occurremus iterum

Zinnia was sitting on the edge of her seat, watching the Quidditch World Cup. The game was intense and they had great seats, Top Box with the Malfoy’s. Her mom was trying to build a friendship with her aunt, Narcissa. Igor was invited as he was Viktor Krum’s headmaster and a close friend of the Bulgarian Minister of Magic. She was so pleasantly surprised to see the Weasley family had joined them as well, George made a point to sit next to her. He and Fred were telling her all about their new business endeavor before the game.

Ireland won and George was radiating with excitement, they won a huge bet they made with Ludo Bagman. She was rooting for Bulgaria, but wasn’t a sore loser.

“Meet me later?” George whispered in her ear.

“Where?”

“Just outside your tent, I’ll find you.”

“Sure,” She was intrigued. They had spent the summer writing to each other as she was lonely in her mom’s London apartment. She didn’t go back to NYC this summer and didn’t get to see her friends in Manhattan. Her mom was so busy with work and spent the last month in Bulgaria with Igor. They all met up at the World Cup.

Later that night, Zinnia saw George approaching her tent, she was waiting outside drinking mulled wine.

“There you are, loser!” George shouted at her, he was visibly drunk.

“Hey, that’s not nice.” She teased and he plopped down next to her on the blanket she was sitting on. “I have so much to tell you.”

“Same, I missed you Z,” He looked in her eyes, his own red and blurry. And put his hand on top of hers.

She felt her face burn and stomach flutter. She was always so nervous around him. “I missed you too, G.” She leaned toward his face slightly. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Mhmm,” he nodded and leaned in a little closer.

She moved her mouth to his ear, “You have to promise not to tell anyone, not even Fred.”

“I promise,” his breath was hot on her ear and her neck covered in goosebumps.

“Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year, Igor told me this morning. Durmstrang students are coming, and another school I forgot the name.”

“What the fuck is the Triwizard Tournament?” He whispered back to her.

“I have no fucking clue, but you can’t tell anyone.”

“Can I tell you a secret, Z?”

“Yes,” She giggled back.

A scream erupted from the celebrations, a terrified scream and more joined in. Fires were exploding and wizards were disapperating with loud cracks all over the campsite. George grabbed her and before he could pull her into her tent his father grabbed his arm.

“Back to the tent now, you are responsible for Ginny, Zinnia, get to your mother now!” Arthur Weasley shouted in a panic.

“Be careful Z!” George shouted and let go of her, her mother was already at her side and they side along disapperated back to their London flat. She felt sick to her stomach everything happened so fast.

Igor arrived with a loud crack a second later. “Death Eaters! They are terrorizing the crowd. I have to go, I have to meet with the minister and see who we can catch. Ophelia my love, stay here with Zinnia. Be safe, do not open the door for anyone!” He kissed her mother quickly before disappearing again.

“Mom, what is going on?”

“It’s just a prank, the Death Eaters are all in prison or dead. It’s, it’s nothing I am sure of it. It can’t be.” She was shaking and holding Zinnia in a tight hug.

“What if it was Sirius?”

“He doesn't even have the dark mark, he wouldn't be able to cast it.”

“Cast what?”

“It was nothing Zinnia, you are fine. Sirius is gone into hiding; he won't come back unless he wants to get thrown back into Azkaban. Igor is going to be at Hogwarts this year, he will make sure you’re safe if anything happens. But nothing is going to happen. The Dark Lord is dead.”

“Is that why they are having the tournament? So Igor can chaperone me at Hogwarts all year like you had Snape do last year?”

“No! Honey, I had nothing to do with this. The headmasters want to encourage more culture into your education. It is a good thing, Igor won’t bother you at all. I just will feel more at ease that he is there, just in case.”

***

On the train, Zinnia left her Slytherin friends after catching up. They started to talk about the dark mark and what happened at the World Cup. Zinnia wanted to forget all about it. She wondered the train until she found George’s compartment.

“Hey! I’m so happy to see you are ok,” He said as she squeezed herself into his already full compartment.

“Hey! You too, it’s crowded in here, I just wanted to check in. I’ll see you later.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her down to sit on his lap.

“Don’t be silly, stay.”

Angelina and Fred were making out in the seat next to him and Katie Bell, Alicia Spennet, and Lee Jordan were in a heated discussion about the results of the World Cup scores.

“I’m pretty sick of hearing about the cup. The game was wicked though.” George said to her.

“Yeah, I agree, that’s why I left my compartment. Why don’t we go find a more private one?”

“Lead the way, Black.”

She stood up and pulled his hand to follow her. She couldn’t help herself from smiling when she saw George wink at Lee.

“Everywhere is full,” She groaned. He pulled her into the tiny bathroom stall and picked her up so she was sitting on the sink.

“Ew George, the toilets, really?”

“Shut it, Black.” and he closed his lips onto hers. Her legs wrapped around his hips and she crossed them so there was no gap between them.

This wasn’t technically their first kiss. They shared a long and sweet kiss at the end of last year. She was upset and he flew her up to their tree branch. It was short but meaningful. But so poorly timed. It happened to be the last full day at school and couldn't see each other again until the world cup. They wrote all summer. Flirting and planning what they would do once they were together again. Making out in the toilets was not included. But she didn't care, she just wanted to be with him.

He moaned into her mouth. His hands went from being tangled in her curls down to the small of her back. His tongue explored her mouth. “Mhmm, Zinny you taste like peaches.” He pulled back and attacked her neck.

“Thank you, it’s my lip gloss, ugh George, don’t give me a hickey!” He was sucking hard, his hands wandering to her chest, palming her breasts.

“Sorry, fuck, I waited so long for this.” He breathed and squeezed her tits with both hands. The lights were off in the bathroom but she could see his eyes grow wide as he squeezed. He wrapped his hands back to her waist and kissed her again, bitting her lower lip. Her hands were holding tight on the sink, she didn’t feel sturdy on it as the train bumped along the tracks. She tightened her leg lock around his hips and felt his hard boner press into her center. “Fuck, Zin,” He tried to pull his hips away and she wrapped her arms around his neck so that he couldn’t move.

“George, stay there that feels fucking good.” She whispered, and bucked her hips so that there was more friction on their groins. She pulled his head back down to her lips and ran her hand in his hair. “Your hair is so long, I like it.” She told him and tugged at it.

“Ouch, ugh, fuck me Zinnia.” He was starting to sweat, she could feel the heat coming off of his chest. She removed her hands from his hair and started to unbutton his shirt, eager to explore his bare chest. Keeping their lips locked, he moved to unbutton her shirt too. “Sweet fucking Merlin,” He pulled from her lips and buried his face in her clevage. Kissing, biting, and sucking on the tops of her breasts, and pulled the cups of her bra down so he could pinch at her nipples.

A loud knock on the door, they both froze. “Hello? Is someone in here?”

“Yes! I’m throwing up, motion sickness, go away!” Zinnia shouted back.

“Should I go get help?”

“No! Go away!”

“Fine!” It was Draco Malfoy.

“Fuck George, we have to stop.” She told him and started buttoning up her top.

“Tonight, after dinner, I want you in our spot. Deal?”

