Frank Longbottom had just enjoyed his first month of head-boyship and, besides a few altercations with the infamous Marauders, it had all been going very well until he ran into a bit of trouble in the form of a Hufflepuff fifth year named Nelly Payton.
Nelly was a particularly loud and crazy brand of witch, accused of setting off over a dozen firecrackers in Filch's office.
Frank was the first on the scene and was forced to take points from her house and place her in detention.
By the looks of Filch, Frank reckoned he had probably done her a favour.
And looking at Nelly she knew it too.
As head boy Frank had had to oversee the detention himself where he was told, by Nelly, that he was incredibly cute and would be taking her, as his date, on the next Hogsmeade weekend.
Frank was so flustered and surprised by Nelly's forthrightness that he said yes before even thinking about it.
Their date started at the agreed upon time outside the front doors of the castle.
Nelly talked animatedly about Quidditch and their classmates while Frank listened politely, only speaking when asked a direct question.
Nelly laughed raucously at the slightest things, was easily distracted, and delighted in pulling pranks on passers-by.
Frank was mildly amused but not to the same extent as Nelly.
The pair ended up in the unlikeliest of places in the whole of Hogsmeade.
Madam Puddifoot's tea shop.
Frank sat across from Nelly, silently stirring his coffee and listening to Nelly's inane chatter with reserved interest.
He had just started to lose focus when Nelly straightened up in her seat grinning and said "This is a crappy date isn't it?"
Frank jolted out of his stupor "What?! No… um… I... I thought it was just me" he admitted apologetically which only widening her smile.
"Not good at all" she laughed.
"I actually hate this place" Frank said smiling ruefully.
"Me too! It sucks!" She said loudly, prompting dirty looks from surrounding couples and the plump, black haired owner herself.
Frank stood and Nelly jumped to her feet eagerly "Friends?" She said holding out her hand, but before Frank could take it she yelled "Wait! There's my sister! You two would be perfect for each other! I'll go get her!" and without another word she shoved Frank back into his seat, squeezed through the irate crowd, and ran down the street to catch her sister.
Nelly returned dragging a girl, who looked very much like a slightly older, less wild, version of herself, behind her.
She had a plump face, beautiful, kind, brown eyes and long black hair pulled into a bun.
"Frank" Nelly said, pushing her blushing, protesting sister forward "this is your future wife Alice" Alice blushed profusely and turned angrily on her sister who winked and darted from the room before either of the pair could protest.
After a few moments Alice sat down awkwardly.
"You don't have to do this..." they said in unison.
Alice blushed again and Frank shifted in his seat.
"So, um, Alice, what year are you? I don't think I've seen you around much..." the statement hung in the air for a moment making Frank feel stupider as the seconds ticked by.
"I'm a sixth year, Hufflepuff, I've seen you a bit. You're head boy" she smiled shyly at him "you must be very happy with that" Alice looked into his eyes for the first time.
He was very cute, normally Alice would never have been able to pluck up the courage to talk to a boy as popular and good looking as Frank... but he seemed quite shy himself.
"I really am. I thought there would be a lot more trouble by now but so far it's only been those fourth year boys, call themselves Marauders, and your little sister."
"Yeah Nell can be a bit of a handful" she chuckled softly "How do you know her anyway?" Alice added nervously.
"She asked me on a date after I gave her a detention" Frank admitted turning bright red "but she said our date was awkward and we agreed that we should just be friends."
Alice frowned "Typical Nelly, trying to set me up with someone she was on a date with. I'm sorry by the way."
"Please, don't worry about it. I think Nelly is a bit too... well you see she's... she's awfully loud" he finished lamely.
Alice laughed "Yes she is" she smiled affectionately.
"Not really my type" he said with the smallest of smiles "I think I'm having much more fun with you."
Alice stopped short.
Nobody had ever had more fun with her when her sister was around.
"I'm having a lot of fun with you too Frank" she said sincerely, Frank couldn't help but grin at the sound of his name on her lips "but maybe we should go somewhere less awful" she added in a whisper.
Frank laughed and stood up.
He held out his hand to help her up and didn't let go until it was time to return to their separate dormitories.
He walked her to the Hufflepuff Common Room.
And sealed the date with a kiss.