Sara woke up earlier than she normally did, which she described as 'an unreasonable hour to expect basic human functioning'. She checked her alarm clock, and found that it read 5:30. She tossed and turned until just before 6, when she gave up and threw the covers off of her and stood, stretching before she trudged to the bathroom. She didn't bother with her bathrobe, as she couldn't imagine anyone getting up as early as she was.

Sara, however, was very wrong about that. She had forgotten that Ava was a classic overachiever and was an early bird gets the worm kind of gal.

So when Sara stepped out of the bathroom after a blissfully long shower, wrapped only in her crimson towel, with her hair still damp around her face, she was honestly shocked to find herself almost colliding with Ava in a similar state of undress.

Ava, after having confirmation the morning before that Sara did not wake up as early as she did, had just walked to the bathroom in her sports bra and boyshorts that she normally wore to go to sleep, and was similarly shocked at the near-collision with her dorm mate.

Now, while the two young ladies did not get along very well, with the minor exception of the last day, neither was blind, and each knew the other one was clearly attractive and fit.

Just how much, however, was surprising.

Ava subconsciously licked her lips as she gazed down at the shorter blonde, the smell of her wildflower-scented conditioner surrounding her, ensnaring her senses completely. Sara still had a thin layer of water coating her skin, and her towel did very little to hide said skin.

Sara noticed Ava's wandering eyes, but was too busy using her own eyes to take in the sight before her. Thank Merlin for Quidditch, she thought as she took in Ava's toned biceps, broad shoulders, and perfect abs. Sara was practically drooling.

Neither of them made any move to step back for a long enough time to be considered inappropriate. Sara was the first to get her senses back, cocking a smirk and raising an eyebrow in a suggestive manner.

"Like what you see, Sharpe? If I'd known you'd be showering this early, I'd've invited you to join me."

Ava immediately took a step back as Sara's words registered and jarred her back to reality (her cheeks blazing almost as red as Sara's towel). She struggled to pull her facial features into an expression of distaste.

"In your dreams, Lance."

"Oh, it certainly will be now." Sara countered, which caused Ava's blush to deepen, and Sara's smirk to widen.

"Argh, whatever. You are so infuriating and insufferable. I thought we were past the animosity after last night?"

Sara made a show of looking Ava up and down. "Oh, this isn't animosity, just appreciation, darling." She gave Ava an exaggerated wink as she passed her.

Ava let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding, and made to walk back into the bathroom, before hearing Sara speak again.

"Mmm, the rear is almost as enticing as the front!"

Ava sneered and rolled her eyes in response, causing Sara to laugh.

"No worries, I'm just teasing, Sweet Pea. Lighten up!"

"I am not your 'Sweet Pea', let's make that very clear." Ava said, trying to sound threatening despite the blush that had taken over her cheeks.

"Sure, Honey. I'll be waiting to walk down to breakfast with you, my love." Sara winked again, and disappeared into her room before Ava could retaliate.

"Fuck," Ava swore. Please tell me the pet names aren't going to become a thing, she thought desperately.

"Hey there Sunshine! Ready to go to breakfast?"

Ava groaned. She'd figured that Sara was going to make pet names a thing, but was hoping beyond hope that she'd get out of it.

Sara gave her a wicked smirk in response, and held out her arm ceremoniously for Ava to take. Ava looked at the arm, looked back at Sara, and snorted before pushing past Sara at the bottom of the stairs and approached the door. Just as she put her hand on the doorknob, she whirled around, accusation in her eyes, fixing Sara in her sights.

"So, what exactly were you doing around the castle last night past curfew?"

Sara's eyes widened ever so slightly, that Ava thought for a second she might have imagined it. Sara supposed she shouldn't be surprised that Ava remembered her excursion outside of the head dorm last night, but was hoping that if she flustered Ava enough with the pet names that she'd forget to bring it up this morning.

"Oh, Charlie asked me to tutor Esi in defense. Apparently Esi wants to surprise Amaya with her skills, and wanted a tutor who wasn't Charlie so it would be harder for Amaya to find out. So I went over to the Hufflepuff common room to meet Esi."

"Isn't Amaya in Hufflepuff? That sounds like she's more likely to get caught in that common room, when she could've just gone to Slytherin with Charlie, right?" Ava's eyes narrowed.

Damn, she really doesn't miss a beat, Sara thought. "Amaya was with Nate in Gryffindor last night, actually."

"Isn't that against the rules? You're head girl, you should've said something!"

"Actually, it's not against the rules. First of all, they're both prefects. Second of all, they weren't wandering the halls, past curfew, since Amaya just stayed overnight with Nate. Neither of them were in the corridors after curfew, ergo, no rules broken."

"But you were in the corridors past curfew, ergo," Ava countered, echoing Sara's word choice, "some rules were broken. How do you explain that?"

"I crashed in Amaya's bed, of course." Sara bluffed. She had gotten in really late last night, and hadn't heard any stirring from Ava's room when she put her ear against the door, and she had securely locked her door to ensure privacy at all times, plus she'd gotten up before Ava this morning. The only way Ava could have proof was if she was awake when Sara got back, and judging by the quiet snoring coming from her room when Sara checked to make sure she hadn't noticed her arrival, that was not the case. "Is this interrogation over now?"

