I own nothing.
The next morning, Polly was studying her timetable and eating her breakfast. She was so excited to get to classes that she didn't even care to wait for everyone else to get ready before she skipped off the the great hall. She had no care in the world about sitting by herself in the morning. It was actually kind of nice to just sit and eat and look at her timetable without everyone asking what she had, and what they had together. Bugger off, she had to get this thing memorized in case she lost it or something. She wouldn't. But just in case.
She had a mouthful of food while glancing down at the sheet. It wasn't too bad. Lots of potions with the Ravenclaws. Not very exciting. Herbology was her first class of the term. With none other than Gryffindor. She smiled when she realized she'd have at least two classes with George, maybe more depending on his electives. She couldn't wait to start learning apparition, but because of her birthday being in December she either had to hope it was second term or she may have to take it the year after.
"Polly?"
She jumped out of her seat at the sound of her own name in her ear. She coughed on her food a little but then corrected herself. She turned and George was standing there, staring at his hands.
"Yes, George?"
"Could I have a word with you?" he asked. She nodded, and made a sound similar to 'mhm'. "Privately," he added.
Polly looked around, seeing that no one was even really in ear shot of them. But still, she nodded. She tucked her timetable into the pocket of her robes and followed George out of the main hall. She still had over an hour before their class started. George took Polly to a little bench in the corridor, and sat down – expecting her to do the same. She did. She had to admit, she was getting a little worried about his quiet demeanour.
"Everything okay, love?" she asked, reaching over and putting her hand on his shoulder. His ears quickly grew red, a sheer sign of the Weasley family.
"Yes," he said, finally looking up at her. She looked expectant, waiting for him to say something. "I think it's about time that you and I go on a proper date." He looked away, staring at the floor instead of her. He was afraid of her reaction but he would have only seen her smiling brightly. She got closer and pressed her lips to his cheek for a chaste kiss.
"I agree, I've only been waiting a year," Polly giggled as his ears flamed red again. She wasn't used to him being this bashful around her. She also had a blush littered across her cheeks. "Hey, look at me."
He did.
Polly leaned forward again and pressed a kiss to his lips this time, letting them linger there for a moment before pulling away. "Plan something awesome," she said, winking at him. "See you in Herbology." Before he had a chance to get another word in, she was gone.
Herbology was another class that Polly was good at. It seemed that caring for things would be her strong suit in life. She was a very nurturing person. And it paid off with great grades in care for magical creatures and herbology. All her other grades were good as well, but that came with a lot of work. In those two subjects she was a natural.
Professor Sprout stood at the end of the table and began to talk about the upcoming classes.
"Today you'll be learning about the Moly flower and it's effects. Then, this time next week you'll be planting your own and by the end of term I want to see beautifully grown plants from each of you. You'll be starting from seeds, and tending to them on your own. Because you're in your fifth year you'll have access to the greenhouse during your breakfast, lunch and one hour before supper. I will be here in those times to supervise and make sure whatever you're doing, you're doing to your own plants."
Polly smiled. They've yet to grow a plant from start to finish. So she was excited to show what she could do. Over the years she's gardened with her mom – and if she's learned anything from that it's that a little tender love and care will make a plant grow as big and beautiful as possible.
"Can anyone tell me the purpose of a Moly flower?" Professor Sprout asked. Polly raised her hand along with three other Hufflepuffs.
"Polly?"
Happily, Polly explained that the Moly flower can counteract dark enchantments when the flower is consumed. She also explained that it's most common form would be in the Wiggenweld Potion.
"Very good. Ten points to Hufflepuff."
George caught her eye and winked at her. He was always proud of her when she got house points, or even when she showed off how smart she was. Because she was a firecracker and she could take out anyone. But instead she's quiet and beautiful and instead chooses to inspire. She smiled at him, but returned her attention to the lesson. He could never distract her in classes for more than a moment, but he loved those moments.
As the class wrapped up, and everyone was collecting their things to leave, Polly caught up with Fred and George, planning to walk back to the school with them. Before she could get out the door Professor Sprout called Polly to speak with her. George told her that they'd wait outside the greenhouse.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Did you know that prefects are supposed to be the first choices when we have to give out some responsibility?" she asked, looking at Polly with a smile.
"I think I kind of just assumed that," Polly said. She had no idea where this was going. Polly wasn't a prefect, and she kind of thought that being friends with the twins was the reason that decision was made. But she wasn't upset about it. It would just be another thing to stress her out.
