Loverboy

"Figured you'd want an... extra pair of hands."

"Yes, Miss Sato?" Professor Sprout said, turning around to face the student standing behind her.

Olivia answered, "I know that the Mandrakes probably need to be re-potted soon, and I was wondering if I could help with that?"

"You have an A in my class, are you looking for extra credit?"

"Well, no, not necessarily, I just wanted to help out. I figured you'd want an extra pair of hands."

The professor looked inquisitively at Ollie. She nodded, "I suppose you're right. How about Saturday evening?"

"Saturday evening seems brilliant," Olivia said. Sprout waved her off, and she slipped out and sprinted back to Gryffindor Tower.

"What took you so long?" Remus asked. He and Ollie were still not on the best terms, but were back to talking to one another.

"I had to ask Professor Sprout something," she replied, flopping ungracefully next to James. "I'll be in Greenhouse Three Saturday evening."

"That's all fine and dandy, but I want to sit there," Sirius said, coming down from the boy's dorms. Ollie stood up, fake pouting. Sirius sat where she had been.

She fell onto his lap, surprising everyone. "What? You idiots think I'm going to not sit by James when I very clearly went to sit by James?" Sirius blinked a few times, processing what was happening. Ollie turned her body so that her legs were hanging off the arm of the sofa, her head laying in James's lap. She grinned up at him, batting her eyelashes semi-flirtatiously.

"I'm only kidding," she said, taking in the judgmental looks she felt herself getting. She sat back up, and moved so she could sit on the arm of the sofa. There, she balanced precariously, absentmindedly playing with Sirius's hair. The group talked about this and that, until everyone began yawning.

"I think we should go to bed," Remus decided, the rest agreeing. Everyone said goodnight, and all walked to their respective dormitories. But, before she could disappear up to the girl's dorms, Sirius caught Olivia's wrist.

"So you're going to get the Mandrake leaves Saturday, right?"

"That's the plan, yeah," Ollie answered groggily. "And we should check tomorrow, but I think we have to keep the whole leaf in our mouth for... uhm... a month?"

"I think that's right," Sirius replied.

"Well, goodnight, Sirius."

Sirius kissed Olivia gently on top of her head. "Goodnight, Ollie."

He walked to the boy's dorms, and Olivia was left standing where she was, processing what just happened. She walked, blankly, to her bed, hardly noticing herself change into her nightclothes, hardly noticing herself brush her teeth, hardly noticing herself fall into her bed. She felt... indescribable. It was a pleasant feeling, yes, but incomprehensible.

He was just being a friend. Just showing a bit of desperately needed affection and validation. The easiest way to show affection is a quick peck on the forehead, or a tight hug. Sirius was, after all, a sort-of touch-oriented person. He showed his appreciation by shoving James, punching Remus on the shoulder, ruffling Peter's hair, and (clearly) kissing Olivia on her head before bed. Although the last one had never happened before.

Ollie let out a tiny, muffled (from her pillow) giggle in the darkness. Needless to say, she didn't sleep that night.

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Tee hee...

This chapter was fun  to write. And now all of the other lovely chapters so far have been edited so that it is now an xoc instead of an xreader. Anyway, enjoy the next 24 hours, and I'll see you on the next one. Byeee~  - Cat < 3

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