Finely
The couple stood together waiting in line to buy their sweets. Each sending the other little glances as they waited. It was Lirum’s turn to be forward.
“Brave enough to go for a kiss anywhere, but you shy away when I flirt back, huh?” They teased, intertwining their arm with his.
“I had to, this date needs to be romantic. I can’t very well be romantic if I’m thinking with the wrong head.” He hurried out.
“Fine then why don’t we play a game while we wait then? One to get to know each other?” Lirum suggested.
“What do you have in mind?” He asked, trying to calm himself back down.
“Just a little questions game to bring us together. What are five things you like about me?” Lirum asked, eyeing him.
“Obviously your laugh, your sense of humor, your heart, how you’re always full of surprises, and that beautiful mind of yours.” He grinned down at them. “And That means it’s your turn. What five things do you like about me?”
“I like your lighthearted spirit, your sincerity, how you go out of your way to make people smile, obviously your sense of humour.” Lirum giggled.
“Oh nuh-uh-uh, I think you forgot one love.” George teased.
“How could I forget! Your contagious laughter.” They said reaching up to push some of his long red hair out of his face, and enjoying his giant grin. “Let’s see what four things you think I like?”
“You? Easy, you like reading, chess, muggle music, and quality time with your friends.” He really did know them better than they’d thought. “What do you think I like?”
“Well, you’re very passionate about quidditch, and your family, pranking and jokes, but will count those two as one, and your friends-“
“You’re forgetting the most important one, Love.” He cut them off.
“Oh really? And what is that.” Lirum joked, looking up at those big brown eyes.
“It’s you.” It was Lirum’s Turn to flush again.
“Oh hush!” Lirum hid their face in the crook of his neck. “Three Things you think I look good in?”
“You’re just asking me to flirt with you now.” George teased, pulling them tight against him. “But it’s easy. Everything-“
“That’s not a real answer!” Lirum hit his chest, not moving their face from his shoulder.
“More specific than? Your oversized jumpers, your Weasley jumper, my bed-“
“George!” They knew their hair had to be bright pink. There was no way around it at this point. “You’ve never seen me in your bed!”
“Fine then, I think your hair looks good in pink or red. The pink is adorable, but I love seeing you turn red for me. I think it’s my new favourite colour.” George's voice dipped into a whisper as he leaned into their ear sending a shiver down their spine. “And there it is. Just for me. So, what do you like on me?”
“I like you in your normal clothes, like the jumpers you wear over brake, and when you’re in your school clothes without your robe over them, or how you look dashing in your quidditch uniform.” He chuckled deeply.
“And you act like you don’t want to watch me play.” George teased, holding them.
“Erm, what are two things you think I say a lot?” They asked, finally looking back up at him.
“George!, and I’m adding learn the unforgivable’s to my to do list!” He joked, overexaggerating a bit.
“Well you always call me thumper, and say I wouldn't dream of it. When you absolutely would and will do whatever it was.” Lirum argued, before they stopped for a moment. “If you could change anything about me, what would it be?”
“Your last name.” He grinned again, leaving Lirum blushing.
“What you don’t like Ollivander?” They joked. “What if I wanted to change your last name?”
“Then we’d never hear the end of it from my mum.” George teased, leaning in again. “But I’m already a disappointment, it couldn’t hurt for a happy partner.”
“Are you in line?” The girl standing behind them asked, pointing out there was no one left in front of them. Meaning it was their turn to check out.
“Yes, sorry.” Lirum nodded, pulling away and awkwardly stumbling toward the service counter. “Good morning Mrs. Flume.”
“Good morning li darling I wasn’t expecting to see you in here again so soon but I’m happy to see your starting to get out of the castle.” She said smiling. “And who’s this? I remember you coming in with a different boy before.”
“I’m sure you remember Percy telling you we were just friends. This is George his younger brother-“
“Lirum’s boyfriend it’s nice to meet you. I hope my brother didn’t leave a bad impression.” He said wrapping an arm around them again.
“No, he was sweet.” Mrs. Flume started
“That boy was very respectful…and not touchy.” Mr. Flume said, joining his wife behind the counter. George immediately pulled his arm back and off of Lirum.
“I apologise sir. We’ve got some doxy floss, a few chocolate frogs, and a sugar quill.” George said, looking confident.
