𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍; 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫.

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐢. 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐞

a/n: i apologize in advance for the quality of this alphabet soup below my message. filler chapter alert so prepare to be severely underwhelmed ngl. anyways enjoy and ily thanks for reading thanks for existing stay goated and don't take candy from strangers

𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐥𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫.

She paused, ponytail flapping over her shoulder as she looked back, pointedly ignoring Evan as he packed up his things. "Yes, Professor?" she said.

"Hold up, m'dear. I know the Winter Ball is the the talk of the town right now, so to say, but I'd really like for you to be able to come to this, er, small gathering I'm having the night before. It'll be nice and small, just some good old friends of mine. Great for networking!"

Amara glanced down at his pudgy hand, where a scarlet envelope was clutched tightly. "Er, okay."

Slughorn let out a jovial laugh. "Don't be nervous! Everyone is very down-to-earth. Your friends will be there, too! Evan here already told me he'd be here, didn't you, Evan?" 

Amara glared at him, silently wishing he'd just say he wasn't going. 

"Indeed," Evan said slowly, glancing between Amara and Slughorn, a silent why? etched into his expression. 

"Perfect! See, Amara, now you can't say no, because you have friends who are going! Now, I've just got to say," Slughorn began, clasping her on the shoulder and drawing Evan in with the other hand, scarlet envelope flapping at his face, "you two have really impressed me this term, what with overcoming House rivalry and whatnot. Talented potioneers, both of you!"

Amara glanced at Evan, but he was already looking at her, a small, smug smile on his lips. He knew how uncomfortable she was.

She narrowed her eyes, but he had already looked back at Slughorn with a small smile on his face.

"All in the name of academic success," Evan said smoothly. "Right, Amara?"

"That's right, Evan," Amara replied, flashing her teeth in the friendliest snarl she could muster.

"Hoho! You two," Slughorn said, shaking his head. "Why, Evan, if you don't have a date, why don't you just take Amara, if she's nervous to go and meet all these famous people?"

"Ah, unfortunately—"

"I already have a date in mind, Professor," Amara said, beating Evan to it. He frowned at her, but she smiled gloatingly. "I'm excited to meet these...friends of yours. Thank you for the invitation!" She plucked it out of Slughorn's hand. "I've got to run, but I'll see you both there!"

She ducked from Slughorn's arm, sweating profusely, needing to get out of there as soon as she could. 

"Holy hell," she muttered, brushing past a few third-year Hufflepuffs and entering the girls' bathroom. She plopped her bag down on the sink, before leaning on the marble counter and staring her reflection down.