Hello You

A few days had passed since what happened in the greenhouse. Aine and George hadn’t really talked about it but it was definitely taking an effect on both of them in its own way. 

They still waved at each other in the hall, but George would always turn the other way while blushing. As she sat in the library she saw some red colored robes out the corner of her eye.

“Hi Neville” she sighs, a little disappointed that it wasn’t George. 

“Hello Aine, got a moment?” He asked and she finally looked up at him fully, nothing Ginny Weasley behind him. Aine tensed a little an uncontrollable reaction to seeing the girl but she couldn’t help it. Since Ginny was 2 years younger than her, she didn’t interact with her at all but sometimes because of what happened she would get nervous. 

Aine understood what had happened and that it really wasn’t Ginny's fault but some part of her brain just couldn’t accept that. It always made her feel incredibly bad because Ginny had also went through something traumatic.

“yeah.. what’s up?” She gave Neville a weak smile but tried to only focus her eyes on him.

“The first Hogsmeade weekend is on Halloween but I’m scheduled for an afternoon shift…I saw you have a morning and I wondered if you wanted to trade?” He asked, sounding not very confident. 

“Oh! Yeah of course I still owe you for taking care of that issue, plus I would wanna be able to change for the feast anyways.” Aine accepted his request, Neville gave her a big smile and thanked her. She waved goodbye to both of them as they left the library, Aine waved back releasing a breath she was holding. 

She continued to study the extensive workbook Corrine had made her, But found herself distracted in her thoughts again. Tonight was the first game of the quidditch season, it was gryffindor vs hufflepuff she believes but she was unsure if she should attend. 

George had asked her but that was before, did he even still want her to come? And she had his sweater! She looked out the window and at the sky.

‘It’s gonna rain too…’

“I have arrived, no need to clap” Jameson threw himself into a chair obviously in a good mood. Corrine was behind him, but slowly grabbing books off the shelves, charming them to land on the table.

“I can’t clap in a library” Aine rolled her eyes shifting her attention back to the workbook

“Snape told me that I have exceeded his expectations and if I keep up! After OWLs I can just jump to NEWT potions!” Jameson ignored her sarcasm and kept chatting about potions. Aine gave him a smile, Jameson really did work hard in potions and she was always happy when he got excited about it.

“That’s great I’m proud of you” she chimed at him causing him to smile harder and open his notes.

“He was quite insufferable on the way here, practically bouncing off the walls” Corrine stated finally joining at the table and Jameson stuck his tongue at her.

They had all started their own work, asking questions in between about work or making small jokes. Aine glanced at the time and started to think about her current dilemma. 

“Can I ask a scenario question?” Aine whispered as Jameson and Corrine looked at her, their eyes signaling for her to go on. 

Explaining the conversation in the gryffindor commons, then what happened in the greenhouse.

“Wait! He kissed you!-“ Jameson hissed. 

“My hand! My hand” She corrected as Corrine’s mouth dropped.

“That’s some pride & prejudice shit” Corrine replied, giving a smile. 

“So we haven’t talked since then like properly, should I still go to the game would that be weird ?” Aine asked, looking at her friends trying to read their faces.

“I mean you said you’d go, I say go! Plus he gave you a sweater I think you should go” Corrine responded thoughtfully knowing George was probably embarrassed.

“Fuckkk that, it’s gonna rain and he hasn't confirmed again so I would assume-“ Jameson was cut off by Corrine shoving him hard. They both glared at each other as Aine spiraled, Corrine reached over and grabbed her hand. 

“Do you want to go? We will come with you for support. Maybe he will see you and won’t feel embarrassed anymore. Boys are dumb” Corrine comforted her.

“We? I hate quidditch” Jameson complained.

“Shut up!” Corrine snapped, causing madam Pince to shush them.

They apologized and began to pack up their bags. The game would be starting in about an hour, so they decided to get some snacks and drop off their stuff.

“If we are going to this game can you give me the draught of peace so I don’t have to be aware of it” Jameson bargained as they reached the end of the hallway. Corrine rolled her eyes at him as she went towards ravenclaw tower, and they turned in the opposite direction to their dorms.

“Do you want me to wait or should I swing back?” Jameson asked as they reached the set of barrels 

“I won’t be long but you can go change. I'll be back down when you come” she answered and entered her common room. Rushing upstairs she threw her bag onto her bed and ran over to the closet, while ripping off her uniform.

Standing in her bra and underwear she looked out the window again and picked up a pair of black leggings, some rain boots and grabbed the sweater George gave her. She held it in her hands, one part of her just wanting to leave it in the dorm and wear her Hufflepuff stuff instead. Aine threw the sweater on the bed and put on something else and then looked in the mirror. 

‘Should I bring a hat?’ She had braided her hair into box braids about 2 days ago and wanted them to last at least a month or so. Sighing she headed toward the door, leaving the dorm before she got the stairs she stopped and turned back to her room.

Entering once again, she picked up George’s sweater again, taking off her other jacket she quickly put it off and ran back to meet Jameson. 

After finding Corrine again, they headed toward the pitch each step filling Aine with anxiety. 

“It’s now or never kid” Corrine encouraged pushing Aine towards the doors leading to the stands. 

“Let’s do never” Jameson groaned as Corrine kicked him again. 