“No George I can cover my own sweets it’s not-“ He cut them off before they could finish.
“It’s our first date, and also I think it’s about time I returned this.” He said holding up a single golden galleon.
“Is that?”
“The galleon I nicked off you in the train. I’ve held on to it, so don’t worry you’re technically paying for it. No need to feel guilty about me paying.” He said, before handing over the galleon.
“And after this I should have just enough money to cover our butterbeers.” He said, taking back the change and carrying the bag full of sweets.
“You plan everything out don’t you?” Lirum asked, watching him lead the way.
“Of course! Oh, I think it’s about time we meet up with Fred and Lee. We might have missed Zonko’s, but we still have plenty of time for butterbeer by the fire.” He said, opening the door and holding it open for them.
“That sounds lovely.” Lirum said, walking alongside him. “You know, if you flirt with me the way you have all day Fred’s going to bust a blood vessel.”
“I’ll try my best to tone it down for him.” George said, smugly. His smirk fully present. “He’s been bragging about how he’s going to get you to fall in love with him since first year. It might do him a little good to see you happily with someone else.”
The pair made their way hand in hand to the three broomsticks. It was their last stop of the night before heading back to the castle. The pub was full of wizards of all sorts enjoying Halloween. In a far corner table by the fire sat Fred and Lee.
“Hey lads, glad to see we didn’t miss you!” George cheered, waving at his best friends.
“Your date seems to have dragged on forever, it's been all day!” Fred grumbled, staring at their intertwined hands. “You never met us at Zonko’s either, like you promised!”
“Oh, piss off Fred! You’re just jealous he’s got someone to snog now and you don’t!” Lee joked, knocking his shoulder. “How’d it go?”
“A gentleman never kisses and tells.” George shrugged, setting the bags down in his seat. “Now that we’re here actually, your hands are freezing. I’ll be back with two warm butterbeers.
“Thank you Georgie.” Lirum said, taking the seat next to his. “But he only said that because that gentleman never landed a kiss to tell about.”
“Oh Georgie had all day and missed his shot!” Lee joked. “Maybe you’ve still got a chance after all!”
“Was the date that bad?” Fred asked, looking over to Lirum.
“It wasn’t bad, it was pretty nice actually. He just has terrible timing apparently.” Lirum couldn’t help but laugh thinking about how many failed chances he’d had all day.
“I would argue it wasn’t my timing but everyone else’s that was the issue.” George said, taking a seat next to Lirum handing them the warm sweet butte scotch brew.
“Oh, you mean you didn’t like the book store owner interrupting us twice, your brother and Hermione, Mr. Flume, or the random third year?” Lirum teased, picking up their butterbeer.
“No, and I’m not a big fan of your icicle fingers either so please warm them up before you touch me again.” Lirum gasped, and nudged him playfully. This was the type of teasing they expected from George. “Please and thank you.”
“Rude.” Lirum joked back, unable to hide their goofy smile.
“I said please and thank you.” He followed, before reaching into the bag of sweets to toss a box and Fred and Lee each. “I got you both something for being gone all day.”
“You might not be able to buy Fred’s forgiveness but you can definitely buy mine.” Lee joked, catching the purple box. It was chocolate frogs.
“What’s that face for?” Fred asked, looking at Lirum.
“They don’t like chocolate frogs.” George shrugged. “Bet you’re glad it’s me and not you now.”
“You’re taking the mick.” Fred said, looking back to Lirum. “That can’t be true.”
“They move around and they try to get away from you so you don’t eat them!”
“Because they’re enchanted.” He explained dully.
How do you know they can’t feel it?” Lirum asked, far too seriously.
“Because they’re chocolate?” Fred answered, confused. “Lirum, I’ve watched you eat meat. I don’t understand the hang up.”
“The meat isn’t trying to run away from me when I take a bite out of it!” They defended themself.
“Alright let’s play nice. Here,” George said. Then snapped a chocolate frog in half. “Now it’s just oddly shaped chocolate.”
He handed Lirum half, which they begrudgingly accepted.
“Come on, I know you like chocolate.” He said in a sing-song voice. Only to receive a pointed look from Lirum. “Would you’ve preferred I fed it to you? I can do that.”
He stole back the bit of chocolate, holding it between his teeth with an awful grin.