“Deal.” She smiled and he helped her jump down from the sink. He kissed her tenderly on the lips and she pushed him out the door. She flipped on the light and cursed.

“Fuck” he left a hickey on her neck and the top of her breast. She buttoned her shirt up all the way and tied her green and silver tie. She did her best to cover her neck with her hair, she would need concealer to cover the hickey.

***

She arrived at their spot after dinner. He had put out a blanket and a few candles on the window ledge and ground.

“How romantic,” She said as she climbed out.

“Hi,” He was sitting on the blanket and patted the spot next to him.

She was too eager, and stood over him, straddling his legs.

“Hi.” She said and then lowered herself onto his lap. He was rock hard. They made out, George held her hips steady on top of him. She started to circle her hips slightly, rocking a little feeling his hard member rub against her clit. She gasped sharply, it felt so good. He moved his hands down her thighs, then back up and reached around to her booty, and squeezed tight.

“Fuck Zinnia, fuck that feels too fucking good.” He moaned through the kisses. He dragged her skirt up slightly and put his hands over her bare ass cheeks. “Fuck you’re not wearing any knickers?” He hissed and dug in his fingertips, kneading her ass like dough.

“I am so fucking wet George, I soaked right through them on the way here. I tossed them out.” She moved her mouth to his neck and her grinding was more desperate. He rolled on top of her, the motion put out half the candles.

“Can I feel?” he whispered in her ear. She nodded and put his hand under her skirt. She wasn’t lying. “Shit, sweetheart you are dripping.” He used his pointer and middle finger to circle her center and felt her buck when he hit her clit. “Right there, doll? Is that that spot you like?”

“Mmmm, fuck George, yes.” She was grinding her hips against his hand and he was placing soft kisses on her neck, his tongue circling the hickey he left there earlier.

“Tell me if you want me to stop, love.” he added as he slipped one long finger into her cunt, she felt her walls squeezing around it. “Fuck you are so tight.”

“Keep going, slow.” Her breath was hitched and she pulled his face to hers to kiss. He moved his finger in and out slowly and after about a minute added a second. She moaned in the back of her throat. She was stretching around his fingers. She remembered the one time Miles had tried to finger her, she wasn’t warm or wet. It was awkward and dry, she smacked him in the face and he apologized to her for weeks until she forgave him. She had no idea it could feel like this. George's thumb found her clit again and he rubbed on it hard, curled his fingers inside of her and she felt her stomach tighten like she was looking over the top of the Astronomy tower. She was gasping for breath and her hands curled to fists in his hair. “Fuck George, what,”

“Let it go Z, come for me.” He growled, low in her ear. She crumpled under his hand, arching her back and biting her lip to keep from screaming out. It was too much, it was amazing, she was shuddering after about 15 seconds and had to push his hand away. She could feel her pulse through her inner walls beating fast.

“Ugh, holy shit.” She took a deep breath and realized she was digging fingernails into his forearm. She let go. “Oh my god, oh my god. Holy fuck, what did you do to me?”

She knew exactly what he did and she wanted him to do it again and again and again until she couldn’t walk.

“I think I just finger fucked you into oblivion.” He chuckled softly, he was looking down at her, perched up on his elbow. “Fuck, I didn’t think you could get more gorgeous, until I saw your ‘O’ face. I want to commit it to memory.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“I just, it’s never been like that. I didn’t know it could be like that.”

“Stop it, like you’re so inexperienced. You knew exactly what you were doing on the train today.”

“No honestly George. I have never, ever felt that. With anyone. Not even alone.”

“Seriously? Not even Miles?”

“No, I didn’t even know I could get that wet.”

“Well consider me fucking honored.” He sat up and straightened his shirt.

“Come here, let me return the favor,” She pulled on his arm.

“I um, I already kind of,” He shifted his seat and pulled at his pants.

“Oh.”

“Stop, I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t be!” She sat up and pulled her skirt back down. “I’m flattered.” She leaned against his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around hers.

“Zinnia, will you please be my girlfriend? Be an item with me?”

“Yes George, you’re mine.”

He hugged her into his chest.

***

Friday night came and the Slytherins threw their usual back to school party in their dorms. This year was bound to be epic, with new students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons.

“The boys from Durmstrang are so fit, Zinnia, please introduce me to Viktor Krum.” Lyla asked her as they shared a bottle of wine and tried on what outfit they were going to wear.

“He’s such a blockhead, really Lyla?”

“What?! He is hot, and he’s a champion. Come on, just an introduction.”

“Fine, but I personally think Cedric is hotter than Krum.”

“We obviously have different types, Ms. 'Weasley’s arm candy'.”

“Oh whatever, if a guy made you feel the way George made me feel on Sunday, you would agree to date them too.”

“Alright, I’ve only heard the dirty details a million times from you already.” Lyla rolled her eyes.

“Now don’t go telling anyone, I want that man and his hands all to myself.”

“I won’t, I told you! Just talk me up to Krum, or literally any of the other Durmstrang boys, I’m already over what Hogwarts has to offer.”

“You still haven’t even given Theo the time of day!”

“He is a little slut! I heard he made out with three Ravenclaw girls in the same week, and now they all hate each other.”

“Only means he has more experience and is probably a great kisser. You know who else is a great kisser,”

“George, or so I’ve heard. Countless times.”

“Sorry, you look hot Lyla. I wish I had your tits.” She grabbed Lyla’s boobs, lifting them up and letting them bounce down back in place.

“You freak, just manifest them, that’s what I did!”

“I know, you are so much better at it then I am.”

“You manifested a boyfriend who made you cum just by using his right hand. I think you can manifest at least a c cup.”

“I did not manifest George, it just happened.”

“Whatever, you are hot too Z. And you may not have manifested him, but you deserve him. You deserve an epic love story.” She told her. “Come on, I hear people downstairs!”

They hit the dance floor and Miles brought over shots, “Let’s toast to Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang!” they took three shots and Miles danced with a hot brunette from Beauxbatons. “I don’t even care they cancelled Quidditch this year, I fucking love French women.”

Fred and George arrived, with a few other Gryffindors. Zinnia ran to George and jumped into his arms. He caught her and picked her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist, kissing him.

“Hello doll.” He said as he gently placed her down to her feet.

“Hi Georgie, hi Fred! Hi Ron! Hermione! Where’s Harry?” She asked

“He and the other champions all had to go to their champion duties as champions do or whatever.” Ron grumbled. “Where’s the alcohol?”

“Over here! Let’s take shots!”

“Maybe slow down a bit, love?” George whispered in her ear as she led them over to the desk that they turned into a bar.

“Maybe catchup, love?” She said back and handed him a shot of vodka.

“Fair enough, to you,” and he downed the shot.

The rest of the Gryffindor group made some drinks and Zinnia convinced George to take three more shots and made him a drink to sip on.

“OK, ok this is the last one I swear, I just want you to have fun. She encouraged him, handing him a fifth shot.

“Are you trying to kill me, woman?” He coughed it down, “Ok I’m done, come dance with me.”

They danced for two songs and Blaise switched it to a slow song. George pulled her in close and swayed back and forth.

“This vodka is doing its job, I am wasted.” He told her. His hands were trailing down her back and he rested them firmly on her backside.

