Hey! I finally managed to finish this chapter! Sorry about the late update, I went on vacation for a week so I didn't have a computer or time to write.
So this is settled at the begginning of third year. If you're disappointed about Arthur appearing too little in the story, don't worry, he'll become more important as time goes on!
I've just realized that I'd made a mistake, since Molly will be turning thirteen this year, not fourteen like it should be in the real books. I can't fix that, because it wouldn't fit the story otherwise, so just imagine that the age thing changed between this time and Harry's, that Molly was ten when she started Hogwarts, that Fabian and Gideon were 8 instead of 9 in the first chapter, and that Roddie and Vivi were 7 and 5 respectively (I just fixed the first chapter by the way). It's not a very important detail, but I just thought you should know.
Anyway, please review! I haven't got reviews since the second chapter and it would push me to write more! Constructive criticism is fine, just no flames please!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the setting and some characters, J.K. Rowling does. I only own the plot and most characters.
Chapter 5: Red cheeks
I spotted three available seats and pointed them out to Alice and Kelly. They followed quickly, sorting through all the students chattering excitedly about their past holidays and their hopes for the new school year, and sat down facing the sorting hat. Alice was especially anxious, since Fabian and Gideon were about to get sorted, and started drumming her fingers nervously on the table.
"Look, they are coming!" pointed Kelly. McGonagall was there, in emerald green robes, carrying the sorting hat to the stool and behind her, in a line, were all the first years. I could easily spot Fabian and Gideon, whose red hair, the same shade as mine, stuck out clearly. I wondered if I had stuck out that much too. I probably had. I had a harder time looking for Tessa's brother, since black hair was a common trait among students, but finally managed to see him, almost the last on the line.
"Oh dear, I hope they get into Gryffindor!" breathed Alice crossing her fingers. I chuckled, though I was anxious as well. It would be great to have my little cousins in the same house, where I could watch over them and keep them out of trouble (which would probably be a hard thing to do).
"Abercrombie, Emil!" called McGonagall, and we watched the little boy walk clumsily to the stool.
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted a few moments later. Kelly wolf-whistled and Alice and I clapped politely, chuckling at our out-going friend.
"Black, Andromeda!" the hat cried next. I almost sneered at the miniature Bellatrix walking gracefully towards the sorting hat, her face a calm mask. I had probably had the same look on my face when I was a first year, just like my father had taught me. Never show emotion, it's a form of weakness. Good thing I'd stopped trying that a long time ago.
"Ravenclaw!" shouted the hat. I was stunned, and by the looks of it, so were most people. A Black outside Slytherin? I don't think that had ever happened. When she walked towards the Ravenclaw table I saw she was different from Bellatrix. Her perfect waves were more of a light brown, instead of black, and there was a slight smile on her face which made her look kinder, as opposed to the smirk or scowl Bellatrix usually wore.
"Why is everyone staring at the poor girl?" asked Kelly confused. I sighed and turned to explain it to her, keeping an ear out for the sorting.
"Nott, Matheus!" exclaimed McGonagall after a while. I watched Tessa's back stiffen. I wondered which house she wanted Matheus to be in. Ravenclaw, like her? Slytherin, like her family? Or perhaps Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, so her being in Ravenclaw would be applauded in contrast to her brother's house? I doubted the last one, Tessa wouldn't think like that.
"Slytherin!" cried the hat the second after he put it on. No one seemed surprised, though I saw Tessa relax slightly as the Slytherin table clapped.
"The twins are coming soon!" said Alice excitedly, and I grinned.
"Prewett, Fabian!" We watched as he walking confidently to the stool, Alice gripping my hand tightly.
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted. I felt slightly relieved. One down, one to go.
"Prewett, Gideon!" Gideon practically skipped to the hat, like it wasn't about to decide where he was going to sleep for the next seven years. I held my breath unconsciously.
"Gryffindor!" it shouted again. Gideon did a funny bow and everyone laughed.
"Yes!" said Alice, punching the air. I cheered loudly too, happy that they were with us, and that Alice was so happy.
