Work Text:
— Don’t stare so high, you fool! You’ll end up at the bottom with me...— Deuce glanced at his friend and sighed. Reluctantly, he shifted his gaze to the lower parts of the test results board.
He had truly tried to be an exemplary student, especially after solemnly vowing to make up for his delinquent past. The promise he’d made to his mother was sacred. He had hoped to at least land in the middle of the list. After all, he’d worked hard and studied diligently for these exams. The silver lining was that he passed — and he wasn’t at the very bottom. Next time, he’d put in even more effort and study consistently — or so he hoped.
— Maybe you should study a bit yourself — he shot back, eyeing Ace, who seemed utterly indifferent to his own score.
— Oh, Deucy, Deucy. I passed, didn’t I? — Ace clasped his hands behind his head. — I think I’ll treat myself to some food. Are you coming with me?
— Wait a moment. — Deuce squeezed through the crowd of students pressing against the board.
— Staring at it won’t change your score. The sooner we leave, the better our chances of grabbing those double ham sandwiches...
— Look at this. — His friend pointed toward the very top of the giant sheet. But it wasn’t the first-year results.
— Wait, what... — Ace trailed off, his brain taking a moment to process the facts.
At the top was a name they didn't recognize. Their Prefect stood nearby, staring at the black letters on the white sheet as if it were some incomprehensible chess move. His face grew redder with each passing second, redder than the deepest roses of Heartslabyul.
Riddle Rosehearts had not taken first place among the second-years. Since they’d started attending Night Raven College, this had never happened. Considering his temperament — sharp as the beaks of flamingos — it could only mean one thing: someone was about to lose their head. Ace and Deuce had no intention of becoming the next victims of their Prefect’s infamous unique magic. So, they did exactly what the legendary soldiers of the Queen of Hearts would do — they bolted.
***
Riddle spent the entire class staring in disbelief as [Reader] assisted Professor Crewel in demonstrating how to properly weigh a new potion. His hand mechanically scribbled ornate cursive notes listing the ingredients but his thoughts were elsewhere. His mind kept circling back to that cursed list of exam results. He couldn’t believe it. Maybe she’d cheated? Or stolen the test questions? He wouldn’t be surprised. After all, she had transferred to NRC from Royal Sword Academy.
With that thought, he stirred the cauldron full of bubbling, shimmering liquid. He scooped a bit with the ladle — it was almost perfect. Almost. He’d have to try again in his free time. He sighed quietly as the teacher announced the end of the class. He was annoyed at himself — he’d wasted a valuable lesson on pointless musings.
At the door, Trey appeared. Apparently, the third-years had just finished their class as well. They sat together on a bench. Riddle pulled out his notebook; they had a few things to plan for the next unbirthday party.
The Prefect occasionally glanced toward the hallway. Trey, ever perceptive, didn’t miss it. Sometimes he regretted how sharp his friend was.
— So, [Reader], huh? — Trey interrupted their planning session about tart flavours.
Riddle’s pen paused for a fraction of a second before resuming at double speed.
— What about [Reader]? — he asked, panicked.
— You’ve been glancing at her since I got here. And certain little birds told me it’s the same during all your lessons. — Trey adjusted his glasses nonchalantly.
Riddle cursed all the second-years in Heartslabyul in his mind. Of course, he wouldn’t strip them of their magic. He was working on not doing that without a valid reason. Still, moments like this tested his patience.
— Those little birds should focus on studying and adhering to the Queen of Hearts’ rules instead of gossiping. They’re doing a terrible job at both so far — he finally said.
The sound of Trey’s fountain pen scratching against paper was the only thing breaking the silence. But not for long.
Riddle later regretted reaching for his water bottle. Maybe if he hadn’t, his uniform wouldn’t have ended up soaked.
— If you like her, you could just tell her. I say this as a friend — Trey blurted out.
To say the Prefect choked would be an understatement. Water splattered everywhere, soaking his crimson vest. The coughing fit caused by that one idiotic sentence lasted several minutes. Trey’s hand patting his back did little to help. Riddle could feel the stares of students loitering in the hallway and courtyard. He wasn’t sure if it was due to his sudden choking or if they’d overheard what Trey said. He deeply hoped it was the former.
His cheeks burned bright scarlet. He hated how easily his face betrayed him, especially when he was angry — and that happened often.
Just as he was about to say something, he noticed unexpected movement. The very person who was the topic of their conversation was heading straight toward him.
