"How's the arsehole. Talked to you yet?" Asked Angelina copying Tessa's notes from Arithmancy.
"No," said Tessa shaking her head. She stared at the empty field that once held the Quidditch pitch. "It's crazy that we won't play Quidditch this year."
"I know," said Angelina gritting her teeth. Tessa chuckled as she looked down to see the scribbles on Angelina's parchment growing thicker and wider each stroke of the harshly pressed quill.
"Hey captain," said Tessa looking back at the flat open field.
"I'm not captain," said Angelina quickly. "Not yet."
Tessa rolled her eyes, closed her book, and placed it into her bag. "It's time for dinner," said Tess. She watched Angelina quickly scribble the last few paragraphs.
"You can take them with you," laughed Tessa getting up from her makeshift seat.
"Thanks," said Angelina gratefully. She stuffed Tessa's notes into her bag and jiggled the objects around until it could clap shut.
Both of the girls trudged up the hill towards the Herbology building without looking back. "Have you tried talking to him," said Angelina as she reached the greenhouse buildings.
"No. I have no reason to," said Tessa with a sigh.
"Yes you do," said Angelina sternly. "The guy literally dumped you by ignoring you. That's not okay." She shook her head causing her ponytail to sway back and forth over her shoulders. "It's cruel how he ended it."
"You're right," said Tessa quietly. "But I'm giving him the space he wants. I'm not going to bother him." She side-eyed Angelina who looked as though she was about to explode.
"You have more self-control than I do I suppose," said Angelina softly. "But that still doesn't give doesn't give him the right to treat you that way. It's unacceptable, and if you don't, at least, tell him how much of a prick he is, then he'll do it to someone else." Angelina's tone grew softer as more students began to breach their line of sight.
"You're right," said Tess shaking her head. "I have to talk to him. At some point." Angelina nodded her head proudly.
"Last year, you would've chased him down the moment you laid eyes on him. What's gotten into you?" Asked Angelina jokingly.
"I don't know. I guess I don't feel as bad that it ended. I'm okay with it, now," said Tessa shrugging her shoulders. She glanced at a few Hufflepuff girls, in Cedric's year, quietly muttering to one another staring at her.
"You weren't too excited about your first date with him last year," said Angelina with a smile. "More relaxed than us. Katie and I were ecstatic." She nudged Tessa who laughed quietly as the crowd of students filed out of the greenhouses.
"I wonder what we'll be having for dinner today?" Asked Tessa averting the conversation once they entered the castle.
"You're not having anything."
Tessa and Angelina whipped around to see George walking up to them. Angelina laughed as she walked from the two and merged with the crowd entering the Great Hall.
"Aw come on," said Tessa exasperatedly as George lead her up the stairs. "This better be important."
"You'll see," said George smirking. Tessa stared at George for quite sometime until she tripped over a step nearly falling to the floor.
"Careful now," laughed George as he wrapped an arm around Tessa's waist helping her back up. "I know I'm great to look at, but I didn't think you'd swoon over me." Tessa glared at George as she situated her skirt and stomped faster up the stairs with George smiling behind her.
"In your dreams Weasley," said Tessa over her shoulder. She smirked at George leaping two steps at a time to catch up to her.
"Always," said George passing Tessa winking at her over his shoulder and turned towards the Hall of Hexes at the correct floor.
"Did Fred burn his hair off again," said Tessa as she picked her fingernails.
"No," said George as he stopped at the study room door. "Even better."
The door swing open to reveal a giggling Fred and a first year sitting with his back facing the entrance.
"Oh this is so wrong," said Tessa sternly. "I told you guys not to mess with the first years!"
"I'm not a first year," squeaked the teen as he turned around to face Tessa and George.
"Lee?" Asked Tessa perplexed.
"Yeah. About time you showed," said Lee whose voice changed in pitch with every word.
He looked exactly as he did his third year at Hogwarts. His clothes too big for his body.
"Ha-how did this-," sputtered Tessa.
"-It's simple really," interrupted Fred as he lead Tessa into the room so George could shut the door.
"Aging potion," finished Tessa waving him off and walking towards the bubbling cauldron. She glanced into the cauldron and laughed slightly. "You know it's supposed to be green right?"
Lee crossed his arms over his chest and huffed in response as he glared out the window across the room.
"Well now we do," said Fred sarcastically. "Had no idea until you pointed that out." He walked over to the pink stained notes next to the cauldron and lifted a clean sheet from underneath scribbling "GREEN" on the top of the sheet. "Here." He handed Tessa the sheet and grabbed his bag next to Lee's feet.
"We need to research and perfect the potion by tomorrow," said Fred as he glanced at Tessa.