"Oh no! Now we'll never sleep peacefully, ever again!" cried Kelly mock desperate. Alice hit her on the arm playfully and I laughed, turning to my dinner.
OoOoOoOoOo
"Here are your schedules" McGonagall told us the next day at breakfast. We looked at them eagerly. We had potions with the Hufflepuffs first period, which made me grin broadly and Alice groan. There was no better way to start the day!
That changed when Professor Slughorn announced our partners for the following year. He paired me up with Matt Jordan, a Gryffindor boy who was too immature and constantly made jokes. I bet he'll never take the work seriously I thought groaning internally.
"I hope you'll learn something from Molly, Mr. Jordan" the professor told him once he announced it. Merlin knows you need it I thought. I looked enviously at Alice, who had been paired up with Gary Robbins. He had been my partner in first year, and he worked hard and was good at the subject, which meant he could probably teach Alice a lot.
"Hey, at least your luck was better than Frank's" Matt told me, noticing I wasn't exactly thrilled at having him for a partner. I looked over and saw Frank with Violet Lockhart, a Hufflepuff girl who I knew to be very dense. I looked at Frank pityingly. I guess I could have had it worse I thought more cheerfully.
In the end, it wasn't that bad. Matt didn't really care about the actual potion we were making, but he cut, chopped and skinned everything perfectly when I told him to, so it was ok, and the potion came out nearly perfect. He was funny and easy to talk to, so I never had to worry about awkward silences or anything of the sort. He groaned loudly when we were given an essay to do, but luckily the written part was to be done and graded individually, so I wouldn't have to worry about him screwing my grade up.
"It was nice working with you" he grinned brightly when we were done. His white teeth shone, contrasting with his black skin.
"Same to you" I smiled truthfully. He nodded once and disappeared with his friend. It was weird, us being in the same house and year, and yet I'd never talked to either of them. I guess I was too wrapped up in my own friends to notice other people.
"I couldn't have had a worse partner!" complained Frank once we had left the classroom and made our way to charms.
"At least you get to look at her closely, she's really pretty" piped in Arthur Weasley, interrupting our conversation. What he said bothered me a lot. I still never talked to him if I could help it, and it was rude to just interrupt with a stupid comment.
"Excuse me, I'm going to catch up with Alice and Kelly" I told Frank, looking disdainfully at Arthur. I walked a little faster so I was level with the girls, not bothering to look at their reactions.
"He was great, and he was really nice to me!" Kelly was telling Alice.
"What are you talking about?" I asked them.
"My potions partner!" Kelly said excitedly "his name is Benjamin Garnick and he..."
"Basically, we have Kelly's new crush" interrupted Alice matter of factly. I laughed and rolled my eyes. Kelly was ridiculously boy crazy for our age, she had a new crush every month, and she'd even had a muggle boyfriend during the summer! Neither Alice nor I had ever kissed a boy, so we thought this outrageous.
The next classes were uneventful until after lunch, when I had my first new subject, household spells. My father had made me take it, though I guessed it would be useful anyway. Every "respectable pureblood lady" apparently took the class, so I'd had no way to get out of it. I didn't really mind, seeing as I didn't find any of the other subjects interesting anyway. Taking Arithmancy and Ancient runes (like Kelly did) seemed like too much reading to me, so I'd also taken Care of Magical Creatures just because Alice and Kelly had. Kelly had insisted we take muggle studies, which Alice had done, but I knew my father would kill me if he ever found out, so I didn't want to risk it. What would be so interesting about things done without magic anyway?
I went into the small classroom and saw there weren't any boys, and most girls were from Slytherin. I guessed they'd been pressured to take the class, or took it because they knew it was the "right" thing to do.
"Molly, here!" called Tessa from the middle row. Alyssa and Mia were sitting right in front of her. I grinned and set my things beside her. Maybe the class wouldn't be so bad after all. Our teacher was a slender witch who looked to be on her fifties, and seemed to be friendly.
"I see we have a big class this year!" she said genially. I resisted the urge to snort. There were the five Slytherin girls, two Hufflepuffs, Tessa, another Ravenclaw, and me. Ten girls total. I wondered how small her other classes were.