“Are you about to attempt to baby bird them that chocolate?!” Fred asked, horrified.
“Honestly, I think I’m pretty against that too.” Lirum laughed, watching George roll his eyes.
“It was worth a try.” He shrugged, enjoying his chocolate frog.
“Please never do that again. I know you like them but that’s just bizarre.” Lee joked.
“It is not! Lirum help me out here.” He said looking slightly put out with his friends.
“You’re allowed to like what you like. I’ve read about stealing candy out of a partners mouth with a kiss before, that sounds interesting but, not like first date behaviour.” Lirum consoled him as he became crestfallen.
“I just can’t win today.” He said to himself as he picked up his drink.
“Oh it’s not that bad. We still had a pretty nice first date all things considered.” Lirum said, running a soothing hand up and down his back.
“But I wanted it to be perfect, and all our special moments were interrupted.” He argued, beginning to show how upset he really was.
“What did you say this morning? We have the rest of our lives for that.” Lirum teased, working their way up to his hair, running calming circles with their fingers.
“How did I get this lucky.” George said, looking deeply into Lirum’s eyes. His smile re-emerging as he inched closer.
“By being kind hearted, and there for me when I needed you.” They answered with a shy smile. All their attention was on him when they heard the clunk, and splash of a butterbeer pouring across the table.
“Fred!” He shouted standing up from the table trying to slosh the sticky butterbeer off himself. “You did that on purpose!”
“Oh, don’t blame me for your shitty date. Clearly it wasn’t in the cards, So just quit already.” Fred snapped back.
“Come on, let’s get you by the fire to dry you off.” Lirum said, grabbing his hand and pulling him away from the table.
“But-“
“No arguing!” They Said pulling him across the room. When they came to a stop next to the fire George spoke.
“I can’t believe he did that!” He grumbled to himself.
“Don’t worry, tergeo.” Lirum flicked their wand at him pulling the sticky butter beer right out of his cloths.
“Why’d you pull me over here if you were just going to use a spell to get it out anyway?” George asked.
“I thought you might like a minute to cool off.” Lirum said, nudging him. “I also didn’t think you’d mind a little more alone time.”
“Thanks, I know he’s just jealous.” He signed, snaking an arm around Lirum’s shoulders. “He’s been treating Percy poorly since third year, and I knew he wouldn’t like it, but I didn’t think he’d go so far as to waste his drink on this.”
“He wasn’t even sneaky about it.” Lirum laughed, trying to lighten the mood again.
“It’s alright, I’m still the one who gets to go out with you.” George grinned, eyeing them beside him.
“Yeah, and nice play earlier announcing you’re my boyfriend when you still haven’t asked me.” Lirum teased, looking at George’s rather still rather frustrating face.
“I-I oh I-“ He panicked, realising what he’d done. He’d made it through their entire date and still hadn’t asked them to make it official.
“No wonder Mr. and Mrs. Flume didn’t take a liking to you. You’ve only spent all day trying to make a move on me without actually asking me to be your partner.” Lirum teased, watching George freeze, mortified.
“N-no! I swear I-“ He started again trying to dig his way out of the mess he’d made.
“It’s alright, it’s just the type of guy you are.” They fake sighed dramatically. “I guess I’ll just have to keep looking for a real boyfriend. Maybe Fred really was a better choice?”
“L-Lirum please!” He’d fallen for it hook, line,
and sinker. “Lirum I’m so sorry! I swear, really you’re the one I want to be with! Please, I-“
A smirk grew on their lips knowing the perfect way to shut him up. Lirum cupped his face with both hands. It was their turn to go in for a kiss. His lips were soft despite how shocked and tense he was at first, but there was no hesitation in meeting them when they moved. George’s hands found their way into their hair as he deepened the kiss. It was warm, and sweet with the taste of rich butterbeer still on his tongue. When they pulled away even his ears were red.
“I guess if you won’t ask me I’ll have to do it. George, will you be my boyfriend?” They asked, as innocently as they could. Mustering as much Luna energy possible.
“Bloody hell you're going to kill me.” He said, looking down at them breathless. “Are You my boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner?”
“I’ll settle for the love of your life.” Lirum joked, giving him a little peck. “Partner will do just fine in conversation though.”