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─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
The first thing Eleanor did at breakfast on the morning of Hogsmeade was gulp down two cups of burning coffee, no sugar or milk. The rich liquid scalded her tongue, but she didn't care about the pain. She had bigger problems to deal with, like spending a whole day with Fred Weasley.
As Eleanor spread strawberry jam on her toast with more aggression than needed, Cedric couldn't help but watch with amusement. "Someone's nervous," he said.
"They're synonymous," Cedric pointed out. He watched as she took a bite from her toast. "It's ok to be nervous y'know—"
"But I'm not," Eleanor interrupted with a mouth full, "I'm perfectly calm."
"But you just said you were tense." Cedric pressed his lips into a line when he caught sight of Eleanor's piercing glare. "I apologise."
On the other side of the great hall, Fred was sat at Gryffindor table, laughing animatedly with Lee and Katie Bell about something. His orange hair was a mess and he was wearing a knitted red jumper with the letter F on it. He looked cute. God, Eleanor, get a grip.
The bench shifted as someone sat next to her. "You're staring," George Weasley's voice teased.
Eleanor scowled at him. "I'm not staring, I'm not nervous and this isn't a date," she declared stubbornly, going to pour herself another coffee. Cedric slapped her hand away before she could do so much as touch the handle, exchanging a look with George.
"I feel like I should restart this conversation," the ginger said, slowly. A pleasant smile reached his lips. "Hello, Elle. You look lovely today."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure," said George. His expression suddenly turned very sincere. "Could you please not kill my brother on this da— outing," he pleaded.
She sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth. "I don't know, George, the thought is always tempting."
"Promise?"
"Fine," she muttered. At his unconvinced look, Eleanor threw her hands up. "Yes, I promise!"
☽
The earth had been covered in a thick, glittering layer of delicate snow in just one night. It crunched beneath Eleanor's Doc Martens and clung heavily on pine trees as she entered Hogsmeade. Her nose had turned bright red against her pale face. Eleanor's white scarf that she had entered Hogsmeade with was no longer wrapped around her neck, having being taken away with the wind due to its strength, sending a chill down her spine.