"Hello, I'm Professor Grayling and I'm going to be your teacher for the next three, or hopefully five years" she said amicably. I didn't doubt that we'd continue taking the class later on, but I highly doubted it would be on our own accord. Our faces must have reflected what I was thinking, because she said: "you're probably thinking that this course will be just teaching how to cook and clean, but it's a lot more complete than that". She said this clearly thinking it would impress us, but I was just confused. I looked sideways at Tessa, who seemed just as confused as me.
"Excuse me Professor, but what else will we learn?" said a Hufflepuff girl from behind me. I had to admire her nerve.
"What's your name?" Professor Grayling asked her kindly.
"Sandra Migden" replied the girl shyly.
"Well that's a very good question Sandra" said the Professor "This year you'll learn to use your magic to make salads and desserts from here until Christmas, and from Christmas until Easter to make main courses. After Easter I'll teach you all about gardening". It sounded actually fun. I'd always liked watching and helping my mom whenever she cooked or gardened (not that she cooked a lot, seeing as we had a house elf), and I couldn't wait to start learning about it. The Professor kept talking "Next year you'll be learning everything about cleaning, keeping in order and decorating a house" that sounded dull "and on your fifth year I'll teach you everything about image, to apply make-up, do your hair, fix and combine clothes, etc. That's all your OWLs will cover".
We all started giggling and talking excitedly at this point. "Imagine being a genius about hair and makeup!" Tessa cried "We'll be the prettiest girls in all the dances and balls!"
"I don't know about the balls" I argued "most of the girls who go to those balls have taken this class anyway". But I really wanted to learn it. I only ever used lip-gloss, but that was mostly because I didn't know how to use make up correctly without it taking hours.
Professor Grayling chuckled. "I'll tell you about NEWT level when you take your OWLs, it would be too much information otherwise. So today we'll start by learning how to magically peel a potato…"
"I liked this class a lot!" I said animatedly when it had finished.
"Only because you were great at it!" Mia groaned "My potato kept chopping pieces instead of peeling! This stuff is harder than I thought it would be!" I didn't think it was. I had managed to make my potato peel itself perfectly faster than anyone else, and Professor Grayling had awarded me points and excused me from homework.
"Molly, we're going to be late" Tessa said, and we ran to our Defense class together. Tessa found Serenity waving at her and shot me a look of apology before dashing to her side. I saw Alice sitting with Kelly and Frank sitting with Arthur behind them. I felt somewhat uneasy. I didn't know anyone else that well, and I didn't want to go to some random stranger and sit beside them. What if they were waiting for a friend? I was contemplating whether it was better to sit alone or with Xenophilius Lovegood when a voice startled me.
"Hey Molly! I hadn't seen you around". I turned to find Damian smiling at me and blushed. I still wasn't over my ridiculous crush on him.
"Hey!" I smiled trying to hide my blush "how was your summer?"
"Great actually. You wanna grab a table?" he asked. I felt my breath catch. Did he really just ask me to sit with him? This was too good to be true.
"Sure" I managed to say and he lead me somewhere near other Ravenclaw boys. I followed him, feeling slightly dazed and caught Alice's eye. She and Kelly were snickering subtly from the other side of the room, and winked at me. Merlin, I hope no one saw that I thought.
"What did you do over the summer?" Damian asked me interestedly. I ignored my blush and forced myself to speak. I didn't want him to think I was mentally incompetent.
OoOoOoOoOo
The next weeks were spent in the same fashion. All the classes were more interesting than the previous years, since we were learning more advanced things. I continued to excel in potions, charms and household spells, where we'd learnt to peel, chop, wash, cook, mix, arrange and spice so many salads that I hadn't even known some of them existed. Alice was learning some things about muggles that amazed her, which to my displeasure made her talk to Arthur Weasley an awful lot. Apparently they sat together in class and were doing a very interesting project on muggle fashion trends, but it was still irritating to have him around all the time. Kelly had tried out for the Quidditch team, and was now the seeker, so she spent a lot of time at practice, only to enter the common room late, muddy and with a huge smile on her face. Damian continued sitting by me during defense, and we got to talking more. We had started studying defense together a lot, which I didn't really need, since Frank could have taught me everything I wanted, but it got us many hours alone at the library every week, which I enjoyed inmensely. I didn't think he liked me that way, but it was still nice to spend so much time with him. Soon enough, Halloween was less than a week away, as was our first Hogsmeade trip ever.
