EVERYONE IN the Slytherin common room sucked.

At chess, more specifically, but also in general. Those two reasons combined was the reason Noor found herself sitting in the Slytherin Common room, one rainy Wednesday evening, her chess board on the table in front of her but no one to play it with.

She fiddled with the knight piece, staring into the fire dejectedly, following the dancing flames with her eyes. Chess was a game that, for personal reasons, meant a lot to Noor. Those reasons being her late father.

Playing chess was her only way of feeling close to the man she barely remembered. Therefore she was incredibly enthusiastic when it came to the game, she just wished she could find someone equally as enthusiastic to play it with.

"You're just too good, people are sick of getting beaten by you." Noor's best friend Astoria Greengrass explained, not bothering to look up from the book she was reading.

"It's not my fault I'm better than everyone!" Noor lamented, sinking deeper into the plush green armchair. "Besides, playing chess isn't about winning or losing, it's about the fun you have while you play it."

"Just go do something else, like your homework." Astoria went on.

"Ew, no."

"Or go play Quidditch."

"Don't know if you've noticed, but the sun's kind of gone down." Noor said, eyebrow raised.

"Oh really." Astoria said absentmindedly, still not bothering to look up from her book.

And even if it weren't past hours, due to the ongoing Triwizard Tournament Noor couldn't go play Quidditch if she wanted to. Which was a shame, for Noor had wanted to try out for the team this year.

Noor scanned the common room, there were a few people dotted around the room, finishing homework or talking amongst themselves. Everyone Noor's eyes landed on looked away quickly and tried to look busy when they realised she was looking at them, obviously not wanting to play a game with her.

"Cowards." Noor thought to herself, and opened her mouth, about to say relay what she had just thought when she saw Draco Malfoy sauntering over to them.

You see, amongst friends and family Noor was a chatterbox, never shutting up, annoying them endlessly. But amongst people she wasn't close too? She was as cold as ice, as quiet as a mouse, a completely different person.

She wouldn't call herself shy, however, she hated that word. Just .... reserved.

"Hey Astoria." Malfoy said, then turned to Noor "Nadia."

"My name's Noor." She muttered, only to get drowned out as Malfoy turned his gaze back to Astoria, trying out his latest pick up line.

Noor quietly slipped out of her seat, not wanting to experience the cringe of Malfoy's flirting, and walked over to the Entrance Hole.

This is what it took to make Astoria finally look up from her book, pleadingly looking at Noor, her only hope to be rescued from Malfoy's clutches.

Now Noor wanted to walk away, she really did - it would serve Astoria right for ignoring her - but Noor, inexplicably, found her feet glued to the floor. Cursing her good heart, she circled back to Astoria.

"Sorry Draco, hate to interrupt ... whatever this was. But I need Astoria." Noor said, grabbing Astoria's arm and pulling her out of her seat.

"But- " he protested.

"Got things to do. You know, lady business." She shouted back as she walked away, making him wrinkle his nose in disgust.

And as she dragged Astoria to the portrait hole she expected gratitude from the girl, a little groveling, some apologies, but all she got instead was panic,

"It's far too late to go outside, it's past curfew!" Astoria said, pulling away from Noor's grasp.

"No it's not," Noor said, checking her watch, "We still have, like, three minutes left."

Astoria, ever the stickler for rules, crossed her arms, not looking convinced.

"Come on! It'll only take a minute, promise. Besides, you kind of owe me for rescuing you from Malfoy."

Astoria rolled her eyes, "Fine, let's go. What do you need to do anyway?"

"Remember the chess club I set up a while ago."

"Yeah."

"I wanna check if anyone's signed up."

Astoria sent Noor a sidelong glance, but said nothing, following after her.

Noor pretended not to notice the glance, but did. And she knew exactly why. For it had been two months now and no one had yet to sign up, but Noor hadn't given up hope.

There were over a hundred students at Hogwarts, surely there must be one person who shared her passion for chess?

After a good bit of speed walking they reached the notice board, Noor scanned the array of flyers and posters, looking for her sign up sheet - as Astoria tapped her feet impatiently, urging Noor to hurry up.

Finally Noor found her sign up sheet, buried under a notice about an opening in the Frog Choir.

Keeping her expectations low, her face carefully blank, Noor took in a deep breath and read it.

And as much as Noor tried to hide it, her face melted into a wide smile as she found one scraggly name written on the sheet.

"Ron Weasley ...

Wait, which Weasley is that?"