? I'm not sure she's ready for the intellectual depths of my type of literature." His tone was playful, but you could sense the underlying pride in his voice.

"Oh, come on! She's smart enough to understand your books, I'm sure," you countered, a smile playing on your lips.

"Sure, she's smart, but my recommendations tend to come with a side of existential dread and moral ambiguity," Theodore replied, grinning. "Not exactly the kind of thing she's into."

You couldn't help but laugh at his description. "Maybe a little existential dread is just what she needs. Life at Hogwarts can be pretty straightforward for a Ravenclaw."

"But you seem to understand my books just fine for a Ravenclaw." He hummed thoughtfully before saying teasingly, "Maybe you're just special then?"

You huffed out a laugh. "Don't say that when you're dating Indie," you told him as you waved your hand dismissively.

Raising an eyebrow, Theodore seemed clearly intrigued. "Dating? We're talking," he clarified, which surprised you.

"Seriously?" You questioned incredulously, narrowing your eyes. "Does she know that?"

Theodore shifted in his seat, a hint of discomfort creeping into his expression. "Well, I mean, it's a new thing. We're still figuring it out."

"New thing? Figuring it out?" You echoed, your brow furrowing as you felt upset on behalf of your fellow Ravenclaw. "Indie's said you two have been talking since, like, the middle of summer, and it's almost February now. With the way you two interact, it seems like more than just 'talking'. You have this whole chemistry thing going on."

"We haven't labeled anything yet," Theodore tried explaining as he sighed exasperatedly. "I'm just trying to keep things casual for now."

"But what if she wants something more?" You countered, wanting to advocate for Indie. "She's interested in you, Nott. She's made it quite clear. I'm pretty sure she thinks the two of you are dating."

"I mean, I don't know," Theodore sighed, feeling slightly confused about how fast this conversation turned around.

First, he was upset about you talking about Harry Potter — though he didn't know why he was upset. Then there was playful banter between the two of you, then you bring up Indie — which confused him because it came out of nowhere — and you're speaking on her behalf, even though you two were hardly friends? Everything was turning around so quickly and his emotions were all over the place, and he didn't know how to handle any of it.

"I don't even know how I feel about her yet," he admitted.

"Well, figure it out," you scoffed. "'Cause you'll end up hurting a perfectly nice girl's feelings if you don't."

"I'll figure it out," Theodore told you before reassuring you again to calm you down, "I'll figure it out."

"You better," you muttered, gazing back down to your textbooks.

"I will," he sighed. "I promise."

Far from the crazy, crowd-filled corridors, George sat beside you on the windowsill, like usual, with his head resting on the wooden frame in the abandoned classroom. His tall figure was relaxed but his eyes were sharp with interest as he peered down into the bag that held all the cassettes you were gonna show him today. "So, what is it this time, (Y/n)?"

You smiled as George leaned closer, his curiosity clearly piqued. "I brought a few different ones today," you said, pulling the bag onto your lap. You shifted through the cassettes, the sound of plastic cases clicking together filling the air. "Some Salt-N-Pepa, a little Nat King Cole, and a bit of Frank Sinatra. Variety's always a good thing."

"Y'know, I've really appreciated you educating me on muggle music. This is fun," George mentioned with a grin, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "What's the first one you've got for me?"

Pulling out a tape with a worn label, the ink faded from countless listens, you put it into your walkman. "This is Nat King Cole. It's perfect for when you need something calming and mellow." 

George placed the headphones over his ears, his expression one of mild curiosity. As the smooth, velvety voice of Nat King Cole began to filter through the speakers, his posture relaxed even further. His eyes drifted shut for a moment, allowing the music to wash over him.

After a few moments, he opened his eyes and shot you a grin. "This... is nice," he admitted, his voice a little softer than usual.

You smiled, watching him soak in the sound. "I knew you'd like it. There's something timeless about his voice. It makes you feel like you're in a different era, doesn't it?"

With a nod, George's grin widened. "Yeah, it's like I've been transported to one of those old, muggle black-and-white films. Not that I've watched many, but I get the vibe."

Chuckling, you leaned back against the window frame. "That's exactly the feel I was going for. Something mellow to slow things down, but I've got some Salt-N-Pepa lined up next if you want to switch gears."

His eyes sparked with interest. "Oh, is this one of the ones who do really energetic tracks? Sounds like a bit of a mood whiplash, but I'm down."

Switching out the tapes, you popped in the Salt-N-Pepa cassette and handed the headphones back to George. "This one's going to be different."

As the upbeat, energetic beats of the song 'Push It' began to fill his ears, George's eyes widened in surprise, and then he burst out laughing. "Bloody hell, (Y/n), this is wicked. How do you go from something so calm to this?"

You couldn't help but laugh along with him. "Told you variety was a good thing. You get a little bit of everything."

George handed you one of the headphones so you could listen along with him. The two of you sat there on the windowsill, sharing music, laughter, and the feeling that these little moments together were something special.

"You're really full of surprises, you know that?" George commented, nudging you lightly with his shoulder.

You smiled, your heart warm and your stomach full of swarming butterflies. "Guess you'll just have to stick around and find out what I come up with next."

Donning your headphones with music playing, you clutched your book 'Far from the Madding Crowd' in the crook of your elbow. Walking down the empty corridors late at night felt odd and a little creepy, but you