“Want to get out of here?” she asked him.

“Always.”

They ended up at their spot, George learned silencing and disillusioned charms so that their chances of getting caught there, especially out of bed, were lowered.

“Ok, we should be good.” He sat down next to her. They had really made this spot their own, throughout the week they had added more blankets, some pillows, and more candles.

“Thank you, George, can I just tell you, I am so happy you didn’t get chosen as champion.”

“I am relieved. It would have taken up so much time. Time away from you, and even away from mine and Fred’s experiments for the shop. It worked out for the best, I’d say.”

“Everything happens for a reason.”

“Exactly,” He agreed and kissed the top of her head, she was resting her head on his shoulder.

She felt safe there with him. Under the moon and stars, his arm around her. They spent time there with each other every night this week. Sometimes just sitting, or making out, or catching each other up on their days. They talked a lot about the Triwizard Tournament. Zinnia told him about Igor the night the dark mark appeared in the sky at the World Cup.

“I brought some weed, if you want to smoke at all.” He told her.

“Maybe later, I have something else in mind.” She told him, trailing her hand up his thigh.

“Come here,” He pulled her chin up to his and kissed her. They had kissed so much in the last week that he knew what she liked. Slow and passionate, a little tongue and a little lip biting always made her squirm. She was in his lap now, his hands up her dress, she was wearing panties this time. He pulled at them, they felt lacy, and kneaded her butt cheeks. He hadn’t explored her anymore since their first night back. He didn’t realize until then that she wasn’t as experienced as she was rumored to be. Miles bragging about making her scream when they played quidditch last year was clearly a petty rumor trying to throw George off his game.

He tasted like cherry vodka, the shots she made him take earlier, and slightly like peppermint toothpaste. She was grinding her hips against him like she did the first night and could feel his boner growing beneath her. As much as she wanted to cum again, she also wanted to explore him. She was wearing a short black dress, black lace panties and decided to skip the bra. He shifted her so that he was on top of her, kissing her neck and his hands moved down to her inner thighs.

“Wait,” she breathed and sat up. He jumped back a bit to give her space.

“Sorry, too much?”

“No, I want you.” She reached for his belt buckle and struggled.

“Z, let me take care of you first,” He crawled on his hands and knees toward her, reaching for her thigh.

“Stop, take your pants off George.” She stopped him with her black stiletto on his chest. He grabbed her ankle and kissed her calf, then reached under her knee and pulled her leg around him.

“It’s cute that you think you are in charge, Miss Black.” He pulled her closer and down to the ground again.

She gave in, how could she not? He was on top of her and had her knee is his hand still, trailing up her thigh to reach her center.

“Mmmm, such a good girl, always wet for me.” He growled in her ear, kissing her neck and pushing her thong to the side. He slipped two fingers inside her, faster than the first time. But she was so wet and slippery, she adjusted to it quickly.

“UUgghh, George, please,” She started through her quickening breath.

“Please, what? Use your words doll.” He said stopping the movement of his fingers.

“Please don’t stop! Please.” She begged, bucking her hips against his hand for friction and pulling on his arm.

He quickened the pace and his thumb found her clit. “That’s a good girl. Are you going to cum all over my fingers again?” He could feel her body tensing and her walls throbbing.

“Fuck! Yes! Fuck, fuck, yes, yes, uuugghhh.” She shivered and when his fingers slipped out she felt so empty. He put three fingers into his mouth and sucked.

“Merlin, how do you taste so fucking sweet?” He kissed her hard and she could taste herself on his tongue. She was motivated now.

She rolled him so he was under her, her panties were soaking wet and she could feel he was still hard under her, he didn’t cum prematurely this time. She reached and his belt was already undone.

“Such a good boy for me Georgie, you get all hard and ready for me?” She asked him, sliding her hand over his hard cock. It was big. Bigger than Miles.

“Fuck, Zin.” He hissed through his teeth.

“I. Want. Your. Cock. In. My. Mouth. Now.” she said in between kisses down his chest. She pulled his pants and boxers down low enough so that his dick slapped onto his stomach. It was huge. She licked it from the base to the tip and took the tip into her mouth. Sucking the precum off, she looked up to his eyes.

“This is a prettier sight than your ‘O’ face that is official.” she took him out and smiled, holding his cock with both hands. Merlin, he was huge. He gathered her hair back and held it there, urging her to put it back in her mouth. She wasn’t going to please him that fast. She kissed the tip and circled it with her tongue. “Fuuuuuck, Zinnia.” She looked up at him again and took him in as deeply as she could, not breaking eye contact. Bobbing up and down, her eyes started to welt up with tears. She didn’t care about looking pretty or proper, she was so horny for him. She was sucking and slobbering all over his dick, she let him lift his hips and fuck her face, he held her head still with his grip on her hair. He tried to pull out of her to cum but she took him deeper and gripped the sides of his hips. She felt his warm load hit the back of her throat and she swallowed it all down. He basically pulled her off of him and laid her on his chest. His heart was pounding so hard.

“That was, that was, I don’t even know what to say. Fucking amazing.” His breathing was heavy and voice was rough.

“You’re welcome.”

***

The Triwizard Tournament was the perfect distraction for the students and staff. George and Zinnia could sneak off so often.

It was the first challenge, George had snuck Zinnia away and into his dorm.

“This is fucking perfect, I only wanted to watch Harry, and if we don’t make it back down by then I don’t even care.” George said as he fumbled with the buttons on Zinnia’s shirt.

She was pulling him towards her by his tie, sitting up on the desk in the Gryffindor common room.

“Shit, can I just rip this off?” He was struggling.

“George, chill. Honestly, we could just fuck right here, no one is going to come in.” She said looking around the common room. It was stuffy and nothing like the Slytherin common room.

“Shit, no we should go up to my dorm. You never know. Fuck these buttons.” He threw her over his shoulder and ran up the stairs.

“Ah! George, a little warning would be nice!” He flopped her down on his bed.

“Warning, I’m about to eat your pussy till you cry.” He gave her a grin and was on his knees at the foot of his bed. He dragged her hips down to the edge and buried his face, pushed her thong to the side and slid his tongue in between her folds. “Hmmmmm. I missed you.” His mumble vibrated on her clit and her hand went to his hair. “Take this off,” He pulled on her shirt and then move his hand to finger her while his tongue zig zagged on her clit.

She removed her top. Biting down on her lip to hold back a moan.

“This too,” He pulled on her bra.

“Fine, uuggh George that's the spot, fuck.” She shuddered and removed her bra. His one hand stayed rubbing her g-spot and the other flew to her boobs, kneading and squeezing, then pinching her nipple hard. He did it at the same time and rhythm as his finger on her spot. Then nibbled down on her clit with his teeth. “Fuck! George!” She screamed and her back arched. The hand on her tit pushed her stomach back down so her arching fought against his pressure. She was screaming and found a pillow to muffle her screams. He wasn’t letting go of his hold on her, staying in perfect rhythm. Her walls were throbbing and convulsing. She felt the orgasm building higher than it ever has before. Maybe because they were in a bed and not on the floor, risking getting caught at any moment. But it was bubbling, he pulled out his fingers and rubbed on her clit back and forth hard. He let her arch her back fully and she let go of the build up, squirting her juices all over his dorm. He kept the pressure on her clit and the cum was shooting out all over, dripping down his arm. She had tears in her eyes.

