LOVE ISN'T EASY (but it sure is hard enough)

JANUARY 4TH, 1995

Lee Jordan was standing alone on the train platform in Hogsmeade, shivering slightly in the wind. Underneath the sign, he crossed his arms over his chest and tucked his hands under his armpits in a desperate attempt to keep his fingers stinging and waited for the Hogwarts Express to pull into the station. The tip of his nose felt like it was about to fall off, and he rubbed his nose to try and warm it up as he buried his neck further into a scarf he had stolen from George.

He saw the steam pouring out of the train from a mile away, shaking from either the cold or the excitement as the cherry red steam train slowed to a stop. Juno and Liv stepped off the train, not taking notice that Lee was waiting for them. Juno's hair was far shorter than he remembered, and he didn't remember seeing those leather jackets before (although he noticed that Liv's had the exact same pattern as her ball dress).

Liv was the first to notice him, turning around and grinning as he ran over to pull them into a hug. Juno followed, strutting over and matching his level of enthusiasm.

"I missed you both so much!"

Lee's energy was infectious, and the girls already felt far less nervous than they had sitting on the train.

"Love the hair by the way."

Juno laughed, as Lee threw his arms over their shoulders and began walking them back up to the carriages to take them back to the castle. The three of them managed to grab a carriage just for the three of them, spreading out for once instead of squeezing themselves in beside the twins.

"Where are the others?" Liv asked, attempting to sound casual as she did so. Her voice wobbled slightly, Lee and Juno raising their eyebrows knowingly at one another.

"Fred and George were setting up some prank when I left, don't think they noticed I was gone."

Liv nodded slightly, staring out of the window in a useless attempt to hide her growing blush.

"Though if you fancy another snog George would definitely give you one."

"He told you?"

"Course he told me! Why wouldn't he tell me?"

"I only found out like three hours ago!" Juno complained, throwing her arms up angrily before slumping in her seat and crossing her arms.

"George let it slip, thinking he was planning on keeping it quiet for a bit longer. He hasn't told anyone else."

Liv nodded, listening to Juno gush to Lee about her three new best friends. A soft smile came over her as she realised that she loved them as much as they loved her. The rest of the ride flew by, Lee catching them up to speed on everything they had missed since their dramatic exit and the girls telling him about the adventures they had. The ride was over far too soon, pulling up outside the castle rather quickly.

"See you at dinner? I wanna see what the twins are up to." Lee said, pulling them into another quick hug and running off.

"I have to write that letter for Mum and Dad. Fancy coming with?"

Juno nodded, the two of them making their way towards the Hufflepuff common room. They stopped briefly to chat to Neville Longbottom, who wouldn't stop thanking Olivia for the book she had given him for Christmas. She sent him a warm smile before he made his way to the greenhouses, leaving the two alone.

The common room was just the same as they remembered it, heat from the fireplace circulating the room as the winter sun hit the plants gently from the windows. Cedric sat on an armchair beside the fire, in his own world when he noticed the girls standing beside the entrance to the room. Before they could say hi, he shot up with super-human speed and pulled Olivia into the tightest hug imaginable.