Chapter 17 A Branch of Holly

Holly did her best to avoid George after that… moment in the changing rooms last Saturday. She did everything to keep her mind distracted, not to think too much about what had nearly happened . Or at all for that matter.
She noticed Hermione looking at her in a strange way several times but decided not to share her thoughts and feelings with anyone, not even her best friends.
If she acted like it didn't happen, maybe everything would go back to normal. Shouldn't it be easy to do that, since nothing had happened after all? She hadn't kissed George, so why did she feel the need to hide it?

Holly kept her mind occupied with anything, often finding herself studying with Hermione. Sometimes she actually went to the library just by her own, only because she felt the need to get away from George.

George… He seemed to be everywhere she went these days.
Never before had she noticed him being all around her like he was now, even though he always had been there just the same. The only thing that had changed was the way she felt about his proximity. Holly wouldn't have believed it before, but the tension between them had grown stronger after whatever nearly had happened.

Of course, being Ron's best mate didn't really help her case, as his brothers were often around him, especially at the meals.
Or in the common room.
Or just like, always.

The only good thing about her situation were her grades. She excelled at every homework or assignment they had been given that week so far.
Not even Snape had anything to fuss about for once.

Of course, Holly had always had a certain talent for Potions, something Remus had told her she had inherited from her mother. But until this week, she had never had much interest for it, since she couldn't stand the subject's Professor. Now however, she actually prepared herself before his lessons and was able to brew excellent Potions.

Ron was impressed with her sudden change and promptly used it for his advantage, asking her to help him with his Potions nearly every lesson and jokingly calling her "Potion-Princess" whenever she saved him from ruining his potion.

Hermione on the other hand, even though she would never admit it, felt a little jealous, for she wasn't the best Potion's student of their class any longer.
Yet, she couldn't help and also be impressed whenever Holly did something that wouldn't be in the recipe, like add in a special ingredient or reduce the temperature the Potions were supposed to boil at. She would never dare to interfere with a book's directions, she would be too frightened about the possible outcome.
Holly apparently was a little more innovative than her and she could live with that, as Holly was her best friend after all and she was proud of her development.

Nevertheless, Hermione knew something was off about Holly, she had sensed her friend's distress since after the Quidditch practice last Saturday. She often wanted to ask her best friend about it but knew better than to act on this want. Holly didn't seem to want her to interfere with whatever it was that concerned her.

Yet Holly was so off, even Ron was bound to notice after a while and unfortunately, he wasn't as cautious about it as Hermione.
While they sat next to the fireplace in their common room on Thursday evening, doing some homework, out of nowhere he just asked her what the fuck was wrong.
First, she didn't respond in any way apart from staring at him, seemingly shocked.
She really hadn't expected Ron to have sensed her feelings.

"Come on, Holly, just spill it. Is it… is it that I've made it to the Quidditch team? Are you not happy that we'll play together?
Because ever since after the practice you are acting so weirdly…"

The way he looked at her she could see he really was afraid she didn't want him on her team. His vulnerability so clearly for her to see in those blue eyes… Eyes so very similar to his brother George's…
She nearly couldn't keep her secret, she felt as if she would burst any moment and it took all her concentration not to share her feelings with her best friends right then.
Instead, she swallowed down those uprising feelings and just shook her head at him. She actually couldn't believe he had come to that conclusion…

"No, Ron, of course not! I'm more than happy you will play by my side from now on, especially when we have to face those stupid Slytherins in a few weeks.
It's just… I don't know, I can't explain it, I'm afraid.
But it really isn't your or Hermione's fault, I swear. It only concerns me, so don't worry, it has nothing to do with the two of you!"

She leaned forward to pat his hand and smiled at him and Ron returned the smile, obviously a little calmed down.

"Well, then what ever it is, Holly, if you find out you'll need my help with it, I'll be there for you. And Hermione surely would love to help as well."

The bushy haired girl sitting next to them, silently following their conversation until now, nodded enthusiastically at her name's mention.

"Thanks, guys." Holly smirked.

She felt her friends' comfort and love and it nearly was too much for her to handle, not in the state she was in since Saturday. Feelings overrun her body and she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold back tears any longer. So, she quickly murmured something about having to return a certain book to the library and swiftly got up, leaving her friends by the fire.

Holly opened the portrait and wanted to climb through the dark hole, when she bumped into another person. Their impact made them both stumble and they nearly tripped over. Only the other person's quick reaction caught their fall.

Holly hadn't seen his face until now, but even without seeing him she instantly knew who it was. Only one person made her skin tingle that way and the air around her fill with that intense electricity. Only one person could unsettle her with their touch.
George let his hands linger at her shoulders for a moment longer than necessary.
She had been too shocked about their encounter to react in any way, she simply looked up at him into those stunning eyes.

