Penny Perish-
In my Transfiguration class in the afternoon, I could barely pay any attention because my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about all that happened earlier that day: Roger Davies checking me out, talking to George Weasley, and finding out how insecure Oliver was about his magic powers. It wasn't like me to daydream, but luckily Professor McGonagall spent the class going over the syllabus, which I already memorized and made notes of in my calendar.
Roger Davies was someone I had had a crush on since I started Hogwarts. He was a year older and super popular, and last year looked so handsome at the Yule Ball that I felt like I could've fainted when I saw him dancing. Of course, Roger took the most beautiful Beauxbatons girl, and Tri-wizard Champion, Fleur Delacour to the dance. They made such a good-looking couple it made me sick—I wished he took me. But, before today, I had never spoke more than two words to Roger. And now, he was not only talking to me, but also checking me out and telling me I looked good. Damn, why did George have to ruin it. Why did George ruin it?
Was I making a face that I wasn't aware of? Did I not look like I wanted Roger to talk to me or check me out? Because that was far from the truth. Having Roger Davies notice me had made my day, so why did George feel the need to step in? Another thing that was odd, was George Weasley sitting and talking to me during lunchtime. I never really talked to him before this year either, so that was unexpected as well. I wonder what has gotten into all the seventh-year boys around here.
"Miss Perish, are we bothering your daydreaming?" interrupted Professor McGonagall.
I snapped out of my deep thoughts and blushed harder than ever as every student was staring at me. "Oh, err, sorry professor."
"See me after class, will you?" she added.
Everyone was shocked; Marietta and Cho gasped. I never got in trouble, but here I was being asked to see a teacher. This school year was off to a terrible start. After class had ended, everyone else left the room, including my friends. I was collecting my things when Professor McGonagall said, "Stand up for me, dear." I did as I was told. "Miss Perish, why on earth is your skirt so short? You must know the uniform policies by now, being it your sixth year at Hogwarts."
I got so nervous. Of course, getting this lecture was inevitable. "I know the rules, Professor McGonagall. I didn't expect my uniform to not fit from last year…" I started.
She eyed me up and down, assessing the fit of my clothes and, no doubt, my judgement. "This is highly inappropriate."
"I already sent a letter to my mother about needing new robes. I just hope she can send them soon," I tried explaining my worries.
Her expression lightened. "Well, in the meantime, I do think I have a solution. One that can help you out until your mum sends a new wardrobe." She reached into her robes and pulled out her wand. With a silent swish, the length of my skirt grew longer, just extending past my knees and the sweater, which was Marietta's, stretched out to be slightly baggier. I looked normal. I didn't need to cover my chest or make sure my underwear wasn't showing anymore. "There. That should do for now. I will write down the spell for you, and use it until you can get a new uniform, alright?" She handed me a small piece of paper. Incrementum vestitus, it wrote.
"Oh, thank you so much Professor. I really appreciate it," I smiled and said.
She smiled ever so slightly, too. "Don't mention it, Miss Perish. I know it is not like you to wear this on purpose. Best be off, now, on to my next class."
I ran off to join Cho and Marietta, and they greeted me with pleasant reactions to my school-appropriate clothing. We walked down the hallway, feeling much more confident than earlier. Professor McGonagall low-key rocked.
After my study hall, we all headed into the Great Hall for supper. Roger Davies was there at the end of the table already sitting with his friends. I wasn't sure if I should look at him or not, because of what happened this morning, but I wanted to so bad, that I made myself. He looked so handsome in his white button-down that was untucked and his messy hair perfectly disheveled. As I walked past him, we made eye contact. He actually looked at me.
"Hey Penny," he said, smiling with a gleam in his eyes.
I smiled back but couldn't say a thing. Oh, my Merlin! He talked to me again!
Once I was a safe distance away, down toward the teachers' table, I gasped for air. And sat me down on the bench with a thud. "Roger just talked to me again," I announced in disbelief.
Marietta looked thrilled at me. "Pen, maybe he actually likes you. That is the second time today, and he never talked to us before."
Cho interjected, "Do you think it's because of what you were wearing though?"
Marietta shot her a cold look. "Of course not. He is looking at Penny because she is gorgeous, duh."
As much as I appreciated and wanted Mare's words to be truth, Cho did have a point. What if my clothes were normal and not body-tight today? Would he have noticed me regardless?
Cho continued, "I'm not saying Penny isn't beautiful, I'm just worried about Roger's intentions is all."
"Well, I hope he likes me for me, not for my embarrassing wardrobe malfunction today," I said.
"I'm sure that's not the case, Pen," Marietta said encouraging me. "Alright, so let's test it."
"How? Do you want her to wear her short skirt tomorrow too?" Cho asked sarcastically.