“I fucking knew it! I knew you could squirt. Fuck you are so fucking hot.” George exclaimed and kissed her hard, she was catching her breath.

“Holy shit, I did not know I could do that. Fuck it’s a mess in here.”

George waived his wand and cleared it all up. “Don’t ever worry about that love.”

“Wait, come here, I want you. I want all of you.”

“Zinnia, whatever you want you can have.” He laid down next to her and stroked her hair.

“I want to to fuck me, now.” She was pumped full of adrenaline and so horny.

“Your wish is my command.” He stood up and removed his clothes. A loud cheer came from the grounds outside the window. “Shit must be going down out there.” He glanced over at the window.

“We can wait, and go down to watch the rest of the trials, we can come back up another time.”

“No, no, I want you Z. Plus they all seem very entertained, we have no chance of any interruptions.” He was watching her as he stroked his dick and she licked her lips.

She bent over and took him in her mouth.

“Shit Z, you’re gonna make me cum too soon. Lay down.” She obeyed. He hovered over her and kissed her deeply. His hand wandered to her center and she was wet and warm still from his efforts earlier. “You tell me if I need to stop ok?”

“Ok,” she whispered and crossed her legs around his hips, pulling him closer to her. His tip was at her entrance and he slowly but firmly pressed in deeper. “Mhmm, ah, ah. It’s ok, keep going.” Her walls were stretching to fit him all in. She dug her fingernails into his back.

“Fuck, you are so tight, just breath.” He told her and lifted her right leg up so he could stretch her hips open wider. That angle opened her up easily, and he was pumping into her at a steady pace. “Oh my god Zinnia, fuck you feel so good, I’m sorry, I’m not gonna last long.” He moaned in her ear.

The feeling of his full hard dick inside her was euphoric. He pushed in and out and pulled her leg up onto his shoulder. He was on her g-spot and his tip was stretching so far back inside of her another orgasm was brewing deep in her stomach.

“George, don’t stop, please. Holy shit, I love you. Fuck!” She groaned and felt herself crumple and shudder under him.

“I fucking love you, Zinnia.” He closed his hand around her throat and looked into her eyes while she came and he came quickly after, riding her until she was finished. He let go of her leg and her throat and collapsed his full body weight on top of her.

“Wow. wow.” She said, her breath shaky. He rolled off of her and his dick slid out of her, she felt so empty.

“Wow.” He agreed.

“I need to shower.”

“Same.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

***

They made it back down to see Harry’s trial with a fucking dragon. It was epic.

The Gryffindors threw a huge party that night, but were being assholes about who was allowed in.

“It doesn’t matter if she’s in Slytherin, she’s my girlfriend. Fuck off.” George shouted at the seventh year Gryffindor that insisted the guest list stay small. “Fucking tosser. Sorry about that love, let's get a drink.”

She never saw George angry, it was hot. He pulled her under his arm and they grabbed butterbeers. The Gryffindor’s parties were not like Slytherins. There was no open bar with liquor flowing, no DJ, no flashing lights or giant bongs filling the room with smoke. It was craziest when Harry came in, the guys lifted him on their shoulders cheering and chanting a Gryffindor Song. Once the testosterone settled down, George and Fred were talking to Lee and Zinnia sat down to chat with Ginny.

“Is it always like this?”

“Nah, only after we beat your Slytherin ass in Quidditch.” Ginny joked to her.

“Nice haha. So any red flags I need to know about your brother?”

“George? Literally none. He is madly in love with you, he has been since the day he met you.”

“Yeah right, that I doubt. I treated him like shit for years. And he teased me relentlessly.”

“He loved it. He was just happy you recognized that he existed.”

George made eye contact and smiled at Zinnia from across the room. “Well I am very happy that he does exist.” she replied to Ginny but kept her stare with George.

He walked over to them and bent down to kiss Zinnia.

“Oh gross, that’s my cue.” Ginny said and George took her place on the couch. He continued to snog Zinnia. He tasted like butterbeer and peppermint.

“Want to come upstairs? My bed misses you.” He whispered in her ear.

“Let’s get out of here.” And she held his hand as he led her up to his dorm. George put a silencing charm around his bed and gave her his Quidditch jersey to wear to sleep in. They made out in his bed. She was exhausted and the butterbeer was making her more tired.

“Mmm, ok” She pulled away. “I’m tired.” And she turned over so he was spooning her.

He settled his arm around her waist and pulled her body up against his.

“Goodnight, I love you.” He mumbled into her hair.

***

The Yule Ball was all anyone would talk about. Zinnia was excited to get dressed up and spend the night dancing with George like they were in a fairytale. Lyla, was a wreck on the other hand. Anxious about if she was going to get asked or not.

"You should just ask him Lyla! Why do we still think boys have to be the one to make the first move?" Zinnia asked Lyla on their way to their next class.

"That's easy for you to say! And what if he rejects me? I would be mortified!" Lyla replied.

"Kind of like how you rejected Adrian?"

"That's different, he said only as friends because he and Roger are not ready to come out yet." Lyla added in a whisper.

"What do you mean?"

"Shit, you didn't hear that. Zinnia please promise you won't say anything" Lyla stopped and grabbed her friend's arm. "I am such a bad friend, Adrian told me that in secret and I - it just came out. Please don't tell anyone."

"Lyla, I would never. I can't believe he didn't tell me." Zinnia said, feeling a little hurt that one of her closest friends didn't let her in on a secret.

"It's just that you have been spending a lot of time with the lions, you sit with George in almost any class you have with him, spend basically every evening with the twins in their common room or at the library. Adrian and I have just gotten closer."

"I'm sorry I didn't realize. I feel like I am being a shitty friend. I know I have been spending so much time with them."

"It's ok Z, it's made you a lot nicer. You even let a first year take your seat at dinner the other night without hexing her!" Lyla laughed and the continued to walk towards the Divination classroom and ascending the ladder.

Zinnia chewed on her friend's last comment, 'it's made you a lot nicer.' Was she normally mean? She knew she could be brass and she often was told she needed to adjust her attitude, she also remembered a time when she made fun of a weird girl's name and it happened to stick as a cruel nickname that most people called her. But she never meant to be hurtful, she was just too honest and spoke without thinking sometimes. Growing up in New York City had that effect, you drop the bullshit pleasantries and get straight to the point. She always found British people to be too polite and thought it was a waste of time.

Lyla and Zinnia always sat together in this class (probably because George wasn't in it). They were learning Tarot and today was Lyla's turn to read Zinnia's cards. Last week, Zinnia read Lyla's it was full of heartbreak (The Three of Swords) then failure and loss (The Five of Pentacles) and finally The Hermit, which meant well a time of isolation and solitude. Needless to say, Lyla had been a wreck that her dreams of going to the ball with her longtime on again off again crush Cassius was doomed.

For Zinnia's turn this week, Lyla began to shuffle the deck and four cards jumped out into a formation on the table cloth.