"I can't wait to go!" cried Kelly when we saw the sign "I've never been to an all magical village!" We smiled, almost as excited as she was.
"My brother told me it was awesome!" said Frank "There's Honeydukes, where you can get all the candy you'd ever want! And Zonzo's, the best joke products ever! And the Three Broomsticks! You can get butterbeer there, Edward said he'd never tasted something that good!"
"Joke products? Why would I want those?" I asked disdainfully "The rest of it sounds awesome though" I told him smiling.
"Why wouldn't you want those?" asked Fabian, who had just sneaked in our conversation.
"Alice, you'll bring us Zonzo products, right? We'll give you the money! Pleeease?" asked Gideon from behind him. Alice laughed and started to nod before catching my face.
"Sorry, you'll have to wait boys, Molly will kill me otherwise" she told them.
"How can you stand denying happiness to your family?" Fabian asked me dramatically before they disappeared. I shook my head, a bit amused.
That evening I joined Damian at our study session, my mind still on everything about Hogsmeade.
"I can't believe we're finally going! It's going to be so fun!" I told him excitedly.
"Who're you going with?" he asked. His voice was casual, but for some reason he looked nervous.
"I don't know, I guess Alice and Kelly, but I'm not sure, why?" I asked, not daring to get my hopes up. Would he ask me to go with him?
"Well it's just, I'm going with a couple of my friends from Ravenclaw, but also with Tessa and Serenity" he said. I felt disappointing clouding all over me. There was no chance he was going to ask you, why would you even imagine that? I chastised myself mentally.
"Oh, well, that's nice" I replied, trying to mask my feelings. Why did Tessa and Serenity get to go with him and I didn't? Maybe he has a crush on one of them I thought sadly. I did see them a lot together after all, and I'd never told the girls I liked him. I saw him say something and look at me expectantly, but didn't hear; I was too busy with my thoughts. I blushed again. Now he'll think I'm not even paying attention.
"I'm sorry, I spaced out for a minute, what did you just say?" I asked him. He looked like he dreaded saying it again. I wondered why.
"I said I was hoping you could join us" he said nervously "I mean, the girls are your friends and so am I, so I thought you might want to spend it with us, and meet some new people" he started rambling, but I felt too giddy to care. He actually wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me! Not as a date, but who cares, he thought we were friends! He'd never said that before.
"Yeah, I'd love to" I mustered as casually as I could "Sounds fun!"
"I hope it will be" he said. He turned to grab his quill and our hands brushed for a second. I felt an electric current when they did, and my face felt hot. I saw he was blushing too, slightly.
"I forgot I have to help Alice with the potions essay!" I lied quickly "see you later Damian!" I smiled at him one last time and bolted out of the library. Once I was at a safe distance, I calmed down and started skipping instead. He asked me! He actually asked me! I couldn't get the thought out of my head. I had to tell Alice and Kelly! And that thing after…I'm such a coward…just because I felt some stupid thing he didn't even notice…he probably thinks I'm a freak, running out like I'd seen a ghost I thought. Well there was no use in dwelling about that, it was already done. I told the password to the Fat Lady, climbed through the portrait and looked for Alice and Kelly. They were doing homework with Frank and Arthur, and I regretted distracting them, but they had to know why I wasn't going with them.
"Alice, Kelly, could you come here for a minute?" I called. They looked confused, but came anyway. "I need to tell you something private" I said in an undertone once they were close enough. We went to a secluded corner, knowing a few people were shooting curious looks. Honestly, could anyone have a conversation without others overhearing in here?
"Damian asked me to join him and his friends in Hogsmeade this weekend" I told them, letting my giddiness show this time "and I said yes, I'm sorry, I know we were planning on going together, but I just couldn't say no!" I really felt bad about that. They just started giggling.
