The common room was emptier than usual tonight due to Gryffindor Quidditch trials finally happening; the rain from last night had eased off somewhat. Freddie was sat over in the corner once again poring over his diagrams and charts with a wide smile on his face.
Joe was lieing on one of the sofas with his knees bent pointing up to the ceiling looking thoroughly exhausted. Apparently Freddie had really put him through his paces to show the hopefuls what he expected.
I looked up from where I was painting my nails with Weasleys Wizard Wheezes' Wonder Witch Magic Mood Polish (bit of a mouthful right?). Uncle George sends me his new Wonder Witch products to test out before he puts them on the shelves and this was his latest creation. The nail polish changes colour as your mood changes, it's pretty cool.
"I still don't understand why you didn't just not try out for the team. Freddie's mad." I lowered my voice slightly even though Freddie was far too busy with his charts to hear me.
"He expects me to be on the team Lily, I can't let him down." Joe stated simply.
"But you can let yourself down! It's NEWTs this year, apparently they take up a lot of time."
"Lily are you really going to lecture me on the importance of NEWTs?" Joe raised his head grinning.
"Why does nobody have any faith in my academic achievements?" I muttered as I neatly finished painting my little fingernail. "Don't answer that." I looked up as Joe scoffed.
"I don't think my nose will ever be the same again after Freddie threw that quaffle right at my face." Joe said grumpily as he experimentally touched his swollen nose and winced.
I laughed and Joe threw me an annoyed look. "What?" I responded as I neatly waved my wand over my left hand casting a Drying Charm on my nails causing them to take on a turquoise colour.
"There's no need to laugh." Joe pretended to be upset. I sighed and dried my right hand as he continued. "There I was minding my own business, waiting to start, when Freddie chucks the quaffle at me out of nowh-"
"Shut up and keep still." I said, leaning over him and pointing my wand at his injured nose. He went cross eyed keeping his gaze on my wand tip. "Episkey."
Joe's nose reduced to its normal size but remained a faint purple colour as he gingerly felt it with his hand. "Thanks Lil." he said apparently satisfied with the results. He pulled himself up by his arms and turned so he was sat cross legged on the sofa facing me.
"Hey have you done that curses essay for Defence yet? I haven't even started it."
"No." I responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It's not due until Tuesday; we've got the whole weekend to write it."
"I suppose. It's Hogsmeade tomorrow though and McGonagall's bound to give us loads of homework on Monday. Looks like I'm spending Sunday writing an essay about counter curses." Joe looked unenthusiastic.
"You worry far too much Joseph." I screwed the lid of my new Magic Mood polish.
"What? No I don't!" Joe looked mildly offended. "And what's with the full naming Lilseph?"
I laughed. "I don't think you've called me that since third year." Joe grinned in response. "But seriously, you do worry too much. Just chill about the Defence essay. I'm writing mine on Sunday too plus it's only Professor MacMillan, what's he going to do?"
"You know this is why you're not a prefect don't you Lil."
Ah the honesty of a best friend…
So normally, the task of choosing an outfit for a first date is straight forward if a little time consuming. From my recent browsings of Evie's many copies of Witch Weekly and my personal experience I've sussed the basics.
Most importantly, you have to pick clothes that accentuate your best features while hiding any features you're not so proud of. The outfit has to be stylish and coordinated and suitable for the weather and whatever activity you will be doing on your date. It has to portray whatever first impression you wish to give to your date without giving too much away.
Oh and it has to look like you casually threw it on from whatever was nearest in your trunk rather than obsessing over it for hours the night before.
That sounds simple enough if you're going on a normal date in a normal situation.
But what if you're going on date with someone you don't really want to impress?
See the thing is, I've suddenly realised that after this date tomorrow Miles will probably want to see me again; something I'd really rather not do. I only even agreed to this date in the first place to prove a point to myself.
