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

JANUARY 5TH, 1995

Olivia Danes had always been fascinated by the enchanted ceiling of the great hall. From the very first night she ever sat beneath the stars and floating candles to the quiet breakfast she was currently having underneath the artificial sunrise, reading all about Laurie pouring his heart out to Jo on the crinkled pages, every single sky took her breath away. Her heart pounded as his proposal was rejected, tearing her eyes away from the words on the page as she chose to instead gaze up at the floating candles and the orange stained beams that cast a warm light over the nearly-empty room. Tentative footsteps echoed, a tap on her shoulder making her peer over the steaming yellow and white striped mug. Angelina Johnson smiled shyly at her, wringing her hands together nervously as Liv placed her mug back down.

"Can I?" She asked, gesturing down to the seat across from her. Liv nodded, smiling sweetly as she placed a bookmark between the pages. Angelina sat down, leaning across the table almost nervously.

"I just wanted to say sorry."

"What for?" Liv asked, the Gryffindor girl capturing her full attention.

"For what I did to Juno, I've felt so shitty ever since you two disappeared. She probably hates me so I wanted to get you alone and ask."

"She doesn't hate you." Liv assured her, taking another sip of the tea.

"Really?"

"Course not! She's pissed at Fred for messing the two of you around."

"Oh." Angelina mumbled, smiling slightly as Olivia slid a muffin towards her.

"I promise there's no bad blood, I spoke to Fred after everything happened and made him promise he would give you the best night of your life. It's not your fault he kissed Juno after the first task."

"He did what?" The girl asked, Liv choking on the lemon muffin she had just taken a bite out of.

"Did you not know? Merlin, you should've kept your mouth shut Olivia." She whispered, panic striking her features even as Angelina seemed to relax.

"That would explain why he ran after her after I kissed him."

Liv stopped freaking out, letting Angelina's words wash over her like a wave.

"What?"

"I kissed Fred at the ball, he didn't kiss me. We're just friends, it was a bit of fun and if I had known about him and Juno I wouldn't have said yes."

"You don't have to apologise! Honestly, if you speak to Juno about it it'll all be in the past."

Angelina grinned, both of the girls clearly relieved that there was nothing bad happening between them. Liv raised her muffin, Angelina tapping her own one against it acting as if it was a very serious act of peace. They broke composure, giggling as they made their truce.

From the doorway, Fred Weasley's eyes widened watching the two chat and laugh away. Mumbling nervous swears underneath his breath, he collected himself as he walked as confidently as he could over to the table and the girls sitting underneath the enchanted ceiling, talking as though they had known one another for years.

"Alright?" He asked, sitting down beside Angelina. Liv smiled at him, watching as Angelina made eye contact with Alicia Spinnet who entered the room.

"Why don't you sit with Juno and I at lunch?" Liv suggested, Angelina grinning at her as she gathered her stuff.

"Yeah, I'll be there."

And with that, she walked up to the other end of the table to meet Alicia, leaving Fred and Olivia alone.