Here I am, with a brand new chapter. Sorry for the delay, I had my uni exams to go through. I was already done with half the draft before exams but had to wait for it to be over so I could do the final editing. Do let me know if you're enjoying!


Chapter 3

As James Potter and Sirius Black swaggered into the library, with all the subtlety of a Hungarian Horntail in a teacup, I couldn't help but smirk and held the edge of my seat in anticipation.

James strutted in, his trademark arrogant grin firmly in place, and he leaned casually against a bookshelf as if he owned the place. "Well, well, well, what have we here? The lovely Evans, buried under a mountain of books. That's a sight."

Lily, her patience already worn thin by James's antics, shot him a withering glare. "Potter, if you value the continued existence of your precious Quidditch broom, I suggest you leave right now."

'Evans, my dearest, we couldn't resist the magnetic pull of your intellect. How's your little study session going?"

Lily's irritation flared, and she retorted with a biting tone. "It was going quite well until you and Sirius turned it into a circus. Now kindly go be disruptive somewhere else."

Sirius, always eager to stoke the flames, added, "Oh, Lily, we just thought you might appreciate some company. It can get awfully lonely in the library, you know."

Lily's patience was wearing thin, and her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Yes, because what every serious student needs is the delightful company of two insufferable brats."

James, undeterred and insufferably smug, leaned closer. "Come on, Evans, admit it. You missed the intellectual stimulation that only we can provide."

Lily's eyes narrowed, and she hissed, "The only stimulation you provide is the overwhelming urge to hex you both into oblivion."

Sirius couldn't resist chiming in again. "Don't be too hard on Prongs, Lily. He did try to read a book once, but it burst into flames."

James and Sirius erupted into laughter, leaving Lily seething with frustration. She gathered her books and parchment, her patience banter between James and Lily was reaching its peak, and I couldn't help but enjoy the fiery exchange of words. It was like a never-ending duel of wits, and I found myself silently rooting for both sides.

As I was enjoying the verbal jousting between James and Lily, Sirius Black leaned in close, his voice a low, teasing murmur in my ear.

"Enjoying this a bit too much, Lizzy?" he remarked, his eyes dancing with mischief.

His unexpected proximity caught me off guard, and I jumped in my seat, feeling a rush of embarrassment. But I wasn't about to let him see how much his teasing had affected me. Clearing my throat, I replied, "I... well, yes, it's quite entertaining."

Sirius, however, wasn't done yet. His gaze shifted to the doodles scattered across my parchment, clearly a result of my wandering attention during the group study. He couldn't resist poking fun at my doodles.

"Your doodles, Lizzy," he said with a sly grin, "they'd make one hell of a Potions essay."

I felt a twinge of irritation, but I wasn't about to let him have the last word. With a playful glint in my eyes, I shot back, "Well, Sirius, it seems you've discovered my hidden talent. While the great ones excel in Potions, I've chosen to focus my artistic prowess on the margins."

Sirius grinned, clearly enjoying our back-and-forth. "Ah, well, it's a shame Professor Slughorn doesn't appreciate your artistic genius as much as I do, Lizzy."

I rolled my eyes with an exaggerated sigh. "Yes, it's a tragedy, really. If only my doodles were the key to academic success."

Sirius Black was relentless in his teasing, and I wasn't one to back down from a playful exchange. He leaned in even closer, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"I'm thinking your doodles could be the missing masterpiece that the wizarding world never knew it needed. Have you considered applying for a position at the Daily Prophet as their official doodler?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his comment. "Well, Sirius, I think I'd be a shoe-in for that job. I'll revolutionize the world of doodling with my Potions-themed masterpieces."

'I'm sorry about them,' Lupin reproached, soon as the two were out of earshot. The atmosphere had lightened a bit after my exchange with Sirius Black but Remus still felt guilty. 'I shouldn't have told them about this.'

'It's alright, Remus.' It was Soo-jin who replied. Lily was still bristling at what a waste of space Potter was. 'You couldn't have known they'd come down here.'

Knowing those two, they definitely would have. And I didn't and I could still tell it was a bad idea. At least I got my essay covered up. I checked whatever notes I'd scrawled at the beginning of the session, before I got involved in my doodles.


Professor Slughorn scrutinized my Potions essay with a disapproving tut, his bushy mustache twitching in disappointment. "Oh, Lizzy, this won't do at all. If you intend to pass your O. examination, you'll need to put in more effort."

I felt a sinking feeling in my chest, well aware that my Potions skills were far from exemplary. The O. were just around the corner, and I couldn't afford to perform poorly in the subject. Professor Slughorn's next words didn't ease my anxiety.