So I suppose that leaves me with only one option: I'll have to deliberately be a rubbish date so Miles won't ever want to see me again. Now I'm not talking so bad I get a terrible reputation as the Worst Date Ever and live the rest of my life single and alone but just bad enough so Miles considers me the Worst Date Ever.
First of all, my outfit. Miles is a very proud Hufflepuff and I mean weirdly proud. He and his friends started this thing called the Badger Boys in fifth year which sounds like some kind of sad, study group but is actually an exclusively Hufflepuff gang that pride themselves in being cooler than the rest of the school.
Or so they thought.
Therefore, Miles' WDE (Worst Date Ever) will definitely have to pledge her strong allegiance to the house of Godric Gryffindor. Done.
Secondly, Miles likes to talk about himself. A lot. So I'll have to get there first with long, elaborate stories of my childhood or whatever. He's not so big on the listening as it cuts into precious time which he could spend telling wild tales of his fascinating life so far.
Miles' WDE will not stop talking about herself and will yawn and visibly show disinterest when Miles starts to talk about himself. Done.
Shown by his exaggerated behaviour while under the influence of Firewhiskey, Miles likes everyone to know his date is his date. There can be no confusion amongst the Hogwarts population about whether or not the girl Miles Green was seen with is 'just a friend'. Who do you think told everyone we were going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?
Miles' WDE will refuse any and all attempts at public displays of affection. This includes hand holding, any putting arms around shoulders/waists and sitting on benches alone in full view of everyone. Done.
Operation WDE commence.
I left the common room early on Saturday morning with my Gryffindor scarf proudly hung around my neck. It technically wasn't really cold enough for a thick, wooly scarf but it was a vital part of the plan.
Miles gave me a wide smile from where he stood waiting for me in the entrance hall and I immediately felt underdressed. He had chosen to wear a pale blue, collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the collar loosely undone with a pair of smart, black chinos. We're only going to Hogsmeade village!
I told myself that he would be the one who was dressed incorrectly as he pulled me into a forceful greeting hug.
"Morning." I said as he released me and I made a big show of adjusting my Gryffindor scarf.
"Bit warm for a scarf isn't it?" Miles frowned at the scarf as if it had personally offended him.
Oh the plan was so working.
We had to stop at the door to give our names to Filch who was checking them off a list and Miles felt it appropriate to rest his arm over my shoulders during the process.
It was not appropriate.
While Filch grumbled about having to consult the Hufflepuff list and the Gryffindor list, Professor McGonagall started moving people along as a slight blockage had occurred.
"Move along there Miss Potter, hurry now." I slid swiftly out from under Miles' arm and down the steps leading up to the castle door.
I completely love Professor McGonagall from now on and if I ever moan again about her setting us homework or a difficult transfiguration or whatever then I will refer back to this moment to remind myself of what an amazing and saint-like woman she really is.
Until Filch was finished with Miles and he caught up with me; McGonagall couldn't save me now!
Oh God, why the hell am I on this date?
That's right, because I apparently feel it necessary to do stupid, crazy things simply to prove a point to my own self. Hmm, perhaps I should make myself an appointment to be seen by Madam Pomfrey?
I'm careful to keep a short distance between myself and Miles so any attempts at hand holding are discouraged. I've also, cleverly, put my bag over my left shoulder (anyone will tell you I always carry my bag on the right) so its bulkiness is causing the distance.
The village was filled with Hogwarts students milling around and darting in and out of shops. A large crowd was thronging towards Honeydukes and a second crowd had formed made up of people making their way towards Weasley's Wizard Wheezes which was around the corner.
I'm definitely not going there with Miles today on account of blabber mouth brothers that work there.
It was at this point that I realised Miles had been talking for a while and I hadn't been listening to a word he was saying.
"... so I took the bat, whacked the bludger away as hard as I could then smacked him round the head with it!" he finished this unknown story with a flourish, as if waiting for applause.
"Really?" I laughed, pretending I knew who he had supposedly smacked round the head with a beater's bat.
Do boys ever talk about anything else but Quidditch?
