Chapter 3

By the time the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year neared in early October, Amelia and Oliver had established themselves in a very close friendship. They had weekly flying lessons and frequent runs together, and often spent time hanging out in the common room together. Amelia found herself liking Oliver more the more time they spent together. It astounded her that he didn't seem to be interested in snogging her (it also killed her a little because in spite of her protestations to her friends, she had started to fancy him). So, after their flying lesson on the Saturday before the next Hogsmeade weekend, Amelia was taken aback when Oliver asked, "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"You just did, but you may ask another," she teased.

"And that's what I like best about you," he said. "You don't mind tearing the mickey out of me if I deserve it."

"Right, but you haven't asked your question yet," she prodded.

"Yeah, I was wondering if you're going to Hogsmeade next weekend," he said.

"I am going with Kate and Charity," she answered. Noticing his face fall, she added, "But I don't mind being kidnapped from them if you're inviting me and I'm sure they'll approve."

"Yeah, I'm inviting you, although that was pretty shit," he said, smirking. "So, would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me on Saturday?"

"I'd love to," Amelia answered. "It will save me from several hours of swooning over Roger effing Davies and his perfect hair, or teeth, or grades, or whatever, and I'm sure to enjoy the company."

"Good," Oliver said. "We can meet in the common room and go to the village together." Amelia nodded and smiled as she helped Oliver put the brooms away. She was also starting to think of ways to ask her parents to buy her a broom as she had started to really enjoy flying.

When she got back to her dormitory, Kate and Charity barely acknowledged her entrance; they had given up trying to get anything out of Amelia about the flying lessons and the few times they had spied it had been exactly as Amelia said. They had almost given up hope that Amelia and Oliver could fancy each other. "How was your morning, ladies?" Amelia asked.

"Fine," Kate answered not looking up from her Witch's Cosmo.

"Wait a minute," Charity ordered. "What's happened? You never act like this after flying."

"I'm sorry, but I won't be able to go to Hogsmeade with you lot next weekend," Amelia divulged.

"And why not?" Kate demanded.

"Because I'm going with Oliver," Amelia answered, proudly.

"You fancy him," Charity stated. It wasn't a question, but it wasn't wrong, so Amelia shrugged her shoulders and nodded. Charity and Kate squealed with delight. It had been almost a year since Amelia had shown any interest in a boy. They immediately demanded to know how he had asked her.

"He just asked if I had plans to go to the village and I said I was going with you lot, but wouldn't mind canceling if he was asking. Then he just asked and I said yes," Amelia giggled, beaming.

"What are you going to do?" Kate asked.

"We haven't entirely decided," Amelia replied. "We're going to meet in the common room to go to the village together."

Oliver had tried to keep from smirking too broadly so as to avoid suspicion, but Fred and George noticed that he was smiling and less demanding during their next Quidditch practice. They volunteered to help put away the balls. "What's going on? You lot never volunteer to help put away the balls," Oliver demanded.

"We were going to ask you the same question," Fred said. "What has you going so easy on us?"

"Nothing," Oliver said, too fast. Fred and George exchanged a look and threatened to release the bludgers if he didn't give them an answer. "Fine. I'm taking Amelia to Hogsmeade on Saturday. Are you lot happy?"

"We're very happy for you, mate," George said. "We've been telling you for weeks that she's a cool bird."

"Yeah, well, now we've got a date and I have no idea where to take her," Oliver admitted.

"Take her for tea and buy her some chocolates," Fred suggested. "She's a girl, not a dragon."

Oliver nodded, and opened the cabinet for the ball crate. They stowed their gear and returned to the castle. Oliver joined Amelia at the Gryffindor table and she noticed the twins smirking. "Good practice?" she asked.

"Yeah," Oliver answered. "We're finally flying as a team. Slytherin don't stand a chance."

"Good," she said. She almost turned her head when she heard a lot of tittering from behind them, but Oliver put a hand on her arm.

"Ignore them," he suggested. "They're apparently 4th year girls who have taken a liking to me or something. They want to know if you're really my girlfriend."

"I could snog you now and get rid of them for you," she offered, "but I wouldn't want your ego to get any bigger."

"Thanks for reminding me I'm still human," Oliver teased. "Of course, I could go for a snog right about now. I haven't been snogged properly in a while."

"And now I'm sorry I said anything," she joked. "But if you really feel like you need it, I'll go and get one of those 4th years."

"I thought you were a nice person," Oliver replied. "And now, you're just teasing a poor bloke."

