“No.”

“It’ll be fun-”

“Not for me it won’t-”

“You don’t know that-”

“Yes I do!” Matthew snapped, before immediately following up with “...Sorry. Didn’t mean to yell. It just…stresses me out, ok?”

It was Friday morning, and the last of the students were filing into the Great Hall for breakfast. Already at Ravenclaw table enjoying some toast were Andre Egwu, Rowan Khanna, Corey Hayden (who had hopped over from Gryffindor table) and Matthew Luther, who was nervously twirling a fork in his right hand, as silver as the bracelet on his wrist.

“There’s no need to apologise, Matt.” Rowan reassured him, “We get that this sort of thing isn’t what you’re used to-”

“But we think you ought to do it anyway.” interrupted Corey. “It’s a Blind Date, after all. It’s just for one night, and it’s not like it means anything.”

“I know that,” Matthew said, “it’s just…I’m not good at those sorts of things, yknow?”

 “Which is why you need practice.” Andre pointed out. “Again, it’s just one night, it doesn’t mean anything, it’s just…it’d be nice to see you put yourself out there, Curse-Breaker.”

“Yeah, and Andre’s been planning this for months.” Corey reminded the table, “You’ve got to be there, you’re the Hero of Hogwarts!”

“I…I…” Matthew squirmed in his seat. “Fine. I’ll go. I’ll…ok.”

“As long as you’re sure, Matt.” Rowan said, smiling.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re well dressed for tonight.” Andre said cheerfully. “Just try to enjoy yourself!” “Easier said than done.” Matthew said under his breath. He finished his breakfast (as much as he could with his nervous stomach ache) and started to leave the Great Hall, wondering how on earth his day could get worse. Then, as he got to the great golden door, he found himself face to face with Merula Snyde.

 “Oh. Luther. What do you want?!” Merula snarled, clutching her satchel.

“...You…you’ve come up to me.” Matthew pointed out. Merula blinked, before shaking her head furiously.

“Nevermind! What were you smartarses talking about?!” she demanded, gesturing to the Ravenclaw table.

“Oh…um, it’s nothing, it’s ah, you know…” Matthew stammered, hoping that Corey wouldn’t say anything. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to be going his way.

“Andre’s organised a Blind Date event tonight!” Corey declared, some of the other students looking around and gossiping. Matthew waved them down and turned back to Merula.

“Ok, so why do you care?” Merula asked, “it’s not like you’re the one-” she paused looking at Matthew’s face. She covered her mouth, but burst into laughter anyway.

“...Yeah, I know, I know…” Matthew sighed, as Merula cackled.

“You!? A blind date!? You?!” she laughed, clutching her stomach, “Oh, Merlin, that is….good luck, mate.” After a few seconds of more laughter, she sighed and pushed the hair out of her face.

 “Thanks, Merula.” Matthew muttered. “I guess you’re not taking part, then?”

“Are you kidding me? Of course not.” Merula replied. “No way anyone’s pressuring me into doing something stupid like that.”

“Yeah, and if you did there’d be a tiny chance of us ending up on a date-” Matthew thought out loud. “Um. I mean. Um.”

“Y-Yeah, uh, that’d be. Um. You know, er…” Merula stuttered, both her and Matthew’s cheeks now going shades of red and pink. They were broken out of their flustering by Andre, who tapped Matthew on the shoulder.

“Come on, Curse-Breaker. We have to get you ready for tonight. See you around, Merula!” Andre said, flipping his scarf back and leaving the Great Hall. Matthew gave Merula a small wave as he left with the other Ravenclaws. Merula stood there for a moment, running her hands up and down her satchel’s straps.

 ***

That night, Matthew nervously pulled at his red shirt’s collar and tightened his bracelet  as he stared at himself in the mirror. The outfit Andre had picked out for him, red shirt with black jeans (Andre had noticed that smart-casual worked well for Matt) was indeed fairly stylish, definitely better than what he usually wore, but he was still incredibly nervous. What was his date going to say when she found out that he very much didn’t want to be there? What were other people going to say? How was he going to make a good first impression to someone who hadn’t met him before? Who wasn’t used to his nervousness and stuttering? What would Merula say? What would-

“Curse-Breaker! It’s time!” Andre called. Matthew’s stomach was still hurting as he went down into the Common Room.

“Looking good, Matt!” said Rowan, offering a thumbs-up and a smile.

“Thanks, Ro.” Matthew replied sheepishly. “Aren’t you going?” “I would, but I’ve really got to get this homework done and an early night’s sleep.”

“But Rowan, tomorrow’s Saturday.” Matthew pointed out.

