Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Having A Moment
Coming from a family of ten, I'm used to being ambushed. It could be Fred and George wanting me to participate in mischief. Or Gunny wanting attention. Or Ron wanting a sympathetic ear. Or even Mum wanting help in the kitchen. Really, the list was endless. But it wasn't something I expected when relaxing on the grounds at school.
It was lunchtime. Fred was taking his turn manning the diary, and George had agreed to hold on to my bookbag until it was time for our next class. Leaving me free to wait for Adrian for our planned walk. I chose to wait on a stone bench; sitting with one leg on either side. With my elbows locked and my hands pressed into the bench behind me, I braced myself as I tilted my head back; basking in the sun. This isn't something I do often in this life. As a redhead, I tend to burn easily. But this is Scotland. Vitamin D must be harvested whenever possible. It'll be worth any additional freckles I may acquire.
Inhaling deeply through my nose, I shut my eyes. With the majority of the students at lunch or spending their lunch break elsewhere, it was quiet. Just me, some twittering birds, and a group of second-year Hufflepuffs I can hear playing a game of tag a way off. This is nice. Maybe I should do this more often. You know, when I'm not busy plotting to destroy a possessed dark object that's lightyears above my ability level. "Holly", a voice interrupts my silent musings; speaking very close to my right ear.
"Merlin's beard on toast", I swore as I just about leaped out of my skin. My eyes snapped open and I turned my face away from the sun. "Ron", I complained in a sharp voice once I recognized who had spoken. He wasn't alone either. Standing on my left were Harry and Hermione. The second-years were effectively flanking my sides. Somehow, they had managed to sneak up on me when I was having a moment. I guess I'm just not meant to be relaxed.
"We need to ask you something", Ron said as if he hadn't just caused my heart to skip a beat.
"No, it is physically impossible to lick your own elbow", I said sarcastically, using the first answer that popped into my mind. I glared at my little brother. Not a fully heated glare, but enough for him to know that I was annoyed. What can I say? I don't like being surprised.
Harry coughed into a closed fist, though it suspiciously didn't sound like a real cough. Ron rolled his eyes, too used to my random responses to really be taken back. "Perhaps you should listen to the question first", Hermione gave her input in a flat voice. She really needs to get out more if she ever wants to develop a sense of humor.
"Then ask", I said, rolling my eyes. Hopefully, Adrian will be here soon to save me from whatever… this is. Generally, I don't mind talking with my siblings and their friends. Especially the younger ones. They're fun to tease. But not when I had finally found an opportunity to take some time for myself.
Hermione straightens her spine as if she had been called on to answer a question in class. Oh, Merlin. I think as I prepare myself for what looks to be the beginning of an onslaught. But in a moment of miraculous distraction, Ron beats her to it. "How do you know that you can't lick your own elbows?" His tone was elevated with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
I glanced at him with an expression that silently asked; 'what are you on?' Though a glance at Harry's equally curious face had me backtracking until I remembered the comment I had blurted out. I looked back at Ron. "Don't worry about it", I answered. I knew the elbow thing because of some TV show I had watched as a kid in my first life.
"Have you tried to lick your own elbow?" Harry asked, evidently worrying about it.
"Of course not", I said. At least, not in this life.
"Why would anyone want to lick their own elbows?" Hermione asked at the same time.
Harry shrugged. "Maybe for the challenge", he hypothesized.
I rolled my eyes. This had gotten out of hand. "Can we please stop talking about elbows?" I asked.
Ron waved his arms out, away from his body. "You're the one who mentioned elbows first!" Little brothers. They never let you forget anything.
Hermione sighed in exasperation. But nevertheless, they moved on from the topic of elbows. "We think that it's suspicious that the only people's trunks that were broken into were Fred's, Ron's, and Percy's." Of course, they would want to know about that. "I think someone is targeting the Weasleys", Hermione continued. "So, we wanted to ask you if you noticed anything in the girls' dorms last night".
