"Polly!" Tanya screamed, running down the corridor faster then what was permitted.
Polly had been sitting with Justin, chatting about the Quidditch match they'd just watched together, when Tanya came racing up to the pair. Tanya squished herself in between the two, smiling as if today were Christmas and she had just finished ripping the paper off of her presents. Tanya had this energy about her that has really shown itself lately, and it was hyper.
"I have news concerning both you, and one George Weasley," Tanya said, her smile unfaltering.
"News about me that I haven't heard yet," Polly said, closing one eye. "Huh."
"Don't be like that, just listen to me. I was lurking around after Quidditch practice trying to get a good look at Oliver Wood all sweaty and gorgeous, right?" Justin and Polly shared a confused look. "And when I found him I heard him talking to Fred. Keeping up?" Polly nodded, while Justin just shook his head no. He was ignored. "I heard them talking about George, and how he's crazy about Polly."
"I'm lost a little bit now," Justin said, raising a hand.
"George loves Polly!"
"Shh," Polly said, putting her hands on Tanya's arm. "No he doesn't, stop shouting."
"He's got it bad, you gotta believe me."
"You didn't hear him say it, did you?" Polly asked, crossing her arms. Tanya shook her head no. "Exactly, so shh."
"Oh wow, speak of the devil." Justin pointed down the hallway to two familiar figures.
"I'm going to go congratulate them," Polly said, rolling her eyes. "I'll see you later."
Polly walked over to the twins, who had turned away from the previous group. She tried to catch up with them, eventually giving up and shouting for them. When they turned and saw her, one of the twins smiles grew wider than the other. And one dawned a blush on his lightly freckled cheeks. Polly wrapped them both in a hug, saying her congratulations in their ears.
"Shouldn't you be upset Hufflepuff lost?" George asked, shaking his head. "Traitor."
"Don't tell the others! No one knows I associate with," Polly began whispering as quiet as possible. "Gryffindors."
"Shut up," George said, shoving Polly's shoulder. She laughed. "Did ya see that Dumbledore came out to watch the game? Since when does he come to anything but the final? Weird huh?"
"C'mon, first year seeker, Snape referring a Gryffindor match? Who would want to miss any of this drama?"
"Since when do you care about drama?" Fred asked.
"I don't," Polly said. "It bores me."
"Oh it bores her." Fred shook his head. "Our games bore you, nice, Polly."
"Nice try, you haven't got me with that one in months." Polly dismissed the conversation with a wave of her hand.
"She's becoming aware," Fred said. "We need fresh meat."
"No one can replace Polly," George said, sending a wink to Polly.
"Ew, I'm getting attacked by both sides." Fred turn on his heel, leaving as fast as he could. Cackling as he left.
George smiled at Polly, crossing his arms over his chest. Polly brought him into another hug, congratulating him sincerely as she rubbed his back lightly.
"I'm so proud of how good you've gotten, and I know you've been practising really hard." Polly pulled away from the embrace, smiling as she did so.
"Glad to see someone noticed," George said. "Do you want to let Oliver in on that?" But he was only thinking that it was nice that Polly noticed how hard he was working. He wanted her to think the best of him, and if that meant layering on the work ethic then so be it. George just wanted to impress Polly, no matter how difficult that was. Even though it was easier than it seemed in George's mind. It was as easy as helping someone pick up their books, or hold open a door. It was showing kindness.
"Polly! Are you coming back to the common room?" Tanya called, catching Polly's attention.
Over her shoulder Polly shouted, "I'll be there in a minute!"
"So I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Course you will," Polly said, reaching out to place her hand on George's forearm. "Good game today, really."
Then Polly walked off, walking with Tanya and Justin back to their common room. George watched her go, standing like a perfect statue. George waited for a minute, placing his hand over the spot Polly had been touching. Fred walked around the corner, and put two and two together quickly. "Oh that's just sad."
"Shove off," George said, turning and walking down the hallway.
"Why is it so difficult for you to just tell her how you feel?" Fred asked.
"I'll let you know when I figure it out."
A few weeks later George had slowly seen less and less of Polly. She was always in the library working on homework, and Fred never wanted to stay put in there for long. George wasn't mad at Fred, but he sort of wanted to be. Anyone who cut into his time with Polly was not doing him any favours. He just wanted to be with her all of the time, whether that was unhealthy or not he didn't know.
"Cedric, are you finished with your potions book?" Polly asked, looking around for her own copy. "Seems like I forgot mine in my room."
"Sure," Cedric said dismissively, handing her the book while staying focused on his own work.
"Thanks," Polly said, quickly. Not wanting to break his concentration anymore than necessary. Polly was finished her essay, but this was a big one, and she wanted to check her facts again. She was getting worried about her grades. She loved the twins, she loved them very much. But they were never in a working mood, and Polly had to surround herself with other people who needed silence, or no one. Although, she hadn't had a proper laugh in over a week and life was getting boring.
"I think I'm done for tonight," Cedric said, stretching his arms over his head. He leaned on his hand making his face squish up on one side. "Why don't we just run away? We can live in the forest and forage for nuts or something. Anything is better than this."
"How do you hate exams enough to want to live in the woods?" Polly asked. She chuckled, and set down her quill. She was also tired of working.
"I'm going to go find Anya I think, do you still need my potions book?"
"No, you can take it back." Polly looked at her essay. "I'm just gunna finish this up. See you later."
Polly finished up her essay, and gathered up her books. As she walked into the corridor, Ron, Hermione and Harry were rushing her way. They were whispering, and just generally acting as though they were up to something. "Where's the fire?" Polly asked, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder to stop the lot of them from walking. "What's the matter with you, Ron? You look ill! Are you off the the hospital wing?" All three of them nodded. "Sorry then, feel better."
