Hello You

Aine and Corrine had DADA scheduled scheduled for first period, the great hall was getting crowded so they decided to head to class early.

“So I'm almost done with the study booklet for you, I just wanna have the new defense teacher look over it” Corrine explained as they got closer to the classroom. Aine was determined to do well on her OWLs next year, and since she unfortunately missed a year that means she’s already behind. Jameson and Corrine had promised their friend that they would help her catch up to their year so she didn’t feel frazzled the next. Corrine was a stellar student, and tutored in Charms and Transfiguration, Jameson was really spectacular at potions and care of magical creatures. 

“Maybe we should wait after class, I feel like it’s his first day, new school… also what if he can’t even comment on your guide because our education has been so.. “ Aine trailed off, not sure how describe the last few years of this subject.

“Don’t worry I’ll do all the talking, and you just give him that beautiful smile and he’ll wanna help us. Besides, don't you wanna spend more time with the only handsome professor in the school?” Corrine teased as they entered the back of the class, noticing Lupin at his desk they edged closer to the front.

Aine nudged Corrine to quiet her and looked away shyly when Lupin noticed them.

“Ah good morning girls! You’re here quite early” Lupin smiled at them from behind the desk. 

“Actually Professor!” Corrine corrected “although we are excited, we had a favor to ask” she finished holding Aine's hand. Lupin gave them an amused eyebrow as if to say go on.

“You see, I’m not sure if you’re aware of what happened last year with all the attacks” Corrine began and Lupin nodded “And our sweet Aine here was one of the poor victims, and because of that she’s behind. Now! I’m not asking for you to take it easy on her but would you mind reviewing my guide? I’m asking all the teachers-“ Corrine pulled out her thick notebook and opened it on his desk “ you can take your time, but it’s from pages 23-62” she finished.

“Of course I don’t mind!” Lupin answered looking at the book and its cover “so can I assume you’re Corrine Knight?” 

“Yes professor” Corrine answered and Lupin turned towards Aine.

“Ah, I'm Aine Murphy.” Aine replied shyly.

“Okay, I'll give it a look over as soon as I can, but class is gonna start soon so take your seats” Lupin responded. Corrine grabbed Aine's hand again and lead her to a seat, pulling out some parchment and her quills she leaned into Aine's ear and said very quietly 

“He’s more handsome up close” causing them to burst into giggles as everyone started to enter.

-

Aines next class was herbology, not only was the class probably her favorite subject but she enjoyed the work. It reminded her of her grandparents' farm, and the summers she used to spend there before her grandfather passed and her grandmother decided to sell it and move somewhere smaller. 

Magical planets or muggle plants, it didn’t matter if you had put in the work and love you’d be successful no matter what. She hoped that there would be room on professor Sprouts Greenhouse Team this year, she heard that after her attack that she was replaced by Neville Longbottom. Apparently he was very good, so Aine couldn’t be too upset but she did miss the greenhouse.

She took in a deep breath, smelling the dirt and plants and took a seat at a random workstation. Jameson was supposed to be in this class so she couldn’t sit in the front like she wanted but she still picked a good seat.

When professor Sprout was in the front of the class that’s when Jameson decided to finally enter the room 

“Alright Aine?” He muttered quietly and she gave a nod as Sprout explained this year's goals. 

They waited until Sprout had explained the agenda, then grabbed their supplies and started the current assignment.

“I take it potions was bad this morning” Aine remarked while mixing potting soil, as Jameson started their observation Parchment.

“Sometimes,” he sighed deeply “Sometimes he’s such a dick and I hate that to get what I want I have to deal with him. But other times watching his technique, it’s like watching an artist and I think maybe he’s so hard on me because he wants me to be as good as him” Jameson explained with a blank face. 

“ You’re one of the best potions student in the school, maybe he’s jealous of you” Aine teased and Jameson rolled his eyes. 

“ I mean, I’d be jealous of me especially since my hair isn’t nearly as greasy as his.” They laughed as they continued to work till the period ended. 

“I’m absolutely starving~ “ Jameson complained as they cleaned their station.

“Ms. Murphy, do you mind chatting with me a bit before lunch?” Sprout called as they were about to walk out. Aine nodded for jameson to go on and turned back into the classroom.

George Weasley was tired after having every teacher this morning stress that it was OWL year for him and that it was gonna be a hard year. He honestly started to zone out after hearing it for the 3rd time, Fred smacked his arm and they headed to lunch. 

After entering the great hall and doing a quick scan for Aine, he realized that she wasn’t there yet. He decided to take a seat at Gryffindor table to wait for her. 

“Not hungry George?” Fred askes pouring himself some pumpkin juice. 

“Ha, not hungry, that's funny” Angelina joked sitting in between them. The great hall started to fill up more but no Aine.

Fred noticed George's disappointed sigh.

“Oh is this about…Aine?” Fred questioned knowing his answer when George turned away feeling embarrassed.

“Were you gonna eat lunch with her?” Lee almost shouted and George glared at him. 

“Well, where is she?” He asked, George shrugged.

