This has all felt like filler to get through until the next book. While boring - there is where the story begins because when you-know-who returns is when Polly is gunna become part of the resistance. :-)
Polly's wet shoes squeaked against the floor as she rushed to the hospital wing. She grabbed onto the corner of the corridor to swing her around the corner quickly, skidding as she tried to turn. There were a few students standing along the hallways, but not very many. Most had been at the Quidditch match, and the ones that had come in from it had all gone to change out of wet clothes.
The rain continued to pound against the windows of the hall she ran down, and the occasional bright blast of lighting or deafening crack of thunder still came down. Since Polly wasn't being the most attentive to where she was running, she bumped into George in the middle of the hall. He'd assumed she'd seen him.
"Polly, calm down. Everything is okay, Harry's fine," he said, pushing her wet hair out of her face. "Fred's right behind me, think he got caught up with Angelina."
"But he's fine then?" she asked, ignoring the fact that he had already answered that. George smiled, her concern for others was one of his favourite things about her.
"Yes, love, he's perfectly fine." George peered over his shoulder, and Polly got a glimpse of Fred and Angelina walking towards them. "We were just on our way to change out of these clothes. As you should be, you're going to get sick running around like this."
"Yeah, I'm gunna go. I just wanted to make sure he was okay," she said. Her inability to mind her own business always seemed to get in the way of her own needs.
"Go on then, go get changed." George grabbed her hand to quickly bring it up to his lips. He pressed a chaste kiss there.
"Maybe if I could just peek in on him quickly," Polly said, looking again in the direction of the hospital wing.
"Polly!" George laughed. "He's in perfect health. Not even a concussion."
"All right!" she said, holding her arms up in surrender. "I'll go back to my room. Meet me after lunch?"
"Wouldn't miss it," he said.
After a warm shower and some dry robes, Polly was working at the desk in the room to finish up the last little bit of homework she had for the weekend. Tanya came into the room humming a tune under her breath. While Polly rolled up the finished work, Tanya began to do an awkward dance behind her.
"Someone's in a good mood," Polly commented, standing up.
Tanya didn't answer, but instead grabbed Polly by the hands and spun her around. Polly laughed as Tanya began to hum louder, giving them something to dance to. The dancing between the two of them was clumsy and awkward, but the of them were having a good time. Polly plunked herself onto the bed having already run out of breath. Tanya seemed above it all happy. It was nice for Polly to see her like that.
"What's the good news?"
"Oh, nothing yet. Maybe something," Tanya said. "Maybe. I haven't decided."
"Cryptic. Do you want to elaborate on that?"
"No thanks," Tanya answered, wicked grin on her lips. "Ready for lunch? I'm starving."
"Yeah, can I just meet you down there? I just wanna poke my head in and see Harry quick," Polly said, running a brush through her hair now that it was finally dry.
"Sounds good."
It wasn't a far walk to get from the Hufflepuff common room to the Hospital Wing, but it was the opposite way that she had to go. She came in slowly, letting Madame Pomfrey know that she would only be a moment. Madame Pomfrey smiled, and let her go. She always liked Polly. Everyone liked Polly.
"Hey," Polly said, taking a seat behind Harry. "How are you doing?" Polly noticed the remains of a broomstick on the end of his bed.
"I'm okay," he said. "Bummed that I lost my first Quidditch game ever, and my broom is dead."
"I see that. Was that just from the fall?"
"No," he said, "the whomping willow got it."
"Oh boy, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure your first broom is something special."
Harry chuckled. "Yeah, it is. It sucks but I'll live."
"Well, I better let you rest up." Polly stood up, and then tucked Harry's blankets up a little bit, flattening out a wrinkle at the top. "D'you need anything? Some water?"
"No, thanks. I'm really fine. Madame Pom just wants to watch me for a little bit," Harry said.
Polly pushed a piece of his bangs off his forehead, catching a small glimpse of his scar. She looked away before he could think she was staring at it. She huffed, and put her hands on her hips while looking around for a second.
"Well, all right then. Have a little nap," Polly said. "See you later."
Polly walked to the Great Hall. Taking those moments alone to think about the matter at hand. There were dementors on school ground. It was making her nervous that maybe someone else who wasn't supposed to be there may be lurking in the shadows. Or maybe in the forest. She shook the thoughts out of her head.
By the time she got to hall, everyone was already eating. She wedged herself between Justin and someone she didn't really know. Polly mentioned Harry, and how he was doing well. Justin blushed. Harry was still a sensitive topic for him. He was still embarrassed about the way he acted. It was all old news, what with more security being implemented around the school, it was pretty clear that Harry was in danger again. George had told her all about their new portrait covering the common room door. He seemed like a real piece of work.