— Riddle Rosehearts, right? I’m [Reader]. The ‘new girl’ — she gestured air quotes — from RSA. You were staring at me all class. Got a problem? — she asked bluntly.
Riddle noted the strangely intimidating stance she’d adopted, like she’d come straight out of Savanaclaw’s rowdiest gang.
— You must've imagined it — he stated, clearing his throat.
Trey observed the exchange from the sidelines, clearly amused, his subtle smirk being the indication.
— Hmm, if you say so, then I must’ve imagined it. We should stick together, though, since we both love studying and all... Good luck on the next exam. — She flashed him a dazzling smile.
Or at least, it seemed dazzling until Trey looked away and she stuck her tongue out at Riddle as she left.
— I’ll win — she mouthed silently.
Before he could respond, she disappeared. He felt a growing fury. Was she challenging him? Fine. She had no idea what she’d signed up for. He wasn’t considered one of the best mages of his generation for nothing. He’d show her.
— Something tells me I was right... — Trey began.
— You weren’t. Quite the opposite. I don’t like her. In fact, I hate her...
***
— What do you mean by a different partner? — Professor Trein's gaze pierced into [Reader].
If looks could kill, she'd probably be dead by now. She was certain of that.
— What I wanted to say was...
She didn't get a chance to finish.
— I don’t know what customs were followed at your previous educational institution, Miss. I don’t care what happens in other classes. In my lectures, I expect absolute obedience, not questioning my choices. As far as I know, you and Mr. Rosehearts scored the highest marks on the previous test. I selected you based on that. The conversation is over. — The teacher returned to studying the musty tome on his mahogany desk.
She cursed the graying man in her mind. His fat cat stared at her with the same severity as its owner. A shiver ran down her spine. Was he reading her mind?
[Reader] turned on her heel. Riddle was heading toward the professor, probably with the same goal as hers.
— I wouldn't advise that. We have to do this together — she hissed warningly, grabbing his arm.
He didn’t listen to her. It was his own fault. With a slight sense of satisfaction, she watched him, moving away, receiving a scolding even worse than hers. She waited for him by the door. From what she had gathered, he wasn’t the type to easily accept criticism. Quite the opposite. That would explain his very red face.
— Ahem! — he cleared his throat loudly, making his presence known.
— Oh, I didn’t notice you. Have you finished questioning my good advice? — [Reader] asked, biting sarcastically.
— I admit, I could have... acted differently — Riddle mumbled. — But the fact remains, we need to take care of the project.
Ah yes. The source of the latest problem — history. Another thing on the long academic to-do list. The girl kept crossing out items but paradoxically, it felt like they were only multiplying.
— Got any ideas?
— If you think I'll do everything myself, you're sorely mistaken — Rosehearts declared, gripping the thick textbook tightly.
— Do you always have to assume the worst? — [Reader] headed toward the library.
— If I’m not mistaken, you challenged me not long ago. And in a very ungraceful way. — Riddle grimaced at the memory of her sticking out her tongue.
— I’m going to win against you. That hasn’t changed. But that doesn’t mean I’ll give that old man the satisfaction of failing me. — She could swear the Prefect inhaled sharply when he heard her call the professor that. — You’re stuck with me. — She grinned wickedly. — You've been in NRC longer than me, so I think it’s better if you choose which character we’ll write about.
The long essay, complete with footnotes and millions of dates, was supposed to be about a chosen figure from the Great Seven. Of course, it was hard not to hear about them. However, she knew they were especially important to this school. It was hard for her to know more than someone who had been here longer.
— The Queen of Hearts — Riddle replied without hesitation.
— I heard you two have a lot in common — the girl remarked.
— Oh... That’s... nice — Riddle said, giving her an uncertain look. He smelled an insult.
In her opinion, strictness and rigid rules didn’t equate to being “nice.” However, she decided not to correct him.
***
Riddle glanced around the garden one last time before gently spreading jam on the little dormouse’s nose. Everything seemed in order, so they could begin.
— Honestly? I didn’t expect non-birthday parties to be THIS big... — [Reader] watched everything she came across with interest.
She had helped repaint the roses because Rosehearts complained that she should contribute to the party. However, what she saw was very different from the state of the dormitory she had seen yesterday. Low tables were covered with snow-white tablecloths, on which colourful trays dominated, piled high with cakes, cookies, tarts, cupcakes, croissants, sandwiches... the list could go on. In the honoured place stood a huge tart with a shiny strawberry glaze. Crystalware glittered in the sunlight, brighter than the yellow-blue lanterns hanging above it. All of this was surrounded by an array of unrelated items, which looked as though someone had pulled them out of the bottom of a chest and placed them on the grass for fun. There were so many Heartslabyul students she didn’t even know, that just trying to remember their faces made her head spin.