"No, No, No," said Tessa shaking her head quickly. "We need to take him to Madame Pomphrey." All three boys groaned in protest.
"Tess," groaned George. "You know that if we do that Dumbledore will know what we are up to."
"He always knows what we're up to," said Tessa annoyed.
"Enough with the conspiracies," squeaked Lee. "No Hospital Wing."
"Guys, this is serious," said Tessa shaking her head.
"We know," said the boys monotonously in unison.
"Which is why," said Fred happily. "The two best potion students are going to save the night!" He put his arm around Tessa's shoulder and winked.
"Fine," said Tessa reluctantly as she shoved Fred away and grabbed her things. "We need to go to the library now. It'll take all evening."
"Good thing it's Friday," said Lee happily. "The prefects are too busy worrying about us sneaking out than students at the library."
"Lee's right," said George. "They never check our rooms like they used to."
"And they always checked our room," said Fred annoyingly. "Like we'd keep our precious projects there." He scoffed while Lee and George chuckled gathering their things.
"Which makes it easier to hang out there," said Lee grabbing his cloak from the back of a chair.
"They'll never suspect a thing," said George happily grabbing his bag on a table. He waved goodbye and shut the door behind him and Lee leaving Fred and Tessa alone for the first time since Holiday.
"So," said Fred quietly. "Shall we go to the library?"
"Yes," said Tessa happily and she linked her arm with Fred's and strolled out the door.
The library was ominously quiet. Other students skipped dinner due to the rhythmically turning of papers emanating the room.
"Merlin's beard," whispered Fred into Tessa's ear.
Her body shook with chills as she quickly moved towards the back of the library away from the entrance and front desk with a very brooding Head boy glaring both of them, until they disappeared into the maze of bookshelves.
"Chilly?" Asked Fred as he passed Tessa to grab an empty table surrounded by books, yet to be placed in their proper spots, hiding the two from the walkway.
Tessa shrugged in response and quietly placed her bag onto a chair as Fred sat next to her doing the same.
"Here," whispered Fred. Tessa looked down to see a homemade "F" embroidered sweater in his hands.
"Thanks," said Tessa her cheeks burning as she put on the sweater over her t-shirt.
"Anytime," whispered Fred. He winked at Tessa whom quickly looked at the table as she pulled her arms through the sweater. She quickly got up rummaged through her bag for her wand. Once found, she stuffed it into her, left, back pocket allowing the oversized sweater to be bunched on one side and briskly walked away with rosy cheeks.
"Damn Weasley," thought Tessa as she walked over to the index chest in the center of the library. She pulled out her wand and with a swish drawers flew open revealing sic cards ranging from again potions to cure-alls.
She looked around and carefully jotted down their placements and quickly put them back in their proper place. She folded the parchment and stuffed it into one of her front pockets.
"Found some."
She whipped around lunging back into the index drawer causing an eruption of noise to echo throughout the building. Fred stifled his laughter as the room grew in silence with only the crackling of wood burning in a distant fire place.
"Best get a move on then," said Fred as the stomped of quick paced feet grew closer. He took the parchment out of her pocket and walked towards the first books location.
Tessa quickly followed in shock as she stared at the back of Fred's torso. He stopped occasionally reading the note and looking up at the symbols/names sprawled at the top of the shelves continuing forward until he found the rights shelves for each book on the list.
He passed off book after. Book to Tessa until six were bundled into her arms. They silently walked back to the table and sorted three books between both of the to thumb through.
"I'll take the cure and formalities book," said Fred. "You're better at research." Tessa blushed and nodded as she passed the three books about cures Fred.
"I feel like we need more research imposed on aging potion," said Tessa anxiously. Fred chuckled as he put his hand on Tessa's arm.
"I have faith in you," said Fred seriously.
Tessa looked up at Fred and nodded. "Yeah," said Tessa her face turning pink.
Fred let go of her forearm and opened "Cures for Brewing Mistakes" and flipped through the chapters until she found one interesting.
"Tessa," said Fred quietly.
"Mhm," said Tessa attentively scanning the pages her cheeks getting redder.
"Are you okay? You look hot, I mean. Your cheeks are flushed," stammered Fred rubbing his hands together. "You can take off the sweater, if you want."
"Oh, um I forgot I was wearing it," mumbled Tessa. She took off the sweater and placed it on her bag.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Asked Fred chuckling slightly. He watched Tessa open her three books at once, nearly spilling her ink across the table.
"Careful," said Fred grabbing the ink and placing it between both of them. "I actually forgot mine."
Tessa giggled nervously as Fred's smile fell to confusion. Tessa stopped laughing and placed the stopper on the bottle. "We can share," said Tessa quietly turning to her books and focused intensely on one in front of her. She rested her elbows on either side of the chosen book placing her head on her hands.
