The Favor

Pretty Please?

CHAPTER ONE

Elsa puffed a distracted sigh into her bangs, too absorbed in her work to clip them back as she buried her head deeper into her history of the magic textbook. The pale blonde Ravenclaw was furiously taking notes for hours for her History of Magic test the next day and was completely engrossed in the massive tome in front of her, the pages charmed to turn automatically every minute or so to relieve her of the repetitive task of doing so herself.

Fatigued and anxious about the upcoming exam, her frayed nerves betrayed her concentration when a sudden screech echoed through the library and caused her to jump up from her seat, wand poised threateningly in her fingers. The heads of other students similarly cramming in the library --but apparently not as startled by the noise-- turned to face her for her own abrupt and disruptive behaviour. Elsa felt her face heat from the embarrassment, and quickly sat down once more, taking a long shuddering breath to calm herself. She's tired, that's all. She'll finish this last page and then run off to bed without another interruption.

Of course, just moments later, the screech returned, this time causing Elsa to turn her head to where she thought the sound was coming from without impulsively jumping around like a skittish animal.

What idiot is dragging furniture around the library this late in the evening? Isn't it a little late to start studying at half past eleven? Lights out should be announced in a few minutes at most...

The answer to her question quickly made himself known to Elsa, whose gaze caught upon a certain silver-haired boy dressed in green Slytherin robes seated casually in the wooden chair scraping ungracefully against the ancient stone floors. Elsa immediately rolled her eyes, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before returning to her revising and highlighting with her colour-changing ink quill. There was no way a distraction as stupid as this one would bother her now that she knew its source.

Yet the screeching did not stop. In fact, it seemed to only ramp up in its pitch and proximity. Elsa looked up once more, prepared to try and glare the nuisance out of existence only to find said nuisance now seated next to her at her previously empty table.

Elsa's eyes widened, quickly looking around to see if anyone else was bearing witness to her misfortune only to find most of the library staring, or glaring rather at the pair for the boy's noise (perhaps the fact that he was sitting with her was the real issue...) She whispered a quick apology to no one in particular and once again ducked her head between the pages of her book. The boy, though, seemed oblivious to their stares as he cocked his head at her and smiled.

"So, Miss. Elsa, what are you up to this fine evening?" he questioned, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

Elsa spared only a moment's glance to where the boy was a picture of nonchalance; hands clasped behind his head, evergreen tie hanging limply where it had been undone by his neck, chair tilted back precariously on its hind legs. It would be easy enough to sweep her leg out and tip the chair over... But she opted against it, not looking to attract more attention to herself or grant the boy the reaction she knew he was looking for. Instead, she chose to shoot the boy with an unimpressed look.

"Studying, like the rest of 7th year should be for the huge test we have tomorrow. Obviously, you aren't though, as you seem to want to waste your precious time bothering me and everyone else minding their own business in the library." Elsa stated matter-of-factly, her eyes scanning the page before her so she wouldn't have to make eye contact lest he take it as any sort of encouragement to continue the conversation. Unfortunately, this seemed to have the opposite of the desired effect, almost seeming to egg him on as his eyes glinted with something that couldn't be anything other than mischief from Elsa's peripheral.