Oh wait, the WDE plan. I'm not supposed to be interested!
"Yeah James does that all the time." I cut in across Miles' monologue, sounding bored and uninterested by his story.
Miles looked momentarily taken aback before attempting to restart his story.
"Hey look, a special offer on eagle feather quills!" I exclaimed, pulling him over to the nearest point of interest which happened to be the window display of Scrivenshafts.
I'm pretty sure a girl who gets so enthusiastic about a writing implement would be anyone's Worst Date Ever. However the display presented me with a golden opportunity to annoy Miles further.
Or should I say a red and golden opportunity.
"Wow a quill in the Gryffindor colours!"
"It's a quill Lily." Miles laughed nervously.
"Yeah but don't you think it's so cool that it's in my house colours!" I was trying not to laugh as I gushed on and on about the quill and Miles got visibly more and more annoyed. "I just love being a Gryffindor." I added in for good measure.
"Let's go to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes." Miles cut in annoyedly as he stalked off towards the very shop I was trying to avoid today. Though on the plus side it seemed like he was well and truly ticked off with me.
I was in the middle of weighing up the possibility of being the very worst Worst Date Ever (VWWDE?) and leaving him there and then and going back to school alone when a large crowd of third years made the decision for me as they swept me along with them around the corner towards the shop.
A large table was set up outside the shop front holding several brightly coloured boxes of products and attracting lots of attention. There were people wearing magenta robes with WWW emblazoned on the back levitating what looked like catalogues to people, a noisy firework display emerging from the chimney of the shop and people on magical stilts breathing a variety of rainbow bubbles, turquoise fire and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans to the crowd below.
I spotted Miles by the table. "Look at these Lily!" He had instantly cheered up at the sight of a pair of shoes that advertised to allow the wearer access to the girls' dormitories without setting the alarm off.
That is beyond creepy. I really, really hope my brother was not the brains behind this particular product. It doesn't sound like Al.
I forced a laugh and prayed he wouldn't buy a pair as he went whizzing off to look at one of the catalogues.
"Hey sis!" A voice from behind me called out and I turned, unsurprised to see Al emerging from the shop carrying a fresh stack of catalogues. A quick scan told me that Miles was busy sampling a new Skiving Snackbox (Coughing Caramels); maybe I would get away without Al noticing I was with him!
"Sup bro." I responded giving him a quick hug.
"How's school?" he asked, placing the catalogues down.
"Meh, s'alright." I responded, praying Miles wouldn't come back.
"Are you here with your friends?" Al asked and I knew by friends he meant Desperate Natalie.
"She's not my friend Al, for the millionth time! And yeah I'm here with Lissie." I lied effortlessly. "She's in Honeydukes, I'm er meeting her there in a bit."
Al looked relieved when I said Natalie wasn't with me. I decided not to mention that I had let it slip that he worked here and she would inevitably be along at some point in the day to see him.
"But first you thought you'd come and see your favourite brother!" he laughed.
I pretended to look around. "Is James here then?" I repeated our old family joke then remembered what I needed to ask Al. "What is this news James appears to have remembered to tell every single member of our family except me?"
Al laughed. "Calm down Lily, there's no need to be so melodramatic." I gave him a look. "It's not much of a surprise."
There was a moment of silence. "Well? Are you going to tell me or not?" I stared at my brother.
"James is going to propose to Lottie, that's all." He said simply.
"Oh. Is that it?" I felt a bit of a sense of anti-climax. "Obviously that's really good though!" I quickly amended as Al looked confused by my response. "She'll clearly say yes and everything. I'm still annoyed I was the last to know though."
"Not true Lil. Lottie will be the last to know."
He laughed at his own joke when I noticed, with alarm, that Miles was coming towards us with whatever he'd just found.
"Anyway I'm going to be late to meet Lissie so I'll see you later Al, bye!" I gabbled in one breath and practically ran towards Miles and dragged him into the crowd so we were hidden from Al's view. "Let's go this way!" I pulled an alarmed looking Miles away from the shop and to a quieter street nearby.
