Just A Normal Class?

Briar was on her way to class, fixing the sleeves of her uniform. She had gotten up extra early due to a sudden rush of excitement, the reason for which was still unknown. Honestly, if someone came up to her and told her she was weird, she wouldn't doubt them, no, not even the slightest.
Her long brown hair was clutched together by a claw clip, and her bag hung loosely over her shoulder. She had just eaten a massive breakfast and was finding it quite hard to walk.
What period was it? Oh, charms, with Hufflepuff. Cool, she didn't really have that many friends over there yet.
She knew a lot of eagles, and a considerable number of lions and snakes, but not one badger she would call a friend.
As she walked in the classroom, she noticed that there already were a lot of students there. She sat in her seat, soon to be joined by two Hufflepuff girls. She would introduce herself to them at the end of the class, they seemed pretty nice.
As the Charms lecture droned on, she couldn't help but overhear what they were talking about.
''You! my best friend, turned redder than a tomato and Ryder wasn't even trying!"
The girl exactly behind her said to the other girl, clearly in a teasing tone.
This was getting juicier; Bri practically lived for drama and gossip. She pretended to do her work, yet was eavesdropping on them, and hearing every word they said.
"So? What exactly are we calling this situation?"
Mmm...from what she heard, the girl named Lily liked Ryder and vice versa. This could only end well.
She couldn't take it anymore. She turned around and casually asked, "So, who's Ryder?"

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Maddy froze when the random Raven asked that question.

Not because she was embarrassed.

Maddy didn't do embarrassed, it didn't exist in her dictionary.

She simply had not expected the Ravenclaw in front of them to turn around and join the conversation.

A grin spread across her faceOh this was even better.

Lily’s panicked expression beside her was the first thing she noticed and, honestly? That alone made this entire situation worth it.

“Lily,” she whispered dramatically, “we’ve been caught.”

She didn't said that in a 'oops, we've been caught and we should speak less loudly' but rather in a 'girl you are in for a tough ride cause this is 'bout to be interesting' tone.

She turned toward the Ravenclaw immediately.

“Excellent question.”

She sat up straighter to answer her better regarding her oh so brilliant question.

“Ryder Hawke.”

She held up one finger.

“My cousin.”

Second finger.

“Gryffindor.”

Third finger.

“Professionally grumpy.”

Fourth finger.

“Apparently funny now, which is deeply concerning.”

She dropped her hand back onto the desk and looked at Lily who was definitely turning super red.

“And, the reason my best friend currently resembles a ripe tomato.”

She looked at the Raven girl with full seriousness, “You,” she nodded approvingly, “have excellent timing.”

Her grin widened.

“What’s your name? Because if you enjoy gossip, congratulations.”

She motioned between herself and Lily.

“You’re in.”

She looked back at the Professor to see if they were being noticed.
Good call, they weren't...

Then whispered, “Now.”

She leaned toward both girls.

“Tell me honestly…”

eyes on the Raven first, “was I being too obvious? Cause I can be louder” she smirked at Lily

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Maddy looked between Briar and Lily for approximately three seconds before completely losing the battle against her own laughter.

“Oh this,” she said between laughs, pointing between the two girls, “this is GOLD.”

Lily’s threatening whisper only made it worse.

Maddy immediately clutched a hand to her chest in fake heartbreak. “Violence? From you? Wow. Ryder’s influence is getting stronger already.”

Then she turned back toward Briar, eyes sparkling.

“Right, okay, introduction time apparently.” She straightened up slightly and gave a dramatic little bow from where she sat. “Madeline Faye Tomlinson. Professional menace. Occasional academic victim. Full-time problem.”

She pointed at Lily beside her.

“And this,” she announced proudly, “is Lily Clarke. Sweetest person alive until you embarrass her enough times and she finally snaps.”

Then her grin widened again as realization fully settled in.

“Wait. Hold on.” She pointed between Briar and Lily repeatedly. “YOU TWO are cousins?”

Her eyes lit up.

“Oh Hogwarts is feeding me today.”

She leaned closer toward Briar immediately. “So, Since you’re family, I need important information.”

She pointed towards Lily, “Was she born this easy to fluster or is Ryder a special case?”

Beside her, Lily probably looked seconds away from bursting out.

Which only encouraged Maddy further.

“And before she threatens my life again,” Maddy added quickly, raising both hands defensively, “I would just like the class to know I support this situation fully.”

She smirked after thinking for a second, “Mostly because seeing Ryder smile for once was genuinely terrifying. I thought he’d been possessed.”

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She smiled, this was getting more and more interesting. She didn't know that her simple Charms lesson was going to end up revealing so much gossip about her cousin. As for Madeline, she absolutely had to know her more! It was weird that her cousin was apparently with Bri's cousin, but the universe works in unexpected ways, doesn't it? That was what kept her sane, the tea! Not the drinkable kind, she was allergic to that, as well as any substance which could be consumed by humankind.

And moreover, Lily didn't have anything against her, so this was an amazing opportunity to tease her about her activity here, without getting reprimanded by family.

She responded to Madeline's question, a smirk on her lips.
"Oh, she was the most innocent thing you would EVER meet, I can't believe what she's been up to around here! I would tell aunt and uncle...but I wasn't born that mean unfortunately. Partly why everything in my life's a mess."
She took a deep breath and reminded herself. 'Not the time love....'
She smiled and continued,
"Ryder must be a special case, she used to join me in ridiculing boys. Ooh, I need to meet this guy. And he better be nice to my cousin; she's a little girl who used to help me in pranking random people. I can't believe how much she's changed to be honest!"