I have been fiddling with this idea since High School but couldn't find the courage or the peace of mind to write it down. I'm still unsure of how this would turn out, but I surely hope you'd like it!

Chapter 1

In a realm where moonlight's gentle glow,

In twilight's hushed and secret cove,

A potion brewed with starlight's kiss,

A brew of dreams, pure magic's bliss.

In a cauldron of the midnight's embrace,

With whispers of forgotten grace,

Add stardust sprinkles, a phoenix's song,

And ferns that in ancient forests belong.

With twirls of mist from the veil of time,

And a mermaid's tear, crystalline,

Blend the laughter of a woodland sprite,

And the courage of a dragon's flight.

Beneath the canopy of the night's deep sigh,

Ugh. I push the parchment away, and slump on the top of Magical Drafts and Potions. Why can't it be the steamy lyrics of a song instead of such hideous recipes of concoctions? There is no way I'm going to get an O.W.L in Potions, unless of course a messiah appears and takes the exam in my stead. If only… I turn my head sideways to find Soo-jin with her face buried in Hogwarts a History. The library appears to be deserted except for a few stubborn Ravenclaws, scribbling the life out of the unfortunate parchment and quill destined to fall at their hands. Stretching my arms, I crack my aching back. Heads shoot up with glares pinned right at me. Yikes.

Pin drop silence it is. I tiptoe across the table, to Soo-jin's side. With an eye darting across the occupied tables, I give her a jab. No response.

'Soo-jin!' I whisper timidly, still not tearing my eyes away from the antsy Ravenclaws. 'Soo-jin!' I jab her again, only to realize the girl was fast asleep with the book in her lap. Heaving a sigh, I unclench her fingers, one by one and gently peel the book out of her grasp.

Overwhelmed by the library's somber atmosphere, I tread outside in light steps, so as to not reciprocate any more animosity from the Ravenclaws. The transition was almost startling, like crossing from one world into another. The change hits me immediately as I walk into the bright and bustling courtyard. The brilliant sun bathed everything in its golden glow, casting long shadows that danced on the cobblestone pathway. The sudden burst of light made me squint for a moment, my eyes adjusting to the new, vivid world.

I could hear the lively chatter of students and the distant laughter of friends enjoying the break between classes. The courtyard was alive with activity. Some were sitting on benches, engrossed in conversation or their books, while others hurriedly crossed my path, headed to various destinations.

The air feels lighter here, and a gentle breeze carries with it the fragrant scent of blooming flowers from the nearby garden. The sound of leaves rustling in the trees above provided a soothing contrast to the quiet of the library. Birds perched on the branches sang a cheerful melody that echoed in the open space.

I take a deep breath, and close my eyes, savoring the fresh air. A gaunt face appears, screaming at her.

'You promised!'

Repressing a shudder, I settle on the grass, letting the sun unfreeze my cold, clammy joints. Spring is almost over. I should probably start preparing for the O. . But…It's not Easter yet. I still have some time. The thought of spending hours poring over textbooks and notes was daunting, and the allure of a leisurely afternoon was tempting. On one hand if I buckle down and study now, I'll have a better chance of passing the O. . I'll feel accomplished, and wouldn't it be a relief when it's all over?

But if I push too hard, I might burn out. I don't want to be a bundle of nerves when the exams actually arrive. A little break won't hurt, and wouldn't it help me perform better in the long run?

I sigh lamenting, when footsteps thudded behind and Soo-jin dropped beside me with a thump.

'How could you have left me there sleeping!' she exclaimed, her onyx eyes shining with fresh tears.

I blinked, taken aback by her sudden outburst. Soo-jin was one of the most self-preserved, least rotten and the calmest person to be with at Hogwarts. 'You were napping,' I purr, trying my best to sound all cute and breathy. 'And I couldn't have possibly woken you up with your doll face and pouty lips waiting to be kissed awake by a handsome stranger.'

'You left me snoring! I was kicked out because of it!' Soo-jin wailed. Oh. Woops. 'And there's no one who is handsome and a stranger at Hogwarts.'

I sigh, reaching for her sweaty hands. 'I know. And you probably got a lot more comfortable after I took that book away from you, and hence the—' I snort through my nose, making pig-like sounds.

'That's not how I snore!' Soo-jin whacks my arm, but she has stopped crying and I couldn't be more grateful.

'So…no luck with the potions essay?'Soo-jin asks, curling up against her knees.

'Ehehehe,' I give her a sheepish smile. 'I wrote a poem though.'