— It has to be this size — Riddle said matter-of-factly, reaching for a teapot with a funny pattern and then elegantly poured the tea. — Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to feed everyone and we have a full dormitory. Heartslabyul prides itself on the fact that no one has left us or dropped out of class for a long time...
— It'd be off with their heads if they tried — [Reader] laughed.
— You’re not far from the truth — interjected Cater, who was sitting nearby. — Riddle doesn’t like to brag about it — he added in a conspiratorial whisper — but it’s because of him. He makes sure everyone passes their exams. Sometimes, he even helps others personally. — He winked.
— That’s nice of you. — The girl reached for her cup and drank the tea in one gulp.
— Is that all? — The prefect shifted uncomfortably in his red chair.
— What do you mean, “is that all”? — She raised an eyebrow.
— No wicked remark? — Riddle extended his pinky, delicately lifting his drink.
A few weeks had passed since they started working on their semester essay. They had a lot of rules and customs of the Queen of Hearts to go through. That didn’t mean, though, that he had completely gotten used to [Reader]. He felt that the longer he knew her, the less he understood her.
— Even I can appreciate helping others. I’m not that heartless. — The girl shoved an entire piece of tart into her mouth, scattering crumbs everywhere.
— We’ll need to dedicate a chapter to table manners — Riddle remarked, eyeing her pointedly.
They were in desperate need of some improvement — that much he was absolutely sure of.
— Who wants to play croquet? — someone from their table called out.
[Reader] couldn’t respond with her mouth full, so her hand shot up. Exactly at the same moment, Riddle elegantly gave a short and simple: “Me.”
Riddle patiently listened to the reminder of the rules, including the traditional check of the time. After five in the afternoon, this activity was strictly forbidden. Which most students, especially his new guest, probably didn’t know.
Soon, seven-coloured flamingos were handed out as mallets and a curled-up hedgehog was set up. Rosehearts took aim and hit his target. However, it quickly became clear that while [Reader] might not match him when it came to manners, it didn’t affect her croquet. She struck again and again with tremendous force. The hedgehogs didn’t seem to mind. On the contrary, they made quite joyful sounds as they soared against the blue sky. The flamingos, however, were slow enough in their thinking that she struck them with their beaks before they had time to bend awkwardly on the bright green grass.
— Ha! Your turn! — she called out, leaning on her mallet.
Riddle wanted to add that croquet was also a team sport but when he looked around, he realized they were the only ones left on the field. The whole dormitory was watching as they had been exchanging blows for a long time. Someone even started chanting but was quickly silenced by older students.
The boy calculated the angles every time he hit the hedgehogs. He worked faster, his pace picking up. He felt like he had reached a higher level of focus. The adrenaline was pumping through his veins but his face didn’t flush. He didn’t remember the last time he got so immersed in something so seemingly simple. He wasn’t like those brutes from Savanaclaw. This game mainly served to fulfill a rule that had been set. Yet, he was having so much fun that when the referee blew the whistle to announce the end, he didn’t notice immediately.
— Watch out!
The voice came a bit too late. Unlike the straightened flamingo in [Reader]’s hand. It collided with the speeding hedgehog at the last moment. The momentum with which she swung it knocked Riddle to the ground. The world spun for a moment in a blur of white, blue and green, before finally settling to reveal [Reader]’s concerned face leaning over him.
— Are you okay? — The sun created a halo just behind her head and the boy blinked a few times.
— Yeah. — He accepted her outstretched hand.
In the distance, he heard a clicking sound. However, he decided it must have been the hungry flamingos.
— Aren’t you going to ask who won? — the girl asked, lifting the corner of her lips.
She was determinedly heading to the main table, ignoring the tense Heartslabyul students around them.
— Actually, I hadn’t thought about it — the prefect replied groggily.
— Who are you, and what have you done with my rival, Riddle? — she asked dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. — Have you finally had some fun?
— I guess so — he replied, contemplating his cooling tea cup and half-listening to the conversations swirling around them.
"My" — such a simple word, yet so shocking. Especially considering how many sentences had been said that day at the non-birthday party. Yet, for some reason, he found himself debating it in his head long after the teapot showed its snow-white bottom and the sugar cubes vanished into the hungry dormouse’s mouth.
