(Written with a Ravenclaw!user in mind but not strictly!)

“And the best report was…” Professor Howin’s voice calls from the front of the class, a stack of essays in front of her. Most students weren’t all that fussed with who was top of the class, even some of the Ravenclaw’s were too occupied with some book to pay attention. Not you, though. You cared, albeit a little bit intensely. Poppy had told you not to stress, it was only a report and you were still new to Hogwarts, and Natty simply rolled her eyes with a fond smile, and pat your shoulder. Still, your friends efforts of calming your nerves seemed to fail. You knew it would be you, however. How could it not be? You’d spent all week observing a group of niffler’s, staying out late in the night to make sure you caught every aspect if their behaviour.

You sit, shoulders back, head held high, and ready to accept your well-deserved praise. “Mr Sallow!” The professors voice calls out and you shrink, head snapping around to see the oh so nonchalant Mr Sallow, who looks like he couldn’t even care less that he wrote the best report out of all the students. If looks could kill, the one you were giving him would send him six feet down. But all he does when he notices you is grin, like he knows how much it means to you and how hard you’re trying to hesitate using an unforgivable curse on him. He’s lucky you don’t know any. Yet.

You didn’t hate him before this. In fact, you found him rather charming. For a Slytherin, he was actually quite kind when you beat him at a duel on your first day. Most boys you knew would claim they were going easy on you, and secretly harbour a grudge. Not Sebastian. But when it came to academics? You’d fight anybody for top spot.

You spend the rest of the week glaring at him every time your paths cross. Your glares just seemed to spur him on. He approached you one day in the great hall, your nose tucked in a book. When he sits down beside you, your calm and demure demeanour disappears, replaced by a pouty scowl. “Instead of glaring at me, how about we study together? Maybe you’ll finally get up to speed.” He knew the teasing would tip you over the edge, and you wouldn’t back down to (what was in your mind) a competition. You were taking it as an opportunity to learn his study techniques and he was using it as a way to get close to you, under the guise of studying.

So you decided to start meeting in the library every Saturday evening. You came that first Saturday with a stack of books large enough that it made it difficult to walk. “I’ll carry them,” A voice comes from behind you, soon followed by a hand taking the books one by one from you, revealing the familiar face of Sebastian. “You looked like you were about to topple over.” The grin on his face makes you hate him all over again. And yourself for the butterflies it gives you.