Chapter 14

Clara kissed him back, and everyone around the room was in a stunned silence. Eliza and Louis looked at each other with an amazed look and then jumped up and did an air high- five. Clara and Al broke away, still holding hands, and walked over to the sofas.

"Omg! Totally called it!" Eliza exclaimed excitedly, as she started jumping around.

"What?" Clara and Al said in unison as they turned around.

"Oh for god's sake you two. You have been on the brink of this for four years. And you have finally kissed," Eliza said, as she made huge gestures with her hands.

"What? No!" Al said taken aback, as he let go of her hand, and crossed his arms.

"I agree," Clara said as she got her bag, around her shoulder, "Anyways, it's late now and we need to go to bed we have Quidditch in the morning."

Al got the tape out of the player, and picked his bag up, strapping it over his shoulder and then taking Clara's hand as they walked out of the door.

"So that was fun," Clara said as they snuck past some prefects on the way back to the common room, they hadn't bothered with the cloak or map this time.

"Yeah, it was. Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me next week?" Al asked.

"Sure. I can't wait. Just one thing, we were, or are, like best friends and if anything were to happen, please can we make some sort of pack for it to not be weird and for us to stay friends afterwards, please. If not for our sake for everyone else's, you know it would be awful if we just blatantly refused to speak to each other," Clara said as she stopped and turned back to Al.

"Of course, I do understand. And despite what I said to El. I am happy that it did happen, well eventually at least. Not that I have been like trying to you know, snog you for like four years. You have been one of my best friends for four years, and I just am, well happy that, you're…well…if you want to be, my girlfriend now. Sorry if that was forward or wrong or anything, I don't know what I'm doing at all you know," Al said stuttering, as he continued walking up the stairs.

"Oh sorry, yeah of course. And like don't worry about anything I am as confused as you are. And like for being friends for so long, you know, we already know a lot about each other. Just relax really, we're just dating that's all. Right, this is too heavy for like 2:30 in the morning. Okay please can we just talk about something else, sorry," Clara said as she run her hands through her hair nervously.

"I am sorry. So Quidditch, we have the match soon against Slytherin," Al said as they reached the top of the stairs and started ascending the next.

"Yeah, well at least we have a good team. Like with Fred, your brother, you, Lily, Chris and Roxie. But then again, no offence, James works us damn hard," Clara said.

"Yeah, I know. He is just too competitive most of the time and takes out all the anger on the rest of us. It does not really help that he's related to like eighty percent of the team, and so because he knows all of us so well there is less consequence to, you know, being harsh," Al said as they reached the portrait hole.

"Yeah, I know. It doesn't bother me that he's harsh really, he has been our captain for like two years now, and we have won every year since I joined. I guess it just pays off sometimes, and I wish he didn't force us out so early…in the mud…and rain…every single week," Clara said as they crept past the seventh years sleeping on the sofa.

"Ah well, we put up with it fine and the hot chocolates and cakes the house elves make us afterwards are really yummy," Al said as they reached the top of the stairs, " So goodnight I guess."

Al gave Clara a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek before he opened the door to his room and went in. Clara went up the stairs to her room, running up two steps at a time, swinging open the door and shutting it. She leaned back on the door, his gleeful grin still on. Anna was still awake doing some homework on her bed.

"Right okay what happened, I haven't seen you looking this happy in ages?" Anna said as she put her parchment down and sat up, crossing her legs. Clara didn't say anything, but just squealed and starting jumping up and down, as she threw all her stuff onto her bed.

"I guess it was a good thing then," Anna said laughing.

Clara still hadn't stopped jumping or making odd noises. A few moments later Rose, Eliza and Poppy walked in chatting, they all stopped when they saw Clara squealing and jumping up and down.

"Right Clara, please calm down," Eliza said as she walked over to her and grabbed her arms and held her down, "Right now are you going to stop jumping."

Clara nodded.

"Okay right I am going to let go. You are going to shush and sit down. And then tell us all, "Eliza said as she let go, and Clara immediately started jumping up and down again.