"Molly, don't worry, that's great, you're finally going on a date with Damian!" Alice sang. I blushed again. What was it with me and blushing these days?
"Shh, it's not a date!" I said unnecessarily.
"Anyway, that way we can go with Frank and Arthur, they asked us all earlier, but we figured you might not want to go…is something wrong Molly?" Kelly interrupted herself when she looked at my face. Something felt wrong, but I didn't know why. For some reason it bothered me that they were spending time with Arthur, but I decided to hide it. Was this normal when you didn't like someone? I'd always believed my friends were free to befriend anyone they liked, just like I befriended Kelly even when Mia didn't like it.
"Nah, I'm just confused, why would Arthur want to spend time with me willingly?" I blurted out the first lie I thought of.
"Molly, just because you hate him doesn't mean he hates you" Alice told me shaking her head. I guessed that was true. He'd never been mean to me since that comment in first year, even if he wasn't overly friendly, like he was with most people. But that was easily explained because I practically bit his head every time he spoke to me.
"Anyway, I think he may have a crush on Kelly" Alice was saying smiling teasingly. Somehow that bothered me even more. Was it because that meant that if Kelly returned it I'd have to spend more time with him?
"No he doesn't!" Kelly laughed "You just say that because he watches Quidditch practice sometimes! I've told you it's not me he watches!" For some reason this conversation interested me a lot.
"He watches your Quidditch practice?" I asked casually.
"Yeah, they go with Frank all the time, but that's just because Frank's brother and Arthur's sister are chasers" Kelly told me, shooting Alice an annoyed look.
"Arthur has a sister?" I asked surprised. I knew Frank had a brother in the Quidditch team. Edward was a popular fourth year, but I'd only talked to him a few times. I tended to get a bit tongue-tied in his presence. On the other hand, I'd never heard of Arthur having any siblings.
"Yeah, you know, Ginevra, how could you not know her? She's Head Girl and Quidditch captain!" Kelly told me exasperated. This was a common discussion, as I often didn't know people who, according to Kelly, was impossible not to know. But why would I want to know about Arthur's relatives anyway? I shrugged, looking apologetically at her. I guess I was a bit self-centered. Then again, Kelly was overly friendly. "Anyway, she's like Arthur's idol. They have another brother but he doesn't talk much about him". Again, I was surprised at how little I knew about people who I saw every day.
"Anyway, you can tell them you'll go with them to Hogsmeade" I told them, trying to make them forget the conversation. I was relieved Arthur didn't have a crush on Kelly. Of course, it meant I wouldn't have to see him as much.
OoOoOoOoOo
Before I knew it, it was Saturday morning and I was freaking out.
"What am I going to wear?" I asked Alice, feeling desperate. I'd discarded ten different outfits either for being not pretty enough, or because it would look like I was trying too hard.
"Molly, relax! I'll bring your solution right now, ok?" Kelly disappeared for a second, leaving me wondering me what she would do. She came back a minute later with the twins in tow. I mentally slapped my forehead. We didn't talk much to the twins, since they weren't too smart and too full of themselves and fond of gossip and fashion for our taste, but we weren't in bad terms with them, they were ridiculously nice to everyone (especially boys). They were perfect to help me out now though.
"So she has a sort of date but not really" Kelly was saying "the guy she likes asked her to join him and a bunch of friends for Hogsmeade". I wasn't sure I was comfortable with them knowing this, and I hoped it wouldn't spread throughout the castle by tonight.
"I'll do your hair" said Annabelle (who I only recognized because of the "A" in her necklace) instantly, while Isabelle started looking through everyone's closet. I was a bit touched. I wouldn't have expected people I didn't know well to help me so readily. Annabelle made me sit in front of her mirror and took a bunch of brushes from her drawers. I couldn't figure why she needed all of them, but let her work. I'd never done anything to my hair other than comb through it or braid it.
"You have a blue headband right?" she asked me "it goes with the outfit Belle's picking". I nodded, wondering vaguely how she could know what outfit her sister was choosing. Kelly brought it to where we were and put it on me. At least I was wearing something familiar. I watched her curl my bangs and the tips of my hair before she announced I was ready. I liked it a lot. Not too different, but it looked really good.