Her emotions had been creeping up at her ever since her conversation with Ron, but now she felt them taking over, she couldn't keep them under control anymore.
Holly closed her eyes for a second, breaking their eye-contact and promptly turned away from him, nearly running down the corridor to get as much distance as possible between them.
When she had turned around the corner she slipped into an empty classroom and finally gave in to her emotions, hot tear drops running down her cheeks while she leaned against the closed door.

Then, the week-end arrived again and with it another Quidditch practice.

Holly really didn't look forward to it, since it meant spending time in close proximity to and with George. And worse, seeing him in that fucking changing room again.
But on the other hand, she simply loved playing Quidditch and wouldn't miss the chance to try some those flying techniques she wanted to train.
Also, a part of her hoped things would just return to normality between her and George if they went back to the very place they nearly kissed, last week.
Maybe they could overcome the tension between them if they just acted as if all that had never happened.

So, just after lunch, Ron and her shouldered their brooms and went down to play some Quidditch. Holly had purposely taken her time eating, so they were the last ones to arrive in the changing room. The others sat on the benches along the walls, already dressed in their scarlet Quidditch robes. The two friends quickly pulled their own robes over their heads and sat down as well.

Holly had tried to keep her glance from George's direction but failed.
To her surprise, he wasn't looking at her at all and instead was chatting with Alicia who sat next to him, making her giggle at some joke he must have told her.
Seeing him ignoring her bothered her even more than her failing at ignoring him.

Confused, disappointed and once again angry at herself for being that fucking stupid and not able to control her emotions, she sat down next to Ron, as far away from George as possible.

Angelina had several new tactics prepared for them to learn and they listened to her explanations about every one of them. Holly had a hard time following her, as she was still too upset with herself and was surprised when suddenly everyone but her stood up to their feet. Obviously, she'd missed Angie's finishing words and now hurried to walk out onto the pitch after the others.

On the green grass of the pitch, they started with some warm-up as usual. They ran some rounds around the edges of the field and stretched out their limbs. Then, they got on their brooms and passed the Quaffle between them for some minutes to get their arms warmed up as well. Holly avoided passing the Quaffle to George and he seemed to do the same. Why had he suddenly stopped reaching out to her? What had changed for him? Why would he be so…distant?

Stop it, Potter! She told herself. Wasn't it better that way? They would both keep their distance until they felt comfortable with each other again.
Even though it made all sense in her head, George's behaviour angered her for some reason.

Finally, everyone got onto their brooms and Holly flew up into the air, cool air brushing over her skin and through her hair. Once again, she felt as if she left all worries on the grounds beneath her and started to calm down and enjoy the sensation of liberty that always filled her when flying.

While the rest of the team flew underneath her, passing the Quaffle, trying to get it through Ron's goalposts, she went higher and higher, circling the pitch in search for the Golden Snitch. When she spotted it, she dropped down with her broom, chasing it, spiralling past her teammates and finally felt its cold metal surface enclosed between her fingers. She gave it a kiss and let it go again, closing her eyes while it had a chance to escape before she started her hunt again.

Every so often she would pause in the air and watch her team play, watch Ron fighting off one Quaffle after the other. He really was a good Keeper. Holly could tell Katie, Alicia and Angelina didn't spare him and did their best to score.

At one such time, she nearly got hit by a Bludger. In the last second, she rolled over and just out of its way. George flew past her, nearly knocking her from the broom himself and gave the Bludger a well-aimed hit, sending it off into the opposite direction. Holly wanted to thank him, but he had already moved on, chasing after the bewitched ball.

When it slowly turned dark around them, Angelina stopped the training, apparently pleased with her team. Ron had defended his goals so well, Angelina, Katie and Alicia had only managed to score 6 times, altogether. Holy caught the Snitch more than 10 times (she had lost count after 11) and no one had been hit by Bludgers thanks to Fred and George's commitment.

Holly's feet were wobbly again after spending hours flying and quickly went to the bathroom to take a hot shower, trying not to think about what had happened the week before while everyone had been showering.
She took her time under the hot water, letting it wash away her thoughts, releasing her sore muscles from all tension. Actually, she had spent so much time under the streaming water, she was the last one left in the bathroom.
After she'd dried herself and slipped into fresh clothes, she went back into the changing room, only to discover she was the last one left of them all. She didn't think about it much, only went over to her usual spot on the benches where her dirty robes lay. She stuffed them into the laundry bag in the corner when something stung into one of her fingers. Slowly, she got out the robes again and gave them a shake. Out of the scarlet folds flew a small branch. Not any branch, it was a branch of holly.

Holly was taken by surprise and curiously bent down to pick up the branch of ever-green, spiky leaves and red berries that shared her name. The moment her finger touched one of the firm, juicy berries, it plopped and revealed a hidden message:

"Midnight by the Willow Tree."