"What the fuck is wrong with me," thought Tessa scanning the pages she aimlessly opened up to earlier. She glanced at Fred's forearm next to the ink bottle, yet to moe. "Shit. He's staring," thought Tesa nervously. She stares at the blurred pages as the words were in and out of focus rhythmically. "How can I use this book." She lifted her head from her hands and glanced at Fred, who was quietly reading the history of the aging potion.
She sighed and flipped to the table of contents. "Bingo," thought Tessa as she found a Chapter that listed potions with curable qualities.
"Not finding anything," whispered Fred. He sighed as he closed the book setting it aside.
"Okay. So, first, we need to find the Aging Potion," whispered Tessa. Fred looked at all three books until he picked up "Every Potion Ever Made" and placed it between them.
"That's an index," stated Tessa looking away from the book and opened another.
Fred flipped the book open and scanned the pages until he found "Aging Potion" and glanced at the books listed discussing the potion. "I'll be back," whispered Fred getting up from the table and quickly walking away. A minute later he sat back down with four books gently placed on the table. He took off the book at the top. Of the stack and flipped it open.
"We need to figure out the ingredients and what we did wrong," said Fred stopping at a page and staring at it intently.
"The Library will lock its doors in one hour," bellowed a voice echoing through the shelves.
"Shit," mumbled Tessa as she copied down the ingredients, in Fred's book, and began flipping through the book she glanced a beforehand.
"This is going to take forever," sighed Fred. He pulled out his wand from underneath the table and with a swish the quill, in Tessa's hand, yanked away from her grasp and began writing on it's own.
"How'd you know that and I didn't," joked Tessa.
"Well, if you weren't sucking face last year I would've shown," spat Fred jokingly.
There was a long silence between the two until Tessa began to laugh. Her laugh echoed bouncing off the shelves causing students to glance in their direction.
"Quiet! This is a library you blithering degenerates," said a painting of a man reading behind them.
Fred covered his mouth stiffing his laughter. He place his other hand over Tessa's mouth. She relaxed from his touch and licked his palm. He quickly pulled away and rubbed his hand over her face. They silently fought each other pushing and grabbing until a book slammed onto a table behind in front of them. Bodies still intertwined, they look up to see a Ravenclaw Prefect sitting down and opening her book.
"Shhhhh," uttered Fred sarcastically. The noise was loud enough the get the girl to look up at the two glaring at them. Fred sighed and opened another book on a page that needed to be copied as the quill dipped into the ink pot and began writing on a new piece of parchment.
"See I told you. It's a lifesaver," said Fred watching Tessa's quill come to life. Her Face lit up in excitement as the quill dipped into the ink bottle and moved to a blank parchment writing her name shakily. "You'll get the hang of it."
Their study room was silent compared to previous nights of bubbling potions and laughter as experiments went wrong.
"It's forbidden isn't it," said Tessa jokingly as she watched the quill rest on top of the parchment underneath her poorly written name.
"Maybe, forbidden things are more fun to have," said Fred flirtatiously. Tessa stared at her name not looking up at Fred as his body leaned in closer.
"So I think this aging potion can work," stuttered Tessa shuffling the stacked sheets of paper and passing the potion list to Fred.
"Yeah," said Fred awkwardly leaning back into his seat. Tessa looked up at him and smiled.
The study room door flung open causing both of them to jump slightly allowing Tessa to grab Fred's arm and cling onto it for dear life.
"You guys won't believe it," said Lee excitedly barging into the room and sitting across from them.
"We can because we can see it," said Tessa jokingly letting go of Fred's arm.
"It wore off," said George closing the door behind him and crossed the room grabbing the last seat and staring at Fred and Tessa mischievously.
"Like a Polyjuice potion," finished Fred staring at Lee's aged features.
"Exactly like it," responded George. "Only took a few hours."
"Wicked," said Tessa.
"SO, our rigorous hours at the library are of waste," said Fred jokingly.
"Of course not," stated Lee as he leaned over and grabbed Tessa and Fred's notes scattered across the table. He shuffled them together and lightly tapped them against the table creating a neat stack so he and George could look over them. The two scanned through the notes turning pages and setting rejected ones aside.
"Ah," mumbled George scanning through a page with potions and their methods. "These ingredients are different."
"Might've had the wrong potion from the start," said Fred shaking his head.
"Plus," interjected Tessa. "This one isn't fully accurate."
"What do you mean?" Asked George curiously. He looked up at Tessa who smiled brightly.