“Are you talking about Aine Murphy?” Hermione Granger entered the conversation and George noticed her, his brother and Harry sitting close to them. 

“Yeah, Georgie thinks she’s nice” Fred replied coolly, trying not to put his brother down for already having a crush on the first day. 

“She might be in the greenhouses, that’s where Neville is…” She received a look from George that gave ‘who cares?’

“Aine is one of the greenhouse students. But Neville replaced her after she was attacked last year. Sprouts holding a meeting to give them their work schedules, you probably won’t see her till dinner” rolling her eyes as she explained then turning back to Harry and Ron.

George felt defeated and began to eat his lunch in a sour mood. 

“Well cheer up, isn’t your next class close to the greenhouses?” Fred smirked at him.  George grinned back and started to eat some food, when there was 15 mins left of lunch he decided to head toward the greenhouses.

“Going to class early?” Lee questioned as he walked out with an extra sandwich in his hand.

“Ha, them going to class at all is already hard enough” Ron chided and Fred smacked his head.

Aine felt like the universe loved her! Sprout had basically begged her to come back as if she would say no. She met the other students working this year, she knew some from Hufflepuff but it seemed like she was having a great first day.

She studied her work schedule, 3 shifts per a week and one rotating weekend. 

‘Amazing I can’t wait to tell Ma’ she thought as she excited the greenhouse, noticing the ginger leaning on the wall across from the entrance.

“George?” She gasped, Aine was really not expecting him. She also wasn’t 100 percent sure it was George, maybe it was Fred waiting for class to start. Aine could only tell if he spoke, George had a much softer voice in comparison to Fred in her opinion.

“Hi Aine” Definitely George responded 

“Do you have this class next?” Aine asked leaning on the wall next to him as he shook his head no. 

“Your mates told me you were here and you missed most of lunch so I’d thought I’d bring you a sandwich” George lied but it was better than saying he wanted to run into her. 

“oh gosh you’re so nice!” Aine exclaimed, taking the sandwich from George’s hands gingerly. She looked at his face and felt her heart speed up as she smiled at him. He smiled back and gave an awkward laugh and she noticed how beautiful his eyes were. 

“It’s nothing serious,” he mumbled, putting his hands in his pockets. George looked up toward the ceiling feeling like Aines smile was actually killing him. 

“No, it's brilliant, I have a free period and I thought I was gonna sneak into the kitchen but now I can just go to the lake~ “ she explained “how about you? Would you like to join me? If you have a free period of-course” Aine finished.

George turned his head back down at the girl staring into her big dark eyes and thought who needs the history of magic? And gave her a nod, as she led them to the lake.

When they got to the lake, George noticed the grass was kinda moist from the morning air and laid his cloak on the ground for Aine. She was going to lay hers down too but he stopped her and guided her to sit down.

“Thank you” Aine shyly started “how’s your first day been?” 

“It’s kinda exhausting since it’s 5th year” George complained, leaning on his arms, and looking at the lake. Aine took off her cloak and balled it up, placing it near George for him to lay down on the makeshift pillow. He smiled at her and she did so back.

“How was your summer?” She asked him, pulling out a notebook to start drafting a letter to her mother. 

“It was great, my dad won this trip to Egypt, so we went on a proper vacation” George began telling a story about how he tried to push his older brother into a tomb causing Aine to laugh.

“You and Fred are so free spirited! It’s quite impressive” she cooed. George’s face felt hot again. 

“So you like working in the greenhouse?” George questioned turning to look at her.

“Yes I enjoy that type of stuff, I think if I can’t find a place in the wizard world maybe I’ll just become a farmer” she started “or maybe work in a flower shop haha” 

“You should meet my mum, she's got a great garden” George said, accidentally staring at her thighs for the second time today.

“We barely know each other and you already wanna introduce me to your mother” Aine giggled as George turned red and he sat up.

“Well! maybe in the summer then we’d know each other longer than a day,,” he mumbled the end bit but Aine smiled.

“So.. we are friends? or starting to be?” Aine questioned him because she wanted to know George’s intentions. 

“Aine… I really wanna be your friend, I've been thinking about you since last year, I just wanted to get to know you. Whenever, we’ve talked it was very refreshing” George answered. 

‘What the hell am I saying?’ He was embarrassed. He wondered if any of his brothers had said anything like this to a girl. He looked at Aines face, she looked like she was thinking.

“Wow, I’ve never had someone call me warm before, but I do find your company very refreshing too” she replied shyly.

Truthfully, Aine did not know what to do with that information. Maybe she should ask her mother what that means? 

“We should probably head back in soon” George stated looking at the castle “but we could meet up this weekend if you want?” he blurted out the last bit hoping if he said it fast enough maybe she didn’t actually process it. 

“I have greenhouse work in the morning till lunch… so if you don’t mind eating with me while I’m covered in dirt” she giggled while collecting her stuff. 

“Yeah that’d be great, I mean not you covered in dirt but lunch and then maybe we could hang out in Gryffindor commons or something” he squeaked, giving her cloak back to her. 

“Okay, well see you Saturday George” 

He watched her walk back towards the castle trying to contain his grin.