In their spat they didn’t notice the teams coming out of the locker rooms. All the Hufflepuff girls that came to support Cedric had begun to cheer as he walked to the pitch, and then the Gryffindor team came behind him. 

Despite her attempts to hide behind the crowd she was noticed by Connell who ran over to her. 

“Aine! how’d you know I was playing today?” Connell asked as he scurried over. She didn’t but she smiled at him and gave him a high five .Jameson gave him good luck and seemed more excited to watch because Connell would be playing. 

Her eyes wandered over to George, making eye contact she gave him a small smile

-

George Weasley was a coward. After the greenhouse house incident he was too embarrassed, he could only muster Hellos to her. When he had told Fred what happened his brother had laughed at him but ultimately told him that it wasn’t a big deal. It felt like a big deal to him, Fred had more experience with girls because of his on and off relationship with Angelina. 

“I’m telling you, I think it’s funny but girls like that type of romantic stuff it makes you look sensitive” Fred explained in their dorm a few hours earlier as George laid in his bed. 

“Yeah you can ask Alicia she is always reading romance books. Have you asked Aine?” Lee asked while in his own bed.

George groaned into his pillow 

“Have you even talked to her since?” Lee asked, sitting up causing George to groan even louder and Fred to laugh again.

“I don’t even know why I did it. My brain was like her hand is so soft and then I kissed it!” George shouted and got up grabbing his stuff to shower.

“Well she’s coming to the game tonight right?” Fred wondered. George stopped in his tracks and Honestly didn’t have an answer, she was probably out and decided not to come. 

“Well maybe that’s a good thing, it’s the first game of the season. You gotta Be focused” Fred tried to comfort 

“And if she comes, she will see us win and fall totally in love~” Lee joked, causing all 3 of them to laugh. A knock was heard on the door and they directed their attention to Oliver Wood walking in. 

“Hey guys” Oliver rushed out 

“Get out, this is our time!” Fred joked while throwing a pillow at Oliver while he rolled his eyes.

“Just letting you know there’s a change in lineup tonight, Katie got sick so Connells covering for her- so I was wondering if you guys wanted to do one mini practice before the game. The pitch is open!” Oliver pleaded as both Weasleys groaned at him but ultimately agreed 

“great! Thanks lads see you on the pitch in 20?” He asked and they twins eyed him 

“30?” Oliver asked again and the twins just nodded their heads.

George sighed and pulled out his quidditch stuff and started to change he would shower later.

“Well if Connells playin, Aine will probably be there. I know he told Oliver about her coming when he was on the team before” Lee said getting dressed himself, he was just gonna come along to kill time. 

About 40 minutes later the Weasley twins and Lee had slowly made their way to the pitch. They noticed everyone else on the team already on their brooms, Angelina gave them a wave.

“Hey guys” Angelina started flying down to their level as they mounted their brooms

“Angie~” Fred winked at her, causing her to blush and roll her eyes.

George laughed as she flew back up to the sky and they were right behind her. Oliver quickly flew over with the rest team and they decided to do practice run through then rest till the game. 

Everyone nodded getting into position, George and Fred flew around covering the chasers. 

George watched in awe as Connell kept making goals and avoiding bludgers. He knew Connell was a goddam powerhouse when it came to quidditch. He could pick up any position easily and always had a calm head, no one knew why he quit but also it’s not their business.

After Oliver was satisfied with the run through, the team was set free. Fred and George laid on the ground as Connell walked over to them. 

“Weasleys, You did a good job” He commented looking down at them.

“Thanks Connell you were brilliant, it would be great if you had a permanent position” Fred replied sitting up as George nodded. 

“It's not really my passion,” Connell laughed as he looked at Oliver. George noticed that he wasn’t being as cold as he usually was, thinking back to other practices he noticed it did put Connell in a good mood.

“I guess I’m just a really good mate” He sighed and walked into the castle.

“Wanna head to the kitchens and hang there?” George suggested when Lee walked over. Fred and Lee agreed 

-

At the sound of her name and seeing Connell leave Oliver’s side George looked over at her and felt his heart speed up. He looked over at her and saw her wearing the sweater and he had to resist the urge to go over there and talk to her. 

Giving a wave to her smile he felt pathetic 

“She’s not gonna bite Georgie” Fred murmured in his ear as he headed towards the pitch. He noticed Corrine push her in his direction, with Jameson following behind.

“Hi Aine” George said shyly 

“Hi George..” she replied 

“I’m happy you came,” he answered honestly, feeling his face turn hot. Aines eyes widened and she turned towards her friends, shooing them away.

“I promised.. “ Aine began as she moved closer to George. 

He looked over at her again, her hair was beautiful and reached her mid back, she was wearing a hat and his sweater. He stared into her eyes as she grabbed his hand firmly. 

“I wanted to wish you good luck but don’t beat Hufflepuff too bad” she giggled, all he could do was nod. Aine took a breath in and slowly brought his hand to her mouth and gave him a gentle kiss on his knuckles. George held in a soft moan of happiness as he felt his heart beat faster, he felt like he was walking on air.

“Thank you, I’m definitely gonna win  now” George beamed at Aine. He squeezed her hand one more time and headed toward the pitch with a big smile.

Aine sighed in relief and headed toward the stands.