"Well," Tessa started looking away and pointing at the page in Lee's hands. "There's not a proper way to make an aging potion.". She grabbed the notes and rummaged through them, until, she found one scribbling with notes and crossed out ingredients. "You have to make it for what suits you."
"Meaning," intercepted Fred. "We make it and we have to accurately brew it our way to have to age we want."
"So we could be 18 or 80 after taking it," responded George staring at the homemade potion placed in front of him.
"Yes," said Tessa quickly. "But we need to research it more this is only a rough draft."
"How about tomorrow?"
Tessa glared at Fred whose smirk turned into a smile waiting for an answer.
"Fine," said Tessa after a moment. "But I'll be studying."
"Thank you," said Fred grabbing his books and packing them into his bags.
The common Room was warm and cozy after the cold air pushed out the warmth outside creating a numbing chill throughout the entire castle. The only rooms Tessa felt comfortable in were the Great Hall, Library, and Common Room. They were always warm and inviting. Even the study room grew colder until the four stayed in it long enough the create a fire and let the warmth envelope them but they were never in that room long enough to feel fully cozy just long enough to test a few ingredients or discuss their research and leave for class or study for their classes.
"But I'm only overseeing. I'm not working on it. Not this week," said Tessa watching Fred get up from the common Room table.
"Of course," said Fred sarcastically as he slung his bag over his shoulder and waved goodbye walking up the boys' stairs. Tessa watched him go up the stairs until he was out of her sight.
"You and Fred seem close," said Hermione sitting in the recently vacant seat.
"I guess," shrugged Tessa as she looked at Hermione and back down at her Potions book.
Hermione sighed and opened her DADA books placing it to the side. "All I'm saying is that Fred has been studying more with you, and only you," said Hermione pulling out her notes, a quill, and ink.
"Yeah it's actually been productive considering we actually talk about homework when it's only us," sighed Tessa flipping through her book and found a Chapter devoted to explanations of Antidotes.
"Like I said," stated Hermione slamming her hands lightly on the table making Tessa look up at her. "He had only studied with you." Tessa stared blankly at Hermione who rolled her eyes. "Tessa. He's hanging out with you a lot more now."
"I haven't noticed," said Tessa quietly.
"Well I have," said Hermione stubbornly.
"Okay maybe I have noticed," said Tessa annoyed. "But he's made it clear he isn't interested in me an-'"
"-He is," interrupted Hermione exasperatedly.
"Come on 'Mione," laughed Tessa.
Hermione stared at her until Tessa's smile faded.
"He is," she said one more time. "I know you're scared, but humor me. Please?"
Tessa sighed and smiled slightly looking at Hermione.
"Okay," said Hermione satisfied as she leaned back into her chair. She read through her notes and began scribbling little details on the sides.
Tessa stared at Hermione trying to calm herself down; hoping her friend was right.
"How about Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Asked Tessa.
"Nah. We're fine," said Fred. "Still having trouble with Potions."
"We are both great at Potions," laughed Tessa turning to the same page Fred was reading in his book.
"Well, his homework is harder than last year," stated Fred as he turned a page from his book. "And I wanna make sure we get everything right."
Tessa stared at Fred until she shook her head. After Hermione's soothing words, Tessa began to notice how Fred would always have an excuse to share things with her. Quills, sweaters, books, and parchment to name a few. He always leaned into her when he would ask her a question. And she noticed how much time they've spent together since the semester began.
"Damn Hermione," thought Tessa as she watched Fred scribble notes onto a very messy sheet of parchment.
"Dinner is soon," said Fred as he made final footnotes and scribbled out random, unintelligible words.
Tessa jolted out of her thoughts and stared at Fred.
"Are you going to study more?" Asked Tessa staring at Fred's messy notes.
"Yeah, but in the common room. It's easier," responded Fred not looking up from his book.
"Well I'll see you there then," said Tessa with a smirk. She grabbed her things and began to get up from the table when Fred finally looked up at her.
"And where do you think you're going," said Fred flirtatiously. He smirk at Tessa looking at her up and down.
"There's stuff I have to take care of," flirted Tessa leaning on the table closer to him. His smirk fell to surprise and excitement as Tessa leaned away and walked towards the entrance of the library holding herself from looking back at the guy staring at Tessa and at his notes as if he were trying to decide on what to do next.
She weaved between the bookcases reaching the double doors at the end of the library. She opened the door and began to shut it behind her until a. Hand slammed against it leaving it ajar.
Tessa let the door go and stepped back, visibly confused, as the door slowly opened to reveal a grey sweatered arm with fainted yellow stripes at the wrist.
"Hey, Tess," said the source of the arm as they came into view.
"Hey," said Tessa quietly as Cedric Diggory closed the door behind him.