I find my place at the Hufflepuff table, and nestle among a sea of over-the-top sunny, yellow-clad students and draw closer, to catch some of the latest snippets of gossip.

Erin Gablington, with a look of exasperation and a trace of annoyance, leans in closer to her group of sixth-years at the table, her eyes wide with incredulity.

'Can you believe it?' she begins, her voice a mixture of frustration and disbelief. 'We went to that fancy tea shop in Hogsmeade, right? Madam Puddifoot's, yes. And he, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, mind you, forgot his wallet! So guess who ended up paying for the entire feast he'd ordered?'

Collective gasps and sympathetic murmurs from our group fills the air and I roll my eyes. Who, but bimbos like these wait for the guy to pay! Yet, Erin had their full attention. And mine.

"He ordered, I kid you not, two-tiered tea trays with all sorts of pastries, scones, and sandwiches. And, of course, he kept reaching for more! I couldn't believe my eyes," Erin continued, shaking her head. "He ate like a Hippogriff who hadn't seen food in weeks."

As Erin recounts the story, my eyes darted over to the Ravenclaw table, searching for the unfortunate Quidditch captain, but I couldn't spot him among the blue-clad students.

Erin sighs, a mixture of irritation and bemusement on her face. "And the worst part? I was on a diet! All I had was a tiny slice of tea cake and some iced tea. It felt like I was just there to watch him devour a feast!"

I hide a snort, shaking with silent laughter. Boy, she got played. My condolences. Guess I judged the girl too early. And on a serious note, paying for all that food you didn't eat makes no sense. And not to mention, that place costs a fortune. Not that I was ever asked out, mind you. Like I have been on dates, but they've been hardly more than summer flings. Not that any of the 'dates' could be counted as even remotely cute, let alone a romantic afternoon at Madam Puddifoot. I chuckle again, thinking of Erin's last experience and sigh as the memory of a summer flickers in my mind, where I find myself in the least likely but strangely romantic setting: a dusty garage. He had taken a summer job there, working long hours to save up for who knows what, but I did learn how to ride a bike as a payment for helping him out at times. Muggles are fascinating. Strange, but fascinating. But not all of them… I shudder at the whisper in my head. Just then a loud guffaw erupts at the Gryffindor table, where the noise was always significantly higher. Why are they the ones always having fun? I regard them glumly. James Potter, a fellow fifth year student, drawls about something, probably his most recent prank, but I'm not close enough to hear. Hufflepuffs are a satisfying lot, but deep down I wanted to be a Gryffindor, to be daring and fearless. Live every moment to the fullest, throw everything behind and have a blast. And amongst all of the sad-but-I'm-fine lots, they seem to be living their best life. The four of them, James Heart-throbber, Remus I-am-a-genius, Peter nothing-new-here, and… Sirius Black.

Should I try to talk to them? The very thought makes my legs shuffle uncomfortably. I don't mind talking to people, especially if they are the ones talking to me. Approaching them is a little harder yet still doable. But this lot…

I stuff the last, actually half, of the bruschetta in my mouth and head towards the door of the Great Hall, where the four of them went not a minute ago. Soo-jin is chatting away with a couple of first-years. She's always smiling and so agreeable that the first years have made her their Hogwarts-godmother. The art of denial is not for everyone to master. I mouth 'I'll be back' to her as I look for the four Gryffindors. Shouldn't have waited to finish the last bruschetta. Blame my mother for quite literally beating the habit into me, of not leaving food on the plate.

I was just about to give up on my 'endeavor', when I hear footsteps in the corridor I was about to enter and dive back just in time.

'I think this is quite alone,' a rich, deep voice suggests. 'What is it?'

'I…I was just wondering if you perhaps would like to go to Hogsmead this weekend,' the girl's voice was barely audible and I'm dying to see who it is. I risk a peek and jump back with a gaping mouth. Erin Gablington and Sirius Black? Didn't she have a thing going on with the Ravenclaw Captain? Well, who cares, it's a Sirius Black confession! Jackpot. Ooh, Soo-jin is going to have a fit.

I lean against the cool stone walls and close my eyes to concentrate, waiting for the reply. But there's pin drop silence. I strain my ears to catch something, even my head is angled towards them, yet, nothing…

My shoulders slump, and I open my eyes to head back. I barely make a couple of steps when I realize and whirl around. There, leaning casually against the wall, is none other than Sirius Black, a mischievous glint in his eyes, making my cheeks flush with embarrassment.