"Right, so urm, it looks like five of cups - you will struggle to let go of things in history and it will cause you to become emotionally walled off and unavailable." Lyla said and looked up at her friend with a worried look and went on to the next. "Then two of swords, you are in your head. See how the figure has their arms crossed over their heart chakra?" Lyla asked, pointing at the card. "Showing you are not open. Then here is Temperance! Which I think is a good one, but wait it's revered." Lyla checked her textbook, frowning. "Oh yeah ok, it says here,
'Temperance reversed indicates that you are psychologically out of harmony. You could think you've cut off communication with your spirit guides or inner direction. This is also a sign of a mental, physical, and spiritual imbalance. You can think about doing meditation and energy work to rebalance yourself.' I mean it could be worse right? Ok last one The Star, that one has to be good. Yes! Healing, restoring of health and balance, you must have done your meditation, and here too it says wishes are fulfilled!"

Zinnia looked over the cards and the notes that she scratched in her notebook as Lyla had read out the meaning of the cards. It was a lot to digest. "Wow so what I need to be more open? The heart chakra thing do you think that's about George? Am I being too emotionally unavailable or will I become that way?" She thought out loud.

"Oh Miss. Black, this is a very interesting spread my dear." Professor Trelawnely was hovering over their table and looked up at Zinnia's forehead, gentling caressing the back of her head. "And please dear, do mind your head." The Professor quickly removed her hand from her head and readjusted her large thick glasses, she looked at Zinnia with so much pity and worry in her eyes before gliding over to the next table.

Zinnia felt her stomach drop and looked at Lyla. "Now I get why you were so stressed from your reading last week. Does she always have to be so foreboding?"

The bell chimed and the girls head to the Great Hall for lunch, forgetting all about the Divination class. A few minutes before lunch, Professor McGonagall was at the podium to make an announcement.

"Students! Fourth years and up who will be attending the Yule Ball are to report to their houses common rooms during their afternoon free period! Please keep in mind if you are not in attendance today in respective common room, you will not be permitted to attend the dance. That is all." She said, then stepped off the podium.

Zinnia looked at Lyla, "Wonder what that's about. I remember in America, we had a 5th grade Spring Fling and we had to have lecture of the dress code the day before."

"Yeah that makes sense, speaking of are you coming to Hogsmeade with us Saturday to pick up our dresses?" Lyla asked as they packed up to head to their common room as this was the start of their afternoon free period.

"Sure I'll come! But my mom is sending my dress here she's making it custom! I sent her a few sketches the other night."

"Ugh I am so jealous I wish my mum was a fashion designer, or even somewhat fashionable. All she cares about it modesty and practicality." Lyla said rolling her eyes at the though of her buttoned up pureblood mother.

"I am sure I can add a little spice to your gown when it gets here." Zinnia added with a wink. She had started more and more to practice her sketches and create her own designs using whatever scrap materials she could find around the castle or purchase in the village. She enjoyed flexing her creative muscles, she was spending so many evenings with Fred and George, listening to them brainstorm new products and helping them design their packaging and logos. It was fun to put time and effort into something that wasn't cramming for an exam. And Fred and George had so much more free time this year with Quidditch being cancelled.

They got to their common room and joined Miles, Cassius and Adrian on the large leather sofa, waiting for the rest of the students who were in their free period to arrive.

"So Miles, did you finally ask that Beaubaxtons bunny to the dance?" Cassius asked Miles with a shove on the shoulder.

"I did, I reckon she said 'oui'' Miles told his friend with a laugh.

"Cassius who are you asking?" Zinnia asked and before Cassius could answer, Professor Snape barged into the common room and all the student rose to their feet.

"I expect that I will not have to worry that the students in my house will not make a mockery of this school or this house next weekend?" Snape asked and the students all nodded their heads.

"Excellent. This is a traditional ball that Hogwarts is hosting. Therefore," Snape started, as he waved his wand moving the furniture clear out of the way to open up the floor space. A house elf had arrived with a large record player and gramophone. Zinnia rolled her eyes at the sigh of that ancient hunk of junk. She loved muggle technology and missed her CD stereo that was back at home and her walkman. "There will be dancing." Snape concluded as the record began to play a classical tune.

"Partner up, boy- girl boy-girl." Zinnia couldn't help but notice that Snape seemed to look and hold the stare on Adrian as he said the instructions. "Dancing is a skill that I am sure many of your families have taught you from a young age. I will not allow the wizards from Slytherin to be stomping around, off rhythm, or groping," He shot his gaze to Miles, "the brilliant young witches at this dance. Gentleman, hands on the small of your witch's backs and ladies, hands on the shoulder of your wizard."

Zinnia was relieved that she had chosen to run right up to Adrian as they started to begin the dance class. She did not want Mile's touching her waist ever again. It also was a perfect excuse for Lyla to practice with Cassius. She hoped that it would bring them closer and he would finally just ask her to the damned dance already.

Most of the Slytherins did in fact know how to waltz, Viennese waltz, and then some. It turned out most of this house was pureblood and had years of proper training in all things posh. The lesson did not last long and then Snape went on warning the sixth and seventh years to again "Keep their hands and other body parts to themselves" And just in case their teenage hormones took over their "small and undeveloped brains" he taught them all a quick contraceptive spell and Zinnia felt like his eyes were bearing into her sole like he knew she had used it plenty of time this year.

Finally the torture was over and the sixth years were heading to their next class, which happened to be Potions, with the Gryffindors. Zinnia sat down next to George and started to unpack her books and supplies from her bag.

"So I am dying to know, did you dance with Snape? Ron had to demonstrate with McGonagall, it was hilarious I wish I had a camera. His face was redder than his hair!" George told her as Snape walked to the front of the classroom.

Zinnia didn't respond and George didn't expect her to. Snape was the one professor that Zinnia respected the most at Hogwarts and it was clear that she would not speak or goof off with George or anyone during his class. In any other class she took with George she didn't care, they would pass notes, tease each other under the desk or just skip it all together and smoke in their spot. Zinnia was starting to care less and less about her grades and more and more about her sketches and her part in George and Fred's prank business. She didn't really see any value in graduating school just that she was "supposed to." She really only enjoyed Snape's classes because the more she learned about potions and ingredients the better she could get at her hair and makeup and so forth.

She also had so much respect for Professor Snape. He was stern but fair, a genius but able to break things down and teach them in a way that made sense to her. Trelawney was too irrelevant, McGonagall was too smart to dumb down basics, Sprout was too nice, and Binns was too boring. George also had picked up this respect for Snape this year as he sat with Zinnia and he was basically forced to pay attention next to her. It turned out paying attention in Potions class helped with Fred and his snack boxes. He learned loads and would sometimes even some later after classes ended to attend office hours with Snape one on one to review some theories.

After Potions, Zinnia told George all about the dance lesson from Snape as they walked hand-in-hand to Herbology.

"No way he taught that spell! He is the man." George said and Zinnia smiled.

"I respect it really, I mean my mom got pregnant with me at 17, she said she had no idea how to safely prevent it and by the time she found out she was pregnant, she was too afraid to ask for help because she thought she would get in trouble. Teenagers are going to have sex, and drink, and do drugs, and a lot of other stupid things especially when the adults tell us not to. So good for Snape for telling us how to be safe."