"Not happening!" I stated plain as day.
Marietta rolled her eyes and explained, "If Roger continues to talk to you and look at you when you have normal clothes on, then he must be interested in you and not just for your smoking hot new body." I giggled and blushed at her compliment.
Cho nodded in agreement. "That might be true then. So, we will keep eyes on him this week and see what he feels."
We all agreed. I just was nervous. If Roger didn't like me for me, my perception of him would be shattered. But all I could do was hope and wait to see what time would tell.
"Speaking of keeping eyes on someone…Penny, one of the Weasley twins is looking at you," said Marietta. I wanted to look behind me but was too nervous to catch his gaze.
"It's probably George," I stated rolling my eyes.
Cho looked at me dumbfounded. "Why do you assume its him and not Fred?"
I told them about my lunch break, how George spotted me hiding in the halls and stopped to talk to me. How he held onto my handshake for a bit longer than expected.
"Merlin's beard! Penny, he likes you!" Marietta chimed.
"Oh, definitely! I can ask Harry about him if you'd like," Cho added.
"No, no! Thank you, but no. I'm not interested in George Weasley. End of story. And, definitely, do not talk to Harry about it," I clarified and pleaded.
Next thing I knew, a small familiar hand was on my shoulder. Oliver was taking a seat beside me. I looked at him, surprised he had the guts to cross the sea of upperclassmen to come find me.
"Hey, Olly," greeted Cho and Marietta in unison.
"Hi there! Penny how was your day?" he asked politely.
I blinked hard at him. Then smiled and responded, "Overall, I think it was good actually."
"Really? George told me you kind of had a rough go of it in the beginning," he explained. I turned over my shoulder to take a glance at the Weasley. He was trying not to look at me, but I caught his eyes once or twice. I smiled at him, then turned back to my brother.
"Yeah, it was a weird start, but got better over time. Enough about my day, how was yours?"
Oliver told us all about his new classes, his new friends, and how he actually enjoyed learning. I was pleasantly surprised to hear how excited he was for all the newness. Maybe George was right, the less I worried him, the more he would enjoy the magically world. He had no need to question if he was good enough to be here, but instead he should pay more attention to all the experiences Hogwarts had to offer.
George Weasley-
The next morning was less exciting than the first. People were starting to get into their schedules and into the motions of being back at school. In the Great Hall for breakfast, I caught myself taking glances up at Penny across the tables. She was looking as good as ever and had this confidence about her that I didn't see the day before. I was determined to talk to her again.
As everyone got up to leave the hall, making their ways to their individual classes, I tried my best to catch-up with Penny, who was heading toward the west wing of the castle. I told Fred that I'd see him in class, to which he joked and jeered at the lengths I'd go to talk to a girl. I ignored him and ran to meet Penny.
"Hey there, Penny."
She was walking alone, and she looked a bit surprised to see me. "Oh, George, hi."
"My class is this way too," I lied. My class was in the greenhouses. "Mind if I walk with you?"
She turned a bit pink in the face, but said, "Oh, yeah. Of course."
After a few moments in silence, I finally asked, "What class are you headed to?"
"Alchemy with Professor Babbling."
I was taken aback by this. That was a very exclusive class to get into, and not an easy one either. "Well, that is rather prestigious. You must be smarter than I thought."
She laughed at this. "I suppose it is a bit prestigious, huh? I'm looking forward to it though."
"Oh yeah? Do you enjoy school or something?" I asked, looking a little shocked that anyone could actually enjoy classes.
She laughed again and replied, "Yeah, I guess I do. Most of the time at least. What about you?"
"Not really my thing," I confessed.
She eyed me up and challenged, "Oh? Is your thing more pranks and causing mischief?"
I looked down at my toes, and laughed, "Err…I suppose you're right there. But don't think I'm a one trick pony."
"No?" she questioned her eyebrows raised.
"Not at all. I'm very…complex," I clarified.
She laughed again. "Is that right? I don't know, George. You seem pretty cut-and-dry to me."
"Ha! As if! You just don't know the real me, is all."
"No, I suppose not then." She looked up at me, teasing me with her eyes, and challenging me. All I wanted to do was keep her smiling and hear her laugh. We stopped in front of a doorway, the classroom within I could see Professor Babbling and a few students waiting for class to start. "Well, this is me. I'd better go in before they start," she explained and made to turn into her class.
"Yeah, well it was nice walking with you."
"You too," she stated as she disappeared into the room. She liked walking with me! Maybe she was starting to like me back, though it was a bit soon to tell. I looked down at my watch. Shit! I was gonna be late for Herbology with Sprout. I booked it across the castle, in the opposite direction, and ran out to the greenhouses. I made it just in time to avoid a scolding.