"Polly," Cedric said, pushing his plate away. "I really did try to get a rematch. There's no way to know if Harry would've somehow beaten me to the snitch. Are they angry?"
"No, not at all. Everyone saw that you caught the snitch moments before Harry fell. You would've won either way. Even Wood knows it," Polly said. Her soft smile could reassure just about anyone. Her warm heart could be seen in the shine of her eyes. Faking a smile was damn near impossible for her, to those who truly knew her anyway.
"If you're sure..." Cedric didn't seem convinced. He was worried that people would think Hufflepuff only won because Harry fell, and Polly knew that. She knew how he hated the fact that no one would take Hufflepuff seriously in any of the matches. Cedric had built and trained a really good team this year. And they still seemed to be disregarded in the tournament.
"I'm sure," she said. "Try not to worry."
After lunch, Polly was making her way to meet George at their secret little spot when she was scared by arms wrapping around her waist. She squealed, but knew right away who it was by the sound of his gentle laugh ringing in her ears. She placed her hands on his arms. For only a moment, Polly could feel George's breath on the back of her head as he laughed.
He put her down, and took her hand in his, guiding her towards the hidden room. There was something different about the air between them. It was something a little more tense than normal. Polly was worried about what it meant. In their room was a single candle and wizards chess, already set up on the floor.
"Thought I'd keep it simple this time," he said, smiling. He put his hands on her hips to pull her in for a quick kiss, before lying on his stomach in front of the board. She sat crossed legged on the other side.
"You know I'm terrible at this, right?" she laughed, looking at the set up. The pieces were clearly older, a sure sign that this was a Weasley original.
"I feel like we've spent too much time away from Fred," Polly said, moving a piece hesitantly. She only ever moved the pieces
"I see Fred all the time," George said. He always wanted private time with Polly. They only had the school year, and Fred and George had all summer. "All day, every day really."
"Yeah, I know. And I also get that this thing between me and you is new and exciting. But you guys need to start focusing on your business." Polly watched him move another piece.
"Who said that?"
"I just don't want Fred feeling left out. You guys had a lot of plans and ideas. Have you even pulled a prank this year?" Polly asked.
"A couple," he said, frowning. It sounded like Polly was trying to push him away.
"Well, I think the school could use a little laughter. So why don't the three of us plan one?"
"You're in!? You're almost never in!" All insecurities washed away quickly with that. He knew she wanted all of him if she was interested in pranking someone just to make his brother feel happier.
"Like I said, the school could use some happy," Polly said. "And with all your Quidditch practices and my new hobby – it's probably going to be a little busy."
"A new hobby? Doesn't have to do with pranks, does it?" George chuckled.
"No," she said. "Madame Pomfrey is going to teach me some basic first aid."
"What? Why?"
"Because I asked her nicely," Polly said. "And she could always use a spare hand in the hospital wing. I don't know, I was thinking about medicine as a future. And I get a chance to explore Herbology and Magical Creatures in class. But for experience in that I'd have to search outside of the classroom."
"I feel like every time we talk you have another candidate for a career path," George said, smiling. He was holding true to his joke shop idea with his brother. But he would support any dream Polly had.
"I'm just not sure yet, is all."
Polly soon began to lose the match – but she didn't even realize until George kept saying check and she had to move her king. He would laugh lightly every time she would huff and move her king again. He laughed even harder when the king rolled his eyes at her.
"Polly," George said, finally pining her man down with a check mate.
"Yes, love?" Polly wasn't a poor sport. So she didn't really care about losing the match, especially to George.
"I think we should revisit what we said about our relationship before." George stood up, and then held a hand out for her to grab and pull herself up with.
"Anything change for you?" she asked.
"Yes," he said, kissing her forehead before looking deep into her eyes. He was intoxicated by her. "I'm not going to hurt you, ever. I want you to be mine, and I'll be yours."
"I already am yours," she said, smiling. "I've always been yours and hopefully always will be."
"That's all I've ever wanted to hear. I hated hearing about you and Cedric, or thinking you had any kind of feelings for Wood. I don't want anything from you other than attention and love, and support." George kissed her again and again. Small pecks against her lips reminding her how it felt to be in bliss.
"So, can we just make it official then? Me and you, a couple."
"Yes," he said. "Oh, yes please."
"And how do you know I'm not just in it for the money?"
George laughed, rubbing his thumb across her soft cheek. He pulled her face towards him for a chaste kiss. "Because we both know that there is no money."