"I agree, so do you, um, speaking of, that spell you know?" George asked her a little quieter as the were entering the greenhouse.

"Do I use the contraceptive spell when we have sex? Yes George I do. My mom made sure I learned it the day I got my first period." Zinnia said a little louder so that some other students glanced in their direction.

"Gottcha, nice. Well that is good to know." George said, his face turning pink ever so slightly.

***

The morning of the dance, the school was buzzing with excitement. It was a Saturday and Zinnia always had breakfast with George at the Gryffindor table on Saturdays.

"I don't see what the big deal is the dance isn't for nearly ten hours!" Ginny, George's little sister told Zinnia.

"I have to completely alter Lyla's dress, help you and Hermione with your hair and not to mention do my own and all of our makeup. We need all the hours we can get, you're lucky I am letting you eat breakfast at all." Zinnia replied, looking worryingly at Hermione's bushy curls. "And what did you do to your nail polish?! Ginerva, I just did those last night!" Zinnia grabber her hand inspecting the clipped and chewed fingernails.

Ginny snapped her hand away. "I know I know I'm sorry I didn't mean to."

"That's ok, I know a quick charm to fix them but I have to double check my book. And you, both of you," Zinnia started pointing her finger at the twins. Showered and dressed by 6:45 at the absolute latest."

"The ball doesn't even start until 7!" Fred argued.

"She's right, Fred. You have a habit of waiting until last minute. I will not be late to this I am going to get my hair braided for the next five hours and I will not miss one minute of this dance because you can't find you left shoe." Angelina said. "Oh and Z if you can send me that nail charm, I broke this one yesterday on my broom." Angelina added showing her pinky nail.

"No! What is with you lot and your Quidditch? It's cancelled why are you practicing at all it's not safe for you, especially you, Ginerva." Zinnia shook her head at the Gryffindor girls.

"Give them a break Z, they didn't mean to ruin the manicures you gave them. Plus Ginny is looking great on the broom, I bet she makes chaser next year." George said.

Zinnia rolled her eyes and looked at George. "Your little sister should not be playing Quidditch, especially for the team. It's too violent, she could get hurt."

"You don't seem to think Angelina shouldn't play, she's a girl." George said looking over as Angelina was showing her broken nail to Fred as he kissed it.

"Angelina is different. She's older, Ginny is. She is just." Zinnia thought back to when the blood was written on the walls, alerting the school that a witch was taken to be sacrificed. The moment she heard it was George's youngest and only sister her heart had broken into two. She would have nightmares about Ginny's dead corpse hanging like Mrs. Norris's was, or or Ginny being swallowed whole by a large serpent. "She's just too young."

"She will be fine." George gave his girlfriend a soft kiss on the head and put his arm over her shoulder, squeezing it firmly.

Zinnia pushed the morbid imagery of a dead Ginerva Weasley out of her brain and finished up breakfast, leaving the group to head to her dorm and finish the final alterations on Lyla's dress.

Lyla's mother had ordered her a beautiful deep emerald green gown that complemented her daughter's jet black long hair. To say it was modest was an understatement. It was long sleeved, not form fitting and the neckline went above her collarbone. Zinnia tore the whole thing apart last weekend when they picked up from the shop in Hogsmeade. Lyla requested her help to reinvent the gown to look more 'Her'. Zinnia removed one sleeve, cut out the back so it swooped low and brought in the waist to show off her hourglass figure. They agreed to keep the high neckline as Lyla's cleavage would have been too inappropriate for the occasion. Finally Zinnia was letting her best friend borrow a long silver necklace that they styled backwards so the moonstone pendant was on her bare back, and a pair of matching earrings.

Zinnia's dress from her mother was quite the opposite of understated. It was strapless in black velvet with a deep cut v neckline and even more revealing high slit to show off her legs. She added matching elbow length gloves and her mother had sent one of her great grandmother's diamond chokers from her father's side.

Zinnia finally finished the adjustments to Lyla's dress as Ginny and Hermione entered her dorm.

"Thanks again Zinnia, for agreeing to do my hair. I know it's bushy I never really know what to do with it all." Hermione said as she twirled her finger in her mane.

"That's ok Granger, here you go jump in the shower and wash with this shampoo and then let this conditioner sit for at lease 15 minutes before you rinse. And don’t be stingy you can use the whole bottle." Zinnia ordered her.

"What shall I do boss?" Ginny asked in a teasing tone.

"You sit right here and let me do your hair. Where is your dress? I thought I told you to bring it over so I can fix the zipper?"

"Oh yeah I forgot, I can go grab it!"

"No sit, I'll send someone else for it. Why this school doesn't allow paging devices is beyond me. I got one this summer and my mom and I message each other all day." Zinnia was brushing through Ginny's firey red hair, pulling with every knot.

"Ouch! that hurts, what is a paging device?" Ginny asked.

"Does your dad not know? It's a muggle invention, they just developed a new model. Here." Zinnia grabbed her pager from under her pillow and handed it to Ginny. "See you can send a code here to another person's pager and they receive the message. They even have ones that you can call eachother on like a wireless telephone."

"You should go into muggle studies Zinny." Ginny said, pushing the buttons on the device.

"Ew, as if Ginerva. All I am saying is us witches have to keep up with the times I cannot be writing letters all summer again to George, I think I am going to get him a pager for Christmas. Do you think he would like it?"

"Probably, what is this on it? Does this make the technology work?" Ginny asked her pointing at the large crystal that was crudely glued on the device. Hermione has rejoinded them with her hair in a towel on top of her head.

"No that is actually a Hematite crystal. I found it was the best at blocking the EMF, or electromagnetic fields. It stopped working when I got to Hogwarts until I had this crystal necklace on when I was using it, so I just stuck it on the back with a sticking charm."

"That's brilliant Zinnia! My parents got pagers last year for work and I wished I could get one to keep in touch with them during the school year! Does that work, can I see?" Hermione asked, immediately inspecting the pager.

"Look away, but come here before your hair fully dries, I want to put this smoothing balm I made in potions on it."

Zinnia finished the girls hair and makeup after much effort of trying new combinations of hair potions on Hermione and bargaining with Ginny to let her add more lipstick. The girls left to their dorms to change as Lyla was re entering the dorm, face red and full of tears.

"What happed Lyla?!" Zinnia jumped up from her spot in front of her makeup mirror, one false eyelash on to hug her distraught crying friend.

"He was snogging Katie Bell! Right in the open! For everyone to see!" Lyla screamed into her pillow on her bed.

"Who?! Who was snogging her?" Zinnia asked, feeling a little worried it was George as she knew they had a history.

"Cassius!" She yelled, muffled by the pillow.

"That fucking slut! Alright, get up. You're going to the dance, get dressed. The best revenge is not found by crying in your bed all night." Zinnia grabbed her friend's hand and after some more convincing, she and Lyla were zipping each other's dresses on and heading out to go to the ball.

George met them outside their common room at 6:50 on the dot.

"You're late! You said 6:45!" George shouted at her as she and Lyla approached him.

"Hi George, you look handsome." Zinnia kissed his cheek as he gawked at her, his eyes about to fall out of his skull.