Ava huffed. She didn't believe Sara, not for one second, but she didn't have any proof to confront her with. With another frustrated sigh, she opened the door and stepped out into the corridor to walk down to breakfast. Sara was hot on her heels, despite that breakfast was only just beginning to be served, and would continue to be served for the next hour and a half, so it's not like they were late.

Ava chuckled inwardly despite herself at the eager look on Sara's face as they approached the Great Hall.

You're cute, she thought at Sara, before realizing what she'd thought and mentally slapping herself.

Ray was already sitting at the group's normal seats by the time Sara arrived. He'd woken early as well, though earlier than Sara had. After getting ready, he decided to relax in the Ravenclaw common room until breakfast would be served. Usually it was either him or Amaya that would get to their seat at their normal table to save spots for the entire group (not that anyone would take the Legends' spots, but it was better to be prepared, as Ray's Eagle Scout training had taught him pre-Hogwarts).

He'd been looking over some of his notes from the previous day's classes when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Ray turned to find Nora Darhk standing behind him, wearing her Ravenclaw uniform with a skirt, her shirt untucked under a sweater vest, her tie loose, and her hair still damp from her shower and smelling of berries from her shampoo, which Ray tried desperately not to sniff as he stood with a grin in Nora's direction, which she shyly returned.

"Wanna walk down to breakfast? They start serving soon," Nora began, "uh, and I, ah, like talking and hanging out with you." She blushed, ever so slightly.

I'd go with you anywhere, Ray thought, unbidden. It was surprising, the intensity of his affection for Nora, but Ray had always been a passionate person. He decided to instead say something a little less intense: "Yeah, sure! I'd love to!" he gushed.

Nora looked up at him, thought to herself, he's like a big, over enthusiastic puppy. She awkwardly hugged him, which Ray was more than happy to return as he inhaled the intoxicating scent of her shampoo, and she the riveting smell of his deodorant.

The hug probably lasted longer than platonic standards typically called for, but neither noticed or much cared. When they pulled away, Ray gave her a toothy grin before turning to pack up his notes, while Nora blushed and checked her racing pulse while Ray's back was turned. When Ray was finished, they went to leave, Ray holding the door for Nora and escorting her past him with a hand on her lower back, sending tingles up her spine at his touch.

So they walked to the Great Hall, talking about anything. They sat at Ray's normal spot as the conversation flowed.

"Did you see that Kendra Saunders is the new Defense professor? None of us have heard from her in ages!"

"Yeah, she's a nice professor, though I never knew her when she was a student. But didn't you date her?" Nora tried desperately to keep the bitterness out of her voice as she attempted to shove her jealousy to the back of her mind.

"Yeah, but not for long. I think it was just a rebound anyway, for both of us. She had just broken up with Carter, and Anna had just moved to America and transferred to Ilvermorny, so I guess it was kinda convenient for us both? I liked Kendra, but it never would've worked long term or anything."

Nora tried not to let her heart soar at knowing that Ray didn't harbor any feelings for Kendra, but her face fell at the mention of Anna. Everyone had known about Ray and Anna, who had dated from second year through fourth year, only breaking up right before fifth year when Anna and her family had to move to America when Anna's mother got a job at the Magical Congress of the United States of America.

"But I'm totally over Anna. It's been 2 years, and we'd been drifting at the end anyway. Sorry, you don't want to hear about my failed romantic past, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't've even brought up Kendra, I -" Ray was started to ramble, so Nora cut him off.

"It's okay. I've just never dated before, so I don't really have anything to say on the subject, you know?" Nora's eyes showed just a little insecurity. "But I like talking to you, so I'm willing to listen if you want to talk about it."

"No, that's okay, we should change the topic." Ray paused a moment as Nora's words sunk in. "But hold on, really? You've never dated before?"

"So you need motive, means, and opportunity for dating, right? Someone who wants to date you, some kind of common interest to do on a date, and the time that someone asks you out. So I'm so focused on my schoolwork, so there goes 90% of means. My overprotective older brother makes sure that there is no way for anyone to ask me out. So two out of the three qualifying factors have been eliminated. As for motive, well, I can't imagine anyone going for the small, quiet, bitter-about-life-circumstances girl who does her damndest to be left alone by most of the population."

"That's crazy!" Nora's eyes darkened at Ray's exclamation.

"Are you saying I'm crazy? Or that I'm wrong? Because I guarantee I'm not either."

"No, what I meant was, it's crazy that there's no motive to date you! You're smart and funny and witty and pretty and kind! Just being around you is awesome! Anyone would be lucky just to stand in your general vicinity!"

Nora's eyes softened, before she cocked an eyebrow. "Well, don't press your luck too much, Raymond Palmer." She said with an uncharacteristic wink. She just felt bold today. Nora stood, having spotted Ava and Sara making their way over. Nora gave Ray a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks for hanging out with me this morning."

Ray, slightly dazed, responded with a hum. "Yeah, uh, anytime."

"See you tonight for studying?"

"Yeah," Ray said dazily.

Nora grinned and walked over to Ava, and they sat at their own table as Sara went to sit across from Ray.

"What's with the Dopey Eyes?"

"Ray's got it bad for Nora Darhk."

Ray jumped. "Screw you Z, where the hell did you even come from?!"