Chapter 5
In the days leading up the weekend, George had noticed a lot of things about Aine. It seemed like he’d see her everywhere now. They would wave small hellos at breakfast and smile at each other at dinner. He noticed that her hair was styled differently everyday this week, they were cute and she almost always had some sort of interesting hair clip. She rolled her skirt and always wore colorful socks. He noticed that if she were trying to focus, she would enter a daze of some sort - he found that out when we saw her working in a random classroom and scared her. She was really kind but not a pushover, just generally kind towards everyone, even to people that most found annoying.
“-George are you listening?” Fred questioned watching George give a weak wave to the girl across the hall during dinner. Fred groaned and grabbed George's shoulder.
“You can’t be whipped over by some girl you’ve barely known for a week” he complained, mostly annoyed because his brother wasn’t listening to his latest idea.
“I’m not whipped” George muttered, turning his attention to him.
“Well I don’t know it’s only Friday so I suspect by next weekend you’ll be wanting to marry her” Fred rolled his eyes and began again “you know if you’re this distracted during practice tomorrow wood will kill ya”
“Wait practice? When?” George’s eyes widened and didn’t realize that their first one was already so soon.
“Tomorrow 8am” Angelina chimed, giggling at Fred rolling his eyes.
“The first match is soon, Wood wants to win the cup this year” Lee commented as George gave a relieved sigh. He would still be able to spend time with Aine.
On the other side of the great hall, Jameson made a face as if he was fake vomiting noticing George Weasley waving at Aine.
“I have to ask, is there something going on with Weasley?” Jameson groaned, One of the things he liked about being friends with Aine is that she was peaceful to be around. Slytherin politics Is exhausting but being able to spend time with his chill friends was sacred to him. Fred and George Weasley were anything but peaceful, actually in his opinion anyone from the Gryffindor house was the exact opposite of what he looked for in friends. He didn’t really have anything against the Weasley twins but if he started hanging around he’d like to be mentally prepared.
“Ah we are just mates, he’s quite funny yanno” aine smiled reaching for the pepper.
“Funny looking I guess” Jameson bit out noticing Corrine enter, her hair in a lazy ponytail while she had a charms text book in hand.
“Ahh it’s competitive Corrine, already trying to be on top and it’s only Friday, how does she find the wit?” Jameson teased as she seated herself.
“Ahh maybe she’s got nerves of steel” Aine finished.
“I’ve got to stay on top since Hermione Granger is determined to try and top me, she’s a 3rd year for chris sake! She should just let me have this. Did you hear she’s taking 10 classes? 10! “ Corrine ranted starting to scoop some kidney pie on her plate.
“Is it possible to take 10?” Jameson started doing math in his head.
“Dont hurt yourself “ Corrine muttered “maybe it’s just a rumor but I don’t know, but I want straight O’s for OWLs try beating that granger” she smiled to herself thinking she won her imaginary war with Hermione.
“Anyways back to Weasley-“ Jameson started as Aine sighed.
“Oh my gosh I was gonna ask if he was bothering you? He’s always staring at you like a weirdo” Corrine cut in finally allowing herself to relax.
“He is?” Aine didn’t notice that, she had seen him around more but that was really it.
“Who is?” A deep voice asked behind them and they all turned toward it.
“Wochter Connell!” Jameson exclaimed, moving over so he could sit down. Connell sat between Jameson and Aine, putting his arm around her. Aine noticed his hair was in cornrows now and she rolled her eyes.
“Who’d you get to do your hair?” She asked, shaking his arm off.
“Some lass named Katie, Oliver is making me do practice tomorrow even though I’m not even on the team. He's been going mental since it’s his last year” Connell answered “so who’s a weirdo?”
“One of the Weasley twins” Corrine replied, not noticing Aines eyes that were saying ‘don’t tell him! Don’t tell him!’
“They bothering you?” He asked and she sighed, shaking her head no.
“Alright just let me know, I can say something tomorrow” Connell finished.
“Nooo don’t say anything! You’ll embarrass me , what if he thinks I have a crush or something?” She begged, feeling her face get hot as they all looked at her.
“Well… do you” Jameson asked.
“Do I what?” Aine replied.
“Have a crush on him.” Corrine cornered.
“Nooo! I have to be up early tomorrow, I’m heading to bed now” Aine stood up and raced out the great hall, Corrine and Jameson laughed at her exit but Connell just stared at Gryffindor table looking for 2 particular redheads.
-
Aine sighed as she was up at 4am twisting her hair into Bantu knots, looking at her make up bag and then back at her eye bags she decided since she was going to be working all morning it wasn’t a necessity. Silently after deciding her hair was perfect, she put on some industrial tan overalls over her Hufflepuff jumper. Looking around the room, still trying not to wake her roommate with her rummaging, she grabbed her bag and shoved a prewritten letter to her mother in it.
She ran up the stairs to the owlery, skipping every other step. She liked to send the letters early because it would be easier for her parents, her mom has gotten used to the system but it was still weird to see in a muggle town.
“Here you go, be careful on your journey” she whispered to the owl as she stroked his feathers. Watching him fly away she exhaled, waking herself some more and decided to head to the greenhouses.
Unlocking the doors, Aine stepped in and shivered. It was kinda cold, grabbing the checklist from the wall and she decided to check the warming charms on certain sections first.
