Helpless

December 14, Third Year

"Merlin, you're helpless, aren't you?"

Eliza Schuyler looked over to her best friend with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"

Betsy Ross rolled her eyes but still smiled. "You've been staring at that Slytherin boy for at least five minutes, Liza."

The Hufflepuff blushed. "He's been looking at me too, Bets, I swear," she said, her smile wide. "Do you think he'll ask me to dance?"

Betsy just smiled. "Perhaps."

Eliza beamed. "I don't even care who it is, I just really wanna dance."

"Liar," Betsy muttered before taking a sip of punch.

Eliza didn't say anything. Betsy was right; as soon as Eliza noticed the young Slytherin staring at her, butterflies had been fluttering in her stomach. He was handsome, for sure, and even though she'd interacted with boys before, he seemed different. Boys had always flirted with her, and she'd occasionally she'd even flirted back, but it had never been like this. His eyes were so deep and captivating, Eliza felt like she could stare at them for hours.

Eliza Schuyler bit her lip. She'd never felt anything like this before. Glancing up, her gaze caught with his again. He was still staring, and their eyes met from across the room. Blushing, the Hufflepuff turned to get some punch, her heart beating quickly.

She sighed and fanned herself in the crowded Great Hall.

Maybe she was helpless.

(ooo)

"Hey, how's it going?"

Angelica came up to her sister a little later that evening, her cheeks flushed prettily. Even though the older Ravenclaw had just spent the last ten minutes

"I'm good. How's George?" Eliza asked about her sister's dancing partner. George Washington's family was very respectable, as were the Schuylers. Even though some people probably thought they would make a good match, Eliza knew that Angelica and George were only very good friends.

"We've constructed a plan to help him ask out Martha Dandridge for our ball," Angelica giggled, her face lit up.

Eliza laughed too. In the corner of her eye, she saw a couple other third and fourth years staring at her and her sister. The young Hufflepuff smiled to herself. Angelica didn't realize how much attention she drew, just by being herself. It was fun to watch her dazzle on the dance floor.

"What are you thinking?" Angelica asked curiously. "There's something you want to tell me."

Eliza raised an eyebrow. "How'd you know?"

"I know you."

She smiled, then bit her lip. "I really want to dance with someone," she said softly.

"Then dance, sweetie," Angelica prompted her.

Eliza shook her head. "It's this one guy… he's been staring at me a lot. But he hasn't talked to me." she giggled.

"Who?" Her sister looked amused.

Glancing around the room, Eliza started smiling again. He was still staring at her. "That Slytherin boy," she whispered under her breath. "He's standing next to those Gryffindors."

Angelica was silent for a second. "Oh."

"Well?" Eliza tucked hair behind her ear. "Should I ask him?"

"I'll talk to him," Angelica said. Eliza's eyes widened.

"Ew, no, don't scare him away!"

Angelica giggled. "I'm just gonna talk to him. He asked me for a dance."

Eliza froze. "Oh."

The Ravenclaw shook her head quickly. "Not like that, don't worry. I'm pretty sure it was just a dare."

Eliza nodded. "Okay." Her sister was too kind to dispute, even though she was pretty sure it couldn't have been 'just a dare'. Angelica looked beautiful tonight, despite only being a chaperone. She was the star of the ball, and Eliza was fine with that.

But she had really wanted to dance with that boy.

"I'll mention you to him," Angelica promised.

Eliza looked aghast. "What? No! Then he'll know I like him."

Angelica smiled. "Fine, then I'll be subtly. Just be ready to dance." She winked at her sister, who smiled shakily, and then walked away, towards the boy.

Eliza took a deep breath. Hopefully this wouldn't go terribly wrong.

(ooo)

She visited the washroom with Betsy quickly, a tiny part of herself wanting to look as good as possible if she got the chance to dance. Once they got out into the Great Hall, her heart froze.

Angelica and the boy were dancing. Together.

She didn't feel jealous - honestly - but a part of her kind of gave up then. Angelica was smart, beautiful, kind… it was unlikely any guy would like her after dancing with her sister.

What's she gonna do? Eliza wondered to herself.

"Oh my god," Betsy whispered.

Eliza stared down at a glass of punch. "I know right."

