I catch Hugo looking at me, straighten my sweater dress, and head over to where he is sitting. Rosie's reassurance that I looked fine at this meetup eased my initial worry of overdressing. I wore a yellow sweater dress with tights and knee-high boots, and I completed the look with a sunflower headband. I have my art bag with me. The grey and drab uniforms bother me, especially because I love wearing bright colors. So, when I can wear my clothing, I like colors. I sit on the couch across from Hugo and cross my legs at my ankle.
"Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine?"
I smile. "What can I say? I'm a color girl."
He smiles. "How are you?"
"Glad it's the weekend. I feel like the week is so slow and the weekend is so fast."
"It doesn't make it easy when you live at school."
I smile. "Agreed. Sometimes I miss home, but then I remind myself I live at a magical school and get to use magic daily."
He sits forward. "Do you come from parents who don't have magic?"
I shake my head. "My mom has magic and when she saw I showed signs of having magic, she sat my dad down to explain what's going on. My mom was a stay-at-home mom for several years, so she only used magic when her and I were together."
"How did she hide she had magic for so many years?"
I shrug my shoulders. "Who knows? She actually went to school here and when she had to pick between Ilvermorny or Hogwarts, she chose Hogwarts."
"Did she go to Hogwarts during the time of Voldemort?"
"Yes, she was too young to join the fight. They took her to a safe place and protected her during the fight. My grandparents allowed her to take a year off and then she returned and finished and moved to the states."
"I can understand that. The Battle of Hogwarts was traumatic. My mum returned to Hogwarts. My dad and uncle chose not to."
I bit my lip. I shouldn't have brought that up. I forgot his uncle Fred died during the battle.
Hugo changes the topic. "Anyway, I have the picture I would like you to draw."
He gets up and sits close to me and my stomach does somersaults at the closeness of Hugo. "This is the picture. Every year on the eve of the Battle of Hogwarts, my family camps out at my grandparents' house. They tell stories of my uncle Fred and of the good times they had despite the trauma."
When I glance at the phone, the way his parents lock eyes with each other gives me the sensation of witnessing an intimate exchange. "It's an absolutely beautiful picture. I would need you to text me. Also, I require half right now and the other half when the portrait is done."
"I can do that and let me get my wallet,"
In a rush, I retrieved my phone from the pocket of my dress, but my nervousness caused me to drop it. My bag that was in between us somehow ended up on the floor as well. As I bent down to grab my phone, Hugo does the same, and we accidentally collided.
I grab my head in pain and Hugo grabs my arm. "Assante, are you okay?"
I move my hand. "Yea and I'm sorry."
"Uh, here's your phone."
"Thank you." I grab it and try not to die of embarrassment.
Hugo picks up my art books, and the book is open to the portrait of him I've been drawing. He looks at it and my cheeks get redder. Of course, it's the one with the surrounding hearts. I grab my bag and grab the book out of his hand and begin stuffing everything in my bag, ready to run.
"If you Grigcash, you can actually send it to me on there. I will get started on the drawing." Without waiting for his response, I ran out of the common room. I keep running until I get to the Ravenclaw common room. In a hurry, I dash to my room, fling myself onto the bed, and sob. I just made a complete fool of myself and now he thinks I'm weird, along with everyone who was in the common room. I sit up and try to catch my breath, but all I think about is how I ruined my chance. He will never want to date a girl who is a clumsy fool. I don't know if I want to even go down to the great hall for food. I stand up and take off my boots go to my dresser get out my earbuds blast my music and hide under the covers.