***
[Reader] stared at the photo in disbelief. She had always considered social media to be a fun escape, especially when it came to mindlessly scrolling for random tidbits about her friends' lives. Now, however, she was the one becoming the subject of curiosity and the whole concept didn't sit so well with her anymore.
There, on the square, perfectly framed photo, was her and Riddle. In a rather ambiguous position. It didn’t matter that they weren’t the first in the set of ten photos Cater Diamond had taken. It was these pictures that were making the rounds. And from people at NRC, as she deduced from most of the usernames and bios. What had started as an innocent #cammable_pair had turned into #academic_rivals and #enemies_to_lovers. [Reader] promised herself she would strangle the third-year student next time she saw him, if Riddle hadn’t already cut his magic off. Now the whole school was coming up with wild theories about the two of them. Thankfully, the suggestive glances in the hallways were starting to die down.
— You're on the phone again? — Riddle huffed, carrying a stack of books.
He didn’t spend much time on the internet. Especially not on social media. He visited from time to time but didn’t post anything. Besides, Cater always summarized most of the things he found, so he didn’t feel the need.
— I wasn’t going to tell you but I guess I’m not that nice after all — [Reader] said, shoving the screen in front of his face.
— What am I looking at? — He asked, staring at the picture full of Magicam-filtered cookies.
— Not here. There — she pointed to another photo, scrolling through the comments.
She watched slowly as understanding spread across his face. She could easily track it by the reddening of his cheeks. He finally understood the looks he had been getting in the hallways all week.
— Umm... I’ll tell Cater to take this down as soon as possible...
— No! If we take it down, everyone will think there’s really something going on and the rumors will get even worse.
— If you say so — he sighed quietly.
He didn’t know what this feeling was, but something began gnawing at him from the inside. In his mind, the idea of them being together had been just a funny invention of Trey’s. But now, the whole school was doing the same? Why did it bother him so much? After all, there wasn’t a grain of truth in it.
— Time for the famous tarts today? — [Reader] picked up the first book she could reach, sinking deeper into the plush armchair.
— You don’t look too happy — Riddle noted, glancing at her sideways.
— More studying means more boredom — she replied, covering her face with the book.
— Funny you’d say that, considering your grades.
— Just because I study doesn’t mean I like it. My parents are really strict about my grades. That’s one of the reasons they transferred me to NRC — she sighed.
For a moment, they sat in silence, only broken by the rustling of pages. Riddle began to think maybe they weren’t so different after all, despite what he had initially thought.
— I know what it’s like. My mom was also adamant about good grades. Then I overbloat and things changed a bit...
— You had an overbloat?! — [Reader] nearly jumped out of her chair.
— It’s a long story. The point is, in the end, studying isn’t everything. — Riddle looked her straight in the face.
— I can't believe you're the one saying it — she chuckled quietly.
— You know what? Take the book and come with me. — He extended his hand, which she hesitantly took.
He led her down the hallways filled with red, black and white. At the end awaited the cozy kitchen of Heartslabyul.
— We should bake the tart before we start describing its meaning according to the Queen of Hearts. Learning can also be fun. — Riddle began flipping through the pages until he found the right recipe.
— How many times have you baked this? — she asked, peering over his shoulder.
— More than once — he replied.
By "more than once," he meant "twice." And only the second tart had been remotely edible but no one needed to know that.
Thus began the great pot adventure. Flour, eggs and piles of sugar were put to use. Riddle carefully measured the ingredients. Only for a moment later to see [Reader] adding another spoonful of sparkling crystals.
— It needs to be sweeter — she declared, sticking her finger into the forming foam.
— That’s unhygienic! — Riddle screamed in horror, trying to cut through the sounds of the whisk.
Reading the next step of the recipe, he already knew what would happen.
— Give that to me! — He reached for the bag of flour, which she swiped from under his nose.
— We’ll do it by eye and it’ll be fine! Otherwise, we’ll be here all afternoon, and I’m hungry!
— No way... — The flour hit his face, which shut him up immediately.
[Reader] burst out laughing. She couldn’t stop herself, looking at his white-coated red hair and eyelashes. Riddle looked like the unpainted roses from the Heartslabyul garden. The comparison made her laugh even harder. She grabbed her stomach, wiping a tear from her eye.
Riddle looked at his reflection in the kitchen cabinet.
— Oh, you... — He swung his portion of flour.
