Loverboy

CINNABON

"Where are you taking me, Echo?" Ollie asked her sister. The group had Echo next to Ollie, their parents at the back and Ollie's friends in the middle.

"Here," Echo replied, stopping in front of a shop. It was a pet store. She opened the door, smiling at her sister as she entered.

"How may we help you this morning?" a friendly wizard greeted the group.

Echo replied, "Could we get a cat- a kitten, actually." Ollie looked at her sister, grinning. The wizard nodded, heading to the section where there were cats and kittens lounging about.

"Purebred, mixed, or coincidentally bred?" he asked.

"Coincidental, if that'd be alright," Ollie said, smiling. "They tend to have longer lifespans, right?"

"Right you are," the employee replied, carrying a small brown tabby. "Twenty Galleons."

"That's... inexpensive," remarked Remus, looking at the small cat. Sirius stepped up to pay, assuring Echo and Mr. and Mrs. Sato that it was fine, and his pleasure. "Sirius, don't forget food and stuff," Remus reminded him.

Sirius bought everything else they'd need, Ollie caressing the kitten.

"Cinnabon," she said decisively. "I'm naming it Cinnabon."

"Alright, he can be a feisty little guy, but once he begins to warm up to you a little bit he'll be the sweetest thing you can imagine," the wizard told Ollie. "Have a nice day!"

The group left, returning to the school. James was holding Cinnabon, baby talking the tiny kitten while Ollie hugged her parents and sister goodbye.

"I'm gonna miss you, Ollie," Echo said lovingly, running a hand through her sister's hair. "Owl me, okay?"

"Of course," Ollie replied, smiling softly. "Thank you, by the way."

"I don't know what you're thanking me for, but you're welcome. It's never an issue to help out my baby sister. Or visit her."

"For everything, Echo. I love you," Ollie said. "You're the finest sister I could have asked for."

"No, you're the best sister," Echo replied, stepping away. "We'd better be off now. I'll see you this summer?"

"Of course you will," Ollie answered. "Like always."

"All of you?" Echo added, looking at the boys.

"Of course," Remus answered, hugging his best friend's sister goodbye.

"I think I'd love that," Sirius said, looking at James, who agreed.

"We'll see you then, Echo," Peter said, smiling.

"Wonderful. Love you guys," she said, stepping a few feet from the gates. "C'mon, Mum, Dad."

The three adults all Disapparated, leaving the five teens with a tiny kitten and a parcel of supplies. They all grinned at one another, darting to the Gryffindor common room. Ollie carried the supplies up to the dormitory, the boys playing with Cinnabon.

A few hours passed, the kitten sleeping on Ollie's lap, the common room empty in the chilled night air. Ollie and Sirius were sitting together on the sofa, Sirius playing with her hair. Remus sat in an armchair, Peter against Remus's chair, and James on the other armchair. Ollie's head was resting on Sirius's shoulder, and the friends were enjoying the gentle silence.

The tiny kitten woke up, stretching out on Ollie's leg. A tiny meow came from the small animal, and Ollie squealed with delight. She lifted him up and kissed his adorable pink nose. He fell back asleep, Ollie gently petting him. The boys smiled, glad that Echo had written to them a few weeks prior.

"I think I'm going to go to bed," Peter said softly, standing up. "Night, guys."

A soft chorus of "Goodnight, Peter," rang out.

"You know what, me too," Remus said, rising as well. "Good night guys."

"Night," the three remaining friends echoed.

For a few minutes there was silence, then James retired to bed, leaving Sirius and Ollie alone together on the couch. They looked at each other, both pretending to lean in for a kiss before lapsing into giggles.

"...Unless?" Sirius joked, looking at Ollie. She smiled, reaching up and ruffling his hair.

"I'm gonna go put Cinnabon up in my dorm. I'll be right back, though," she said, taking the kitten up the stairs to the dorms. She quietly set him down on her pillow, and looked in the mirror in the faint moonlight.

Why had she never realized how pretty she was? She took the ribbon out of her hair, the long waves falling down her back. She picked up a brush on the table and brushed her hair out, getting rid of all the tangles. She smiled, about to go back downstairs when she remembered the dress she'd gotten for Christmas.

She'd never tried it on. She went to her closet, took it out, and undressed. She slipped into the gown, lacing it up. She fluffed up her hair and looked in the mirror again. She smiled, going towards the door.

"Why are you wearing that?" Sirius asked when she sat next to him again. "I mean, you look great, but-"

Ollie cut him off by kissing him. "I just remembered I had it. You like it?"

"On you, I think I'd like anything," Sirius replied, pushing a strand of hair out of Ollie's face.

Ollie laughed softly. She stood up, holding her hand out. "Come on," she said. Sirius took her hand as she led him out the portrait hole.

"Where're we going?" he asked quietly, following her through the dark corridors.

"The lake." They were in the entrance hall. Ollie pushed the heavy oak door open, letting both of them onto the grounds. It was quiet, with only the sounds of the wildlife filling the moonlit space.

"Why did you want to come out here?" Sirius asked, Ollie leading him to the lake. She peered into the surface, relieved when her reflection didn't morph into the stranger's.

"A few weeks ago..." she began, telling him about that strange dream. He listened, looking contemplative about it.

"Weird."

"But right now... it doesn't feel the same as in the dream. It felt... ominous, like something bad would've happened if I hadn't woken up when I did."

"I get that. What does it feel like now, though?"

Ollie looked at him. She allowed herself to get lost in his silvery grey eyes, a small smile on her lips. "It feels like romance," she replied lightly. "It feels soft, kind, gentle. But it feels like it could change any second. It seems like it could be messy, hot. A sudden change."

"That makes sense," Sirius replied, lying down at the shore of the lake. Ollie lay next to him, the two of them basking in the moonlight. Sirius turned to him, Ollie mirroring the action.

"You have really pretty eyes, you know," he said softly.

"As do you," Ollie answered.

"The kind you could get lost in for hours."

"I could say the same."

"That kind I want to lose myself in."

"Then do it."

"I can't."

Ollie moved her hand over and took his. "Why not?"

"It's like you said. There's always consequences."

"There doesn't have to be," Ollie replied, lacing their fingers together.

Sirius looked at the ground for a moment. "But there will be. What if they find out?"

"No one here said they'd have to," Ollie told Sirius.

"Ollie?"

"Hm?"

"What if this doesn't work?"

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1141 words

Oh my god the angst- I might cry after I finish this mini plotline. also OLLIE HAS A KITTEN NOW AND OMFG IM GONNA DIE THAT'S SO CUTE IM-