The first few weeks at Hogwarts always seem to slip by. Between reconnecting with my friends, attending classes, and overseeing my prefect duties there seemed to be little time for myself.
"Your O.W.L.s are closer than they appear," Professor McGonagall reminds us once again. This has been a frequent reminder since classes started back up. "And as fifth years moving towards your professional careers, I believe it is important for you to learn to work with others."
Renata immediately nudges me and I glance at her with a smirk. There are small murmurs and glances from our classmates as they quickly try to find their partner.
"Of course," Professor McGonagall continues, immediately silencing the class "that means you be assigned a partner from another house."
The groans echo though the classroom. It was clear to me why Professor McGonagall was doing this. There is a clear divide of Gryffindors on one side and Slytherin students on the other, with the spattering of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in between. With a wave of her wand, a parchment with the list of partners appears on the back bulletin board.
"Will we at least be able to pick our topics?" Renata asks without bothering to raise her hand.
"No, Ms. Rossi," Professor McGonagall replies with a frown. With another wave of her wand the guidelines of our project appears on our desks. "You will find your partner's name and your chosen topic on the bulletin board. Use the rest of your class to plan accordingly."
Most of the class rushes to the bulletin board, calling out names, or sighing heavily with who they are placed to work with. Renata and I make no plans to move. Whoever was chosen to be our partners would find us eventually. Using this time to look over the guidelines instead, I take it upon myself to decide personal due dates for each section of the project. Divvying up the work and research evenly.
"Oh God," Renata whispers and I glance up to find Roger Davies of Ravenclaw making his way towards us. I frown and desperately hope that Roger is approaching Renata and not me. Working with a Ravenclaw sounded miserable and suddenly I find myself subconsciously covering the small notes on my paper.
"Renata Rossi?" He asks and I sigh, lifting my hands from my paper with a sympathetic smile towards my friend.
Renata blinks multiple times as if this is going to cause Roget to disappear. When this doesn't work she musters her lips into a pulled, fake grin.
"What's our topic, Roger?" She asks as he pulls a chair up next to her desk. He is suddenly all business, leaning across the desk to look over the notes I already made.
"Two weeks to complete an outline is rather long isn't it?" He asks, ignoring Renata completely. I bristle and pull my paper from him quickly.
"I think it sounds great," a voice behind me replies. "Gives us enough time to procrastinate if needed."
Another chair is dragged across the floor, only this time it is settled at my desk. George Weasley flops into the chair with an easy smile in my direction.
"Long time, no see, 'Nora," he says without so much another glance in Roger's direction. "Tangle with anymore dementors?"
I stare at him in shock, mouth slightly open, with no words to tumble out. I feel my hands lift to tuck my hair behind my ears and then wipe my suddenly sweaty palms over my skirt. "Hi George," I finally manage.
For a moment we stare at each other, deciding what our next move will be. My eyes sweep over his face quickly; taking in his deep brown eyes, the splash of faint freckles on the bridge of his nose, the scar breaking up his left eyebrow, but his smirking lips are where my eyes seem to linger.
"Our topic is animagi" he continues by learning over and writing the topic across the tops of my notes. His handwriting is slanted and messy and had anyone else taken the liberty to write across my notes I would have pulled the paper from them, but something holds me back and I wait until he finishes.
"That shouldn't be too difficult," I say looking back over the guidelines of the project. "We need a 3 foot essay, an interview with someone experienced with the magic, and a step by step instruction manual on how to become an animagus."
"No," he laughs "shouldn't be too difficult at all." I glance at him curiously, but he seems generally interested in what I have to say.
"I thought we could divvy up the research for the paper," I explain but he shakes his head.
"I'll be honest 'Nora," he sighs. "I'm not one to just sit in the library and research."
This causes my temper to flare slightly. I can feel the heat begin to bubble in the pit of my stomach and I choose my next words carefully. "And I'm not one to complete a group project alone."
"I'm not asking you too," he responds with a chuckle. "I only meant we should go together."
