𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙦𝙪𝙖 ➪ 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝖺𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝐹𝑂𝑈𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐸𝑁

➪ OBSERVATORY GREEN ➪

"LOOK AT YOU!"

Nicolas's arm wrapped around his best friend's shoulder. He either hadn't seen Peter Pettigrew with her, or he simply didn't care. Or perhaps he was just too overjoyed that Loki had made new friends.

"Hi, Nic," Loki smiled, chuckling awkwardly as she glanced between the two boys. "I--I'm sorry, Peter." She couldn't help but apologise for her friend's actions. It had become a habit after all the embarrassing things he'd done.

"It's fine, Loki," Peter smiled. He waved her off. "James and Sirius are like this all the time," he informed her. At the mention of Potter's name Nicolas stilled.

"Potter," he muttered under his breath.

Loki sighed. The malicious tone in his voice had become much more evident at the Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor match grew closer. In the corridors people had grown accustomed to the tension. It had become much worse when Sirius, Gryffindor's best beater, had joined James's taunting. Now Nicolas wanted Loki to do it back at them.

"I've got to get going, actually," Peter squeaked when he checked the time on the watch he had. "I'll see you later!" He called as he quickly rushed off.

"Wait, hold on," a new voice echoed from the staircase nearby Nicolas and Loki, "how are you gonna do that again Remus?" Loki and Nicolas both stilled, but for completely different reasons.

Nicolas straightened himself out, fixing the yellow and black tie around his neck. His usual glower sat on his face. This time, however, he didn't seem like charging up to James Potter who was coming down the stairs at that very moment. Instead he seemed to want to walk away.

Loki's hand lifted to her dark hair, immediately raking through it as she felt the nerves bubbling up inside. However, it wasn't from the fact that it was Remus who was coming down the stairs at that very moment.  It was from the fact that Nicolas was with her at the very moment Remus was coming down the stairs, with James.

"Library?" Nicolas suddenly whispered, leaning down to the girl's ear. She nodded and, without a single glance back, they scurried off.

"So basically, what Sirius and I were thinking--" Remus stopped speaking for a moment when they reached the third last step, his eyes darting away from the boy next to him. He wanted to frown as he saw just a empty corridor at the bottom, but instead found himself smiling. He paused for a moment, the happy expession on his face, before turning back.

"You good?" James inquired with a frown after a moment of silence passed. Remus hummed, nodding. "Okay..." he couldn't help but frown at the grin he held.

"Anyway, James," Remus cleared his throat, turning his attention back to the dark-haired male beside him, "what were you saying?"

➪

"PEACE AND QUIET."

Loki almost wanted to laugh at the statement. The only reason they'd gone to the library in the first place was because they didn't want to awkwardly cross paths with Remus and James. Besides, both Nicolas and Loki were more used to being alone together, catching up, studying, snacking. It didn't matter. They'd known each other since they were six, so they knew almost everything about each other.

"I should probably do my homeowrk while I'm here," Loki mused, her eyes darting around to the tons of books that covered every tall shelf as far as the eye could see as they doubled over by the entrance. "I don't want McGonogall to make me do more again."

"Cool," Nicolas grinned. He immediatrly began to beckon her as he stepped further in to the room. "I can help you if you need it." Loki shot him a look of gratitude as she kept her eyes peeled for the books she needed.

The pair walked in silence, breaking apart only for a few minutes as they gathered their needed books. Loki stepped in to aisle of tall bookshelves, scouring until she found exactly the book she needed. She reached up to get it, only to find that it was just out of her reach.

Of course, she thought, letting out a sigh.

Loki was about to climb onto the small ledge that was used as a table when she found the book thrust in front of her. "This is the one you wanted, right?"

She looked to the person holding the book out, coming face to face with a curly blonde boy with blue eyes that matched his Ravenclaw robe. "Yeah. Thank you." She nodded, her voice squeaking slightly as she took the book in her hands.

The stranger smiled, rubbing his neck where a blue and silver Ravenclaw tie sat. He looked away for a moment. He seemed to be contemplating something, Loki noted. Then, he stuck out his hand again.

"I'm Max. Max Wells," he introduced. Loki's eyes widened as she realised she had been staring at the boy. She quickly took his hand and shook it.

"Loki Hawthorne," the girl introduced. "Um, thank you for getting the book down." Max smiled, waving her off.

 He clicked his tongue, shrugging. "I'm sure you would have done the same." Loki nodded.

"I should get back to my friend, but I hope I get to see you around, Max," Loki spoke, stepping away. "It was nice to meet you!"

"You too, Loki," Max smiled as she reached the corner.

"So, who was that?" Nicolass inquired when Loki came to the table where he sat.

"His name's Max. He just helped me get a book on a shelf," Loki informed the boy.

"Okay," Nicolas shrugged. "So, what homework did you want to start with again?"

"Uh..." Loki placed her book bag on the table, opening and quickly looking through the books inside. "I think Transfiguration. Then we can move on to DADA."

"Sure," Nicolas nodded. "Then, after can we get something from the kitchens? Lunch was an hour ago and I'm hungry again."

Loki couldn't help but laugh at the boy. "Sure, Nic." She smiled at the boy, who returned the gesture, then got right back to work.

➪

A/N: WHOO!! new chapter! how's everyone going? i finally got to introduce my second favourite oc in this book (Nicolas is always first). i hope you like him as much as i do.

um, not sure if you saw the annoncement from me, but i'm going to be trying to focus more on writing this book more bc Love Letters has prewritten chapters. it shouldn't affect the updating too much, so don't worry.

n e ways, i hope you enjoyed. as always, comment, ask something, i'll do my best to answer