Angry Birds At Hogwarts (Year 2)

The Courtyard

Classes started out just find for the group of friends, although Chuck did somehow manage to blow up two cauldrons in Potions despite it only being the first week. Red was starting to get more and more comfortable talking to members of his own house, as well as a few outside of it, though he never saw the saddened expressions Chuck would end up wearing when he went off to go talk to someone when they were together. Bomb had gotten into the Magical Creatures Club, and was really in his element helping take care of the magical beings, and surprisingly was able not to explode into an anxiety attack when things got a little hectic. Silver was of course, quickly becoming the top student in their year, and had signed up to help out in the library. Matilda and Terrance had joined the Hogwarts Chess Club together, and were so far some of the top players.

And then Quidditch tryouts rolled around the corner...

"Chuck, for the last time-"

"C'mon Red, you've got to be there! I need everyone I can get cheering for me so I get super pumped and make Seeker!" Chuck pumped a fist into the air, a huge grin plastered on his face as he bounced on his heels from excitement.

Red smiled, "I never said I wasn't going, you ding bat! I just wanted you to stop hounding me."

"You'll really be there!?" Chuck practically screamed, catching a few looks from the other students in the courtyard.

"Of course, Chuck. You'll need a sketch of you in a Seeker's outfit."

"Oh Merlin's bear, how did I not think of that!?" Chuck pulled Red into a hug, "This is why I need you! You have all the best ideas!"

"O-Okay uh- Chuck!" Red's face was starting to become the same shade as his namesake, "What did we say about PDA, Chuck? People are looking at us."

"Right- sorry." Chuck let go, a tad embarrassed.

"It's fine just...tone it down a little." Red looked at his lap, trying to ignore the rising heat to his face.

"Tone it done," Chuck gave a goofy salute, "You got it!"

The two sat there for a moment, comfortable silence falling between them. They sat side by side and stared around them, loving the sight of the steadily growing fall weather around them. Sure, it still was mostly summer, but you could see fall starting to make its appearance by the slight orange and yellow shades starting to appear of the leaves of the trees, and the cooling air. It wasn't super often that Chuck was able to sit still and simply exist in a moment of time, but he found it possible if Red was at his side, sharing that simple moment of existing with him. Chuck sparred a glance in Red's direction, and smiled when he saw him with his head titled back a bit and his eyes closed, soaking in the feeling of the warm sunshine on his face. He looked peaceful, and seeing him look so serene made Chuck's heart flutter a bit in his ribcage.

That had been happening more and more often, Chuck's heart acting weird whenever he caught sight of Red in certain moments, like now. He didn't fully understand what it was that brought on this feeling, but he did know that he cherished it. Though he acted naive, Chuck was fully aware that Red letting him get so close was the boy's way of saying that he trusted Chuck, and cared about him. Red had all sorts of walls built up in his mind, but he had let Chuck pass a few, sure he still had more to go, but he was making progress. That was a comfort to Chuck...

"You're starring." Red said without even opening his eyes.

"Maybe a little." Chuck admitted.

"Why?"

"It's just...it's nice to see you so relaxed. You were wound up so tightly last year, like those muggle wind-up toy you told us about."

"..." Red opened his eyes and looked over at Chuck, "Yeah, I guess I was kinda tense..."

Chuck snorted a laugh, "Kinda tense? My dear Red, you were the textbook definition of tense."

Red playing shoved Chuck from where they sat, smiling, "Shut it, you're still more hyperactive that a sugar binging toddler."

The two started laughing, casually passing time with conversation until the next bell rung...and they were forced to enter the structure of the world once more.