Chapter 1—Arthur Weasley
Arthur Weasley was 13 years old and in his third year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was a Gryffindor, who was very courageous, unless a certain, very pretty witch was around. Her name was Amy Hotchkiss and she was a Hufflepuff in his year. Unfortunately for Arthur, the Gryffindors took Care of Magical Creatures with the Hufflepuffs and he was mildly terrified of many of the creatures that they would be learning about.
In early October, they were learning about hippogriffs in the Care of Magical Creatures class. He definitely wanted to impress Amy and so, when Professor McGivern asked for a volunteer to try to pet the creature, Arthur summoned up all of his Gryffindor courage and stepped in front of the crowd. "Very good, Weasley," Professor McGivern said. "Now, just remember that hippogriffs are proud creatures. You must bow to the animal and he will give you permission to touch him."
Arthur nodded, pushed his glasses up his nose and stepped closer to the beast. His heart was beating very fast, so fast that he thought it might beat right out of his chest. He bowed low to the hippogriff, who returned the bow. Arthur crept forward to stroke the creature. However, he stepped on a twig, snapping it and spooking the animal.
The hippogriff stepped back, and let out a terrifying screech. Then, it Arthur fell over and hit his head, knocking him out cold. He woke several hours later in the hospital wing, with little memory of what had happened. His best friend, Jack Milgrove, was sitting by his bed. "Good to see you awake, mate," Jack said.
"How long have I been out? And why am I in the hospital?" Arthur asked.
"You really don't know?" Jack replied; Arthur shook his head. "You got knocked out by that hippogriff. The entire class watched, mate."
"Did Amy see it?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah, man," Jack answered. "Everyone saw it."
"Did I look cool when I got hit and fell?" Arthur asked. Really, it was a stupid question. No one looks cool when they get hit by a hippogriff.
"Well, you managed to not scream like a girl when the thing hit you," Jack said. "But, it wasn't really a graceful fall. You sort of tried to back away and tripped on a stick, and then hit your head on a rock." Arthur winced at the painful memory of his clumsiness. Amy would certainly not want to go to Hogsmeade with him now.
The next morning, Arthur was sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall when a strange person sat next to him. "I heard you hit your head yesterday," Molly Prewett said. She was a year younger than Arthur and he definitely didn't fancy her.
"It's alright," he replied.
"I wasn't asking how it was," Molly scolded. "I just wanted to remind you that you should be more careful and not hit your head."
"Thanks," Arthur said, trying to get the girl to leave him alone with his porridge and his misery. She did finally leave him.
When breakfast ended, Arthur was making his way to Transfiguration when he heard Amy saying, "I don't want to go to Hogsmeade with you, Malfoy. Now just leave me alone!"
"And who do you want to go with?" Malfoy sneered. "I certainly hope it's not that tosspot, Weasley."
"And what if it is?" Amy asked. "He's much nicer than you are and he's brave." Arthur felt like he could fly in that moment. He turned around and went to his class with a very large smile on his face.
On the way to the greenhouses for Herbology, which Gryffindor also had with Hufflepuff, Arthur noticed Amy was alone. "Hello, Amy," he said, catching up with her. "How are you today?"
"I'm alright, Arthur," she answered. "How's your head?"
"Oh, I've got older brothers," he replied. "I've had worse bumps than that. Are you going to Hogsmeade on Saturday?"
"I think so," she said, shyly.
"I was wondering if I might escort you to the village, then," Arthur offered.
"I think that would be lovely," Amy answered, smiling. "I'll meet you in the front hall at 10:00, then?"
"Of course, Amy," Arthur replied, also smiling.
That Saturday, he met Amy, as he had promised. He took her around the village and bought her a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks. After the butterbeers, he led her back to the school and took her for a walk on the grounds. When they finally reached the entry to the Hufflepuff common room (Arthur had insisted on walking her all the way back), they had an awkward moment before Arthur finally said, "I had a really nice time today, Amy."
"I did too," she said. "Thank you for the butterbeer."
"It was my pleasure," Arthur answered. Then, he leaned in towards her and kissed her very tenderly.