"Thanks," Ron said, his face looking anything other than thankful. They all started off again, none of them looked back.
Polly stashed her books in her room, and grew concerned when she didn't see her potions book anywhere in her room. Obviously, she can't lose a school book, so she's reduced to retracing her steps and finding that book. But other than the Great Hall, classes, and the library, she couldn't think of anything else she'd done. She'd had a very boring Tuesday.
"Polly!" a voice shouted, breaking her out of her concentration. "Found this on the stairwell, you ought to keep a closer eye on your things."
Marcus Flint was walking towards Polly, her potions textbook held in his dirty hands. He couldn't have washed up before rubbing his fingers all over her book? Polly scowled, and reached out for the book, only for Marcus to move away, grinning. Polly got a close up of the teeth Fred always made jokes about. It was mean, Polly knew that. But a little trip to Madam Pomfrey and they'd be all fixed up. But he didn't seem to care. And he didn't have to, that was his own problem.
She didn't really care, she just wanted her book back.
"Thanks for finding it," Polly said, "Can I have it back now?"
"I think you should earn it," Marcus said, smirking.
"I earned it by passing last years exams," Polly said, a hand on her hip. She was growing annoyed.
"How about a kiss?"
"How about you get away from me?" Polly suggested, shrugging.
"Alright, alright, settle down. But if you ever need an escort to Hogsmeade, I'm your guy." Marcus made sure their hands touched as she took her book back. His hands were like sandpaper. Gross.
Polly brought her book back to her room, throwing it on the sad pile beside her bed. She flopped onto her mattress. Too exhausted from schoolwork to have the energy to do anything but stare at one of the bedposts. Marcus Flint was on her mind. He was up to something. He had to be, he was always getting too close to the Slytherin girls and he always loudly made fun of all the other houses. Or maybe he just ran out of girls to get rejected by.
The next day, after classes, Polly made her way up to the hospital wing with a little wrapped present to cheer Ron up should he need it. Madam Pomfrey saw Polly and smiled. Polly was given the clear to go and visit with Ron. Polly could get away with nearly anything in this school when it came to most teachers.
"Ron, hey, how are you feeling?" Polly asked, walking up to stand beside Ron's hospital bed.
"Not well," Ron answered, his voice sounded rocky. "The healing feels worse than the infection I've got."
"An infection? I thought you had the flu or something! What happened?"
"I was bit by a dog," Ron said.
"Bit by a dog? When?" Polly was confused as to when Ron would have even encountered a dog. Ron changed the subject quickly by asking why Polly had come to visit him. "Just thought you might like a chocolate frog, they always make me feel a little better when I'm sick. I think it's because chocolate makes me happy." Polly handed him the present. "Oh shoot! I've told you what it is, I'm always doing that."
"No worries," Ron said, laughing at Polly's genuine concern for accidentally telling Ron what his present was before he opened it. "Thanks for this." Ron shook the box a little, and set it on his table. "I'll have it after my medicine, help get the rotten taste out of my mouth."
"Good idea," Polly said, sitting down on the little stool. They talked for a little bit about Quidditch. Polly admitted that she couldn't follow a Quidditch match to save her life. "I don't know how Harry does it! I can't even see the bludger, and I'm standing still searching for the thing."
Ron laughed, then followed that with a yawn. "I'll let you get some rest," Polly said, tucking Ron in. "Night."
Polly stood up and began walking towards the exit. Before she was out she saw George leaning against a wall, watching her.
"George, what are you doing?"
"I was coming to see if Ron needed to be cheered up," George said, a smile playing on his lips. "But looks like you had that taken care of."
"I saw him on his way to the wing yesterday, thought I would come see how he was doing." Polly shrugged. "Seemed like the right thing to do."
"Thanks, Polly. You're so perfect," George said, wrapping his arms around Polly in a hug. Polly hugged him back, but stood completely frozen. She was shocked. She'd never been sincerely called perfect before, and she wasn't sure how to react. She knew how to take a compliment by saying thank you and smiling, and complimenting them back. But this just seemed unreal. George, known for his practical jokes and dedication to his brother was calling Polly perfect. She would've thought his definition of perfect would be someone more like him.
When the weight of the word perfect finally settled on Polly's shoulders, her cheeks lit up like fireworks. It felt like they were being held too close to a fire, or even right in the fire. George pulled away from the hug, and kissed Polly on her hair. She felt like she was meeting George for the first time. He was being sincere, and charming. Not that he wasn't before, but it all just seemed like, something more than friendship. Slowly, Polly began to believe that Tanya was actually right.
Sort of.
Polly kept her gaze locked on the floor, letting her hair fall in front of her face like a shield. George asked her what that matter was, but she couldn't get out any kind of eloquent sentence. Instead she stuttered out some lame excuse as the why she had to go and the she sprinted all the way back to her common room. She was out of breath when she got there. She took a seat by the fire, and hugged a pillow to her chest like it was the only thing keeping her alive.
The next few days were no better. Every time she got anywhere near George she had butterflies in her stomach, and it felt like they were waging war in there. Her hands would get sweaty, and she'd start stuttering. She'd been reduced to the Polly she had been before meeting the twins. She was nervous, jumpy, and pretty much looked like she was keeping the biggest secret in the world.
"What is your issue lately?" Laura said, slamming a hand down on the table close to where Polly was lost in thought. "You look like a mess."
"Wow thanks for your opinion, although, I can't seem to remember asking for it."
"Whatever, I'm not the one sitting in the Great Hall begging for attention," Laura said, picking at her fingernails. "Get your act together, you're making Hufflepuff look shabby."
Don't let anyone ever tell you that all Hufflepuffs were nice, because Laura was as mean as they come.