Now [Reader] joined the ranks of ghosts, covering herself in white. They were both forced to sweep the floor. Although they couldn’t agree on who should do it, so they eventually divided the room in half.
The final step was preparing the strawberries. Water and knives were used. Riddle complained that she was eating every other one instead of putting it in the tart. In the end, however, all the fruit rested beneath the pastry blanket, which glowed with a golden hue in the oven.
[Reader] was absolutely convinced that the residents of Heartslabyul had some kind of fifth sense. How else could you explain the fact that, moments after the tart came out of the oven, a crowd appeared in the kitchen?
— Riddle?
— Hmmm? — Riddle lifted his head from his small plate.
— Thanks.
He answered with a smile.
***
Vorpal impatiently and stubbornly searched for the carrot in Riddle’s hand. However, he didn’t find anything there. He gave a loud snort. He was saddled, ready to go, while his guardian was still waiting.
— I thought you’d fallen asleep in the haystack — Rosehearts commented as a greeting.
— Silver had to help me a little but it’s fine now. — She pulled the reins of the horse.
— Did you read all the rules and safety instructions… — He didn’t get to finish.
— Yes, yes. Can we go now? — [Reader] asked, jumping into the saddle.
At NRC, horseback riding was an activity for those who wanted it. Students signed up for the club and only they had access to recreational rides and the stables. At RSA, it was a much more popular activity. [Reader] sometimes wondered if it wasn’t because so many people at her old school resembled what she called “pretty princes.” The activity fit this concept quite well.
After a long day full of studying, she was already fed up with staring at letters. Reading felt like torture, so when Riddle asked her to study the rules, she just waved her hand. Silver wasn’t hovering over her as a Heartslabyul prefect would, so they waved goodbye to the thick stack of papers in the binder and the boy showed her around the stables. However, during the tour, he became incredibly sleepy, which made the whole process much longer. She had the impression he could nap while standing.
The ride itself really pleased her. It was connected to the Queen of Hearts in a very roundabout way. Though the ruler herself didn’t ride, her soldiers did. At a certain point in history, they were forced to escape from her and this was the method they chose. Besides, it was a perfect excuse not to have to finish another essay chapter too quickly, which sounded fantastic in itself. Not to mention that Coach Vargas promised to add an extra grade for her participation…
— Do you want to race? — Riddle pulled her from her thoughts as he rode next to her.
— First to that pine tree wins! — She urged her horse on without waiting for a response.
The trees blurred as they sped by. The world became endlessly green. She could hear the wind rushing in her ears. She had the impression that Rosehearts was shouting something but it was hard to make out the words. She sped up even more. She didn’t want to lose.
— Slow down! — Riddle’s voice came through indistinctly.
— No wa...
Only then did she realize what was going on.
Beyond the pine, there was a cliff. The tree had been a strange exception that tricked her. The path abruptly ended, revealing a drop of several meters, with a forest beyond.
[Reader]’s heart raced. She shifted her weight to the back of the saddle and squeezed with her calves. She pulled on the reins. The horse slowed but not enough. Cold sweat broke out on her. She had the impression that her mind switched off for a few seconds. She looked in horror at the approaching slope, until the landscape seemed to change in a kaleidoscope. It was Riddle who caught up to her in time and cast a spell. He twisted the reins. When she finally stopped, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.
— What were you thinking?! — the boy shouted. — The rules clearly said…— He suddenly understood what had happened. — You didn’t read them, did you?!
Vorpal nervously tapped his hoof, kicking up clouds of dust.
— I was tired and thought that…
— This isn’t something to think about! It’s for your safety! — His face turned a dark red.
[Reader] tried to dismount but her legs were shaking like jelly at a unbirthday party. They refused to cooperate the moment they touched the ground. She didn’t fall, though. Rosehearts caught her at the waist with surprising gentleness, a contrast to the booming voice he used to lecture her.
— Are you alright? — he asked quietly, inspecting her from head to toe.
— I think so — the girl replied, still shaken.
Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck. He responded with a firm, confident embrace.
— I’d never forgive myself if you…— His unfinished thought hung in the air.
Riddle hugged her tighter. Strands of hair tickled his nose but he didn’t want to spoil the moment. The familiar scent wrapped around him, assuring him that everything was fine.
— I’m sorry — he heard her voice breaking right by his ear.
— It’s alright — he replied, stroking her head. — But you’ll still get punished — he added after a moment. — And I’ll make sure you read all of the rules...
***
— What’s going on between you and the Goldfishie? — Floyd’s figure appeared as if out of nowhere. He appeared between the library shelves before [Reader] could even blink.