“And?”

 Before Matthew could say anything else, it was time to go. He followed Andre out of Ravenclaw Tower, still clutching his stomach, just as he’d done for the last twelve or so hours. Andre led him down to the Great Hall, where the four long tables had been replaced with more than a dozen tables, each with two chairs by them. Already, other people taking part (who presumably actually wanted to be there) were starting to sit down.

“Right, Curse-Breaker, you’re on table number 6.” Andre said, pointing at a table on the left side of the hall. “Your blind date will be there soon!”

Matthew nodded, moved to the table with a golden “6” on it and sat down. His nervousness, as always, had developed into full-blown fear. Someone was about to come up to the table expecting someone who wanted to be here. What was wrong with him? Why had he taken the place of someone who might have actually enjoyed social events? All in all, Matthew hadn’t really considered the possibility that his Blind Date would be someone he knew. His luck had been so abysmal lately, he had assumed he’d be grouped with someone who was in the year above or below. But it was at that moment that someone Matthew knew started walking towards table 6. It was probably, but not definitely, the last person Matthew expected to see here.

 “Tonks?!" exclaimed Matthew, as a girl with short pink hair rocked up to the table in a yellow suit, smiling brilliantly.

“Wotcher, Matt!” she yelled, despite being 5 feet away from him, “Surprised to see you here!” “F-Feeling’s mutual.” Matthew said, as Tonks said down with more force than was needed. “I thought you said you weren’t really, um, interested in…dating and…stuff.”

“Yeah…but I also thought this’d be a laugh.” Tonks pointed out. “You look nice!”

“Thanks…” Matthew said, pushing the hair out of his face, “Andre put it together for me. You look great too, by the way.”

“Yeah, I do. Andre says I'm one of the few lucky people who can pull off yellow.” Tonks said, proudly. Matthew nodded, the knots in his stomach untying themselves. Relief settled into him. Tonks was his friend, not a complete stranger, and now Matthew might actually be able to enjoy tonight.

 “So, how come you’re here doing this?” Tonks asked, leaning back on her chair, “I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s great that you’re here, but, ah…”

“It’s not my scene, yeah.” Matthew said, nodding. “Yeah, it um…well, Corey and Andre, they…they really wanted me to do it, so…”

Tonks frowned. “Blimey, no wonder you looked so tense.” Matthew squirmed as he saw her smile fade. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done it, I should have let someone else take my place, I-”

“What are you talking about?” Tonks asked, staring at him with a curious look on her face, her hair going a bright blue, “You don’t have to apologise for anything. I saw Corey over there with you this morning. I don’t see him around here.”

Matthew looked around. She was right, Corey was nowhere to be seen. Neither is Merula, he noticed.

 “Look, Matt, um, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders and all,” Tonks said, “but sometimes I worry about you. And it’s nothing you’ve done,” she added, seeing that he was about to start apologising again. “I just…I dunno. I just want to make sure you can actually enjoy going out and socialising, instead of it being a chore.”

Matthew nodded. “I guess you’re right. And…maybe I was a little too pessimistic about the whole thing…”

“Can’t say I blame you, though.” Tonks said, her smile returning. “I mean, you’re the Hero of Hogwarts, aren’t you? Rumours do swirl about your love life.”

“They do?” Matthew said incredulously. “I mean…do you…um…”

Tonks snorted and chuckled, in that way she always did. “Yeah, I’ve heard a few things. Like, ah, you and Chiara…”

“That,” said Matthew, pausing for emphasis, “is…ok, we had one kiss, but we’re just friends now, and we’re both happy with that.”

 “Glad to hear it.” said Tonks, smiling. “And of course…there’s the whole thing regarding your rival.”

Matthew’s cheeks went pink. He knew exactly who she was talking about. “That’s…ok,  that’s…”

“Cause you had that one accidental kiss ‘cos of that changeling, right?” Tonks asked. Matthew was once again squirming in his seat.

“Um…yeah…but that’s…well it’s um…” Matthew paused, looked around, and leant forward across the table. Tonks did the same, increasing the size of her ears.

“We…might have had another accidental kiss.” “I’m sorry what-” “Look, before you say anything-” “Another one?!” Tonks said, dumbfounded. “How do you have two accidental kisses? That’s crackers! How’d this one happen?” she asked.

“Well, it was in the forest.” Matthew explained. “We talked to Torvus, found out about how he knew Jacob, he picked a fight with me, I got hit with an arrow, Merula helped tend to the wound, the Centaurs started stampeding, she got pushed back and…uh…yeah.”