"You did this all the muggle way?" I asked Annabelle amazed. My hair now ended in a cute curl that bounced every time I moved.
"Yeah, my mom's a hairstyler" she replied "in the muggle world, people go to a salon to cut or die their hair, or to get special hairstyles for events, and my mom's one of the professionals who do other people's hair" she said as explanation. That struck me as odd. My mom had never gone somewhere else to do her hair for the balls, she just did a few spells to get the up-do she wanted. It must suck to have to go to a place to do your hair I thought. But the result was just as good as the magic ones. My hair didn't feel like it was going to straighten any time soon.
"Thanks, it looks great!" I smiled. She smiled back and Isabelle came back with the supposed outfit I would be wearing. They quickly dressed me up in white, short sleeved dress that almost reached my knees. It had blue and black polka dots all over it, and a blue sash which they tightened right under my bust line. I'd never seen it in Alice's, Kelly's or my closet. Then they made me put on black stockings and Mary Jane shoes, which to my relief, at least were mine.
"Here, if it gets cold, you wear this Montgomery" Isabelle said, giving me a blue coat, the same length as my dress. I wondered how a "Montgomery" was different from a regular coat.
"You look great!" Kelly gushed. Alice nodded, though I could tell she found it a bit weird, like me.
"I'm not wearing this" I said weakly "it shows my bust line!" Not that there was big to begin with, but I couldn't wear figure hugging clothes in an informal occasion! Tight dresses were reserved for balls, and I hadn't even been to one yet!
"Duh, that's the point" said Annabelle "it's the latest fashion in the muggle world" she said proudly. I figured the dress was hers. They always seemed to have new clothes, and always in the latest fashion, according to Kelly.
"You do look great" admitted Alice "even if it's not…traditional". It was true. I really liked the way the dress moved when I walked, and the way it made me look more slender than any clothes I owned. But I couldn't use it, it would be scandalous!
"Yeah, I really like it, and I really appreciate it, but I'm changing" I said finally.
"Well, you can't, you're late" said Kelly pushing me out the door. I cursed under my breath. It was true; I should have been meeting the Ravenclaws right now in the Great Hall. Isabelle gave me a white purse that wasn't mine, but surprisingly, had all my things inside, and I ran. Was it really necessary to combine the purse? I'll really look like I'm trying too hard. Maybe if I keep the coat on all day…
I spotted Tessa, Serenity and Damian talking to other Ravenclaws and slowed down, not wanting them to see me running. I put my coat on, applied a bit of lip gloss and walked calmly towards them, laughing to myself at imagining how it would look like if someone had seen that.
"Hey!" Tessa greeted "we were just waiting for you! By the way I love the coat". I nodded thanks and greeted everyone, not bothering to tell her it wasn't mine. That would definitely look like I was trying too hard.
"Molly, this is Kiu Chang and Joseph Goldstein" said Damian introducing me to two handsome boys; one that looked clearly Asian and another with golden blond hair and angular features.
"It's nice to meet you, call me Joe" the second one told me kissing my hand. I blushed a little. I hated blushing so much, even at stupid things like that one. Kissing the girl's hand was the customary greeting among traditional purebloods when you just met the other person after all.
Damian looked a bit sick, and I wondered why. "So, are we going?" he said suddenly. We all agreed and entered a carriage together.
I soon learnt that silences were not common among this group. Kiu and Serenity told jokes and amusing stories all the way to Hogsmeade, and kept us laughing the whole ride. It was strange to be having so much fun without my usual friends, but strangely nice, and it made me think that maybe I should be more open to meeting new people. I was sitting between Tessa and Damian, and my arm kept brushing against his, which made me nervous and distracted me constantly. I wasn't sure if I preferred that or if I'd rather be in another seat, completely relaxed. This made me feel tense and awkward, and I had no idea what to say to him, so I pretended to listen to the jokes.
"So, what did you think about the nifflers?" Damian asked me suddenly. Just like that, the awkwardness vanished and it was just like we were in the library, studying for defense.
