:) Thanks everyone who has left a review on the last 30 thirty chapters. They really keep me motivated and I seriously appreciate it! Thanks guys!
The next day, Tanya left a note right on top of Polly's face that she was to meet her in the great hall at breakfast, and Polly knew exactly want Tanya wanted. Last night, Polly wanted to keep the private moment to herself just a little while longer, so she avoided Tanya and went straight to their room, pretending to be asleep when she came in.
Today, however, there would be no where to run. They had classes together, and Tanya had an unquenchable thirst for details into Polly's life. Tanya meant well, sure, but sometimes it was a little unbearable that Polly couldn't have one detail to herself without lying to Tanya. With Angelina, all she had to say was that she didn't want to share, and Angelina would stop. But not Tanya. It wasn't enough to end a friendship by any means, it just got on her nerves sometimes. That happens when you live, eat, work and hangout with one person for years. It just meant they were friends.
Polly got ready quickly, and made her way down to the common room, remembering the amazing time they had yesterday, and how romantic George had been. She had been so pleasantly surprised that now she wanted to return the favour. He didn't have to be the only one that planned the dates. She could be romantic too, and surprise him with something. But what?
"Hey, Polly," Justin said, greeting her as she entered the room. He was sitting by the fireplace, doing some homework now so he wouldn't have to worry about it the rest of the day. "Did you have fun yesterday? Hannah told me that you kept running around checking the flowers."
"I was a little nervous, but I got over it quickly."
"Quickly? Hannah said you checked each flower four times. There's a lot of plants in here," he said, looking around.
"Do you homework," she said, turning and walking out of the common room. She frowned at the sound of Justin's laugh.
It was a beautiful day outside. Polly got glimpses of it as she made her way up to the great hall. It was sunny, with a nice breeze rolling through the open windows. Absolutely perfect weather for her to go check on her little rose bush. It nearly broke George's heart when she had to tell him they couldn't plant the bush by the tree, because the tree roots would hog all the water and roses need a lot of water to grow healthy. He had wanted them to grow in the spot they were sitting on their first official date. But she wasn't going to just let the bush die, that would hurt his feelings even more.
The walk to the great hall was a mundane trek that she did every single day. But she never took a walk through these magical halls for granted. They would no longer be her everyday. Eventually, she would move on from this place, maybe with George, maybe not, but she would move on. So everyday she looked for something new to see. A crack in the wall, or a little marking in ink on the wall. There was always something.
Once at the great hall, she was nearly tackled by Tanya. Her books flew out of her hands when Tanya bumped into her. "Sorry!" she said, "I thought you were farther."
Polly just looked at Tanya with a small smile. This was a common occurrence between the two friends. Tanya was a little bit clumsy sometimes, but that's alright with Polly. She just wished her books weren't thrown to the ground all the time. Both of the girls picked the books up, and Tanya just kept holding Polly's books on the short walk to Tanya's spot. She was a little surprised to see Angelina sitting there, reading a textbook.
"Oh, Polly," Angelina said, closing her book. "I was waiting for you with Tanya here. We were speculating about your date yesterday."
"We're dying to know all about it," Tanya said sitting down. Polly nodded, quickly scanning the Gryffindor table to look for George. It was busy in the room, and she didn't find him before Tanya gently tugged Polly's hand to make her sit.
Polly grabbed some toast and spread jam on it, letting the other two girls fester a little longer. "Polly, please!" Tanya finally said. At least she said please.
"Okay, it was seriously romantic. It wasn't a prank or anything we had thought." Both the girls scooted closer. "He brought me to the lake, and we had a little chat about our feelings and then he pulled out this rose bush and we planted it together so we can visit it later and remember the beginning of this, thing."
Tanya squealed, while Angelina had a slack jaw. George had told her that the rose bush was just going to be a gift (because he knew she wouldn't like it if he gave her flower that had been picked – because they would inevitably die in a few days and she loved flowers) not that it was a beacon of the beginning of a relationship, and she definitely didn't think their date was going to be planting a bush. But, she shouldn't figured Polly would love something like that.
Both of Polly's friends loved the way she looked so happy telling the story, like the thought of George's thoughtfulness brought her joy even the next day. They were truly perfect for each other.
"Now, however. It's time for the counter play," Polly said.
"Counter play?" Angelina asked.
"Yeah, I want to surprise him with something romantic to show him that I'm in this a hundred per cent. We're taking it slow to protect our friendship but I want to show that I am in."
"Good idea," Tanya said. "But what?"
"I have no idea, that's the next part. Figuring out what that counter play is." Polly ate a bite of her toast.
