Straight out of a romantic comedy
"And, how did it go? Can you and Evie remain friends?," Ollie asked eagerly as Frieda sat down next to him in the great hall.
"I reckon. But the whole day was super embarrassing. I behaved like such an idiot."
"Why? What happened?"
"I don’t know. I can’t form any coherent sentences when I’m around them. And then I asked them if they wanted to spend even more time with me. And they said yes, because they were probably just trying to be polite. Then I fell asleep in the Gryffindor common room and George had to carry me back because apparently I have a deep sleep. Oh my god, I hope I didn’t snore."
"I mean you probably did. But that doesn’t sound so bad."
"Yeah, because you haven’t heard the worst part yet. Guess who showed up as I was unconsciously laying in George’s arms."
"Don’t tell me it was Evie. I can’t stand another
week of drama."
"No, worse. It was Emil. Of all people to walk the halls of Hogwarts, it had to be him. He thought Fred and George did something to me. When I tell you, he was about to kill them."
"That really sounds like him. But the whole story sounds like something straight out of a romantic comedy. Are you sure you don’t have a thing for George?"
Frieda stopped in her tracks. There was really no point in denying it. She figured that she could tell Ollie.
"Okay, but you can’t tell anybody."
"Tell them what exactly?," Ollie teased.
"Merlin, that I might like George Weasley a little too much. Happy now?"
"Very much. And what are you gonna do now?"
"Have you gone mental? Nothing of course."
"But why?"
"Are you actually asking why right now? Firstly, there is no chance that he will like me back. He dated Alicia Spinnet for heaven’s sake and the two of us have nothing in common."
"And secondly?"
"Evie would never in a million years accept if I dated a Weasley. Also my brother might be a hurdle as well."
"That’s only three reasons. The first is just in your head. He’s not shallow, Frieda. Are you actually worried that he won’t like you?"
"Have you seen the girls who are after him? There’s Heather Mancini for example. She’s a Gyffindor, like them, she is super beautiful and a year older than me. Against her, I stand no chance."
"I know Heather and even though she is everything you described her as, George doesn’t like her."
"And how do you know?"
"I know because he likes you. Do any of you have a pair of working eyes?" Ollie dramatically threw his head back and let out a sigh.
"Sometimes I think I’m the only one with common sense in this school."
"What are you even talking about?"
"If you would pay less attention to your insecurities and more to him you would see the way he looks at you. He is hearteyes on legs. Trust me, he’s into you"
As much as she wanted to believe her friend, Frieda could not see past the fact that nobody has ever wanted her and that she could not imagine that to ever happen.
"Ollie, as much as I appreciate you supporting me, I don’t want to get my hopes up just to be let down again."
"I know you’ve made some bad experiences but you can’t let that hold you back. Maybe you just have to get out of your comfort zone and talk to him about it."
"Okay, now you’re actually being ridiculous. I just fixed everything so I can be friends with him and I am not going to ruin it over a stupid crush."
"What crush?," someone said behind them. They both jumped because of the sudden interruption. It was Evie who now was curiously staring at her friends.
"Frieda has a crush on Longbottom," Ollie said without hesitation which earned him a kick to his ankles.
"Weird but accessible. I like that. You should ask him to the Yule Ball."
Frieda looked at Evie and then at Ollie but he also had no idea what she was talking about.
"Do you live under a rock? Everybody’s talking about it right now. We’re gonna have a ball at Hogwarts with dancing and gowns and everything. The whole school is looking for a date right now, well everyone who’s a year four and up."
"That sounds amazing! Who are you going with then?"
"Not with you Ollie, if that’s what you were trying with this."
Ollie scoffed "As if I wanted to go with you. I have plenty of people I could ask."
"Yeah right. I’d love to see that."
Frieda stared angrily at Ollie. Now she had to explain to Evie that she in fact did not want to go to the Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom. She was not completely repulsed at the idea. But all she wanted was for George to ask her.
"Who is Cedric going to ask? I’m sure there’s so many girls who want to go with him. Do you think he already asked someone?," Evie pondered.
"I don’t know. But if you really want to go with him, you could ask him," Frieda suggested.
"Do you think I can do that? But what if he already has got a date?"
"Just ask him and you’ll know."
"Okay, but when you are allowed to go with Cedric," when Ollie said his name he pulled a disgusted face "then Frieda is allowed to go with George."
Frieda kicked him for a second time.
"Why would she do that?"
"I don’t know. It was just a thought. Because if it would happen, you couldn’t say no, since I’m allowing you to be with Cedric."
"What are you on about Knight? I thought she liked Longbottom. And besides, why do you need to allow me to go out with someone?"
Now Frieda understood where Ollie was going with this.
"Well, since you felt betrayed because Frieda was hanging out with your enemies, I should also be able to have a say in whether you can spend time with my enemy."
Technically he was right. But Evie was not having any of it.
"Your enemy? Does he even know you exist? And besides, Frieda is on my side now. She said that I’m more important than them. So she would never do that to me. Isn’t that right?"
Frieda nodded mindlessly. What did she get herself into? Now she had to go with Neville.
"Anyways," Evie said "I have to get going now. My study buddy is waiting."
Ollie laughed "Since when do you have a study buddy?"
"Well, since you two abandoned me, I had to get help somewhere else. I can’t fail all of my classes because of a fight."
This was the problem with Evie. From her perspective, anytime Ollie and Frieda did not hang out with her was like betrayal. And when she was literally the one who started the fight, she thought that her friends abandoned her. She had a totally warped perception of reality sometimes.
"Okay, see you tomorrow then. And remember your Potions assignment!"
And with that, Evie was gone.
"So you’re seriously gonna go with Longbottom then? You have to tell her Frieda. She will find out one way or another."
"Consider this. Isn’t this the best solution? George is not gonna ask me anyways so why waste my time with finding strategies to convince Evie? Maybe Neville will go with me and then I’m through with the Weasleys."
"Through with us? Why would you want that?," Fred asked from behind them.
"I swear to Merlin, if we get interrupted one more time to day I’m gonna freak out."
"Sorry Knight but can we talk to Frieda for a second... alone?"
Ollie smirked "Well I would love nothing more than that. Bye then." He did not leave without giving Frieda a cheeky wink. She rolled her eyes.
"Soooo?," she asked with anticipation. Secretly she hoped that George would ask her to the ball. But that did not happen.
"Can you help me with something?," Fred asked.
"Of course."
"George told me that you have muggle flowers."
Frieda’s eyes widened. When George noticed her tensing up he fell in "I didn’t tell him everything. Only about the flowers. He wants to give them to Angelina."
"Do you want to ask her to the ball?"
Fred nodded.
"Well the only flowers I have are chamomile and they are not exactly pretty. But if you want something else, I can look in my room if there’s seeds for it. I can make them grow pretty fast when I put a spell on them."
"That would be amazing. Thank you so much. If you ever need a favor, I’m your man."
"No problem. I’ll get behind it right after my assignment. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Fred looked at George reassuringly. But he did not say anything.
"I guess not then. If you want your flowers you can meet me around three by the black lake and I’ll give them to you," Frieda said to Fred.
"Alright. See you later then."