25

Wes

The Three Broomsticks was packed as usual when Will and I walked in, holding hands and fighting off the cold. The warmth of the pub spread over us like a blanket and my glasses started to fog up but it was an understatement to say that I was relieved to me warm again.

We took one of the only remaining tables at the back of the pub where students sat with mugs of butterbeer and chatted noisily. I noticed Harry Potter and his friends nearby but didn't say anything. The Potter Generation was supposed to be private and I didn't think my date would appreciate me gushing about another guy.

"I think our first date has been a success." Will declared, collapsing into the chair across from me and unwrapping the maroon and gold striped scarf that was draped around his neck. The tip of his nose was slightly pink and it was probably one of the most adorable things I had seen. He rubbed his hands together and gave me a lopsided grin.

"I'm guessing you think so too since you're staring at me like that." He continued and instead of blushing and looking away I just returned his smile. For once I didn't feel like I was going to mess up or be weird around Will. It felt real, not just a crush or a spark that would blow out in a week. We were steady and stable. A rock.

"Want to know something great?" I said, ignoring the voice in my head telling me I was being one of those romantic nerds that made me roll my eyes.

"What's so great?" Will asked, leaning forward across the table with a lazy smile. Damn I wanted to kiss him.

"I really really like you." I sighed. I always hated those people that held hands in the corridors or said mushy stuff in public but being that person made me feel like I had made it in life. I had reached my climax and wasn't coming down. Will laughed and took my hands in his.

"I really really like you too. Now I'm going to get us some drinks. I'll be right back." I watched as Will weaved through the tables and leaned onto the bar.

I took the moment to scan the room. It was tempting to take out my camera and start filming but I knew that there were just too many people to notice and start asking questions so I settled on watching the Golden Trio out of the corner of my eye.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were seated together, in deep conversation as usual, occasionally laughing like normal people do. Sometimes I forgot that they were normal kids just like everyone else. Or at least that's what they thought. It was impossible to be normal after what they had done. Yet they still hung out and drank butterbeer and made jokes like things were just fine. I guess that was the only option, move on or get stuck in the shadows.

Hermione's cunning eyes flicked onto me, quick enough that I wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't stalking them like a creeper. She looked back to her friends like she hadn't noticed a thing but a small frown appeared on her face. She had her thinking face on and it was only slightly worrying.

The bell above the door sounded loudly as more people entered the pub. People I knew as a matter of fact. Olivia and Draco shuffled in, there faces burrowed into their scarfs, not even acknowledging the other except for the fact that they were holding hands. That was odd.

I glanced at the Golden Trio who didn't seem to notice their mortal enemy had entered the place with a girl that wasn't Pansy Parkinson. I was more than happy for that. If word got out that Draco Malfoy had a new girlfriend, Olivia would be put in the same class as Draco which definitely wasn't good. Even if Draco was a good person, he was still a Death Eater in everyone else's eyes which meant Olivia would be too. Her nightmares would come true.

The two didn't say a word to each other as they found a table in the back corner where it was dark and no one could really see them. Despite the insane amount of the students in the Three Broomsticks no one seemed to pay any mind and I was relieved for them. Next time I saw Olivia she would have to tell me al about her and Draco, specifically the holding hands part.

There was a crash from the bar that made the place go momentarily quiet and I turned to see the waitress looking horrified at Will who had his hands outstretched for the butterbeer she had been offering before she dropped it. The chatter started back up in only a few seconds so I couldn't hear what the women said but she didn't look happy. She was staring at Will like he had eight arms and he was shaking his head slowly. I couldn't see his face but I knew it wasn't good.

I felt eyes on the back of my head and saw Hermione out of the corner of my eye, staring intently at me with her eyebrows furrowed. She whispered to her friends and nodded over to Will who was running his hands through his hair. The waitress came back with her head down and two new mugs of butterbeer in her hands. Will took them without a word and when he turned around I looked quickly away and tried to bring up some semblance of a smile.

I expected some sort of odd look on Will's face when he sank into his chair but he looked just as cheerful as when he left. I could feel Hermione's eyes on us but I didn't let myself look. I just took my mug and faked a smile because it was common knowledge in a place like Hogwarts that you would never get straight answers just by asking.

"Did you see Malfoy with that girl?" Will asked, lowering his voice and gazing over my shoulder at the couple in the dark corner.

"Yeah, she's-" I started before realizing what I was about to say. "...weird, I don't know who she is." Sometimes I forgot that Will was part of the Potter Generation and as much as I wanted to tell him things it was against my rules, despite the fact that Olivia knew about him which was a mistake I was willing to make.

"You're a horrible liar." Will laughed. "You know her from somewhere and from how much I've learned about you I'm guessing Potter Generation. The only other person you talk to is Maggie so it's a bit obvious."

Well that was quick. Maybe I should make more friends. Pff, that's not happening.

"Don't be so loud about it." I whispered, glancing at the Golden Trio who seemed completely oblivious. That was never a good sign. They were always good at finding things out and this was one thing I didn't want Harry Potter to know about.

"He won't hear." Will replied in the same fairly loud tone he had been using before. "And he wouldn't care either, it's not like you're doing anything wrong."

"Come on, don't be stupid. It's basically anti-him propoganda that I'm creating here. Maybe it's not direct but it's obvious that we aren't exactly...keen with him." I pushed my glasses up my nose and shook my head. "He would hate it I know he would and when he doesn't like something he usually gets his way."

"Well if we get thrown out of the country I know a great place in Iceland. Cold, snowy, and completely desolate. It'll be perfect." Will's smile melted my worry just a bit. I forced myself to relax and stop looking at everyone around us.

"Do you still really really like me?" Will asked, his brown eyes wide and innocent like a puppy.

"Yes," I smiled, "I really really like you, Will Elliot."