"Well, we'll help you." Angelina smiled. "You come up with your romantic idea and we'll help you pull it off by any means necessary."
"Absolutely," Tanya said.
After breakfast, Polly was waiting for George in the library. They had plans to study together for a little bit before George had to meet the Quidditch team on the pitch. Polly was lost in thought, trying to think of something romantic to do for George. She rolled her quill between her fingers, and leaned her head against her fist. George was able to distract her from her homework even when he wasn't there.
"Polly?" he asked, startling her out of her thoughts. "You okay? You were super zoned out."
"Yeah, I'm alright, just thinking about potions," she lied, pointing to the open textbook.
"Well, c'mon then. We're here to work aren't we?" George joked. They both knew that Polly was the one genuinely trying to work while George only wanted to get her attention.
Polly giggled, turning her attention back to her homework. She was writing an essay about the uses for the draught of peace. She was almost finished with it. She just needed to add a few things and make sure all her grammar is perfect. One comma out of place and she would rewrite the entire thing. She was very serious about her studies, making her choice of George Weasley as a best friend an odd one. Opposites attract, though.
They worked in silence for less than ten minutes before George finally cracked, needing to ask Polly something.
"So, I was thinking. Maybe we could go out again this weekend? Do something else just the two of us," George said, smiling. He had gotten a lot more confident after their first date going so well. He knew that whatever happened between them was going to be awesome.
"Yes," she said, smirking. "In fact, I already have something planned."
"Oh?"
"I told him I have something planned!" Polly screamed, throwing her pillow at Tanya. For the first time in her career at Hogwarts, Tanya was reading ahead in her textbooks when Polly came in screaming about how stupid she was for committing to planning her date with George on Saturday because she had nothing and didn't want to disappoint him. Tanya, of course, immediately lost interest in her defence against the dark arts textbook and turned to watch Polly shout about George.
"Then you just have to plan something awesome," Tanya said. Polly glared.
"You think I don't know that?" she snapped, crossing her arms.
"Okay, don't take your frustration out on me." Tanya crossed her arms too.
Polly's features softened, and she uncrossed her arms. "You're right, I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm just so nervous, I don't want to let him down: I want to prove that I'm just as into it as he is."
"It's fine, and you know that boy better than anyone except Fred. You know something awesome to plan, you just have to stop trying so hard."
Polly sat down on the bed, and grabbed her pillow to hug to her chest. She sat there for a bit thinking about what she knew about him. He loved to play jokes with his brother. But that choice was way to obvious. He liked Quidditch, but they'd already done the flying thing together. Then she remembered that when she stayed at the burrow for the first time, he moved all the furniture in the living room and they dance to know music.
"I got it," she said. "I got it!"
"Ou, what is it?"
"He likes to dance," she said. "When I went to the burrow we danced for hours in the living room at three in the morning. And then we had hot chocolate."
"Perfect," Tanya said, grinning. "That's perfect! See when you get your head out of your ass it's not that hard to figure something out. So, you can't just dance. You can dance for a little bit – then you gotta do something else."
"Yeah, do you think that you could bring us hot chocolate? At a planned time?" Polly smiled at Tanya. "Please, please."
"Relax, I was already going to say yes. I'll try to snag some cookies too. For added effect."
"I love you!" Polly said, running and hugging Tanya. Tanya smiled, she was so used to be the loud excited one. It nice to see Polly act a little like her. Even if just for a minute. "We'll sort out the details later, for now, let's get to dinner. I'm starving."
The girls walked to the great hall together, talking about the potions essay, and the fact that Tanya had yet to start hers, when Angelina came speed walking up to them. She was still in her Quidditch outfit. She looked like she was on a mission.
"Hey, Polly! I thought of the best idea!"
"Don't tell me it's for the date, because me and Tanya figured out something pretty sweet," Polly said.
"Trust me, okay? We'll combine them," Angelina said. "Make it extra perfect."
"Okay, I trust you. But can you change first? You smell awful, and we have a full week to worry about it."
"Oh, if I had known the date wasn't until the weekend I wouldn't have run from the pitch," she said, frowning. "Now I have to go back and get my stuff."
"No you don't," Polly said, smiling. She pointed behind Angelina at Fred and George. George was smiling and waving at Polly, while Fred had his arms full of Angelina's stuff, a wicked grin on his face.
Fred had feelings for Angelina, that was no secret. The way those two handled it was completely different. They just flirted. Fred was just more outgoing, while George was more shy and gentle. And just so much sweeter.
Seriously, just look at the roses.