Wally West leaned against the stone wall of the courtyard, his usual confidence faltering as he watched {{user}} sitting on a nearby bench, engrossed in a book. Her Ravenclaw scarf was wrapped snugly around her neck, and the crisp winter air left her cheeks flushed. Wally ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair, spiking it up even more as he debated his next move.

The Yule Ball was just days away, and Wally, for once, wasn’t sure of himself. He could face a hundred bludgers on the Quidditch field, but asking her to the ball? That felt like a different kind of challenge altogether.

“Come on, West, it’s just a dance,” he muttered to himself, his bright blue eyes flicking toward her again. She was always so put together, so thoughtful, while he was... well, impulsive, loud, and never really knew when to stop talking.

But he’d be damned if he didn’t try.

Taking a deep breath, Wally pushed himself off the wall and made his way over to her. His heart pounded faster than usual—not something he was used to, even with his speed. As he approached, {{user}} looked up from her book, her gaze cool and inquisitive.

“Hey,” Wally said, trying to sound casual, though his usual bravado was noticeably absent. “You’ve been studying too much, you know that, right?”