As Helga Hufflepuff once said; I embark on a journey, not only of self-discovery but of friendships and adventures. I may find myself or encounter new friends along the way. One thing for certain: I will never be the same. That, my friends, is what came to mind when I collapsed into the toilet stall, positively wasted. I don't know why I had that sudden quote in my head at the time, maybe it was because I felt dizzy and faint, but super excited and giddy at the same time because… well, because I was drunk and I got excited over stupid little things.

It was the beginning of the year initiation party, which basically meant the 5th, 6th and 7th years of each four houses met in the room of requirement for a fun-filled night. Or just to get plastered on our last night of freedom. My best friend, Ella, had downed her first glass of firewhiskey and was already drunk off it. Dancing around in a small circle, she was holding my hand and telling me about how excited she was for the year to start.

That was when I caught the gaze of Stephen White. Ella was loud and was drawing unwanted attention from the students nearby (it was only 11pm and she'd had her FIRST drink, usually the parties start to get wild at around 1am... not 11pm!) when I caught his beautiful blue eyes. He raised an eyebrow, as if to say he was amused. I'd like to think I gave him a flirty smile back... but I think I was so shocked and half terrified at the fact he had noticed me.

He was so bloody gorgeous, and I was far too sober to do anyting. HELGA HUFFLEPUFF WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO. So in a moment of weakness I waltzed over to the drinks stand, took a glass of goodness knows what and drank. The room was roasting, all those hot and sweaty bodies of hormonal teenagers was making me feel so flustered.

My legs didn't feel like they could hold me any longer, and it was like my bladder suddenly turned on the light and red flashing warning sirens went off in my body. I needed to pee so badly. That was when my mind went into a bit of a blur and my eyes couldn't focus at all. I tried to calm myself, to stop the floor from spinning as I navigated my way through the crowds and to the toilets.

After a few minutes the toilet doors suddenly opened and someone ran in from the party. I could hear their shoes rushing violently towards the sink, they burped and then vomited everywhere. I stopped myself from letting out an 'eeeewwww' as I realised I was almost at this poor girl's stage, and I was also sat on a toilet seat, which most people would find unhygienic. I opened the door slightly.

A groan was the only notion that they were alive minutes after, their face still buried in the sink.

The person started to move and wavered slightly, holding onto the sink for support. The person began to wobble once more but at that moment they turned around and it was like time had suddenly frozen.

I was staring into the eyes of Sirius Black.

There was a moment of awkward silence. We stared at each other, unable to say anything as we just narrowed our eyes at the other in confusion. He was so wobbly on his feet and he reeked of vomit, but he still looked freaking handsome.

"You do know," He started to slur out, "you're in the boys toilets, right?"

Silence.

"What?" I spluttered as I tripped out of my cubicle.

"You're in the boys toilets." This time he managed not to laugh, although his voice still shook.

"Don't be ridiculous!" I said in a high squeaky voice. In my rushed state had I really misread the signs and gone in the wrong room? I didn't know what to think, I didn't know if I could trust my judgement.

My heart began to rapidly beat against my chest and Black's eyes shone with delight. As if on cue a boy suddenly entered the toilets and if felt like my world had suddenly slowed down where every second that ticked was a minute and the sound of a clock was just incessantly ticking in my head.

Black looked like Christmas had just come early and watched with glee as this boy walked straight towards the long line of urinals that I only now noticed. I heard the sound of a zipper and wondered if there was any way I could evaporate from the situation down the toilet like Moaning Myrtle, but Black's elated face told me there was no escape.

It felt a bit strange to be watching a boy pee with Sirius Black as my companion, but I guess that's just one of life's lemons right? For a moment all we could hear was the sigh from the boy, he had obviously been holding it in for a rather a long time, until Black thought it wise to scare the boy into a fright.

He coughed, rather loudly, and then a few things then happened all at once. The boy yelped out in surprise and Black instantly started to laugh, but the more he laughed the more his face started to whiten until he suddenly bent over and vomited all over the floor and his feet. I hadn't realised the boy had turned around until it was too late and then I was staring at Remus Lupin's flipping PENIS. And he did not look very happy.

He flung his arms over his legs.

"SIRIUS. WHY DID YOU BRING A GIRL INTO THE BOY'S TOILETS? COULD YOU NOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE?!"

"I was…" I realised that no words were coming out of my mouth. Lupin had now fixed his trousers and was very red in the face, from both anger and humiliation, and Black, now that he had stopped throwing up, was cackling once again like a mad-man.

"I was uh, just… leaving?" I sent Lupin an apologetic look that he either ignored or did not receive at all as he unceremoniously shouted at Black and even took out his wand. I heard the words to a jelly leg jinx being shouted as the door closed behind me and secretly wished that Black slipped into the pool of his own vomit.

My first thought was to run, as fast as I could, away from the party, somewhere that Lupin and Black would never be able to find me. Unfortunately for me the night had only begun, even though it was already past midnight and the night had ended… technically.

Stephen White was suddenly in front of me and was catching me as I wobbled towards him. Thank God for those Quidditch muscles of his, thank the Queen and Helga Hufflepuff for the awesome Quidditch keeper he was. All thoughts of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin disappeared from my mind.