I shrugged. At least their question was easy to answer. With no crucial information existing within my answers, I can just tell the truth. "My stuff appears to have been untouched, and I didn't notice anything off last night, but I wasn't there the whole night".
Of course, with my luck, the three second-years focus on one little detail instead of my entire answer. "What do you mean you weren't there the whole night?" Hermione asked, sounding more disappointed than a twelve-year-old should be capable of. Or was she thirteen? Didn't she have a September Birthday? I don't remember. Either way, I'm not sure I like her tone.
"You had another nightmare?" Ron asked knowingly before I could give a retort.
I nodded at Ron to confirm his suspicions, but, again, didn't get the chance to give a verbal response. Honestly, these brats. "Why would a nightmare explain why you weren't in your dorm?" Hermione asked. I think Harry is becoming my favorite golden trio member. It was Ron due to blood relations. But at the moment, I am appreciating how quiet he is.
This time, I don't even bother to open my mouth to respond. I'm sure someone will answer for me. "She's always getting nightmares", Ron explained. And he would know. Partially the reason Ron's bedroom is the furthest up the stairs is that when he was younger, Ron was a light sleeper. If I started screaming in the middle of the night, he'd also wake up with his lungs wailing. Now, however, I could drop a bowling ball down the stairs in the middle of the night and he wouldn't stir. "And after she's had one, she sleeps with Fred and George".
"I don't always get nightmares", I interjected as I shook my head at Ron. Why he felt the need to share private and slightly embarrassing facts about me with his friends, I'll never know. The nightmares got less frequent after I came to Hogwarts as a first-year. Right now, my longest record of nightmare-free nights is one week and two days.
Hermione scrunched up her nose, and studied me with great scrutiny, while Harry was trying to not look at me. Yup, he is definitely my favorite at this moment. "Aren't you a little too old to be doing that?" Hermione asked.
I could feel my face heat up. Yes. I am well aware of how pathetic it makes me look to be climbing into bed with my fellow triplets every time I wake up scared. But still, this girl really needs to learn some tact. When does that happen again? Goblet of Fire? "Well", I started to say with a smack of my lips. "How about you get stabbed in the abdomen multiple times, bleed out and die, get reborn, dream about being stabbed in the abdomen, and then you can me I'm too old to seek comfort from the brothers I shared a womb with".
After that little speech, Harry looked very uncomfortable as he stared at his feet and shifted his weight back and forth. Hermione had the decency to blush a little, but that didn't prevent her from continuing to study me with her unwavering eyes. By this point, everything I said was old news to Ron, so he, the prat, merely rolled his eyes. As if I was one who had said too much. But yet again, the three second-years had chosen to focus on something other than my main point. "Is that how you died?" Hermione asked. I found it slightly morbid at how fascinated she sounded. I narrowed my eyes at her. Really?
Harry coughed into a closed fist again as he shifted his weight one last time. He looked up from his feet but elected to focus his emerald green eyes on Hermione and not on me. Seemed he was still feeling slightly embarrassed for me. "I don't think this is something we should be asking about", he said slowly, but he was still heard.
"Indeed", a new voice said, coming from behind all four of us. The golden trio merely turned their shoulders to look, but I leaned backward and arched my neck until I was looking at the newcomer from an upside-down angle. Adrian stood without his school robe on. Instead, he was carrying it with it draped over his left arm. His left hand was buried into his pants pocket, while his book bag hung from his left shoulder. It gave him a sort of lopsided appearance. It didn't help that his Slytherin tie was slightly askew too. But with his same chiseled chin, steely gray eyes, and sloped nose, I didn't mind. I was actually rather enjoying this new angle of Adrian. It was giving me a better appreciation of his Adam's apple. "You shouldn't be discussing something so private out in the open", he said sternly. I need to learn how to sound like that. Especially since it had the second-years properly cowed into silence. Adrian gives each of the second-years a look and waits for them to break eye contact with him before moving on to the next. Surprisingly, it wasn't Hermione that took the longest to break. It was Ron. I wonder why. After finishing with my little brother and his friends, Adrian moved on to me. "Are we still taking a walk today? Or did you have a change of heart?"
