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❝ 02 , people-pleasing tendencies ❞

Clara looked nervous. Layla could see that from where she was sitting halfway down the Great Hall. When Clara Henderson was called by Professor McGonagall, it was like everything had stopped. Layla remembered how terrifying it had been during her first year and now her sister was in the same position.

But she knew that it would always be okay. Hogwarts was Layla's home and it would become Clara's too. And Dumbledore always said Hogwarts will always provide help for those that ask for it. So, if Clara needed more help, she just had to ask and she never usually had a problem doing that.

Layla felt like her head was spinning with every anxious thought and worry, hoping and praying that everything would go to plan. As Clara moved to sit on the stool, Layla was sure her heart stopped.

The Sorting Hat was quiet for a moment, contemplative and then suddenly, it shouted;

Ravenclaw!

Layla's heart sank for a brief moment before she reminded herself that Clara was not Layla and being put in Ravenclaw was good. It suited her, it was where their mother had been placed. Layla's sunken heart quickly uplifted and her shoulders relaxed as she watched Clara grin. Professor McGonagall tapped her shoulder with her wand and the plain unHoused robes turned Bronze and Blue to match Ravenclaw house colours.

Clara looked so happy and Layla watched as she bounded over to the Ravenclaw table, instantly greeted by First-Years and other Ravenclaw students. It was perfect and Layla's shoulders relaxed even more as she turned to the table.

"See! I told you that she'd be fine," Lily teased from across the way, sending a grin to Layla. Layla's stomach erupted in butterflies as she smiled bashfully. It was far too easy for Lily to make her blush. She hated it. She didn't understand it. Layla cleared her throat and nodded.

"I know, I just worry," Layla mumbled. Lily didn't say anything more as they refocused back on the Sorting Hat. Ella nudged Layla's arm after a moment though and Layla turned to look. Ella grabbed her arm, squeezing her bicep gently.

"You've gotta stop worryin'," Ella muttered. Layla tried her best not to snort at that and shook her head.

"I can't help it," Layla said, her voice low as she glanced over at Clara.

"If you spend your whole life worrying about her, who's gonna worry about you?" Alice asked, making everyone at the table to look at her. There was silence for a moment before Layla and Ella snorted, shaking her head.

"Bloody hell Frank has made you philosophical," Marlene muttered, joking annoyance coating her tone.

"I'm right though," Alice argued, "You need to look out for yourself," Alice whispered towards Layla. Layla paused for a moment, not entirely sure what to say and when James gave the girls a meaningful glare, Layla decided that they could talk about her people pleasing tendencies another time. Everyone had been so respectful for her in first year during the Sorting ceremony, so she should really be the same.

But then again, Layla had never been very good at following the rules and the boys didn't exactly make it easier. The whole group had spent the better half of the past seven years breaking every rule in the book. They loved to sneak out, play pranks, drink fire whiskey, anything for the buzz and it had rubbed off on all of them far too much. Not that anyone would admit that to anyone but themselves.

Thankfully, the table managed to stay quiet other than welcoming new students to Gryffindor until the ceremony was over. Then, Ella, Lily, James and Remus all got up to go and greet and briefly chat to the first years. Layla watched from the other side of the table, tuning out whatever Sirius, Peter, Marlene and Dorcas were complaining about.

She was more focused on her friends and the grin that James and Ella shared as they talked to one of the new students. Layla had noticed how much closer James and Ella seemed but she chalked it up to spending so much of the summer together even if it was a bizarre change.

But her gaze quickly drifted from Ella and James to Lily. Her smile was bright, her laugh was downright infectious and Layla felt dizzy with affection in seconds. Her red hair was so shiny and silky in the light and as she tucked a lock behind her ear, Layla got a glimpse of her heat-flushed cheeks. Layla didn't understand why her stomach tied up in knots so easily.