"Come on, love," Fred added. "Just give him a nice little snog so that he goes easy on us in practice again tomorrow." Amelia rolled her eyes and tossed a roll at Fred's head. He caught it and ate it, adding, "Thanks. I'm practically starving."

Amelia stood to leave, but Oliver took a chance and grabbed her arm, pulling her into his lap. "What about that snog?" he asked.

"I told you I could call one of those 4th years, but you declined the offer," she said. "Now, I'm going back to the common room so that I can finish a potions essay before I fail and am unable to go to healer training."

"You want to be a healer?" Oliver asked, loosening his grip.

"Does that surprise you?"

"A little," he answered. "Alright, go study. I'll have to drown my sorrows in chocolate since I didn't get that snog, but I'll survive." Amelia smirked and sauntered off from the Great Hall towards Gryffindor tower. She used the walk to consider what had just happened. She had wanted to snog Oliver, but she didn't want to do it in so public a setting and she was nervous that he was just playing along. At least, she was nervous until he pulled her into his lap. For a second, she thought (and hoped) that he would simply snog her at dinner, and while she hoped for that it also terrified her. What if he thinks I'm a terrible snog? she wondered. Paul, her last boyfriend, had frequently told her that she was terrible at snogging; of course, she always hated how he seemed to slobber all over her.

Amelia's daydreaming was interrupted by the Fat Lady asking for the password. She gave the password and entered the common room. Somehow, she must have taken a long walk after dinner, as Oliver was already there. "What took you so long?" he asked. "You left dinner half an hour ago."

"I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," she said. "I should go and work on that essay." She made to go for the girls' dormitories.

"What's wrong?" Oliver asked.

"It's really nothing," she answered. "I'm just tired and busy. I promise."

Oliver didn't believe her, but he let her go, sensing that she was not likely to spill what was really bothering her to him, especially since they barely knew each other. He did, however, set Kate and Charity on her. "Oy! Kate," he called.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Could you lot go and find out what is bothering Amelia?" Oliver pled. "She says she's fine, but I don't really believe her and I don't think she'll tell me about whatever it is."

"What happened at dinner?" Charity queried.

"She and I flirted and joked and it got a little weird," he admitted. "There was lots of talk of snogging." Kate and Charity shared a look, which prompted Oliver to ask, "What is that about?"

"We shouldn't tell you," Kate said. "It's Amelia's secret to share if she wants."

"If it's something I did, I want to apologize," Oliver offered. "I promise not to make fun of her or anything bad."

"She gets nervous about snogging," Charity admitted. "Her last boyfriend constantly complained about it and said she was rubbish at it."

"That explains a lot," Oliver said. "Thanks and go cheer her up. If necessary, tell her you heard from the last girl I dated that I'm a terrible snog or something."

"Is it true?" Kate asked.

"How should I know? I've never rated myself snogging. Just cheer her up." Kate and Charity agreed and went off to find Amelia.

When they found her in the dormitory, she was trying to do her potions homework, but failing miserably. "What's going on?" Kate asked, plopping onto Amelia's bed.

"Nothing," Amelia answered. Charity also plopped onto her bed and informed her that they would be staying until she spilled. Finally, Amelia told them about dinner and how it had freaked her out.

"Seriously," Charity started, "Paul was an ass. He didn't deserve you and he took pleasure in torturing you."

"And, he was the one who was bad at snogging," Kate promised. "I'm certain that your skills are more than satisfactory."

"Do you think so?" Amelia asked.

"We know so," Charity said, finally.

Saturday dawned chilly and the outfit that Amelia had planned to wear for her date with Oliver had to be scrapped as she was sure to freeze in it. So, she chose a simple sweater and jeans, paired with a scarf and beanie set. She met Oliver in the common room as planned and he said, "You look beautiful."

"Thanks," she replied. "Shall we head out then?"

"Come on, love," Oliver said, offering his arm. She took it and followed him through the castle and grounds into the village. "Shall we get some tea since it's so chilly?"

"Tea would be lovely," she answered, nervously. Oliver led her through the town to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Room. It was overly dark and there were only tables for 2. She noticed that the only other patrons were couples, many of whom were holding hands or snogging across the small tables. Oliver got them a table and ordered teas when Madam Puddifoot came over. For several minutes, they tried to maintain a conversation, but both were extremely uncomfortable with the place. It was so bad, they resorted to talking about the weather.

"Can I ask you something?" Amelia finally said when the teas were delivered.

"Sure," Oliver answered.

"Are you having a good time? Because, this is definitely not us," she said.

