One Saturday afternoon George, Fred, Oliver, and Polly were sitting around a table in the library. Fred and George were both so uncharacteristically quiet owing to their over tiredness that you could hardly even tell they were there. George had his head on Polly's lap, and his feet were propped up on another chair. Fred had his head resting on his crossed arms, which were leaned against the table. He was facing down, so he was probably asleep. Polly was reading a book, absentmindedly playing with George's short red hair, loving how soft it was. George was so comfortable that he fell asleep. Polly glanced down at his sleeping face and smiled, before she just returned to her book.
"Polly!" Tanya shouted, running into the library. The librarian shushed her, and she whispered a sorry before continuing to rush over to Polly. George was startled awake when Tanya hit the book out of Polly's hand and it hit George in the head. "Have you heard the news?"
"Mm, what?" George asked, rubbing his forehead.
"Not talking to you," Tanya said, dismissing him. He mumbled something and got comfortable on Polly's lap again. Fred hadn't moved.
"What is this news?" Polly asked, picking her book off of George's stomach and placing it on the table. Her page was lost, which was slightly disappointing.
"Before I spill some mighty tasty beans... why is there a boy sleeping on you?" Tanya asked, sitting down beside Polly.
"He's tired, Wood is going practice crazy. Season does start soon. Proceed to spill some beans."
"Ah, well. The news is that you and me have a room to ourselves! Professor Sprout moved her into the dorm for the year above us," Tanya said, grinning like a fiend.
"Really? Why?"
"Justin told her everything," Tanya said, "She thought it best that she moved rooms. I didn't even know they did that."
"Me either," Polly said, shaking George awake to tell him him the good news. He mumbled something that sounded like 'we should go celebrate' before he fell back asleep. "Well, maybe later." Both Polly and Tanya laughed.
Tanya stayed to chat with Polly for a little while before she left to go find another one of her friends. Polly returned to her book, George woke up after twenty more minutes and sat up properly.
"I'm so tired," George said, rubbing his eyes.
"Maybe if you prove yourselves as a winning team by beating Slytherin Oliver will chill out a little bit." Polly set her book down, after slipping a bookmark between the pages.
"If we don't win I don't know what will happen," George said, smiling lazily.
"More practice," Polly joked. George groaned loudly in response making many people look over at the table.
Polly just laughed.
A full week later Polly was standing in the stands, in a sea of Hufflepuffs, watching the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match. Everyone was cheering on Gryffindor expect for the Slytherins. Polly kept her eyes on George as he raced around the pitch. Polly sort of understood the rules, but she wasn't the one to go to if you were interested in learning the game.
"Polly," Tanya said, pulling on the sleeve of Polly's coat. "Look at Harry."
Polly looked up at the sky and squinted, trying to see him better. He looked as if he was just learning to fly his broom today. Polly asked, "What's going on with him? George had said he was amazing."
"Looks like he's lost control," Tanya said, cheering as Gryffindor came into possession.
"Weird," Polly said quietly, although no one had heard her.
Polly shivered, a blast of cold air hitting the back of her exposed neck. It had began to get cold about a week ago, and it was only getting steadily colder. But she was having fun watching the teams fly around the pitch. She worried about her boys, and what Oliver may do if the team loses. He was a bit of a Quidditch loon.
Polly was watching Harry as he suddenly zoomed off. She could tell he was after the snitch, because he was off quicker than a bird and he had completely regained control of himself and his broom.
Gryffindor had won after Harry spit the snitch out of his mouth and caught it in his hands. Polly cheered loudly, happy that Slytherin had lost and Gryffindor was victorious.
After the initial excitement of the win had faded, most began to walk up to the castle, everyone talking loudly and some singing. The Slytherins were all quietly walking, upset that they lost the first game. Polly pushed her way onto the pitch, passing Marcus Flint who was still shouting about how Harry hadn't really caught it. But no rules were broken, so his shouts were unanswered. Polly slammed into George, hugging him from behind. He let out a breath and turned around shocked, only to see Polly clinging onto him with a grin.
Polly pulled away and said, "Congratulations on the win! You did so well!" She had to say it rather loudly to be heard over the rest of the team and their many friends. Half the team began to walk to the change rooms but some, including Polly and George were stilling chatting on the pitch.
"Thanks," George said, hugging Polly again. "I think it helped that you were here watching me."
Polly hugged George back and completely surprised him by pressing her lips against his cheek. He could feel the softness of her cold lips against his warm cheek. Polly could feel his cheeks heat up the longer she stayed there. She pulled away slowly, letting her kiss linger way longer than an average friendly peck. She hugged him tighter for a second before she pulled away from him completely. George's cheeks were red, but Polly couldn't tell if it was from the cold air nipping at him or if he was blushing.
"Go change," Polly said, "I'll meet you inside later?"
"Yeah definitely, see you soon." George watched as Polly walked off toward the school. He couldn't stop smiling.
"Atta boy, George!" Fred said, sacking a hand on George's shoulder. "Ladies love winners."
"Then where are your ladies?" George asked. Fred stared at George blankly for a moment before he said, "I complimented you and this is how you treat me?"
"I'm going to go change and find Polly," George said, walking with his brother to the change room. "You can come."
"Oh boy," Fred said sarcastically. "Can I?"
The rest of the month consisted of Polly doing homework while Fred and George distracted her, their own work unfinished and abandoned. George and Polly didn't say anything about the kiss, it was as if it was a completely normal thing. But Polly thought it was special, she thought that maybe he would understand that it was her way of flirting with him. But he said nothing, too nervous to say anything himself. He was a confident guy, but Polly made him so nervous. Fred found the whole situation hilarious. He would watch the two from the opposite side of the library table as they both stole glances at each other from the corners of their eyes. He thought they were being stupid, they both had crushes on each other but they ignored it.