"Clara!" They all shouted in unison.

"Okay, okay!" Clara said as she took the chair from her desk and pulled the chair in front of the fireplace, so all the beds were facing the chair.

"Now please tell us everything. So how was the kiss?" Poppy said excitedly.

"What you kissed someone? Who?" Anna practically shouted.

"Al," Clara said with a huge grin on her face.

"Aw, that's cute. I thought that you two would be adorable together," Anna said as she rested her head on her hand, "Now please for merlin's sake tell us everything."

"Alright, alright. So basically I just, like asked him to dance with me on the last song. He like agreed and I took him to where everyone was dancing. It was cute you know, and like I may have had a teeny bit of a crush on him, but like we are like best friends. So when we started dancing he put his hands around my neck, and then I leaned in resting my head on his shoulder. Side point, he smells great, I don't mean that I like sniffed him or anything weird. I just had my head resting on his shoulder and I could smell his clothes. He smells like honey and lemons, it's great," Clara said with a huge grin on her face, and her knees curled up to her chin.

"Ew, he's my cousin. It's like you talking about how great my like brother smells. Please just make it sound like you kissed some random guy, not my cousin," Rose said.

"Fine okay. So we just sort of got lost in the moment, twirling and swaying round with each other. It felt like I was floating on air, and nothing ever mattered anymore, just being there with him. And I presume he felt sort of the same way as when the song ended, he just put his hands in my hair. Not in like a mean, ruff way but like a romantic one. And like he just leaned in and he kissed me. It was so great, and like I haven't kissed anyone properly before, only like a peck on the cheek in primary school. But oh, it was so great. And I am sorry Rose but like your cousin is a really good kisser. And when we…you know…stopped, he just like took my hand. Holding in my utterly gleeful smile and laughter was like the hardest thing I have had to do, like ever. So we just got our stuff and left. Oh before I forget I am so sorry that we didn't help to clear up, we were preoccupied. So, were was I. Right we had left the room and we just started walking back to the tower. He asked me to Hogsmeade, and I basically just explained how that if we you know broke up or something, I would hope that we could remain friends. I told him to promise that we would remain friends. And then after that he was really awkward, and confirmed that I was his girlfriend. He was just so cutely nervous. We chatted a bit more and then when we got up the top of the stairs, he hugged, and then gave me a kiss on the cheek. I ran up the stairs, jumped around, talked to Anna and then explained it to you lot. And that's where I am now," Clara said.

"Aw, that's so cute," Eliza said, as she hugged her knees.

"So you two are like dating now?" Poppy asked.

"Yes, we are. And oh it was so nice, aw he's so great," Clara said as she yawned and got out of the chair.

"Shall we go to bed now then? Gossiping done. We have stuff to do tomorrow," Rose said, as she took off her jumper.

"Yeah I guess so. I have no clue how I will sleep though. I am just replaying those moments in my head all the time," Clara said as she lept onto her bed.

They all got ready for bed and tried to get to sleep. Clara didn't though; she just had a huge smile on her face as she tried to close her eyes and go to sleep.

"Morning," Lily grumbled from over the table the following Friday morning.

"Come on Lil, it's the weekend tomorrow, and we get to go to Hogsmeade. It's your first time going as well, cheer up!" Al said as he swung his legs under the table at breakfast.

"Ugh," Lily grumbled back, as her face fell down into her plate.

"Lily," James said as he clicked his fingers in front of her face, to check that she was still awake and helped her remove the plate that was now attached to her cheek.

"Which unlucky girl are you taking to Hogsmeade this time?" Lily asked as she removed the remnants of marmite of her face. James glared at her before answering,

"Georgie Mcdavers in Slytherin. She asked me in Potions the other day after class," James answered, still a bit annoyed.

"I swear you were going out with Emily Crewe like not even a few days ago," Lily said.

"No we're not going out anymore. Are you two losers bringing anyone?" James asked.

"I'm 13," Lily said bluntly.

