Author's Note: Keep reviewing. :) Lady Foxgloves

Chapter 4

"Come on Hermione! Harry and Ron are waiting for us downstairs…" Serena was sitting on the edge her bed while Hermione was searching through her wardrobe.

"I don't have a single thing to wear! It's one of the few times we are allowed out of uniforms…" Hermione pulled out an orange sweater and threw it on her bed. Serena was already dressed, wearing jeans and an open teal sweater with a brown tank-top underneath.

"It's only Hogsmeade…" Serena said, but it was not what she was thinking. She was really thinking about George. She got up and went to Hermione's wardrobe and took out a light blue t-shirt. "Wear this, with your gray coat." Hermione took the shirt and sighed before putting it on and looking at her self in the mirror.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, now let's go." Serena tugged at her arm and Hermione grabbed her coat and a scarf before running out the door with Serena.

Down in the common room Harry and Ron were waiting for them. Serena quickly glanced about the room for George, but he was no where in sight. "So, Harry, did you get your permission slip signed?" The three waited expectantly for Harry to answer.

"Well, I haven't got it signed yet…"

"Harry!" Hermione said, "I thought you were going to see Dumbledore weeks ago…"

"I was, but I kind of forgot…but I'm going to ask McGonagall if she can sign it, she is the head of our house after all."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Serena started walking to the portrait of the pink lady and it opened for them. They walked down to the courtyard where Professor McGonagall was collecting permission forms. She looked up as the four of them approached.

"Permission forms?" She adjusted her glasses as Ron and Hermione dug out their forms. Serena handed McGonagall a note, "It's from Professor Dumbledore, he has already taken my permission form." She took the note from Serena and quickly scanned it, while Ron and Hermione gave her curious looks.

"I see, well Mr. Potter that leaves you."

"Well, that's the thing. I was hoping you could sign my form…" Harry held up his unsigned form and McGonagall shook her head.

"Mr. Potter, you need the consent of a parent or guardian, which I am neither. You will not be allowed to Hogsmeade without it. Good day." She turned her attention to the other students, mainly third years who were going for the first time, "All those who have turned in their permission forms will please follow me." McGonagall turned and started down the path that lead out of the Hogwarts grounds.

The three turned to Harry and Hermione spoke first, "Harry I'm sorry."

He shook his head, "That's alright you guys go on without me, just remember everything so you can tell me all about it."

"I'll bring you back something from Zonko's" Ron clapped Harry on the back and they all waved good bye to Harry. Harry turned around and left the three as they started to follow the other kids to Hogsmeade.

"I can't help but feel a little bad." Ron said.

"I know," Hermione shook her head. Ron and Hermione continued talking, but Hermione couldn't pay attention for too long. Her mind was somewhere else; she scanned the crowd for George but couldn't find him. May be I'm over reacting; it's not that big a deal. Her thoughts were interrupted by Hermione, "Serena? Are you paying attention?"

"Oh, sorry. My mind was somewhere else…"

"Right, so what's with the note from Dumbledore," Hermione nudged her arm, "that was-"

"Oh look, we're here!" Serena cut her off and ran towards the sign. "Where should we go first?"

"We have to Zonko's first, of course!" Ron shouted above the many other students. "Let's go!" Hermione and Serena followed him through the crowds and they reached the already crammed shop.

Serena stopped and felt around her coat pocket, "You know, you guys go on in. I think I dropped my glove back there…"

"Do want us to help you look for it?" Hermione paused by the door.

"No, I'll be in, in a minute." Hermione and Ron dove into the crowds at Zonko's and left Serena standing out in the snow. Serena waited for a minute, what am I doing? I should just go in. Right, he's probably already inside anyway. Just as she reached for the door handle a voice came up behind her.

"Now you wouldn't be thinking of going in without me, would you?" Serena looked behind her and George was standing there.

"George! You always manage to surprise me."

He smiled at her, "Sorry to keep you waiting, but I had to get McGonagall the slip."

"Why?"

"She told me I couldn't go because I had detention, but I thought that as more a suggestion. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm cold. Shall we go inside?"

"Okay." Serena smiled and pulled the door open. She was met by a rush of warm air and George pulled her inside.

"Wow…" Serena looked around and there were all sorts of knick-knacks and trinkets.

"Exactly!" George took her hand and led her to a section of the shop that had a display of practical joke products entitled 'revenge' and 'pay back'. George picked up a piece of wrapped candy and showed it to her, "Now what does this look like to you?"

"It looks like a lolly-pop."

"Wrong! It's an acid pop! I gave one to Ron for Christmas when he was 10. It burned a hole into to his tongue the size of a galleon, I must say, Mum wasn't thrilled with it as much as me a Fred were."

"A lolly-pop can do all that?"

"Well, me and Fred have been trying to figure out the secret of it for a while now, but we can never get it just right. Now this one…" George picked up another item and explained what it did. He also told her about various products he and Fred were designing. Serena listened until a large group of slytherins came into the shop. The shop more crowded than ever Serena was pushed into George's chest.

Both of them blushed, but George smiled and put his arm around her shoulder, "You want to get out of here?"

"Just a little…" Serena glanced behind her shoulder at the slytherins who were strutting around the store.

"Let's go out the back." George took her hand once more and led her through the crowd and they slipped out the back door. They were in a side alley and snow was beginning to fall.

Serena smiled at George, "It actually feels nice out here, after being inside."

"I don't mind it either way," George took Serena's other hand and pulled her close his chest.

Serena blushed, "Me neither." George bent his head down and brushed his lips with hers. Serena tilted her head and kissed him back. George pulled away, blushing.

"Uh…" George was at a loss of words, "Well…"

Serena smiled, "So, what does this mean?"

"I guess…you're my girl friend, and I'm…"

"You're my boyfriend…" Serena finished for him.

"Yea…" George smiled.

"What about the others, should we tell them? I'm afraid how Ron will react…"

"Then let's not tell them. Except, um, Fred kind of already knows…"

"Okay, then it's a secret… I should probably go find Hermione and Ron…"

"And I should probably go back to the school…" Serena let go of his hands, and he started to back away. "Until next time then!" He waved and Serena turned to leave the alley. But George ran up behind Serena and turned her around, he raised his hand tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Serena put her hands around his neck and he pressed his lips against hers one last time.

"George Weasley!" Serena and George turned around and McGonagall was standing at the entrance of the alley. "What are you doing HERE? Get back up to the castle this instant before I give you another detention!"

George smiled crookedly, "Gotta go…"

Serena smiled, "Tragedy really…"

"MR. WEASLEY!" George began walking towards McGonagall and left the alley, while she followed close behind him. Serena walked to the end of the alley and watched him walk up the path to the school he turned around and called back to her, "May our parting be such sweet sorrow! Pray that I survive torture to see you another day, good bye!"

Serena laughed and waved back to him before turning around and heading back to the store front of Zonko's. She couldn't stop smiling and knew her cheeks were still flushed. She thought about his touch, and his smile and his lips and couldn't help giggling like the many first years who saw George. She finally decided to go find Hermione and Ron.