Edge of Reality // Oliver Wood

✧˖* 14 *˖✧

"Really?" I ask Oliver flabbergasted. He stares at me with puppy eyes and an amused smile on his face. One of his front teeth pokes out between his lips, creating a very cute grin. "You want to take me out on a date?" I ask then, once again validating what he just asked me.

"Well. I thought we've been together for more than a month now, and we haven't even been on a proper date yet!" His arm is still stretched out in front of him, a beautiful red flower waiting in his hand for me to grab.

A blush creeps upon my face as I realise that, in fact, we've never done anything date-like before. The closest thing we got to going out with each other was that night at Hogsmeade in the snow, but that doesn't count. We couldn't exactly admit we had feelings for each other then. And then at the New Year's Eve ball, it was sheer luck that we ended up with each other. For all we know, things could've been a lot different.

               A toothy smile appears on my face as his question replays in my mind, "Of course I want to go on a date with you! I would be a shitty girlfriend if I didn't."

               He laughs and envelops me in a tight hug. I don't hesitate to throw my arms around him while his head rests on top of my own. We stand like that for a couple of seconds before he releases me. I immediately feel colder than I did before, missing the warmth that radiated off of him. 

               "Tonight, at eight! Wear something comfy!" he says as he's already walking the other way. I nod and wave at him, waiting for him to disappear around the corner. I catch myself staring at him, enjoying the view as he walks away. When he finally leaves, I start for my dorm immediately.

It takes me an hour before I've finally picked out an outfit. Oliver told me to wear something comfortable, but I still want to look good. I was aiming for a this-look-was-put-together-in-a-minute kind of outfit. Hannah made me put on ten different sweaters to begin with, but eventually, we settled for a soft pink knit, with a white turtleneck underneath. Paired with some loose jeans and my favourite black Chelsea boots, the look is finally complete.

I don't ever leave the door without at least some makeup on my face, so tonight isn't any different. I keep it simple, though. A no-makeup makeup look does the trick and when the clock finally strikes 19:50, I'm waiting for Oliver to come pick me up outside of the Hufflepuff common room.

A sudden wave of nervousness washes over me. What if he asks about my past again? Ever since he asked me who I lost my virginity to, I've been on edge about what I tell him. A guilty feeling nags at me every day, making me doubt whether I should explain everything to him or not.

Keeping this from him makes me feel weird. Like I'm constantly lying. I kind of am lying to him. I'm just worried that if I tell him, he won't understand. The maddening thing is that I can't discuss it with anyone, since no one here at Hogwarts knows I've shifted.

"Hello, gorgeous," Oliver suddenly whispers in my ear, pulling me from my irritating thoughts. I blush as he pecks me on the lips and I try to shake the uneasy feeling from before. He grabs my hand and drags me along behind him, taking me to the secret spot we'll be having our first date at. I catch up easily and intertwine my fingers with his.

"So, where are we going?" I ask him as he leads me out of the castle and down a path towards a couple of low hills.

"It's a surprise," He laughs, knowing damn well how bad I hate surprises. I'm too curious for them.

"Well, how long 'till I get to see the surprise?"

"Right now," He says, pulling me up the last part of the grass-covered hill. At the very top of the hill is a thick blanket splayed out. A picnic basket sits in the middle of it and I can see a few bottles of Butterbeer poke out of the woven basket.