"Al?" James asked again.

"Yes and no I'm not telling you, before you pester me to eternity. And I'm bored now so I'm going to chat to Eliza now," Al said as he got out and walked down to where Eliza was sat alone.

"Morning!" Al said cheerily to Eliza.

"Morn. What have we got next ?I have got a total blank," Eliza said as she crunched down on her toast.

"Umm…Potions. I think, wait…I don't know. Have you seen Clara yet?" Al asked as he looked around for her, "Wait, where is like everyone else from your dorm, and mine?"

"I actually have no clue, everyone else was in the common room when I left. I hadn't seen Louis or Rose though, don't know why though. I guess they'll turn up later, shall we go in a minute. You still hungry?" Eliza asked as she finished her tea.

"Nah, I'm done. To potions we go," Al answered as he lept up and dragged his feet out of the bench.

"Yep," Eliza said as she got up and started walking down the great hall," So how's it going with Clara?"

"Fine, we have literally only been going out a week. What about you and Ly, then?" Al answered as they left the great hall.

"Oh, yeah, we're fine. I can't wait till Hogsmeade though, Ly said that he'd take me to the Hogs Head for drinks and that I could buy a few books. And only a few as Rose basically shouted at him for getting me some books the other week, as my to-read pile is too huge. Well anyway, what are you going to do with Clara then?" Eliza said.

"Oh I think we'll just walk around. She hates shopping, so I said we could just around the hill for a bit. I am a bit nervous though, it is our, like, first date. I hope she doesn't like see that I didn't buy her like everything in the Quidditch supplies store or the book store and like immediately break up with me. I just hope she doesn't immediately decide she hates me," Al said as he ran his hands though his hair nervously.

"Al, please just calm down. She really likes you and, you and I both know that she would never expect you to do anything like that. She's going to love it I know she will. Just relax, okay she really likes you. Come on we need to hurry up," Eliza said as she patted his back and comforted him.

"Come on loser get up," Rose joked as she rolled Clara over the following morning.

"Ugh, it's too early," Clara moaned as she rolled back over, and shoved her face in her pillow.

"Clara it's half an hour later than when you usually get up. Come on its Hogsmeade," Rose said as she ripped the duvet off her and chucked it on the floor

"Noooo!" Clara moaned as she wiggled around and then curled up in a foetal position.

"Come on!" Eliza exclaimed, as she yanked Clara's arm.

"Ugh!" Clara groaned as she slowly turned at sat up on the side of the bed.

"Bathrooms free!" Anna called as she left the bathroom. Everyone shared the same look

"Mine!" Clara yelled as she sprinted to the bathroom, forgetting her stuff. Clara begrudgingly opened the door with an irritated face as she swung it open.

"Forget something?" Eliza asked with a huge grin, Clara gave her a hard stare.

"Ugh, I have no clue what to wear. What the hell am I supposed to wear? Jeans, trousers, skirt, dress? Ah I don't know what to do?" Clara called as she started rummaging through her trunk.

"Do you want the bathroom or not?" Rose asked.

"Well obviously not now as I have no freaking clue what to wear?" Clara exclaimed.

"Well you will be wearing a coat so maybe not a dress, as it doesn't look very good with it. I think jeans, this shirt, and that cardigan," Eliza said as she squatted down next to Clara, by her trunk

"Do I have to wear a coat?" Clara asked.

"Duh. It's like November, and you will get a cold, and spread it to all of us. And then it will mutate and turn into this huge and deadly virus that will kill us all," Eliza said.

"El, calm down. It won't be that bad. Okay so these jeans, this shirt, this cardigan, my black coat and how about this scarf?" Clara said as she stood up and pulled some dark blue jeans, a white shirt cropped shirt with giraffes, a black cardigan and a cream infinity scarf.

"Yes that's great. Come on Rose is coming out go have a shower and get ready," Eliza said as she stretched her back and stood up.

Twenty minutes later…

"Does this look okay?" Eliza asked as she fumbled around with her hair in front of the mirror.

