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There were many intelligent ways I could've replied to that, but none of them happened. "What?"
He pushed up into a sitting position and drug his hand through his hair. "Don't act like you didn't know, everyone in England knows my feelings for you."
He was right, I did know he was in love with me. I just never thought he would actually tell me about it. The words being out in the open made it real and I didn't know how to respond to it. I loved him, I just wasn't in love with him and I hated that.
"Bryn," I started, but trailed off. "I don't know what to say."
He let out a long breath and covered his mouth with his hands, his eyes closed. "Ella, you're making this so difficult. You don't want to be with me, but you don't want to say it to my face because you're afraid of hurting my feelings. Just say it, I'm a big boy."
"B, you're one of my best mates. I do love you, just not in the way you love me," I told him honestly. "I feel like a right bitch for it, but you deserve the truth."
"Yeah, I'm sure I'll agree when I stop feeling like a deflated balloon," he sighed, flopping back onto the couch with his arm over his face.
I wanted to apologize to him again, but I refrained. Apologizing would probably make things even worse than they already were. I stood up from the couch arm and left the common room, thinking about how terrible of a person I was. What if he stopped being my friend because I was so horrid?
"Ella!"
Sev was standing in the Great Hall, probably waiting for me. "I thought we were meeting at the carriages?"
"Oh, we were, I just thought I'd meet you inside and walk out with you…" he told me, the excitement draining from his voice immediately.
Damn, I was just hurting everyone's feelings today! No wonder my best mates didn't ask me questions about my sanity. They probably thought I was unbalanced or something.
"Sorry, that was rude. I've just had a weird run-in with one of my friends," I explained, sliding my hand into the bend of his arm.
"It's not a problem," he replied, slowly regaining his bearings. "Everyone has bad days, Ana."
Scorpius and Rose were waiting for us at the bottom of the hill by the carriages. Rose hugged me and I returned it, trying to not act as surprised as I was. She didn't strike me as a touchy person, but I guess I'd read her wrong.
When we parted, I looked back at Sev and realized he was more put-together than he was at breakfast this morning. He still had on his glasses, but his hair was styled and his outfit was perfectly in place. Somehow I'd never noticed before, but Sev was actually really attractive.
All the Potters were beautiful, good genes went a long way. He was pale with dark hair and green eyes, a really nice combination. He was also taller than I'd originally thought, breaking six foot easily. He was taller than James who was about the same height as Stef at 5'11" or so.
"Since when are you taller than James?" I asked, trying to make conversation.
"Since I was fourteen and he was fifteen," he told me. "I've been this height since the other night actually, didn't grow or anything."
"So I hear your party was a success," Scorpius supplied to the conversation when I stuck my tongue out at Sev's sarcastic response.
"It was the talk of the Gryffindor common room this morning, especially the dorm," Rose added with a smile. "I know I had fun."
"That's a relief, I was convinced it was a total bust. I mean, I left halfway through and came back to everyone passed out or gone."
"Oh yeah, are you okay?" she asked as she took my hands in hers, concern evident in her voice.
"I'm fine, I guess I just got a little bit too intoxicated and too overwhelmed," I explained. "I'm just thankful Sev was such a prince and helped me out."
"That's our Sevy, always helping out and being talkative," Rose drawled, but I saw the surprise behind her eyes.
Thankfully, the carriage arrived a few seconds later and we didn't have to talk. Scorpius got in the carriage and helped Rose get inside. And he told me they weren't more than friends… I just shrugged it off before getting into the carriage with Sev right behind me.
"Don't you usually go to Hogsmeade with your friends?" Scorpius asked once we were all comfortably sitting inside.
"Yeah, but the two of them are sleeping off last night," I replied with a grin. "The last I saw they were scrambling to find a couple hangover potions."
"Sounds familiar," Rose sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Did you wake up hungover this morning, too?" I asked in surprise. When she nodded, I continued on. "I didn't know you even drank, Rose!"
"You don't grow up a Weasley and not drink, Ella. I just overdid it last night," she said, her cheeks tinting pink as she glanced at Scorpius out of the corner of her eye.
She must've drank to have the courage to dance with Scorpius! Merlin's beard, she really was afraid to make a move with him. It was obvious to anyone who looked hard enough she had a thing for him. It was also obvious Scorpius returned her feelings, things were just standing in their way.
The carriage stopped right at the entrance to Hogsmeade and Scorpius hopped out first offering his hand to Rose. Then he offered it to me, helping me down like it was just second nature to him. Sev came down next, offering me his arm that I gladly took.
"We've got to stop by our Uncle George's shop really quick," Rose said, as the wind whipped at our cheeks. "Gram sent us some sweets we have to pick up."
"I love your Uncle's shop! It's my favorite place in all of Diagon Alley!" I shrieked.
Sev snorted, making me look over at him with raised brows. He was already looking at me with happiness clear behind his eyes. Something about it made my stomach knot up and my palms sweat inside my jacket pockets. Boys NEVER made me nervous or made me sweat in any way.
What the heck?
"You're like a kid in here!" Sev told me as I swirled through the store like a whirlwind trying to look at everything all at once like usual. "It's kind of cute."
Normally that would've gotten a response from me, but I was too distracted by the store. My friends never let me stay inside for very long before they drug me out. Like I mentioned before, George Weasley was kind of my hero.
"I love this place! The first time I came in here with Stef, I fell in love with how crazy and loud it was," I told him, looking away from the floating cars and whirling ribbons. "It's wonderful!"
