Charms class was usually a lot of practical work, and it looked like today’s class wasn’t going to be any different. Well, actually, it was going to be different, but it was always different, so it was also the same. Her homework landed in the basket, edging out some of the ones sailing in from the other side of the room, and she watched attentively as Professor Flitwick demonstrated the charms they were supposed to be practicing. It didn’t look too difficult to her; it would just need coordination and the right timing of charms, probably. “Grazie, caro,” she murmured as Adam handed her a glass sphere.

“What are the chances at least one of these puppies gets broken? Bet you Hadley drops hers.” 

Hazel glanced at Millie out of the corner of her eye. She had been somewhat wary when the other girl joined her, as the recent past had found their friendship to be a little chilly because of Millie’s ridiculous romantic drama. Millie wouldn’t have been her first choice as a seatmate for that reason, as Hazel thought that the drama was on-going, and she had enough drama going on without getting involved in that. Not that Millie had asked her to be involved, but if there was one thing Hazel had learned in school, it was that Millie would ask her to do the most bothersome things at the least opportune times. Normally, it was not too bad, all things considered, upon reflection, in hindsight, but she did not like her friend’s relationship, and she had been burnt by it once before already.

“Hadley’s all right,” she said, non-committally. With a swish and a flick, she set her sphere floating in front of her. Next would be the light charm, which she assumed was a modified lumos, and she was getting ready to cast when there was a commotion from across the room. Oh, Merlin, she hoped that it wasn’t Hadley that had dropped the glass ball, after she had stood up for the Hufflepuff like that. She eyed the cluster of students around the accident, but she made no move to join them. More students crowding around with all the broken glass would only make things worse, she was sure, and Professor Flitwick could handle it. Turning back to her work, Hazel flooded the floating sphere with light and flipped through her Charms textbook to find the appropriate colour charm.