Budding Friendship? Or Perhaps something more? -- February 1976

I couldn't believe this project we were working on. It was stupid, but me being a Ravenclaw, there was no way I was going to back down from it at all. I looked around the library for a distraction (event hough I shouldn't have been doign that) and found one: Ember Potter. I only knew who she was because of her brother, but she seemed nice enough in the classes I had with her. She seemed to be working on the same thing as I was. I stood up and walked over. "Hey, need some help?" I offered lightly, holding my charms book lightly in my hands, preparing to si tdown. I saw that she was just doodling on her paper, though, two names... Remus and Sirius. Wow... she really needs a life, I thought.

His voice made me blotch up the dot above the I in Sirius' name. "Oh... hi!" I said, quickly hiding what I was doing. "What? I don't need... oh, you mean with Charms," I said, seeing his book. I actually looked to see who was talkgin to me and saw that it was Michael. "Erm, sure. I'd appreciate it really... it's kicking my arse."

I pretended I didn't see her doodles. "Of course I was talking about Charms... what else would I be ttalking about?" I asked, sitting down, a charming smile on my face to fit the chat.

I smiled and shook my head. "Nothing... it was nothing important," I said, bending down to pick up my quill that I had dropped. "Anyways... this project. How sucky is it?" Antyhing to get off te other topic.

I laughed and shrugged off the obvious diversion. "Meh... it sucks... but it's not too bad," Isaid, having to live up to my Ravenclaw name of being a brainiac.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh please... I saw you struggling over it a minute ago," I told him. I wasn't that oblivious to the going ons around me.

I raised an eyebrow. "You were watching me?" I asked, grinning at her.

I grinned at him.  "Yeah... and I also saw what kept distracting you, too," I pointed out to him.  I looked from him to the group of Slytherins at the other table -- which included my best girl, Tobi.  It was rather obvious that he fancied her.

I felt my cheeks redden slightly and shook my head.  "I have no idea what you mean," I said.  I really did nto want to talk about my crush wiht my crush's best friend.

His red cheeks made me grin even more and I shook my head skeptically.  "Uh-huh," I said, dipping my quill in some ink and started to write some more down for Charms.  "I could get her to talk to you, you know..."

I shook my head.  "Oh, no, it's fine.  Really," I said nervously.  "Let's just work on some charms, hmm?  It's much more simple when we work in pairs."  I could read Ember's face slightly and shook my head.  "Just... don't.  It's quite alright."

I sighed and worked on Charms with Micheal for a little bit.  I kept glancing over at tobi's table, though.  "Oh, look!  The other slytherins left... let's call her over here," I whispered quickly to Michael, hoping he would agree to it.  "she might need help, too..."

I swear, Ember had issues with listening.  I sighed.. I really would like to have a chance to talk and whatnot to Tobi.  "whatever you want, Ember," I said simply.

I went to get up and Ember caught my eye.  I smiled and walked over to her and who I thought was Michael.  "Hey," I said, sitting down, making sure that my voice did not carry over to Madam Pince.  "What are you two working on?"

I barely had to motion for October to join us and she was sitting down.  I smiled.  "Oh, we're working on some Charms.  Care to join us?" I asked, keeping my voice down.