Oh, thank Merlin. Adrian had a built-in escape excuse for me to separate myself from the questions of observant second-years. "No", I said, before I straightened my neck and sat completely upright. I swung my left leg over the bench to join my right leg on the other side before standing and turning to fully face my boyfriend with Ron just a couple of inches away from me. "We're still walking. I was waiting for you when these three saw me and decided to ask questions".
Adrian nodded as if he had known that to be the case all along. He holds out his right arm for me; the one that wasn't holding all of his stuff. Stepping around Ron, I worked to not look too eager as I put my hand in the crook of his elbow. A small tingly feeling shot up my fingers at the contact. "Where would you like to go?" Adrian asked.
I hummed as I thought about it, happy for the excuse to think of things not related to being stabbed in the gut, burglarizing house elves, or possessed dark objects. "How about around the lake?" I suggested. We should be able to do that before the lunch break ends.
Adrian nodded his assent, but Ron wasn't as agreeable. "You're leaving? On a date", He said the word date like it was the name of an infectious skin disease. "We were trying to talk to you". Ron sounded a bit disappointed in me. It was kind of cute, but not enough to get me to choose to be interrogated by a bunch of second-years over a potentially romantic stroll around the lake with someone who won't ask me a bunch of questions.
"Yes", I answered with my best take of a matter-of-fact tone of voice. Adrian and I turned around to leave with Adrian taking charge, but a thought had me pausing. Halting Adrian in the process, I looked over my right shoulder. "Oh", I said to my little brother and company. "Don't actually get stabbed. Trust me. It's not fun".
"Thanks for getting me out of that", I said once the lake came into view. I took a deep breath. The outside air was just as good here as it was at the stone bench I had been sitting on. But for some reason, it tasted sweeter.
"You know, you could've just walked away. You didn't have to answer their questions". Adrian pointed out as we neared the bank of the lake. Soon our steps weren't soundless as we transitioned from soft grass to gritty gravel. "You are bigger than them".
I gave a small shrug. He was right, of course. But that wasn't really the type of rapport I wanted to nurture with Ron. I closed my eyes for a moment and let Adrian lead. It was time to get back to that moment I was having prior to the golden trio's interruption. Only this time I would get to share it with Adrian. On an exhale, I let my muscles lose some of their tension. At this moment, life was good, and I didn't want anything to ruin it.
"So, any idea about what we're supposed to do when walking as a couple?" I asked as I opened my eyes. Just in time to spot one of the giant squid's tentacles disappear back into the depths of the lake. I wonder if the squid is having a good day.
Adrian pressed closer to my side as a pair of Ravenclaw girls passed us on his left; giggling as they gossiped about something. "I thought you would know", he said. "Assuming that your past life had more experience going on dates than mine".
We kept to a slow pace as I took my time in replying; following the shoreline. It was pleasant, listening to the sound of water lapping against the rocky bank. "I suppose, but none of my experiences involved going on walks. Though one of my last life's boyfriends did try to convince me to go camping".
Despite the two Ravenclaw girls being a ways away at this point, Adrian maintained his close presence against my side. I had no complaints. "And how did you avoid camping?" He asked.
"I broke up with him".
Adrian snorted. "Right, I suppose that means we will be limiting our outdoor activities to walking".
I wrinkled my nose as I smiled a little. "Yes, that would be wise". It wasn't that I didn't like the outdoors. I just didn't enjoy mosquito bites or sharing a tent with my sweating, smelly ex-boyfriend. "What about you?" I asked. "What's your dating experience like?"
With my hand resting in the crook of his elbow, I felt it when Adrian briefly tensed. "I'll be able to tell you after our walk is over". He said once he had relaxed again.
