Butterfly

It started out as just one. One tiny little butterfly appeared in my stomach. I was the first time he ever gave me a compliment. We were arguing about Merlin knows what in the Potions classroom. This was in 4th year when the hormones were budding and we were biting at each others' throats.

"You're not the ugliest girl in school, Weasley," he said quietly, looking down at his feet.

Poof! The butterfly appeared in my stomach and started fluttering around, causing me to blush and turn my head to the floor as well. I'm sure a 'thanks' and 'you're welcome' were mumbled awkwardly, but i couldn't focus on that. My attention was captivated by the butterfly, silently pleading for it to go away. However, it did no such thing.

THough the awkward moment did pass and life returned to normal, the butterfly was a permanent addition. It drove me crazy! Every accidental brush in the corridors, every stolen glance in Transfiguration, every dive he made during a Quidditch game that showed off his muscles...every bloody one caused the little butterfly to flit around in excitement, twirling and spinning and enjoying life. Meanwhile I was stuck on the outside with the legendary Weasley blush and a lame excuse to leave the situation.

Thankfully, I learned to control the butterfly after a while. But just as soon as I'd controlled that one, something else happened. Poof! Yep, that's right. Another butterfly, also eager to stretch its wings and fly about inside my abdomen. Unfortunately for me, this butterfly also had a catalyst. It's name was Al Potter.

On this monumental evening, Al entered the common room relatively late, covered in mud from a grueling Quidditch practice in the rain. He slumped down on the sofa chair across from me, where I was struggling with my Transfiguration essay.

"Stupid bloody Scorpius," I grumbled, "always distracting me..."

"Rose?" Al asked. I looked up from my essay at him. "Do you like Scorpius?" Enter butterfly #2.

"Why would you think that?" I stuttered, trying to hide the infuriating blush. Al smirked. I could sense the arrival of more butterflies was imminent.

"Well you're always staring at him in class," Poof, "and you blush whenever he's near," Poof, Poof. "One time, I actually caught you doodling his name on your notebook in Transfig."

Did he know what he was doing to me at that moment? Probably not. But right then, Albus' words broke down an imaginary wall inside me and suddenly there were hundreds of little butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

"I'm going to be sick," I said, grabbing my things and dashing to the girls' staircase.

"I knew it!" I heard Al yelp gleefully, but I really didn't care. I hurled my things onto my bed and race towards the loo. Fifteen minutes later my whole dinner was emptied in the toilet I laid on the stone cold floor, afraid movement would stir the butterflies, who'd finally gone still. Slowly and carefully I crawled to my bed and snuggled under the covers. There I thought about Scorpius. THe brushes, the looks the dives. Then I thought about words. We hadn't been arguing as much lately; in fact, we hadn't really spoken to each other. Sure, we said 'please pass the butter' and 'excuse me', but that was it. Why couldn't we have a normal conversation?

All I could think about was him. I knew I was in love with him. With his smoldering blue eyes that pierced mine every time he looked, his pale skin that complimented his slender face, his toned muscular body that would completely swallow me up if he ever did hug me, and his lips. Oh his lips. What I wouldn't give to just taste those gorgeous lips. Crap, here comes another one.

Poof!