"Well, I think that's ridiculous. How are we ever supposed to get all of the students engaged and interested when we're picking the same handful for everything?" Professor Sprout could see that Polly was confused, and chuckled. "I thought that since you're top of my fifth year herbology class you may be interested in doing a little bit of extra curricular gardening. The plants in the Hufflepuff common room are usually tended to by a student – as I'm sure you know –, and I thought that this year you may like to be the one."
"Oh," Polly said, smiling. "Oh, I'd love to!"
"I thought you might," Sprout said, digging in her pocket. She fished out a small key on a black string and placed it in Polly's hand. "The key for the storage cupboard. Everything you need should be in there, if you run out of anything just let me know and I'll get you some more. Now run along, I don't want you to be late to your next class."
"Okay, thanks Professor!" Polly said, rushing out the door.
Fred and George smiled when she approached them. They began walking to the school. "What'd she want?"
"She wanted me to take care of the plants in the common room," Polly said, holding up the little key.
"Oh, I thought it would be something cool." Fred shrugged.
"Hey," George said, whacking his brother on the arm. "I think it's very cool, well on Polly." She smiled at him as they made their way up the path.
After her second class, charms, Polly walked to the great hall happily. She was excited to be back learning and with her friends.
Cedric was sitting at the table with Tanya. The two of them stopped talking when Polly got closer, making her suspicious. "What?" she asked, sitting beside Cedric. Tanya chuckled.
"We were just talking about how Weasley finally plucked the courage to ask you out. It's only been ... how long? A year since you've made it blatantly obvious that you're in love with him," Cedric said, Tanya laughed again.
"Oh shut up," Polly said, smiling. "Who cares if he took his time at least he's finally gotten around to doing it."
"So cute," Tanya said. "Now where the hell is my prince, uhm hellllllo, I've been waiting too." Cedric and Polly laughed while Tanya scanned the room. She was so desperate to feel love that she would give hers to anyone.
"Why not just relax and wait. It's not like I expected to have feelings for George," Polly said, "We were only friends at the beginning."
"Hmm, friends, eh?" Tanya looked over at Cedric. He looked very uncomfortable. "Relax, I'm kidding. We all know you're head over heels in love with Cho Chang. We catch you staring like three times every hour."
"I am not," he defended, looking away.
"Lies." Tanya shook her head. "All lies."
The one thing Polly never missed about Hogwarts was the trek from one side of the school to the other just to walk all the way back. Who needed exercise when you could just pick classes nowhere near each other. Polly slid into the first open seat of the Hufflepuff table, not even bothering to look for her friends. After spending all of her free time today organizing the storage closet for the plants, and tending to each one and making note of what kind of state each one was in, all she wanted was a bit of food, and then to go to bed.
As soon as the feast began, she filled up her plate, gobbled it down. And then left early. She almost made it away unscathed but Cedric caught up to her in the hallway. "Avoiding us, are you?" he asked.
"Not at all," she said, continuing her walk. He came along. "I'm just really tired. First day is always long."
"Yeah, I suppose. But I haven't really seen you today, besides class and I wanted to know if you heard about Draco? And his fit. I thought it was really funny and thought you'd like the story."
"Well, you've got a few minutes before we hit the common room, let's hear it," she said, smiling.
"Well, from what I've gathered from everyone's variation of the story is that while Hagrid was showing is students a Hippogriff, Harry got to ride it. Cool right? Well Draco storms up all confident because in his eyes he can do anything better than Harry, right? Wrong. The Hippogriff slashed his arm, and he's been whining for hours, acting like the sky is falling and he's arms going to get amputated or something." Cedric laughed, but Polly didn't. "What, nothing?"
"As much as I hate it, Draco's father is an influential man. I worry about what's going to happen to the poor thing later," Polly said. They reached the common room and walked in.
"Hagrid or the Hippogriff?"
"If we're honest, both."
After a hot shower and a quick look over what's been covered today in classes, Polly tucked herself into bed. She felt bad for not talking to George the rest of the day, after he finally asked her out. But she was busy today, and it just happens sometimes. But as she laid there, she kind of missed him. And she was really excited to see what he had planned for their date. He never really did say when that was going to be. Or where. Hogsmeade probably. Where else? They could do something around the castle. She didn't know. But she knew it was going to be great. Anything she did with him would be great, because they were together.