"I like this one, Sev. She appreciates the finer things in life," a voice said from behind us.
George Weasley was standing there and it was the coolest thing ever. "I do appreciate this store!"
"Uncle George, this is Stef's little sister, Ella," Rose said, making introductions for us. "She's a huge fan."
"You're Stef's little sister?" he asked in surprise. "I've heard many good things from my son about your skills in charms. Something about carrying the torch of pranking…"
That made my face burn and excitement flood me. GEORGE WEASLEY THOUGHT I WAS CARRYING THE PRANKING TORCH HE STARTED. That was the coolest thing in the world.
"Mum said you had some sweets from Gram?" Sev asked after the two of us talked for a little while about pranking. "I'm hoping they're of the lemon variety…"
My nose scrunched up and I looked at Sev in disgust. "You actually prefer lemon flavored sweets? What's wrong with you?"
"Thank you! I've always wondered that as well!" Rose shouted, hitting her palm against mine. "Chocolate for the win!"
George handed Sev a couple parcels before excusing himself, making sure I knew I was always welcome at the Burrow, his shop, and his home. I tried to hide how excited that made me to no avail I'm sure. It was so cool to have your hero think you're also cool.
I looked around for Scorpius, but he was nowhere to be found in the shop. I grabbed Sev's arm again and he followed closely behind Rose back outside into the snow. Scorpius met us, coming out of Honeydukes with a parcel of his own.
Then I remembered Sev saying something about Rose's dad not approving of their friendship. Ron Weasley also worked at the shop on occasion, I guess Scorpius never went inside. That was terrible, he had every right to go into the store. Even if I wanted to rage about how unjust it was, I kept my mouth shut and my hand in Sev's. It was too early in our friendship for me to rock the boat.
The group of us went all over Hogsmeade until I felt like my fingers were going to freeze off. We ended the day with The Three Broomsticks and I saw Stef sitting in the corner. He saw me at about the same time and caught me when I flung myself into his arms.
"Baby sis, it's good to see ya!" he said, hugging me fiercely.
"Baby E!" Freddy said, hugging me after Stef let me go. "Heard your party was wicked! Way to go!"
"Is that my baby brother hanging out with Baby E?!" James shouted after he hugged me. "Way to go, Albus!"
Sev's face was a brilliant red color as he shoved his brother away. "Shut up."
"Hi, guys, what can I get you?" Alice asked, coming over to our table and perching on James' knee. He kissed the side of her neck and she cooed, "I'm supposed to be working, Jamie, stop it!"
"Four butter beers, please," Rose ordered, sitting down beside me with Scorpius close behind. "So, boys, what's up?"
Freddie started talking about how all three of them had been accepted into the Auror program and I freaked out. Stef talked about that all summer, raving about how badly he wanted to be accepted. He was worried his marks weren't good enough, but I always knew they were.
"Stefan Alexander! Were you going to tell me you got accepted?" I asked, looking at him with big eyes. "That's huge news!"
He punched Freddie's shoulder with a chuckle. "I was going to wait until you came home for Christmas to tell the whole family. I guess Weasley's big mouth ruined the surprise."
"I'm so proud of all of you!" I replied after I hugged Stef from across the table. "I knew you could do it if you actually focused for longer than two seconds."
"So, I want to hear more about this party. What'd you think, Albus?" James asked, looking at his little brother.
"Uh, it was fun?" It was more of a question than an answer.
"Fun? I feel like that's an insult to Ella. She worked really hard to put it together, little brother, you could be more grateful," James chided with a lopsided grin.
"Butter beers for the students!" Alice announced, floating frothy mugs to each of us before taking her spot beside James in the booth.
We all said our thanks and drank happily. I missed butter beer when I was gone for the holidays, muggles didn't even know it existed and I sucked at trying to make it on my own. Stef wasn't big on it, which meant he didn't like to Apparate with me to Diagon Alley to get a pint during the hols.
"I didn't really stay that long at the party," Sev explained after everything calmed back down.
"Things got kind of messy and we ditched it." I swooped in and saved him before James could jump him for his answer. "From what I heard it was pretty great."
"It was amazing! Maybe even better than the ones last year…" Rose said, eyeing the boys haughtily. "I'm going to help her plan the next one, so it's DEFINITELY going to be better."
That was news to me, but I didn't let it show. "It's going to be total girl power center. Imagine what the two of us can come up with together. We're both basically geniuses."
We slapped palms and laughed, making the others join in a few seconds later. The group of us really hit it off, conversation flowing easily between all of us. By the time we left for the carriages, my cheeks and sides ached from laughter.
The group of us split ways when we got back to the castle. Rose and Scorpius went to dinner and left Sev and I together in the foyer. An awkward air surrounded us and I crossed my arms over my chest, kicking the ground with the toe of my boot. That was new, we weren't usually weird when we were alone together.
"Uhm, do you want to go to dinner?" he asked nervously.
"No, I'm still full from lunch," I replied just as nervously.
"I don't want this to sound too forward, but do you want to come back to the Heads' common with me?" he asked, the tips of his ears pink as usual. "Don't feel obligated, I just don't want today to end yet."
Admitting that was a big deal for him. He wasn't much for putting things out in the open like that, I knew that for sure. Before I could talk myself out of it, I moved forward and kissed his cheek before wrapping my arms around his middle.
"I don't either."
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