The line of leaving students extended all the way from the top of the stadium to the bottom where the big double doors were open. Louisa was packing her papers where she stood on the side of the dais, her hands moving in a jerky way. It had been an intense debate, for sure, everybody seemed to enjoy themselves in this seminar as she--once again-- was assigned to face that jerk from the other group, Bernard, in a heated discussion. They had those extra activities where two students would discuss a controversial issue in the wizarding world. And she could swear the professor assigned her with Burn-ow (as he's known in their year) together on purpose. The guy was annoying, arrogant, delivered his opinions with a sassy grin that simply got on her nerves and made her eye twitch.

Today was the seminar before last, and he'd gained the sympathy of the audience and tugged them towards his side. Basically, he won this battle, but Louisa was might determined to win the war come their next and last seminar.
A few papers slipped to the floor as she was descending the few steps, she bent down to get them but the jerk was there first with his dumb grin. "There you go, lady."
Louisa snatched them with a superior look on her face. "Don't pull this lady thing with me, it's offputting." She proceeded to walk towards the doors.
"I don't believe I could do anything offputting." He picked up the pace to walk next to her.
She snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. Your face is offputting."
"Is it the charm? Do I need to tone it down with how charming I am?"
"It's the personality, I think." She made sure to keep her amusement at bay, it was not acceptable to have fun with your opponent.
"Aw come on, look at me, give me one reason why you don't like me. Is it because I constantly beat you?" He blocked her way and started walking backwards. And Louisa was reluctant to admit to herself that he was hilarious trying to get her to be a HAPPY loser by being gross and cute and playing with his hair like that.
Yeah. NO.
"I don't dislike you, Bur-- Bernard." She started to say, noticing a subtle frown on his brow when she began to say his nickname. "I'm just not particularly in talking to you when there's no catch. Feels like a waste of my valubale time." Okay, so, maybe she was a sore loser.
"Let me take you to the party this weekend, and--"
Louisa laughed, cutting him off. "Yeah, no. I'm off dating until I graduate."
"We can pretend it's a--"
"Bye Bernard." She laughed again, passing him and moving further away from him.
"You will like me, Louisa Carter, you just wait and see!" He called after her.

"... and with over sixty percent of the audience's votes, our infamous and opinionated vice president, Louisa Carter, owns the floor of this debate." Applaud erupted as the former Ravenclaw stood tall on the dais, and was handed a certificate of honor.

Bernard was standing close by on the dais, clapping half-heartedly. Lousia was not looking his way, though, she was too busy trying not to laugh at the group of fools sitting in the front seats making silly faces at her. How did she always end up with the goofiest friends?

The professors' committee gave some more announcements about the final examinations and summer school's schedule, then the seminar was over and people were leaving the hall. Louisa waved at her friends letting them know she was joining them in the cafeteria in a moment, she started collecting her papers when Bernard stood in front of her and gave her a smile.
"Bernard."
"Louisa."
She hugged her paper file to her chest and waited for him to talk.
"I want to say congratulations. I know this is a great deal to you."
"It is. And I worked hard."
"You did. You'll get full credit for this club, I just knew it."
She raised an eyebrow, "You certainly didn't make it easy for me, though."
"Are you disappointed?"
"Well, no, I guess."
"Congratulations again." He extended his arm for a handshake. Louisa accepted it immediately with a smile of her own. "Still off-putting?"
She laughed, "It's wearing off."
"Is it? Or are you just a big sore loser?" He grinned that cheesy grin again, which made her roll her eyes and heading towards the double doors once again. "It's childish, you know. How you get so physically upset when you don't get something you want. That's usually the case with only children."
"I'm not childish, I'm just really.. y'know, determined."
"Eh." He twisted his face, not agreeing with her but also preferring not to push her buttons. "I've never had such challenging partner before, it's been fun. I'm going to miss it."
Louisa realized that she was going to miss the exhausting preparation she had to endure-- weeks and weeks of research and questionnaires before any debate, the nerve-racking minutes she spent on the dais listening to her opponent making holes in her perfect logic. She was going to miss it, too. "Me too."
They made their way in the campus towards the cafeteria building, silent for a few moments.
"You know..." He started. "I'm going back to the states after graduation."
"Your father already prepared a position for you in the Congress?" Louisa knew Bernard's father was some big diplomat in the US.
"Ha ha ha. Not really. Are you going back to London? I heard Chinwa asked you to come work in the university officially once you're done here."
"Yeah, I'm not sure, though." She kept postponing this decision lately. It was keeping her up at night.
Ben nodded, "We have to focus on the finals, first." He scoffed. "Can't believe I'm repeating what Nelly told us." Louisa laughed, agreeing with him. Nelly was their course consultant and she kept emphasizing on their finals; Don't party too hard you have finals next semester, don't have fun too much you have finals to concentrate on next month, don't eat too much your body and mind should be light for finals this year, dont breathe too much it'll burn away your brain cells and ruin your chances of passing the finals next week. Heh.
"Well, good luck to you, Louisa." He leaned in quickly and stole a kiss from her cheek.
"Hey!" She protested half-heartedly, forcing a frown despite the smirk on her mouth. He gave her a wink and retreated with a skip to his walk.
"What's up with him?" Julie's voice came from behind Louisa.
"He's just another dork in my life."