In late December, while Hagrid was in the middle of setting up a dozen trees in the Great Hall, Polly was rushing to find George. She wanted someone to sit with her in the Great Hall so she could admire all the decorations without seeming so vulnerable. Laura had been sitting at the Hufflepuff table, and she had been making the stink eye at poor Polly. She just wanted George.
She found him sitting with Fred, Angelina, and Lee at a table in the library. Polly very politely dragged him away from the group. The two boys whistled, Angelina just rolled her eyes at the friends she chose to hang out with. Polly had her arm looped through George's as she led him towards the Christmas Wonderland transformation happening in the Great Hall. Polly was talking a million miles a minute about Christmas and how excited she was. George was happy just to share this moment with her, so he held a small, sweet smile, as he walked alongside the bubbly girl. Ironically, George had just been talking about Polly to his brother, Lee, and Angelina as Polly arrived. He was just blabbing about how good of a person she was, and how she was just perfect.
Angelina had responded with, "so why don't you escort her to Hogsmeade?" But George had no answer for her. He and Polly were just friends, right?
George could hear his brothers voice in his head, you wish you were more than just friends, you know it. But did he? Everyone always teased George about Polly, but he had never taken any of it to heart.
While thinking about his feelings, he and Polly had made it to the Great Hall. Polly said, "See George? Isn't it beautiful?"
"Huh?" George asked, snapping out of his thoughts. He looked at Polly who's eyes were sparkling as she looked at the beautiful trees.
"Aren't they so pretty?" Polly asked again, looking up at George with wide eyes. George's heart sped up, it was easy to admit Polly was pretty.
"Yeah," George agreed, "they look good."
"Come sit with me," Polly said, unlooping their arms only to grab his hand and pull him towards the Hufflepuff table. George wore a grin on his face, following behind her like a puppy dog. But he didn't mind if people saw him like that. Polly's soft hand was gripping onto him, as she excitedly chattered about the trees, and how perfectly bushy they were with lights that were pretty as the fake stars enchanted onto the ceiling. But she quickly added that the lights could never compare the real stars, even though they looked identical; the idea of the real stars made them prettier to Polly.
George just silently listened to Polly explain all this, nodding and chuckling as she happily chattered away, not a care in the world. George took careful note of the way the dimples on her chin danced as she spoke with a huge grin on her face at the same time. He saw a little sparkle in her eye that could rival a child on Christmas day. Her hands were flying around in front of her as she animatedly waved them around as visual aids. George felt his breath catch in his throat when she grabbed his upper arm and gave it a little squeeze. She was so beautiful. It was a moment of realization that dawned on George like a bright sunrise.
"Sorry," Polly said, shaking her head. "I haven't let you say a thing."
"That's okay," George said, a soft smile playing at his lips.
"Do you want to say anything?" Polly asked, chuckling.
"The trees aren't the only beautiful thing around here," George said, surprising both himself and Polly. He hadn't even really meant to say it. Fred was right. Angelina was right. Everyone was right. George wanted to be more than just friends with Polly. She was perfect, how could he not feel this way?
"Oh," Polly said, a deep red blush rose to her cheeks. George smiled, a lighter less noticeable blush gracing George's cheeks and neck. The sweet moment was suddenly locked into George's mind like he took a photo and taped it on the wall of his memory. He liked knowing that he alone made Polly blush like that. He was so distracted by the way she made a wall of her hair to hide her blush, that he almost didn't even feel her pinky loop under his own as what he perceived was an invitation to hold her hand. He slide his hand along the palm of hers before he clasped his fingers in between her own. She did the same.
"When's the wedding?" Fred asked, sitting across from the pair. He wore a sick grin at the sight of the hand holding. George thought this would spook Polly enough to let go of his hand, but her grip didn't falter.
"August nineteenth," Polly said, not missing a beat. George laughed.
"I assume I'm going to be the best man," Fred said, straightening his tie.
"You're not even the okay-ist man," George said, smirking at his brother.
"Attacked by the lovers, unexpected." Fred looked contemplative. "Aren't you supposed to be high on love during the honeymoon phase?"
"How can we be while you're here?" Polly asked, raising one eyebrow.
"Honestly, I'd be mad at you Polly, but I'm too proud that you've unlocked the ability to insult someone and not start crying immediately after."
"That was one time," Polly said, raising her voice slightly.
"Hey," someone called. All three looked over to see Laura staring at them. "If you're going to be noisy go somewhere else, besides, why are you sitting at the Hufflepuff table when there's only one Hufflepuff in a group of three? Mosey on over to the Gryffindor table," Laura said, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "You're being rude."
"Laura," one of her friends said, "you're the one being rude."
"Shut up," Laura snapped at the girl.
"Her voice is giving me shingles," Polly said, loudly. The girl who had called Laura rude snorted, but then covered her face to try and hide it. "Let's go somewhere else before I'm confined to bed rest."
"I'm starting the believe we may have not been the best influence on little Polly," Fred said, standing up.
"I'm inclined to agree," George stood up, keeping his hand locked with Polly's.
"Next thing you know she'll be losing house points and not doing her homework," Fred said, walking along the other side of the table at the same pace as the duo.
"Whoa now," Polly said, squeezing George's hand a little. "Let's not get crazy."
Right after Polly said those magic words, Fred and George shared a look and a smirk. They were going to get crazy. Or at least have a lot of fun. Because it was December 21st. And that's a very important day.
Today is Polly's birthday.