"It looks great," Rose answered as she grabbed her gloves and hat out of her trunk.

"Not too childish?" Eliza asked, her hair had two front pieces in small bunches.

"Nope, it looks great. It really suits you," Poppy said as she put on her coat and jumped down onto her bed.

"What should I do with my hair?" Clara asked after she'd spent around three minutes messing around with her hair.

"Just clip to bits back and leave out those super wavy bits at the front," Eliza said as she walked over to the door.

"Okay so do I look okay?" Clara asked as she did what Eliza had said and she brushed fluff off her coat.

"Great, we all look great. Come on they'll be waiting in the entrance hall," Eliza said as she opened the door.

A bit later Clara and Al were walking hand in hand down the path to Hogsmeade.

"You look really nice by the way," Al said.

"Thank you. It took me ages to decide what to wear, and it was only Eliza who eventually picked this out for me," Clara replied, "So what are we going then?"

"I know you hate shopping so I thought we could just walk around the outside of Hogsmeade. Round the hills and stuff, and if you want we could go back for Lunch or we could go to a place in the village. Sound okay?" Al said as they reached the village and took a left onto the footpath that lead around the hills.

"Yes, it really does. I was kind of hoping you wouldn't take me shopping, as you're right I do hate it. Come on I'll race you to that cattle grid!" Clara said a little relieved, before they both started sprinting to the cattle grid.

A few hours later they were sat on the bench on top of the hill, looking over the valley.

"Thank you so much by the way. This has been really nice," Clara said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"It has, I really love walking. But we rarely get much time to do it on the holidays and stuff because of Dad's work. It really sucks," Al said as he clasped her hand, and slouched a bit more into the bench, making himself comfortable.

"Oh we live like in the hills back home. So I can literally run anywhere from there. I have told you before about the woods at the back of my house but they are really great to walk or run in. And there isn't much chance to do that here. I do occasionally go running with Eliza on Sundays but not as much as I would like to. Please to stop me if I'm garbling away," Clara said.

"Nah. You really aren't garbling, it's nice really. I'm not really one for talking all the time; I actually really like just listening to you talking all the time. Not that you do, just it's sweet and nice. It may sound weird but I just really like hearing your voice. And if you want we could go running together when Eliza won't come?" Al said, as he looked over the valley below, the sun glazing all over the roof tops.

"It's not weird I don't think. I like the way you always run your hands through your hair when you're nervous. It is cute. And maybe, if it's not too early, we could go for a run before Quidditch on Saturdays? If you don't want to that's like totally fine, but it would be nice to wake up to a crisp morning run before a gruelling Quidditch practice," Clara responded.

"Actually I agree, and that would be really good. And with the hair thing, my mum used to get so annoyed, as it meant my hair was always really messy, my dad does is as well. I think she secretly really likes it though. I can see her smiling when he's not looking," Al said laughing.

"Aw, that's actually really cute. I wish I had some sort of stories, at least, about my parents. I have barely any memories of my dad, I only really remember him spinning me around in the kitchen. But my mum does say about the way he always bites his lip when he's busy working, like me and Katie do," Clara said.

"Why don't you just make your own stories about your parents? And whizzing you around is a great memory; my dad is always so busy. I only have limited memories as well. Merlin's beard that sounded so ignorant. I didn't mean it like that, your dad's not alive and mine is. I'm acting all ungrateful. I am so sorry, please shut me up," Al said as he let her off his shoulder, and stood up, brushing his hands through his hair and stepping away.

"Al, seriously it's okay. You're not being ignorant. I probably shouldn't've brought my dad up at all, I'll leave it. Come on," Clara said as she walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Okay, then. Are you sure you are okay, though?" Al asked, as he took her hand and they started walking down the path back to the village.

"I'm fine. Come on we need to go before Filtch realises we're not back, and walks up the Hill, whilst deciding the many ways at which he can kill us both," Clara said, as she lead him on quicker.

"Okay then," Al said as he leaned in and kissed her.