"You look ravishing both of you, where is uh..." George started but quickly stopped himself as Zinnia furiously shook her head 'no', "I mean, do you ladies care to enjoy a quick pre-dance refreshment?" He changed the subject, pulling out a small flask from his breast pocket.

"Yes please" Lyla said, taking the flask and downing it in one, two, three large gulps. "Shall we head to the hall now?" She asked looking at George and Zinnia.

"We shall!" George held out both of his arms, one for his girlfriend and one for his girlfriend's best friend.

The Great Hall was charmed to look like a winter wonderland. The drinks were flowing and the music booming through the hall. Lyla was posted at the spiked punch bowl with a couple of Durmstrag boys goggling at her as they laughed and one asked her to dance. George and Zinnia were out on the dance floor already, swaying back and forth to the classical tunes. As the night went on, the Weird Sisters performed and Zinnia and Lyla got on stage to dance with the band before Professor Moody shooed them off with his cane. It was more fun than Zinnia could have imagined.

Her, Lyla, Adrian, Roger, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan all ended up drinking in the courtyard. Zinnia was drunk but continued to cast warming spells over the group so they could stay outside, away from the adults. Fred and George were going on and on about their newest sickly sweet that they were creating, trying to convince Roger to test one out. Lyla and Zinnia were taking photos of each other with the camera that they bought last weekend in Hogsmeade.

"OK, ok, George, Zinnia look here one, two, three!" Lyla shouted as she took a picture of the couple. They took as many photos as they could until they were out of film.

Fred ended up meeting up with Angelina, he and Lee headed back to their dorms. The rest of the group headed in for the night as the snow was starting to come down even harder. Lyla was on the verge of passing out so Adrian and Roger agreed to walk her back to the Slytherin dorms. George and Zinnia were heading to the Gryffindor common room but made a pit stop at an empty classroom. 

“Shh! George, we’re gonna get caught!” Zinnia hushed her drunk boyfriend when he ran into a knight standing in the hallway. 

“Relax, no one comes down this way.” George said, pushing open an unlocked classroom door. “Oops, I think this room is taken. Hermione?” 

Hermione Granger was sitting crying at a desk chair, a blond boy crouched in front of her, his hand on her knee. 

“Malfoy?” Zinnia asked as George and her rushed into the room. “Back off, are you ok Granger?”

“No, he is fine, I was just. Ugh I am fine. Please just go away!” Hermione said in between her sobs. 

“No, what is going on? Is Malfoy bothering you?” Zinnia said sternly, her wand pointed at the blond. 

“Black, at ease. Granger is fine. I’ve got it.” Malfoy said to Zinnia without looking away from the crying witch. 

Zinnia lowered her wand and looked at George who just shrugged. “Hermione, please, was it Krum? Did he do something?”

“No! No, Viktor was lovely, and Malfoy he was just here, what are you doing in here anyways?” Hermione wiped another tear from her face and smiled slightly. 

Zinnia noticed a small smile form on Malfoy’s own lips, though he quickly turned it back into a stiff line. 

“I was looking for Moody’s stash, for the Slytherin party.” Malfoy said standing up from his knealing position in front of Hermione. “Do you mind, Black? Weasel? I have to get back to the party anyway.” 

Draco shoved past the couple and left the room. 

“Hermione, your makeup! You cried it all off! Who did this? I’ll kill them!” Zinnia said, transfiguring a parchment into a hanker chief for her friend.

“Thanks, Zinnia.” Hermione sniffed, and looked up at George who was now standing between the witches, one hand on his girlfriend’s back and the other on Hermione’s shoulder. “It was nothing, just stupid drama. I am fine really. Thank you, for everything tonight.” 

“Oh, okay. Yeah of course, here let us walk you back to Gryffindor Tower.” Zinnia said and her and George walked the young witch back to her dorm. 

The Gryffindor common room had a few couples making out on the couch, reclining chair and some other younger students were eating sweets and playing games on the floor in front of the fire. Harry and Ron were sitting on the stairs up to the dorms. Zinnia felt Hermione go stiff in her arm. 

“Mione! Hey can we talk please?” Ron asked, jumping up from the step. 

“Ronald,” Hermione started but Zinnia stopped her.

“You can talk tomorrow. Hermione needs to go to bed. You both should as well. And where is your sister?!” Zinnia asked the two red heads. 

Ron looked at Zinnia with fearful eyes and shrugged. Zinnia rolled her eyes and lead Hermione up to the girl’s dorm, leaving the three boys at the bottom of the stairs. 

“Drink this, and get some sleep. Hey,” Zinnia said to Hermione, handing her a small potion from her rhinestone clutch. “You know you are beautiful right?”

Hermione sniffled and her eyes went blurry again. 

“Stop that, enough with the tears. You are a strong, brilliant, and stunning young witch. Now drink this, lie down, and when you wake up tomorrow do not let ANYONE make you believe differently. Understood?”

“Thank you Zinnia.” Hermione said, blinking back her tears and throwing back the dreamless sleep potion. 

“Goodnight.” Zinnia said and left her to sleep, pulling her curtains shut. 

Zinnia walked into the girl’s bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. her dress was still perfectly fitted, her makeup flawless other than the slightly smeared lipstick from kissing George. She joined the others in the Gryffindor common room, kicking a couple off the couch in front of the fireplace. Fred and Angelina joined the group as well and sat on the couch with her and George. 

“So Black, how was your night?” Angelina asked her. 

“It was perfect, how was yours?” 

“Eh, it was ok. I hate these stupid shoes and this dress is beyond itchy.” 

“Well you look amazing.”

“Thanks, so do you. But you always look amazing. Perfect and posh.” Angelina said. 

“Sooo, did you and Fred finally, you know?” 

“Yes, we did actually, this morning after we played some Quidditch.” 

“What?!” Zinnia said, looking over at the twins who were now pranking the younger students who were playing a board game on the floor in front of them. They were sticking the pieces to the board and moving the cards around.

“Yes, it was awkward, but good.” Angelina said. 

“Good, as long as you’re happy.” 

“I am.” 

“Hey, how is Hermione? Did she tell you what happened?” George asked, coming to join Zinnia on the other side of the couch. 

“She is fine. Your idiot brother is an idiot.” 

“Oye! What did I do?” Fred says from next to Angelina.

“Not you! Your other brother.”

“Which one?” the twins ask simultaneously. 

“Ronald.”

“Oh well yeah we knew that, what did he do exactly?” Fred asked. 

“I don’t know for sure what he did but I do know that he is an idiot.” 

“Fair.” George says and they change the subject to talk about the other drama from the dance. 

“Alright, well I am going to bed. If I have to spend one more moment in this itchy dress I might scream.” Angelina says, standing up from the couch. “Goodnight everyone. Fred, I will see you tomorrow at breakfast?”

“Where else would I be?” Fred asks as he kisses her on the cheek good night. 

“So Fredrick, spill.” Zinnia says, turning her attention to the other Weasley twin. 

“There is nothing to spill Black. Mind your business.” Fred tells her, crossing his arms. 

“Ugh, seriously? I have been hanging out here all night, I need details!” Zinnia begs him. 