"Thank Merlin you think so too. Shall we head out?" he offered. She grabbed his hand as he dropped some coins on the table to pay for the teas. "That was bloody awful," he said in the street.

"Agreed. Now, where should we go?"

"I have an idea," he said. Oliver led her through the streets, first to Honeydukes, so he could buy her some chocolate, then to the Three Broomsticks. He bought them each a butterbeer while she secured them a booth in the back.

"This is much better," Amelia commented when Oliver set the drink in front of her. Oliver agreed and they spent several hours joking and laughing together, each consuming several drinks. Finally, they had to leave and started the long walk to the castle. When they got back to the grounds, Amelia started to walk back to the castle, but Oliver pulled her away and led them to the Quidditch pitch.

"Why are we here?" Amelia asked.

"It just seemed right," he answered. "And this way we can have a little while together before the others set upon us for the dirty details."

"Do we have dirty details?" she teased.

"Not yet, but I'm hopeful," he joked. She started to laugh, but Oliver grabbed her head and kissed her before she could back away. She didn't have time to freak out and Oliver was a good snog. She sank into the kiss and started to kiss back. Unsure of what to do with her hands, she did what felt natural and put them on Oliver's waist. His arms encircled her and pulled her as close to him as he could.

When they broke apart, she looked down and said, "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" he asked.

"I'm not very good at snogging," she answered. "I wish I was better."

"You were fine, love," Oliver promised. She gave him a look. "Did you enjoy it?"

"What?"

"Did you enjoy the snogging?" he repeated.

"Yes," she answered, blushing.

"No need to blush, love, I enjoyed it, too," he said. "If it was good for both of us, you have nothing to worry about. I promise. Now, shall we go for dinner?"

"Sure," Amelia answered, smiling. It was the first time that she had enjoyed a date, and a snog. Oliver seemed to know how to put her at ease and even though she was still a little hesitant to believe that she was good at snogging, she had to admit that the kiss they had shared was better than any she had shared with anyone else.

Oliver held her hand as he led her across the grounds and to the Great Hall. At dinner, they sat together, but Oliver separated them from their friends. "Why are we sitting down here?" she asked.

"Because I'm a selfish git who doesn't want to share you with anyone else," he answered. "It's been such a fun day, just the two of us, that I wanted to keep it going."

Amelia smirked and continued eating her dinner. Their friends noticed that they sat apart from everyone else, but also noticed how happy they both seemed and left them alone. "They're going to interrogate us, aren't they?" Amelia asked.

"Most certainly," Oliver answered. "We should mess around with them a bit. Don't tell them about the good parts. Tell them how awkward it was in Madam Puddifoot's. Then, meet me in the common room at midnight." Amelia nodded, and winked. Then, as a show for their friends, she rolled her eyes and glared at Oliver before standing to leave. As soon as she passed them, she heard Kate and Charity get up from the table.

"What just happened?" Charity asked, when they caught up to Amelia in the hall.

"What do you mean?" Jane answered.

"You and Oliver looked so cute together, then you rolled your eyes, glared, and left," Kate replied. "Now, what happened?"

"Nothing important," Amelia promised. "It was just a long day of awkward conversations."

"Where did he take you?" Charity asked.

"Madam Puddifoot's for tea," Amelia answered.

"Ooo! I love that place," Kate cooed. "It's so romantic; it's perfect for a date."

"Not for the first date when you barely know each other," Amelia pointed out. "We were surrounded by happy, snogging couples." Amelia spent the next hour detailing, and embellishing, the events at Madam Puddifoot's to Charity and Kate; she left out the part where they left and had a great time for the rest of the day. Amelia was able to escape any further interrogation by begging off to do prefect duties. By the time she returned, they had gone to bed and it was nearly time to meet Oliver.

"I had a good time today," Oliver said, descending the stairs from the boys dormitory; Amelia jumped.

"You scared me," she scolded. "But, I had a good time today, too." He sat next to her on the sofa in front of the fire.

"I'd like to do it again, if you'll let me," he offered; he leaned in towards her.

"I think that would be nice," she answered. She mimicked his movements and leaned towards him. Oliver closed the distance and kissed her again. They were so lost in the moment that neither heard Kate and Charity on the girls' stairway or Fred and George on the boys' stairway. The 2 pairs exchanged knowing looks across the common room. Fred and George thought about making a noise, but decided against it.

When they broke apart, Oliver looked at Amelia and asked, "Does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?"

Amelia wasn't going to say anything, but Kate called from the stairway, "Say yes!"

"Yes," Amelia answered, laughing.