“Okay Flutterby Bush is okay… we can give him a little trim.” She kneeled as she examined the roots of the plant and shook her head “and you need some more water hold on” aiming her wand at the roots.
“AguamentI” happy with the water she began trimming the plant, time passed slowly as she continued the whole greenhouse and singing to herself.
While doing some cleaning she noticed some oddly placed fencing, revealing a secret potted plant. Picking it up to observe she smelled the overgrown plant.
“Alihosty..” she gasped and quickly placed it back and returned the fencing. Some older Hufflepuff were probably growing it, she had never tried it but she knew Jameson had and he compared it to weed.
Lastly she checked the pots of Asphodel, she picked up one and noticed it was root bound! Looking through the rest she realized they all needed to be repotted. It was almost lunch but she couldn’t just leave this to the next person, she sighed as she started mixing potting soil.
“Uh Aine?” A voice called up to her as she pushed the tub of dirt toward the work station.
“Oh hello Neville!” She smiled at him as he walked closer.
“Ah nasty case of rootbound? Well your shift is up I can take over” he offered putting on some gloves and taking the trowel from her.
“Oh no it’s too much for one person!-“
“Don’t worry I’m here till 6… you’ve been here since early if you have some time you can swing back but I can handle it Aine” Neville comforted her getting to work on the plants. On one hand she didn’t wanna leave him alone but on the other she didn’t wanna cancel on George again so she gave him a big smile and promised to cover a shift if he needed and ran towards the great hall.
George Weasley practically ran off the pitch, once Oliver ended practice, threw his bat in his locker and took off his cloak. As he turned to exit the changing room an arm swung out, pushing into his stomach and stopping him.
“George? Right?” Connell Murphy asked, staring at the younger boy. His eyes were dark, and he had a half amused smile
George was pretty tall for a 15 yr old boy but Connell was still taller and older
“…yes?” He responded unsure of what to say or why he asked him. Connell crossed his arms and continued to stare him down.
“So you’re George.” Connell repeated
“ The one and only” he laughed as Connell nodded and left the locker room.
‘What the fuck’ he wondered, looking at the clock and shook his head.
Entering the great hall he saw Aine seated at the Gryffindor table!
‘She’s looking at me! she’s actually looking at me’ George stood taller, trying to make it seem like he was much calmer than he actually was. Aine smiled at him and he noticed the dark circles under her eyes almost immediately, he wondered how he didn't notice it before. He decided not to say anything and he took a seat .
“Hello Aine” George murmured shyly, she looked really pretty right now.
“Hi George” she beamed “was practice alright? Wood wasn’t too hard?”
“It was good, He's a crazy bloke but I love the game.” He sighed and slid closer to her
‘Just ask her she won’t bite your head off’ George hyped himself up
“The first match is next week actually, are you gonna come?” George asked looking at Aine, her eyes widened
“Do you want me too? I haven’t been to a game since first year” Ain responded feeling embarrassed but she didn’t understand quidditch fully and had only gone to support Connell. Jameson and Corrine don’t care for it either so it was boring to go alone.
“Yes-I mean only if you want too “ he replied coolly suppressing a grin
“Alright I don’t have anything Gryffindor to wear… maybe I should ask Connell” she trailed off her eyes searching for her brother.
“Uhh I have tons of extra, how about you just meet me before the game” George responded thinking of her wearing his sweater and supporting him, the game was vs Slytherin anyways so she had to wear the right colors.
She smiled at him and he felt his chest fill up, they continued to chat and talk. He noticed people starting to leave, and he wanted to talk to her longer.
“Hey we are near Gryffindor commons, do you wanna hang there till dinner?” He asked. They stood up after she nodded, and headed there.
“I’ve never been in here” Aine gasped after George said the password to the portrait. She was amazed it felt like a different castle! The beautiful red and gold tapestry and the cozy couches all scattered around a blazing fireplace.
George guided them to a loveseat, Aine sat crossed legged facing George and he did the same.
“It’s really beautiful here” she continued, looking around as George laughed.
“You look really beautiful- in here like maybe you could’ve been a gryffindor in another life” George stuttered his face turning red.
“That’s funny… what do you think you’d be? In another life?” She asked
“Hmm a daredevil, the ones who do crazy tricks say those traveling shows” George grinned
“Oh man I can totally see you on a motorbike doing the circle of doom” Aine giggled shuffling closer to George hugging a pillow to her chest.
Aine and George talked about almost everything, their parents, their siblings and how different it was growing up. The love they had for Hogwarts, muggle cultures and George and Fred’s dream to open a joke shop.
“That’s amazing! Everyone loves to laugh and you guys are so creative. I remember this prank you guys did when I was in 2nd year- the one where you jinx Professor Snape drink! Jameson and I nearly pissed ourselves” Aine laughed and George tipped an imaginary hat.
Aine had pushed her face into her hands to try and suppress her laughter at another George joke. He gently removed them, holding her by the wrist.
“You’ve got a killer smile “ George smirked at her, feeling more confident towards her.
“Oh my gosh!” She exclaimed and tried to move her wrist but George held onto them firmly causing her to blush a bit.
“I’m serious, seeing you smile is like-“ the common room door opened and Lee Jordan and Fred Weasley walked in. Fred pushed his hands in his pockets, eyeing the scene before him he gave a teasing grin.
“Hello Aine, Hello George”