— What? — The girl lifted her head from the books.
— You are enemies, lovers or whaaat? — he drawled. — It’s funny watching his reactions, so I wanted to check with the source if I’ve got a new reason to annoy him a bit.
There was something strange in the twin’s gaze. He looked like an eel, restlessly circling around his prey. His yellow eyes seemed to shine dangerously in the dim light, reflecting the faint glow of the magical lights.
— There are only rumors on Magicam. We’re doing a project together. We’re not a couple, if that’s what you’re asking. — [Reader] struggled to focus on reading the task content.
— Oh, really? Maybe it’s worth checking — Leech commented.
Floyd leaned right next to her chair, then tilted his head dangerously close. His face was moving at an alarming speed toward hers. She knew he wouldn’t harm her but it still annoyed her.
— Get away from me. — She pushed him to a safe distance.
— Meeeh. You’re no fun — he grinned. — But thanks for the confirmation!
She wanted to say something but the sight of Riddle’s murderous glare, who had just entered the library, made her change her mind. Whatever Floyd had told him as he was leaving must have really pissed him off.
— Is everything alright? — he asked, sitting down at the table.
— Yeah. It’s just Floyd being Floyd — she dismissed it weakly.
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the rustling of papers.
— Hard to believe we’re handing in the essay tomorrow, huh? Feels like the whole semester just flew by — [Reader] commented, seeing the boy putting the last dot.
The final, corrected version lay in front of them. A stack of papers summarizing the last few months. She felt like the pages couldn’t hold everything that had happened, so she could finally finish the project.
— True — Riddle agreed with a distant voice.
Red hair fell over his forehead. Instinctively, she brushed the stray strands away.
— It’s about something Floyd said, right? — [Reader] asked. — I’ll strangle him — she added.
The look on Rosehearts’ face told her she had hit the nail on the head. Especially since he didn’t comment on the fact that she had just threatened someone, which normally would have earned her a reprimand.
— Tomorrow, we won’t have any reason to meet anymore — he finally started uncertainly.
— That’s what you’re worried about? — She opened her eyes wide in surprise. — Of course, we’ll still meet. Who else would I compete with like I do with you? You’re like my… arch-nemesis! My most-hated school foe. I wouldn’t leave you — she laughed.
But Riddle didn’t respond with a smile. Quite the opposite. He became even more serious than usual, and she thought that was impossible.
— That’s exactly it! — He stood up abruptly. The scraping of his chair echoed through the library. — I don’t want you to hate me. I want you to… — He took a deep breath, seeing that [Reader] also stood up.
They were now face to face. Steel-gray eyes looked at her with hope. Their quick breaths mixed in the still silence. Riddle shifted his gaze to her lips. He felt his face flush. This time, however, the blush wasn’t caused by anger. It came from the unbearable feeling of his heart pounding in his chest.
— You want to what? — [Reader] whispered to encourage him.
— I want you to love me — he finished quietly.
He felt the taste of familiar lips and knew that [Reader] was smiling. Her hands tangled in his hair. Riddle felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest. He only pulled away to take a breath. He realized he was also smiling involuntarily.
***
— Check this out! — Ace waved a tray enthusiastically.
— What exactly am I looking at? — Deuce squinted.
— Lemonade — his friend sang with a mischievous grin.
— Please tell me there’s no honey in it...
Deuce only needed one good look to understand that yes, the drink definitely had honey in it. The sweet trap stared at him with its treacherously golden color. And it looked so good! The boy glanced at the clock in the common room. It was already well past 8 PM. That didn’t bode well.
However, an even greater horror struck him when he saw the burgers on the plate. A bunch of tiny buns stuffed to the brim with toppings. It was Tuesday! That already broke two of the Queen of Hearts’ rules.
— Hide that, or you’ll soon be saying goodbye to your head! — he whispered, looking around nervously.
— And you with me, Deucy. — Trappola shoved a burger straight into his mouth.
— You can’t… — he chewed and swallowed — …do that.
— Relax. Look over there. — He pointed Deuce’s head toward the window.
Deuce couldn’t believe his eyes. Their prefect was walking with [Reader] through the garden. And at a time when he usually spent studying in the common room. They were laughing about something, talking in hushed voices. And were they holding hands?
— Since they got together, Riddle’s toned down a bit. And that means tomorrow night I’m going to take a risk and drink coffee — he added.
— What do you mean they are together? Hey, Ace! Answer me!