Dedicated to PotterFreak_12
Word count: 1,279 words
Quill: Hippogriff feather quill.
Parchment: 1 roll
Ink: Black ink.
(The word count does not include the words in or above these brackets)

---

"Come on in, come on. It's okay - we won't bite, I promise." She smiled, her beautifully pale cheeks lifting into an image of joy as she welcomes the new, and old, participants into the Room of Requirements. I, as with most of my classes, am the last to enter and, as I step into the room, I almost gasp at the sight in front of me. Sixty or so kids, my age and older, are gathered. Some, I know by reputation, some (most) are my friends and others are just complete strangers (yes, those were the categories I place people in). I barely have time to look at anything other than the milling group of people before my attention is drawn back towards the centre of the room where a group of over-excited prefects stood, smiles plastered into their faces, waiting to speak.

"Now, lets get right down to business." The front girl, her face adorned with blonde hair and blue eyes, chirps happily, her sickly-sweet voice making me wince slightly - I suppose I'll get used to it. "The first spell we will be learning this week is Stupefy. Okay, don't be scared. Although being also named as a Stunning Spell, Stupefy is usually used only to render the intended person unconscious or halt objects in their path. If used in safe environments, no one should get hurt. Now that we've got that out of the way, Mary," Motioning to her left, I watch, interest glimmering in my eye, as the red-haired, pale-skinned 'Mary' stepped graciously forward. "and I will be demonstrating and, after pairing you up, you will try this yourselves."

The rest of the girls in the small group of prefects start to coax people backwards, to give Mary and the other girl some space. Once the room around them is more efficient, Mary crosses the space and, dragging out a thick, blue mat, places it on the floor. I watch, with dwindling interest, as she does so. All I really came here for was to practice. "Alright, now that the proper safety precautions have been made, I will demonstrate how to perform the spell."

I smile - finally, we're getting somewhere. "The incantation is, of course Stupefy and, just to make you aware, it does emit a 'jet' of red light. Okay, you ready Mary?" She turns to her companion as the girl nods. Yeah, she's ready, just get on with it. I am inpatient, I know that, but I suppose I just want up get down to the practice side, to learn something new. "Three, two, one. Stupefy." With a flick of her wrist and the clearly pronounced incantation, I watch, amazed, as the girl makes Mary shoot backwards a few feet and land, unconscious, upon the mat she had placed there before. A round of applause echoes around the room as the girl walked calmly over to her friend and crouched down next to her, pausing for a moment before turning and facing the still-amazed crowd.

"The counter spell for Stupefy is Rennervate, which you will also need to know if you are to practise with your partner." Swivelling back to her partner, she muttered the counter spell and watched as Mary's eyes flew wide open. Another round of applause accompanies the two girls as they help each other up and turn, once again, back to face the crowd. "Alright! I should have the names of everyone in this room and their partners so, once I call your name, please find your partner and find a space on the floor with a mat." This time it wasn't Mary or the blonde girl speaking. Instead a girl, her long brown hair swaying from side to side, strode into the middle of the room, clipboard and pen in her hands. No one questioned her and, as I looked at her, I felt an almost immediate sense of trust overwhelm me.

"George Aaspeth and Harley Underwood..." I zone out slightly as she continues to call names, her quiet and commanding tone like feathers upon my ears. Preoccupied by scanning the truly magnificent room, I barely hear my name being called and, as it is, I step forward. "Lorelei Kytherna and Rory Steele."
Great, someone I don't know. I roll my eyes and search the crowd for the guy I was supposed to 'Stupefy'. Finally, my gaze came to a rest on a guy doing the exact same thing and our eyes lock together. All of a sudden, I realise I do know him. He's my ice-man from the Black Lake.

We both seem to realise it at the same time and our mouth drop open, recognition registering in our expressions. It was him.
Slowly coming back to my senses, I worm my way through the crowd and, soon, we are face to face.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"You're the frozen girl?"
"You're the ice guy?"
I blush as our dialogues clash, speaking almost in synchronisation.
"I'm Lorelei." Stretching out my hand for a handshake, I start to blush even more as, instead of shaking it, he lifts it gently to his mouth and leaves a lingering trace of a kiss on the top. Looking almost shyly up at me from his bowed position, he smiles.
"I'm Rory." I'm in love.

We make our way to the pile of mats in the corner, our hands brushing against each other slightly as we walk, causing me to blush vividly. He pretends not to notice and, setting the mat out on the floor, we look at each other, uncertain on what to do next.
"Um, you can do the spell first." He raises his eyebrows, briefly questioning my judgement as I speak in a slightly wavering voice.
"I wouldn't want to break such a fragile thing." He speaks and, for a second I'm sure he is just embarrassing me on purpose.
"Nah, you couldn't break this lump of fat. The worst I'll do is bounce." I spin around and walk until I'm a few feet in front of the mat, refusing to continue the discussion which, for me, is over. He seems to take the hint and, making his way to his position, gets his wand ready. I nod, I'm ready.

"Stupefy." For a second I am flying, the air beneath me like a pillow as I glide backwards. Then the darkness overwhelms me and I slip deeper into it.

When I wake, he is crouched in front of me, his huge, gunmetal eyes, watching me cautiously. "How'd it go?" He laughs as I ask, a beautiful sound, and shrugs.
"I did quite well, according to her. But I don't know, for a delinquent third-year, I'm sure it was rubbish." Motioning backwards, he points to one of the prefect girls and rolls his eyes.

Scrambling to my feet (because I just realised I was laying down and, for me, laying down makes me look even bigger), I walk to where he was standing just a few seconds (or minutes, depending how long it took for him to get the hang of the Rennevate spell) ago. "Come on. I want a go." He stretches, and I blush once again as my mind realises how cute he is, before standing up and making his way to in front of the mat.

One thought occurs to me as I look at him and, just before I flick my wand, I decide to voice it out loud. "Delinquent third year?" He shrugs and looking at the glint in his eyes that clearly says 'Ill tell you later', I flick my wand in his direction. "Stupefy."

My ice-man is flying.