“Sorry, no details to share. Goodnight you two.” Fred tells her, standing up from the couch leaving the couple alone in the common room. 

“Fuck, I am getting no gossip today this sucks!” Zinnia says flopping her back on the couch and crossing her arms. “I’m going to bed, this dress is also so itchy.”

“What? You have barely talked to me all night after we left the dance! Come here, I can get you some other clothes to wear, spend the night with me.” George tells her. 

“George, I don’t want to get in trouble, Lyla said she had to lie to Snape last time I slept here.” 

“Ok what like you haven’t lied to Snape a hundred times for her?” 

“I don’t lie.” Zinnia tells him and stands up from the couch, placing her hands on both her hips. 

“Ok, that’s funny.” George says, grabbing for her hand. “At least let me walk you to your dorm.”

“George! No, I don’t lie. Sometimes I just choose not to share the whole truth, it’s different.” Zinnia says. Pulling her hand away. “And I am perfectly capable of walking back by myself.”

“Ok sure babe, whatever you say. But I am coming with you whether you like it or not.” George says, standing up from the couch as well. 

“George, do not call me that, you know I hate that.” She says and turns to leave the tower, George following behind her closely. 

“I know you do, sorry it slipped out, too much to drink. Zinnia? Are you actually mad at me? Come on slow down!” George laughed running a little to keep up with her down the steps. 

Zinnia had transfigured her heels into flats so she could walk faster. “No.”

”Zinny, what happened? Did I do something?”

”I just want to go to bed, George. Not everything is about you.” 

“Are you seriously throwing a hissy fit that you didn’t get more gossip from Angelina and Fred? You know they will probably tell us all about it tomorrow after things have calmed down.”

”Oh you just think all I care about is drama and gossip?!” Zinnia scuffed as she removed her heavy earrings. 

“No, of course I don’t think that. I just don’t know where all this hostility came from. I can’t help if I don’t know what is wrong.” George pleaded with her again. 

“Fuck.” Zinnia sighed and stopped at the entrance to her common room. “I’m sorry. I just - no - you know what fuck it I’m not sorry. I am allowed to want to go home and go to sleep! All you want to do is fuck and I am sick of it! All you boys want is for all of us to pleasure you and then fuck off! Like we are just playthings that dress up nice hoping that you will pay attention to us. And then when we do get your attention you start a pissing match with all the other boys and ultimately still we still get hurt!” 

“Zinnia. Where is this coming from? And all I do is think about sex. But I love you, for more reasons than that. You know that.” 

“It’s just.” Zinnia started and could feel like she was about to cry. “I know that George. Thank you.” She finished and turned to the entrance, whispering the password. 

George followed her into the Slytherin common room. “Ok, so are we good? I’ll see you tomorrow?” 

Miles, Draco, Pansy and Lyla were the only ones left in the common room, all their heads turned to look at the couple. “We’ll see. Goodnight George.” She told him coldly.

The foursome in the background replied with a collective. “Oooooo!”

”Right, well sweet dreams Black.” George bowed his head and left. 

Zinnia joined her friends and noticed how Pansy was trying to get Draco’s attention, batting her lashes, biting her lip, and he wouldn’t give her the time of day. She and the group drank some more before leaving for their dorms. 

“You ok Z?” Lyla asked her best friend from her bed. 

“Oh yeah I’m fine L.” Zinnia replied as she brushed through her wet blonde hair after a shower. “I got way too fucked up tonight. Did Draco make anymore hangover potions?”

”Yeah, I put an extra in the bathroom drawer. You are ok though? You and George?”

”Thanks, and what? Yeah we’re fine.” Zinnia said.

***

George and Zinnia kept their distance from each other the following day and didn’t talk until they arrived at Potions after lunch. Zinnia sat in her usual spot next to George. They were both committed to the silent treatment and the plan was squashed when Snape announced they were to work with their desk partners on a project today. 

“Professor, we always have lectures on Monday and workshops on Friday.” Zinnia pointed out when he asked if there were any questions before they begun. 

“Very observant, Miss. Black. Was there a question?” He said shortly. 

Some in the class snickered. 

“No, sorry Professor.” She replied and clenched her jaw to avoid rolling her eyes in front of him, an act that had gotten her sent to detentions too many times. 

The class shuffled around, gathering the necessary supplies, George and Zinnia sat in place. Normally, they worked wonderfully together, George was impressive at potions when he applied himself and Zinnia would do all the reporting for the essay.

Zinnia finally pushed back her seat and went to the ingredient cabinet with a huff. She came back to see George had not moved to go grab the cauldron and set it up like he normally did.

“Really Weasley?” She asked and turned before he could respond to get the cauldron herself.

When she brought it back to the desk, George took it to set up the fire and she got to work on the ingredient prep.

“No, the lavender has to be muddled first.” George said, grabbing her hand before she dumped it into the pot.

Rather than replying, Zinnia sighed and threw the lavender in the mortar and pestle to muddle. “There.” She said and he nodded to her to drop the contents in.

They continued to work in more silence, only a few words, “wait” “here, I got this.” “This is next.” “Counter-clock wise.”  To communicate through the project. 

Then when they were finished, George said, “Timer set for 45 minutes.” 

They cleaned up their station and Zinnia left before the bell for dismissal finished ringing. They met back in the Potions classroom after their second class. 

George was already at their cauldron, checking the status and turning down the flame. “How was Transfiguration?” He asked Zinnia as she joined him at the desk. 

“Fine. How was Muggle Studies?”

“It was incredible, Zinnia, have you ever used a CP player? They are digital and little disks that are completely flat play music through a speaker. All electronic. Imagine the parties we could through and we wouldn’t have to worry about the record scratching. It’s bloody brilliant and they are so small they can fit in your bag.”

“Yes, George I have used a CD player, you are such a dork.” Zinnia laughed at her boyfriend’s innocence of the muggle world. 

“I knew I could get you to smile though.” He said and looked at her with a wink. 

“Oh shut up, how is our potion?” Zinnia put her hand around his bicep, pulling herself up on her tiptoes to look in the cauldron. 

“It’s perfect. Going to turn off the flame now. We can stopper it and turn in.” George said, extinguishing the small flame and transferring the contents into a bottle. 

“Great, thank you.” Zinnia said as she added the wax seal and a tag with their names on it for credit. She went to place it on Snape’s desk as a few more students entered the room to finish their potions as well. 

George cleared the remains of the pot and put it away in the cabinet. 

“What are you doing the rest of free period?” He asked her. 

They normally spent free periods together. 

“Going to the library to finish my History of Magic essay.” 

“I was going to the library too, that’s so weird.” 

“You can sit next to me and tell me how pretty I am.” Zinnia smiled at him. 

“I would be honored.” 

***

George would watch her as she studied and she would watch as he and Fred worked on their business plans. Her and George turned 17 and passed their apparition test, and planned their whole summer so they could see each other. Then Harry told them about Voldemort returning and Cedric died at the last trial. The world felt darker. She came home to her mom broken, Igor had run, his dark mark was activated again and he couldn’t risk putting them all in danger. Her mom was different. Distant. She didn’t know where Igor ran to or if he was even alive. Zinnia couldn’t believe it was happening, again Voldemort was tearing her family, and so many other families