Before she could question herself any further, Dumbledore made his way up to the podium. All the attention drew back to their headmaster and Remus, Lily, James and Ella quickly scampered back to their seats. Ella slipped back beside Layla and grabbed her arm, squeezing her bicep and hugging her arm.

"Let's hear what he has to say," Layla mumbled as she looked down at Ella, a grin spreading across her face. The familiar comfort of Ella holding her arm made all her problems seem to melt away. This was easy.

This was where she was meant to be.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore announced as the whole Great Hall fell silent. Everyone's eyes were on him and Layla couldn't begin to understand how it didn't terrify him. All those eyes on her would have sent her into a spiral but their headmaster seemed to take it in stride. Layla glanced over at Lily. Lily would have been able to do it though. She had the confidence and charm to do it and Layla began to realise that it would have been easy for her to do it too if she had Lily by her side,

"Now that our first years have been sorted, we can indulge in our wonderful feast. But first, I have an announcement to make," Dumbledore continued his speech, his hands moving out as he gestured to the hall. There were almost always announcements at the beginning of the year so Layla didn't think there was anything wrong. That was until Dumbledore spoke next, "Due to a new and exciting opportunity all the way in Peru, we have lost Madam Gurnal as one of our Herbology teachers but never fear because we have found an equally as marvellous replacement. I would like to introduce you all to our new professor, Professor Aaron Hollander."

Layla knew that name. She definitely knew that name. Her eyes narrowed and she looked over to the man that Dumbledore had gestured towards. Tall, messy brown hair and a smile. He looked... like Ella. Layla's head instantly snapped back and Ella looked sick. Layla tried to get her attention but then she noticed James was holding her hand under the table.

So instead, she refocused her attention on Dumbledore feeling her stomach turn with jealousy? Confusion? Frustration? Worry? Layla wasn't entirely sure what but the anxious feeling that had been sitting heavy in her stomach all night had only seemed to get worse. Dumbledore's voice brought her back to reality;

"I hope you will all give him a warm welcome and he will see you in class. Now, unless there are any other announcements," Dumbledore looked around the room as if someone was ready to stand up and object or a teacher would speak but nobody did. So instead, he declared, "Then let the feast begin!"

Dumbledore clapped his hands and the food appeared in an instant. The Great Hall quickly became filled with chatter and Layla felt Ella move away from her. There was a twisting in Layla's gut as she looked over at her friend. Something wasn't right but Layla didn't know what to say.

"Is everything okay?" Layla asked, her tone soft and her eyes imploring. Everyone knew and Layla knew better than anyone that Ella's dad had left and it had broken Ella into a million pieces. Layla had spent so much of their friendship helping Ella patch up pieces of her broken heart because of her shitty father but Layla had never seen a picture of him.

His name had only ever come up in conversation once and Layla was sure it was Aaron but she couldn't remember it for sure. It had been discussed that long ago that the name had long left her memory.

But something in Layla's gut was telling her that Aaron Hollander was Ella's dad and he was here.

"Feelin' a bit sick, that's all," Ella explained, waving her hand dismissively. Layla could tell that was forcing a smile to make it seem like everything was okay but Layla could see right through it. Layla glanced at James who was frowning before her gaze returned back to Ella, "I'll be alright in a minute," Ella dismissed Layla's look of concern with those few words.

But Layla wanted to press. Everything in Layla told her that something was wrong and she needed to be there. However, she also knew who Ella was and she would never talk about something unless she wanted to. And it seemed that right now, Ella didn't want to speak. So, Layla with great reluctance, turned back to the table.

Ella would come to Layla in time, they both knew that so Layla tried to listen to what Sirius and Lily were discussing. They had been bickering all day about... well Layla wasn't actually sure. She had gotten far too caught up in admiring the way Lily's eyes sparkled and shifted from green to yellow depending on how the light hit them that she never actually listened to what the two were bickering about.

It was embarrassing really but now she did her best to actually listen. She really did, but Layla had to admit that she didn't do a very good job at it.