A couple exited the shop in front of us and I turned away from Miles then stopped in the middle of the street with a jolt.
"Lily?" I heard from what sounded like a great distance away. I couldn't concentrate on anything but the couple that had just exited the shop.
The couple who were quite clearly on a date.
The couple who were holding hands and gazing lovingly into each other's eyes.
The couple who were heading for Madam Puddifoot's tea shop.
The couple that consisted of Camilla Freed and my best friend Joe!
Without thinking, I grabbed Miles' hand and, ignoring the look of surprise and delight on his face, started pulling him towards Madam Puddifoot's too.
"Let's go and have a coffee!" I said enthusiastically; my voice sounded too high, as if someone had put a squeaking charm on me and it was wearing off. I was striding forwards towards the entrance with a bound in my step that definitely hadn't been there before.
"You like this place then?" Miles asked. He looked thrilled.
"Yeah, love it. It's so happy!" I continued in the voice that didn't belong to me as I suppressed a groan at the sickeningly frilly décor of the coffee shop.
We stepped over the threshold and were greeted by Madam Puddifoot herself; what an honour.
"Table for two dears?" she asked suggestively looking at our joined hands. I wish there was some acceptable way I could ask for two separate tables without looking like a total weirdo.
"Yes please." Miles responded enthusiastically as he started to follow her around the maze of small, round tables.
I followed absent-mindedly as Miles was dragging my hand and, as we weaved between tables each containing couples, I realised too late where she was going to seat us.
Of course it doesn't matter to me if I'm sat at the adjoining table to my best friend. On a date. With the most perfect girl in the school.
I prepared for an awkward 'hi' as we got nearer to the table Madam Puddifoot had chosen for us. Only awkward because we were both on first time dates of course.
He didn't even notice me.
I'm not exaggerating at all here, it just seems the depths of Camilla's shiny blue eyes are such a distraction that it can prevent a person from saying hello to his best friend. Plus it left me performing the awkward-stroke-of-the-hair-when-you-give-up-on-a-wave-halfway-through action.
The next thing I knew, I found myself crammed onto a tiny, circular table mere inches from Miles' face. I automatically pulled away and glanced to my right to see that Joe had stopped staring into Camilla's eyes and had become interested with another feature of her face slightly further down.
I felt a swoop in my stomach and my face definitely increased in temperature. Madam Puddifoot had clearly just turned her heating on full blast at that exact moment.
Joe and Camilla broke apart just as I turned back to Miles and, following some unfamiliar instinct, I leant forwards and connected our lips. He looked thrilled and kissed me back enthusiastically.
Now I can't say I'm a complete novice when it comes to kissing having kissed a select sample of Hogwarts boys in my years at the school. But I'm also not as bad as, say, Emily Robinson who believe me has sampled a lot more than me.
Miles was ok. That's really all I could say.
There were no fireworks or feelings of amazement but it also wasn't a completely horrible experience. It just kind of, was.
However, out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Joe had noticed me. I was still annoyed about him blanking me earlier though so I deliberately didn't look up and instead allowed Miles to pull me in for another kiss.
And it was at that very moment when I let my guard down and tried to forget that Joe was there that I realised what I'd refused to realise ever since that Potions lesson.
I like Joe.
Way to make things complicated Lil…
Author's Note
On that bombshell… I'm back! Sorry I haven't updated in ages :( I've just started at Uni and I'm now finding out how much work it takes to become a teacher! So this chapter has literally been a work in progress since September and I've been adding to it whenever I have a spare moment.. and between assignments and presentations and making winter scenes in shoe boxes (yep, we do that) it's taken a while! But I'm home for Christmas in two weeks and can make at least a good start on the next chapter :)
Thanks so much for reading this chapter! Please let me know what you thought in a review :) quite a big revelation at the end there for Lily ;) hands up who's not surprised at all!
Happy first day of advent!
LittleRose13