The heat becomes a warm blush, traveling up from my stomach and spreading across my chest. Why I was so enamored but him was beyond me, but as I felt myself leaning closer to him I catch myself in surprise.
This won't do. This can't happen.
Suddenly, I am pulling my paper back towards me, tucking it neatly into my notebook and holding it close. It is almost time for dismissal and I am counting the seconds now.
"I'll meet you at the library then?" George asks. The carefree smile he was wearing just moments before is gone and he's staring at me in question.
"No - I mean," my head feels cloudy but I can already hear what my mother would say if she knew. And she would know. Hera always said i was an empty book, she would figure it out before I even could recognize how I felt. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" He asks but he catches on faster than I imagine. "You're going to ask for a new partner." He states this with only a small amount of disgust and the shame feels heavier than ever before.
I want to explain to him. Tell him that I think about him nightly. That his eye contact makes the butterflies in my stomach take flight. I want to explain to him that my parents would find it to be a disgrace, even if we were only ever friends, they would find George Weasley to be a disappointment and I couldn't beat the thought.
Instead, I look away from him, listening to the distant chimes dismissing us for our lunch. "You're exactly what they said you were," George finally states.
I don't know what he means but this, but I flinch, trying to keep my face blank. He stands but doesn't make the move to leave. "Go on then," he tells me and I wish he would just go.
Professor McGonagall is sitting at her desk, looking over essays. She doesn't look up when I approach so I clear my throat, hoping to not cause too much of a disturbance. I can feel George's eyes burning into my back, but I refuse to turn around. Refuse to acknowledge him.
"Professor," my voice is quiet, "I have a question for you."
"What is it Ms. Black?" Professor McGonagall asks without looking up.
"I - I" the lump in my throat makes it hard to talk but I swallow it down and continue, "I need a new partner."
This causes Professor McGonagall too look up. Her eyes studying me and then flitting over to George who is still waiting behind me, "Why is that Ms. Black?"
"I just - well, George and I are so different. We might just work better - with others." The argument I had built in my head falls short. I had not accounted for the disappointed gaze from Professor McGonagall. I had expected some form of understanding, especially with George Weasley's reputation.
"And do you feel they way, Mr. Weasley?" She asks, settling her eyes on George.
"No, professor. I looked forward to working with Lenora." Even though I'm not facing him, I can hear the smile in his voice. He stayed to watch me flail and he is enjoying it.
"Unfortunately, Ms. Black," she begins. "This is not how the world works, especially in my class. The goal here is to work with others, not believe that you are above them."
George's snicker in the back makes the blush flare across my face. "I'm quite disappointed in your request Ms. Black. Even Professor Dumbledore agrees in fostering the relations between houses. This if for the best and I will not be changing your partner." Her gaze causes me to look down and I feel as if I might begin to cry.
"You have a lot to learn Ms. Black," she states. "I look forward to seeing what you and Mr. Weasley will produce."
George follows me through the corridor but says nothing. I can hear his footsteps rhythmically following mine and suddenly
I cannot help but stop and face him.
"Why are you following me?" I demand and he smirks crookedly, like he's trying to hold it back.
"This is the only way to the Great Hall." He laugh, putting his hands in air to feign innocence.
I turn from him and continue walking. He continues to follow me. I glare at him over my shoulder and he laughs.
"Okay, if you must know, I'm waiting for my apology." He says and I fold my arms over my chest. "And maybe an explanation." This forces me to stop and face him again.
"There's nothing to explain." I tell him, looking over my shoulder to see who is nearby. "There are things you won't understand, but I'm not sorry. Everything would have been easier if we weren't partners."
"I find a hard time believing that." George states, but he doesn't press me for anymore information. "Let's meet at the library during lunch tomorrow."
"Fine."
"Fine."
He begins to walk around me, but turns to look at me one more time. My eyes meet his and I can feel myself leaning towards him, gravitating towards his warmth. "And if it means anything Lenora; I wasn't lying when I said that I look forward to working with you."