Loverboy

"No snogging."

After three long, anticipation-filled days, Saturday finally arrived. Ollie woke up, her stomach churning with nerves.

Sirius, the only one of the group who'd ever been on any real dates, had explained to Ollie what she should do.

"Don't try too hard," he had advised her. "It's your first date, so you should be relaxed about it. If he doesn't like you as you are, then drop him. It's no big deal."

Of course, that was swimming through Ollie's mind. Don't freak out about it. Be as nonchalant as possible. As she changed out of the baggy tee shirt (an old garment of her sister's), she couldn't shake the worry that Wells wouldn't like her. What if all of this is just some sick joke? What if someone is pulling an elaborate and devious prank on me?

Ollie went down to the common room, still fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. This was another Hogsmeade weekend, and she and Evan were planning to go to the very cute Madam Puttifoot's tea parlor. Ollie being her adorable self, she wanted her outfit to reflect her date. She was wearing a pink and white tulle skirt, a white button-up (one of the ones she had for formal school uniform events, but we don't talk about that), white tights, black Mary-Janes, and her striped sweater she'd gotten for Christmas. She put her hair up in a braid, as opposed to the usual ponytail she wore it in.

"Hi, Ollie," Peter's soft and juvenile voice rang out, taking Ollie's mind away from what could go wrong. "Your, erm, clothes are cute."

"Aw, thanks Peter," Ollie replied.

"I wonder where you got that sweater," a boy's voice said from the base of the boy's dorm stairs.

Ollie turned around, staring at Sirius. "I think, uh, Ava Parkinson's boyfriend got it for me," she retorted. "Dunno who he is, but sure seems a decent bloke." She rolled her eyes, a slight smile on her face.

"Yeah, but I bet he's the type to give his girlfriend's friend's friend a sweater with her favorite flower on it and in her favorite colors. Real decent guy," Sirius shot back with a smile.

Remus cleared his throat from next to James on the couch. Ollie looked back over and practically bounced to her friend. Sitting next to them on the couch, Ollie greeted James and Remus. Sirius came and sat in an armchair.

"I think we should set some ground rules," Remus began, to which Ollie's air of lighthearted excitement diminished. James, Sirius, Peter and Remus took turns listing them off.

"No hugging."

"No touching."

"No hand-holding."

"No sharing a straw."

"No flirting."

"No kissing."

"No snogging, actually."

"Be back here at three pm."

"Before three pm."

"No setting up the next date."

"No sharing food."

"Stay away from the Shrieking Shack."

Ollie interjected. "We're going to a tea cafe, and there is very much going to be hand-holding, and what are you planning to do if I return at three-oh-one? And if it turns out well, we'll definitely plan our next date, and you guys aren't my dad, or my brothers, or in charge of me. I can handle myself and I don't need your constant protection, okay?"

All four of the boys immediately responded, "We just don't want you getting hurt."

Ollie rolled her eyes. "If Evan tries anything I don't like, I have pepper spray in my pocket, and yes, Remus, I know how to work the damn thing, and no, James, I'm not going to hesitate to use it. I also know how to do a few really effective hexes, like the bat-bogey hex, or rictusempra, or, best yet, levicorpus, so yes, Sirius, I can defend myself just fine. Don't worry about me guys."

Her friends still looked slightly uneasy about the situation. Ollie continued, "You four don't get much chance to hang out, just you guys. I dunno, maybe you should take advantage of that opportunity and entertain yourselves without me. I'm going to be fine, I swear."

"Okay, just be careful. If you need us, head straight to Zonko's. It's the best bet. Ask the cashier if they saw us leave or come in, and if they say we aren't there, go to Honeyduke's. Second be-"

Ollie cut Remus off again. "I know where I can find you guys, and I also know how to handle myself. Alright?"

All four boys glanced at each other, each mumbling, "Fine."

The five of them went down to breakfast, where Ollie wolfed down two pieces of toast and a large glass of pumpkin juice before hugging James and Sirius goodbye, kissing the tip of Remus's nose affectionately, and reassuring Peter (and of course, giving him a hug and a small kiss on his forehead).

In the entrance hall, where Ollie walked remarkably fast, Evan Wells was standing there, in a white button-up, much like Ollie's, a pair of khakis and his sneakers. It looked like he was originally intending to comb his hair, but gave up halfway through, as there were some patches that were particularly damp. He was holding a pink rose in his left hand, offering it to Ollie, who took it.

The duo walked to Hogsmeade with the rest of the eligible students, chatting the whole way to Madam Puttifoot's.

"Oh my gosh, they are so overprotective. Just this morning they were all like, 'No breathing in the same room,'" Ollie was saying. "They forget, sometimes, that I can handle myself and that I'm my own person. But they just don't want me to get hurt."

Evan smiled. "I mean, they have the right priorities. They just don't know how exactly to go about them."

Ollie agreed. The two of them were sitting at a table by the window, fully enjoying each other's company. After a long while more, they made their way to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer and so they could sit by a fire, which Madam Puttifoot's lacked.

Ollie had never had a day more filled with excitement than February 9th, 1976, at least before that day. When she returned to her dormitory that evening, she spent the whole night laying awake, grinning and excited to see Evan again.---

1036 words

eeeeek that was so much fun to write! I got bored this morning, so I have a tumblr now, and I'm planning to post short stories there, while my longer length fanfics are here. So if you have a request for a short story, I will most likely put it over there instead of here on Wattpad. Anyways, love you all, and hope your day is wonderful! (although i'm still mad at you, Dumb Bitch) toodles baes