"They're coming over!" her friend exclaimed, which made Eliza look up with a start.

Without her noticing, Angelica had led the boy off the dance floor and towards her. Her heart stopping for a beat, Eliza gave her cup to Betsy as Angelica approached her.

She met eyes with a boy who was, Merlin, even cuter up close. She was definitely helpless now.

"Hey, Liza," Angelica greeted. "This is Alexander Hamilton, he's a Third Year like you."

"Elizabeth Schuyler," Eliza introduced herself with a wide smile (she'd learned his name!), and was happy to see a smile in return.

"Schuyler?" he asked curiously.

"My little sister," Angelica confirmed. Eliza could understand why he was confused; though they shared the same father, Angelica's birth mother died in childbirth. Their father remarried soon after and had Eliza, so they had grown up as sisters but did not look very alike, except for their dark hair and eyes.

"I think I've seen you in class," commented Eliza. "You're really good in Defense and Potions."

"You have a special knack in Charms," Alex gave her a wide smile that made Eliza blush. He winked, and Angelica raised a teasing eyebrow at Eliza. "You're certainly charming me," he joked, and both girls laughed at him.

"You guys should dance," the older Ravenclaw said, not subtly at all. "It's really fun!" She hurried away after that, leaving Eliza and Alex to stare at each other.

Eliza blushed. Alex stuck out a hand and smiled at her. His eyes were so clear and even though they were brown like hers, she thought she could see the sky in them.

"May I have this dance?"

(ooo)

December 29, Third Year

"I think I'm in love."

Angelica laughed as Eliza flopped onto her bed with a dreamy face. "So soon?" her sister questioned. "It's been less than a month."

"We talk everyday, Angie!" Eliza exclaimed. "And he's so sweet and smart and… ahh." She smiled to herself.

"He's also really cute." Angelica teased.

Eliza's head popped up from lying down on her bed. "I know right!" she giggled. "It's stupid, but since we don't really sit together in class, we started sending each other letters." She said it quietly, as it if were a secret, and then grinned. "Isn't it romantic?"

Angelica laughed again. "You're excited to get back to Hogwarts soon, aren't you?" The two of them were enjoying their holidays at their father's large vacation home, but Eliza had been quite antsy. If she hadn't been talking about Alexander 24/7, Angelica might've wondered what was going on.

"You should pair up with him in class!" She encouraged. "It'd be so cute if you were to become a couple."

Eliza blushed. "Oh, it's too soon to be thinking about that. I still have to figure out if he likes me."

"Right, because all teenage boys send long letters to their female friends over holidays," Angelica rolled her eyes with a wide smile.

Eliza put her face to a pillow to smother her grin. "I have to warm up to him, and his friends." she said. "I can already tell John Laurens doesn't like me talking to Alex so much. They're best friends," the Hufflepuff explained.

"Hm, I think John might want to be more than just best friends with Alex, if you know what I mean…"

Eliza stared at her. "Oh no, if that's true, I'm in big trouble. They're like two wands with matching cores!"

"I wouldn't worry about it," Angelica assured. "But if it becomes a real problem, you two could always share Alex, y'know." Eliza's eyes widened as Angelica smirked. "Sharing is caring!"

"Angie!" Eliza shrieked.

Angelica ducked a pillow as they both started laughing.

"It was a joke!"

(ooo)

January 17, Third Year

"Hey, Alex!"

Her arm full of books, the young Hufflepuff greeted her crush with a wide smile.

"Hi Eliza," the Slytherin nodded to her in return. Lafayette and Hercules were walking next to him, and they greeted Eliza as well. They all had the same class next - Potions.

"Do you need some help carrying your books?"

Smiling, Eliza allowed him to take a couple books. "Thank you. Where's John?"

"Sick today," Hercules explained as they all walked together down the hall. "I guess Alex is gonna be missing a partner today."

Eliza cocked her head to the side. "That's odd. Betsy's sick today too, I guess something is going around." Alex nodded.

"You both are missing a partner. What a coincidence," Lafayette smirked and nudged Alex subtly, but Eliza nodded.

Alex looked at her with a smile. "Do you wanna be partners?" He grinned and rolled his eyes at Herc and Laf's fistbump.

Eliza tried to smother her giant grin. "I do!"