Holly hurried to have some dinner and went to bed early, even though she found no sleep. What could that message mean? And who had left it for her to find? Could it have been… But no, surely not?
Holly tried not to get her hopes up after all the disappointment she had felt today when George ignored her.
Why the fuck did she even care? She probably shouldn't act on the message at all. If someone wanted to speak to her, why wouldn't they simply do it at day?

Midnight came closer and she decided not to leave her bed. She only got out to her window a few minutes before midnight to watch the big willow down by the lake.
The view outside stirred her, all about it reminded her of something, but she couldn't say of what.
The silvery moon up against the dark night sky. The Great Lake smooth as glass, reflecting the billions of twinkling stars above. The willow's long branches moving faintly in the night's breeze.
And then, there was a light, just next to it. Holly squished her eyes, trying to make out where the light came from.

Yes, all of it felt weirdly familiar, as if she had seen it all before, put she couldn't put her finger on it.
Holly felt unable to go back to bed, this mysterious light seemed to call for her. She turned around and pulled her favourite Weasley jumper over her head, the emerald green one Mrs. Weasley had given her for her birthday. Apart from that, she slipped into a pair of dark jeans and put on sneakers before she left the dorm, her wand in hand.
After all, it could still be a Slytherin's prank, she thought, even though she knew deep down that there was nothing to be afraid about. No harm was waiting for her.

Holly went through the corridors and left through the front door, which happened to be unlocked this evening. She strolled quickly in the direction of her favourite place at Hogwarts: the willow by the lake.
Whoever had left her this message, they knew her well.

The closer she got, the stronger the light's call seemed to get. When she finally was near enough to make out what it was, it disappeared into thin air, leaving her alone in the darkness. For whatever reason, she had expected that to happen and stood still while her eyes adjusted to the dark night. There was no fear within her.

Holly felt his presence before she could see him. The air around her filled with electricity and comfortable shivers ran down her spine as she closed her eyes, waiting for him to come closer.
Suddenly, she felt his hands gently at her shoulders, his fingers tracing patterns down the sides of her arms. Heat steadily built up in her body, her skin tingling, longing for his touch, her fingers itching with the desire to touch him, the way they did last week…

He put his arms around her, wrapping her within his strong embrace and she leaned back into him, completely at ease as her body brushed against his.

"Holly", she heard him whisper in a husky tone and goose bumps spread across her skin at the sound of him saying her name in that tone.

She couldn't hold back any longer, she had tried for weeks now to stay away from him, to deny her feelings towards him, the way her body demanded his touch on her skin. She couldn't wait no more, not now.

Holly turned in his arms, for a moment thinking all around her would disappear, but it didn't. This was real.

And then, she saw him, his face above hers waiting for her, his beautiful eyes sparkling at her just the way they had last week.
A crooked smile on his lips, just for her.

His hands had travelled down her sides while she turned around, leaving this tingling fire on every inch they touched and rested now at her waist. Her stomach flipped at this contact.
Her fingers couldn't be held back either and she raised them between them, gliding up his torso and smoothened the fabric of his jumper over his broad chest.
She could feel his heart beat fast beneath her touch and felt the urge to come even closer, putting her body against his.
Holly stepped a little closer, her belly nearly touching his now, their faces just a few inches apart.
This time, no one would interrupt them.
This time, Holly knew, it was going to happen.

The night was too dark for her to see any of his freckles, but she would'n have eyes for them anyway right now. All she saw were his eyes, the dark, widened pupils, his desire so visible to her now.

One of his hands tenderly cupped her cheek again, the way it had last week, while the other rested at her waist this time. His face came slowly closer and closer.
Her heartbeat quickened, growing ever faster and she felt his hot breath brushing against the tip of her nose now. It came in gasps just like hers. Holly bit her lip again.
Her body burned with desire, the electricity between them tensing her up, she couldn't take this slow torture anymore, she needed to feel his body against hers… his lips on hers… and she needed it now!

Their mouths were only an inch apart at that moment and Holly pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and finally closed the small space between them.

When their lips collided, it felt as if a firework exploded in her body, the heat grew even stronger and she pushed herself against him now, every part of her body pressed against his and without knowing what she was doing she reached up into George's wavy hair and grabbed it gently, pulling him even closer against her while she opened her lips, a soft sigh escaping them, inviting him to deepen the kiss. He grabbed her at the back of her neck as their tongues came together.

His hands moved over her body, touching every bit of her they could until they finally reached down and cupped her ass, holding her as close as possible to his body with those strong arms.

Holly felt so fragile under his touch, she could feel his want for her and felt treasured and safe at the same time.
She couldn't imagine anything would ever feel better than this moment.

...finally!
I hope you like this one;)
The next few chapters might take a little longer to get done since I'm not sick anymore and will go back to work on Monday, but don't worry, they will come!
I really enjoy the writing of this and also love to share it with you guys!
Stay tuned,
- A