 Tonks blinked. “That’s…quite a story, mate. I’d say you were lying, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard you lie.”

Matthew shrugged. “Yeah, I dunno. Whenever I try to lie, I mostly burst out laughing.”

Tonks smirked. “Mind if I put that to the test?”

Matthew blinked. He didn’t feel that afraid anymore. “Not at all.” he replied, deciding to simply ride this wave of confidence until it petered out.

“Alright then, Matt: Do you like Merula?” “Um…” Matthew began, a smile already forming across his face. “Of course. She’s my friend, in a way.”

Tonks sighed. “Matt…you know that’s not what I meant.”

Matt was having to bite his lip. “Well I…you know…”

“Go on. Try saying the words ‘I don’t have a crush on Merula.’”

Matthew took a deep breath. “I don’t have a-”

He got that far before he started heaving with laughter.

 “Knew it!” said Tonks, confidently.

“Ok…fine…it’s entirely possible.” Matthew admitted. “Happy now?”

“Ecstatic.” Tonks said, grinning.

Matthew sighed again. “What about you? Anyone you’ve…got your eye on?”

Tonks shrugged. “Eh, dunno. I’ve been hanging out with Tulip a lot, but it’s very professional. Pranks only.”

“Gotcha.” Matthew nodded, “I knew you two would become fast friends.”

“Stroke of genius, that was.” Tonks said, “Ugh, what a day that was. Seeing those Boggarts, that weird wandless magic…wild…”

“You were pretty good down there too, y'know. You were incredibly quick on the draw with Riddikulus. I guess that’s why you’re so fun to duel.”

“Thanks, mate.” Tonks said, her hair going slightly red. “That’s…really, really nice of you to say.”

 It was around half ten in the evening that things started to wrap up, and Matthew and Tonks left the Great Hall, Matthew nodding to Andre. As they left, they also saw Corey near Andre. They saw Matthew and waved.

“Looks like you had fun after all!” they yelled. 

Matthew sighed. “Looks like someone can’t take their own advice.”

“No need to be like that, Matt, we all know you need help not hiding up in Ravenclaw Tower!”

Tonks looked from Matthew to Corey. Then, from within her blazer’s pocket she pulled out a Dungbomb, removed the pin, and promptly chucked it at Corey.

“Run!” she hissed, taking Matthew’s wrist, her hand touching the silver bracelet, and leading him down the staircases. They heard the poof and the hiss of gas and knew that it had worked.

“You were carrying a Dungbomb the whole time?” Matthew asked, looking at the stink cloud above them. “I always have one just in case!” Tonks replied, cheerfully.

 In a few minutes’ time, they had made it to just outside Hufflepuff House. They were both breathing heavily, but had massive grins on their faces.

“...thanks a bunch for that, Tonks.” Matthew panted, trying to catch his breath. “You and Tulip really are two of a kind.”

“And I didn’t know you could be such a snarker.” Tonks said, her hair switching between orange and red. “Merula would be proud.”

They looked at the door to the Hufflepuff Common Room, surrounded by barrels. Tonks yawned, looking for the right barrel.

“Umm,” Matthew began, “Tonight’s been…really fun. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in ages.”

“Yeah! Tonight was wicked!” Tonks said, “And uh, I’ll keep my lips sealed about your second kiss with The Most Surly Witch at Hogwarts.”

 Matthew chuckled, looking at Tonks. Her hair had gone a mix of orange and red, which worked with her yellow suit to give the sense of a warm fire. “Really, though. Thank you, Tonks. I don’t think I would have enjoyed tonight if it was anyone but you.”

 Tonks moved away from the barrels, and over to Matthew. She gave him a toothy grin, before standing up on her tiptoes and kissing Matthew on his cheek. “Matt, you’re too sweet.” She said, winking, before knocking five times on a barrel and heading into Hufflepuff House. He held his hand up to his cheek, which was now pink along with the rest of his face, as he began the trek back to Ravenclaw Tower. On the way, he walked past the Slytherin Dungeons, outside of which stood Merula and Ismelda Murk. “I see that you had fun tonight.” Merula said bitterly. “Guess you got your stomach in a twist for nothing. As always.”

“Hello to you too, Merula.” said Matthew, offering a small wave. “You too, Ismelda.”

Ismelda grunted in return. Merula scoffed.

Matthew cleared his throat. “So-”

“It’s none of your business, but for your information, we’re waiting up for Lee. He had no qualms going into a blind date.”

 Matthew nodded. “See you around then, ‘rula. I’ll try to get your broom back to you by the end of the week, ok?”