"Severus," he called,and my heart sank. "I think you could be of great assistance to Miss Adams. Perhaps you could offer her some guidance."

Severus, whose long hooked nose was forever stuck inside a book, looked up with a resigned expression, but he nodded in acknowledgment. The prospect of needing help was humbling, but it was the tutor himself that filled me with unease.

Severus was known for his dark demeanor and even darker friends. My friendly, open nature as a Hufflepuff clashed with the shadowy reputation he had. I feared that any wrong move in our tutoring sessions could result in me being turned into a matchbox, or worse.

As I left the classroom, the thought of remedial classes weighed heavily on me. It wasn't just the fear of poor performance that made me want to cry; it was the uncomfortable association with Severus Snape and his ominous presence that sent a shiver down my spine.


Soo-jin, my ever-curious and empathetic friend, noticed my crestfallen expression as I trudged back to the Hufflepuff common room. She couldn't contain her concern and asked,'Oh dear, what happened Lizzy?' Soo-jin exclaimed at my sunken demeanor when I plunked down beside her at the Hufflepuff table. 'Why do you look like you've just been handed a death sentence?"

I plopped down on the cozy common room couch and let out a dramatic sigh. "Well, Soo-jin, it's the dreaded Potions class. Professor Slughorn had a good look at my essay and basically said I might as well prepare my eulogy for the O. examination."

Soo-jin, her concern shifting to amusement, tried her best to stifle a laugh but couldn't quite manage it. "Come on, Lizzy, it can't be that bad, can it?"

I nodded, a rueful grin forming on my lips. "Oh, it gets better. He's assigned Severus Snape to be my tutor. You know, the brooding, dark one with the shadowy friends. So, not only do I have to survive Potions, but I've got to dodge any accidental transfigurations into matchboxes during our tutoring sessions."

Soo-jin burst into laughter, and I couldn't help but join in. It was the kind of laughter that lifted my spirits, even in the face of my Potions woes. Soo-jin had a way of turning even the most dire situations into something we could laugh about, and for that, I was truly grateful.

As Soo-jin and I chatted and laughed in our cozy corner of the common room, Erin's triumphant entrance drew our attention. She was practically glowing with excitement as she shared her story.

"You won't believe it, guys!" Erin exclaimed. "I finally cornered Sirius Black and asked him out."

Soo-jin and I exchanged surprised glances, both of us eager to hear more. "You did?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

Erin nodded, a triumphant smile on her face. "Yes, I did. I'd tried once before, but something distracted him. But today, when I asked, he actually said yes!"

The girls in the common room erupted into cheers and applause, congratulating Erin on her newfound date with Sirius Black. She was probably the first Hufflepuff to go out with Sirius Black.

Soo-jin stood up abruptly. 'I think I forgot something in the Library.' she mumbled hastily, before darting out of the common room. At least let me cover with excuses, I wailed internally.

'Ah, well, I imagine it must be quite a shock for some,' Erin mused out loud and her friends tittered.

Not bothering to hang around and argue, I ran after my friend.

Soo-jin sat in a corner of the Astronomy Tower, her face shadowed by disappointment and unshed tears. I could feel her heartache as I approached and took a seat beside her, offering a supportive smile.

"Soo-jin, are you okay?" I asked gently.

She hesitated, then closed the book in her hands and turned to face me. With a deep sigh, she confessed, "Lizzy, I've liked Sirius since our first year, and seeing Erin ask him out... it just feels like a punch in the gut."

I understood Soo-jin's pain all too well. I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I know, Soo-jin. It's tough to see someone you care about with someone else. But you're an incredible person, and there are plenty of other possibilities out there."

Tears welled up in Soo-jin's eyes, but there was a glimmer of hope as she nodded. "You're right, Lizzy. I'll get through this. It just hurts right now."

I couldn't stand to see my friend so downcast, so I decided to lighten the mood with a little absurdity. "You know what, Soo-jin? What if we came up with some crazy schemes to, you know, 'accidentally' disrupt their date? We could drop stink bombs, summon a surprise rainstorm, or unleash the chaos of enchanted fireworks."

Soo-jin looked at me, her eyes wide, before bursting into laughter at my ridiculous suggestions. "Lizzy, you're insane!" She managed to stifle her laughter and wipe away a tear. "But thank you for trying to make me smile. I appreciate it."

I grinned back at her. "Sometimes, a little craziness can help lift our spirits. And who knows, maybe we'll come up with the perfect plan to sabotage their date – in the most entertaining and harmless way possible, of course."

Soo-jin's laughter filled the room, and for a moment, her heartache seemed a bit lighter. I wasn't too sure what I would do, but I certainly wasn't going to stand still while my friend wallowed through heartache.