"They were so cute!" I gushed "I loved the way they reacted when they smelled gold!" we talked about that and other things for the rest of the ride, unconsciously ignoring the others. I'd forgotten why I actually liked me. He made the dullest things sound entertaining or funny, and I couldn't have become bored if I tried.
"Hey, we're here!" cried Serenity some time after. It had felt like five minutes to me. Damian jumped out of the carriage and held his hand out for me to climb down. I fought the blush creeping up my cheeks once again and the disappointed sigh when he helped Tessa and Serenity as well. Why do stupid details make me blush so much? He'll think I'm an idiot.
"So where should we go first?" Kiu asked everyone.
"To The Three Broomsticks, I really want to try that butterbear thing" said Anthony. We agreed and followed him, looking amazed at the shops in the village. When we got there, I groaned when I realized it was way too warm to have my coat on. Outside it hadn't been cold, but at least it was windy, so I didn't mind keeping it, but inside here it would be a nightmare. I'd probably be sweating by half an hour, and that would be worse than looking as if I put too much thought into my outfit. At least I looked pretty this way!
"You look very nice in that dress" Damian told me smiling as soon as I took the coat off. I silently thanked the twins and stopped worrying.
"Yeah, muggle clothes are so much prettier than wizard ones! There should totally be muggle clothes shops in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley!" said Serenity animatedly "my mom hated it at first when I made her go to muggle London to buy me clothes, but now she loves it! She wears them all the time". I noticed she was wearing muggle clothes too, though I liked my outfit better. She had a long sleeved, white shirt with orange and yellow flowers all over it. It was tucked into an orange skirt, which was the same length as my dress, and showed off her waist. She also had knee-high white socks and white flats with black bows on them. She looked pretty nice, and I saw Tessa give us a jealous look, probably frustrated at being stuck in wizard clothes. I still felt weird because of what I was wearing, but if Damian liked it it was worth it.
"You'll have to take me shopping there sometime" Tessa said to Serenity "I don't know how I'll hide the clothes though. I nodded sympathetically. It was also impossible for me to buy muggle clothes, my father would never allow it.
"Can we not talk about clothes?" Joseph interrupted. We laughed and changed the subject quickly. The next hours went by too quickly, and we spent them amazed at all the shops we saw. Honeydukes was the most amazing place, and I could only thank Merlin I'd stopped watching my diet so much after the Christmas holidays in first year. In the end, I was really glad I'd come with the group. It was nice to hang out with Tessa and Serenity outside school, and to meet Kiu and Joseph. Most of all, it was great to be hanging out with Damian without the excuse of studying, like real friends. I wondered if he would ever like me as more than that, but I was fine with waiting. I was only twelve after all, a bit too young to have a real boyfriend. Maybe after Easter, when I turned thirteen? Then I would have my initiation and would officially be a young lady, not a child anymore.
"I'll walk you to Gryffindor tower" Damian told me when we got back to Hogwarts. I felt my face grow warm as the others grinned before heading to their common room.
"Ok" I smiled at him, and we made our way back in comfortable silence.
"You know, I really liked spending time with you outside of the library" Damian told me. My heart started beating faster. 'He said what I've been thinking all day! And he likes hanging out with me! Maybe he's glad we are friends too! Maybe we'll hang out more now…' I thought happily.
"I did too, it was really fun!" I said enthusiastically. I hoped I didn't sound too eager.
"I would really like it if we went to Hogsmeade together on the next trip…without my friends" he said, and my heart stopped. 'Does he mean like a date? Or maybe just a friendly date…but anyway, he wants to go alone with me!' I thought rushed. This was too good to be true.
"Yeah, that would be nice" I said shyly back. I mentally slapped myself for not being able to say anything more interesting, but he was smiling widely.
"Great! It's a date then" he said, and I fought back the giant grin forming on my face. 'A date? Is it possible that he actually had a crush on me too?' I thought, not daring to hope. As he took my hand, I knew that he did, but that didn't make me any less nervous than before. I felt warm and floaty, and my stomach filled with butterflies as I walked with his hand in mine, thinking about what would come out of this. Taking aside the nerves that made my cheeks flame red and my hands sweat uncomfortably, it was an amazing feeling.