"Lyons! Did you just come out of the boys toilets?" His voice sent shivers up and down my body but I tried to remain calm.

"No." I said in a rushed voice, a weak trickle of laughter following. "Don't be absurd, I came from the ladies of course! Because... I am a l-lady."

He gave me a lopsided smile and rubbed the back of his neck for a second. "Do you wanna go outside for a bit, fresh air and all? We could - " He handed me a bottle of butterbeer and smiled at me in a way that I had only dreamed of during my years here. Was I dreaming? What if all of this was a dream and he had never noticed me? Then I remembered what had just happened in the toilets, my mind would NEVER have made that up by itself... so it looked like I was in fate's spotlight right now.

I said yes and he casually took hold of my hand. As we left I caught eyes with Black, who seemed to be fully recovered now, as he whispered in a girl's ear. He couldn't help but grin at me, sending me a wink as Stephen laced his other arm around my waist. I made a face at him as we walked past him, he was not going to ruin this for me, no matter how handsome he was.

It was a relief to step outside, I welcomed the cool and fresh air with open arms, literally.

"Lyons, are you hugging the air?" My eyes were closed but I imagined he had a look of adoration, with his eyes molded into heart shapes.

"The fresh air is a lovely thing."

We stood in silence for a second until he cleared his throat.

"You excited for the new school year, Lyons?"

Time to open my eyes now. Stephen was smirking and leaning against the balcony, my body tingled and I quickly sent a 'thank you' up towards the heavens. The cold September wind was ferocious as it whistled along its merry way, causing Stephen's cheeks to be rosier than usual.

"Can't wait," I groaned. "All that studying and homework. Who wouldn't be excited?" And Ella and I had made a pact in July that this would be the year when we got serious and became more mature. We were going to try and study more and find boyfriends. Well, or at least try and do one of those.

"At least Hufflepuff have a good chance of winning the cup this year, especially with Reynolds as the captain. We were so flipping close to winning last year, Ravenclaw had better watch it this year."

Whenever he talked about Quidditch his eyes would light up as if you had just said to him that he could have every Cadburys chocolate bar in the world, for free. I loved Quidditch, it's a fascinating game and it became a favourite of mine along with football (Manchester united were my babies), but I never understood how a guy can talk about Quidditch so much?

Stephen's voice brought me back to reality. He was standing over me, or rather trying not to wobble - a lot of people had had one too many fire whiskies – and seemed to be frowning.

"What's the matter?" I laughed, he looked adorable and yet kinda stupid at the same time.

"There's this really pretty girl and she seems to be too busy thinking about things instead of talking to me." His whispers were sending shivers down my spine as he walked closer towards me. His hot hands brushed the tops of my shoulders and then ran down my arms slowly before taking hold of my hand. His thumb rubbing against my palm made my head spin out of control.

I wanted to touch his perfect golden blonde hair, it looked so soft. But I'd probably look like a freak doing it. I restrained myself and took in a deep breath.

"Oh." Was all I could mutter out.

Sure, me and Stephen were in the same house and had talked a few times and we were sorta friends… and I did have an amazingly massive crush on him… But I had never had an inclination that he had liked me back?

It was then that he kissed me. I want to say that it was like a movie kiss, where a low harp and piano classical piece plays gently in the background and that there's fireworks erupting everywhere as he tenderly cups holds of my cheeks and says 'You look so beautiful'.

It was exactly the opposite.

We were both so drunk and so horny that we kinda just fell onto each other. Having had no other experience prior - yes, Stephen THE HANDSOME QUIDDITCH PLAYER White was my first kiss, HALLELUJAH! – I was at a loss as to what to do with my hands and ended up just folding them across my chest. He stumbled towards me and got hold of my waist. It was milliseconds before he pulled me onto the balcony fence, leaving me with such little space that I was forced to put my hands on his chest whilst he wound both arms round my waist.

My mind was so hazy and everything was going so fast; he was breathing heavily and seemed to be so into it but at the back of my mind there was this doubt and confusion about why it wasn't making me feel like I had romanticised.
He still seemed to be so wobbly on his feet and for a second loosened his hold on my waist... but at the same time he was still kissing me so ferociously. I could feel myself slipping from the wall but all I managed to do was give out a little squeak before I felt myself topple over the balcony.

I was hanging, my knickers on show to the whole of bloody Scotland and my crush, off the bloody astronomy tower.

"SHIT!" He managed to grab hold of my legs and for a second he let me dangle there.

"PULL ME UP RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR TO MERLIN I WILL - "

He pulled me back quickly and with so much force that I bumped into him. He lost his balance and crashed into the floor, with me landing ungraciously over the top of him. I had just seen my life flash before my eyes. I was shaking and I could feel the adrenaline rushing through me mixed with the alcohol… I couldn't help it. I then vomited all over his shirt.

"Oh my God... I'm... Stephen, I'm so sorry?" I WAS HORRIFIED. He looked up at me, laughing.

"I don't suppose you want to be my girlfriend, do you?"

"Are you joking?" I could still taste the vomit on my tongue and I pulled a face like one would when you put an entire lemon segment in your mouth. But Stephen didn't seem to care, in fact he looked rather infatuated with me in my current state.