"What?" I asked without really needing an answer. "This is your first date? And here I thought Regulus would have had girls chasing after him if you had looked anything like your brother".
"Well, I was a bit busy serving the Dark Lord", Adrian retorted with a smidge of annoyance laced into his tone. His death eater days were always an unpleasant topic. "Besides, which witches I could associate with was a decision left up to Regulus' parents. And they preferred the idea of an arranged marriage". Right. That served as a good reminder that Adrian's first life was drastically different from mine.
We had to duck a little as we walked under the low-hanging branches of an alder tree. "Is that common for purebloods?" I asked once we were both standing at full height again. "For them to be in an arranged marriage?"
"No. At least, not anymore". Adrian answered. "It was rare even during Regulus' time. Now the norm is for a pureblood son to express interest in a girl and his family is supposed to open a dialogue with her family. But that's only when he's thinking about marriage. In this modern-day, we can date without parental involvement as long as we respect each other and don't do anything that would tarnish the other's reputation". Adrian paused as we walked past the halfway mark of the lake. If it were possible, I think we would have walked at an even slower pace if it meant we could extend this moment. It was nice to just be us. The two of us without any pretense or people watching our interactions in judgment. "Reputations aren't as much of a concern for wizards as it is for witches", Adrian continued; giving me a pretty good sense of where this was going.
"I think that's generally true for a lot of things. Not just reputations", I said; both agreeing with him and expanding on his thoughts.
Adrian bobbed his chin down once. "But if a wizard spreads a rumor about a witch or if they both get too forward with each other, then the witch's odds of marrying well is lowered".
I appreciate the fact that Adrian is consciously aware of this inequity in our society. But I was a little confused as to why we were talking about it on our first official date as a couple. "Is this your way of telling me that you don't want to kiss me?" I asked. Although based on the summer we just had, I suspect that to not be the case.
"No", Adrian immediately said; his voice louder than it had been all day. "I was just pointing out how different things are, and… informing you that I won't do anything to give you a bad name". Oh, how sweet. He sounded so earnest. It was refreshing when comparing Adrian to a sweaty, smelly camping guy.
I hugged Adrian's arm. "Thanks", I said. "But don't worry about it. It's not like the Weasley name is very respected in pureblood circles anyway. I'd rather just focus on making us work and not on anyone who is catty and nosy enough to care about how we behave". Though we probably have to take steps to act like two teenagers in a relationship rather than two young adults in a relationship. At least, for our parents' sake. And I really didn't want to have another sex talk with Mum.
"Holly", Adrian said as we almost reached our starting point. For some reason, the lake felt smaller to me than it actually looked. That or time flew by. Adrian stopped walking. He turned to face me so our two shoulders were parallel. Successfully separating our arms in the process, but he didn't break contact. Instead, he took my left hand in his right, and my right hand in his left; after removing it from his pocket. Though he did have to adjust the robe he was holding to make sure it didn't drop into the ground. Oh, boy. This was going to be serious, wasn't it? "With me, you do need to care about reputations and how the pureblood circles work. My family operates in and out of that circle. We play all sides, but it is a delicate balance. One that I want to bring you into". Serious, indeed.
"Adrian", I said, trying to match his tone of voice. "This is way too serious for a first date. All we really have to do is complement each other's physical appearances, mention the weather, and discuss a common interest". Adrian let out a sigh when it became obvious to him that I wasn't on the same page as him. "Planning for the future is more like a one-year-anniversary thing. You know, like we dated for a year and then started to talk about making more adult-like plans. In this life, right now, we're fourteen. Let's just enjoy it". I squeezed his hands in both of mine. And gave him a soft smile. I may have to worry about the impending future; knowing about a war and all. But there was no reason that he couldn't enjoy his second childhood to the fullest.
Locking eyes with me, Adrian leaned forward until our foreheads were touching. "You have a lot to learn", he muttered lowly.
I laughed a little but managed to keep my mouth closed. "I could say the same about you".