Theoretically, the First Rule had been instituted to make sure that Lizzie learned more and got better grades. The fact that this would make Gil a bit more kindly disposed to Tucker, because he would be happier with Lizzie’s grades was a bonus, but one not to be ignored.

The fact that it might actually help Tucker never entered Lizzie’s head.

Which is not to say that she was disappointed that this actually seemed to be happening.

“Working.”

Lizzie turned slowly from her quill, inkwell and parchment and studied the side of her boyfriend’s face. Lips clamped on the end of a sugar quill, he was scowling furiously, and writing furiously, pausing to chew his sweet a bit from time to time.

Since she began paying any attention to Tucker at all, Lizzie had seen him in any number of situations. There was the disaster in the DADA class last year. And then his body language in the Quidditch matches, where fluctuating between boredom and terror seemed to be the basis of it. She had watched him fooling around with his twin. She had watched his face light up when she gave him his packed lunch that last day of term, and she had seen him worry when Gil did his Big Brother act.

She had never seen Tucker play his guitar simply because of bad timing and she had never seen him concentrating on his work simply because they had never worked together before. And there was no doubt about it.

Tucker, focused, was adorable.

There was something soft and innocent about him and strangely fierce and male at the same time. Here was a boy who would finish what he had started through sheer dint of determination. He might not be a genius. Lizzie hoped he wasn’t; that might prove awkward at some point. But he was a sticker, by Merlin. And that, in Lizzie’s eyes, was precious.

Very quietly, Lizzie murmured, “Yes, Tucker dear,” And turned back to her things. Well, if he was busy, she might as well get started on her Care of Magical Creatures homework. Though they had studied Bowtruckles in the first year, Lizzie had decided to so her essay on feeding and nesting arrangements would be about the wee beasties. Clearly, she hadn’t known enough about Bowtruckles last summer, and she was going to make up for that!

Slipping out her notebook and another sheet of parchment, she set to work. Tucker had work to do, and she would be there when he wanted her.

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