Canine Lovers - an original Hogwarts fanfiction

Love Potions and Divination

Olivia POV

I know that 4th year is probably too young to have a crush on someone, especially your best friend. But this time, I felt like if it's not now, then it's never going to work out.

I'm personally more of an individual girl. I like being in my private zone, but if I had to pick one guy whom I'd like to be stuck with, it would be Fred. I love him, and a lot. I'm just too afraid to ask him for this year's School Ball. He also probably has got somebody already. Someone from 5th year, cooler and funnier than the quiet and boring me.

But I didn't lose hope. I wanted to try the least.

That morning, I came up with a plan.

I asked Rose, whose dad works at the "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes" joke shop, for a love potion at breakfast.

"Love potion? Who's it for, exactly?", she asked, a tone of surprise in her voice.

I felt myself blushing. Sure, I'd tell Rose if it wasn't her dear saint cousin!

"Liv?"

"F- Finneas Macmillan!", I dropped the first name that popped into my head. "Yes, the one from Hufflepuff! Ugh!" I covered my eyes with fake embarrassment.

"Olivia...?", she caught me lying. Of course. Finneas isn't that attractive, come on. What a name to choose.

"What?", I played innocent.

"Liv, I think I know who you want to give the potion to. It's so obvious", she chuckled, as Amy came and sat next to me, apparently knowing what we were talking about.

"Livy, how about us figuring this thing out?", she said quietly. "Fred has been noticing that you're distancing from him. You guys are spending less time together! You're not coming to his – I mean – our practices, he said that when he wants to help you with the OWLs, you say you want to study alone... He feels like you're sort of avoiding him for some reason. What's wrong with you?! He didn't –"

I blocked her mouth with both of my hands, accidentally letting a piece of bacon fall from her fork to the floor. Fred just came and from all of the seats in the world, he chose to sit exactly right in front of me, where Lily just got up from a few minutes ago.

"Olivia, we need to talk. Seriously", he said, furrowing his eyebrows at me.

"Uhhhh... sure- I mean- no, we don't. There's nothing to talk about", I said quickly, gingerly shoving my book inside my bag and going as quickly as possible, when a hand grabbed my wrist.

"Where d'you think you're going, missy? Haven't you ever been told that running away in the middle of a conversation isn't polite?", that was Amy, again. And she gave me THE look. And when I say THE look, I mean, the look in her face that literally threatens you that she'll rip you apart alive if you don't obey her immediately.

I groaned. "Fine. I'm gonna make it quick. Meet me at lunch break, at the Common Room", I blurted out in one breath.

"Okay...", he looked concerned. I took a deep breath. I had to manage this. He thinks I hate him, because I'm 'avoiding' him, and he hates me for it! How on bloody Earth am I going to do this??

Luckily Rose remembered to give me the love potion. I put it inside my bag and went to my classes.

-

"Aguamenti", I cast the spell to an empty glass, and as soon as the spell hit it, it filled itself with water. I did the same thing to another glass, this time adding the love potion to it.

It was already lunch break, and I was waiting for Fred in the Common Room, so I could finally ask him out.

When he finally came, we were completely alone. I gave him the glass with the potion in it. "Drink, it's pretty hot today".

"Thanks?", he raised an eyebrow, and took the glass from my hand but didn't drink it. Clearly, he suspected something.

"Listen Liv, I need to ask you something", he said, looking rather anxious. He looked like he was about to drop a bombshell at me, and he did: "Why are you always avoiding me?"

I sighed. I felt my body temperature raise, and maybe I blushed hard too. I felt myself also start to tremble, and I couldn't hide it. Tears started pouring uncontrollably down my face. I saw him raise his eyebrows, but he didn't say a word.

When I finally calmed down after a minute or so, or at least when I could speak, I said: "Listen, Fred. I... I wasn't feeling comfortable lately with anyone. Especially you, because... because... I love you! Maybe even too much!

"You don't have to drink this, it's a love potion." I took the glass from his hand. "I get it if you hate me for it. I want to ask you too: do you want to go to the Ball with me?"

With every word I spoke, his eyes grew wider and wider. He didn't answer.

"I get it if you say no. I mean, it's weird. The girl asking the boy out..." I went all confused and stupid. Why was this so hard in the first place??? He obviously will reject me!

He smiled sadly. "Liv", he whispered, and I saw his eyes filling up with tears too.

"You know you can talk loud, we're alone."

He chuckled. "Liv, you squirt..." he still spoke in a low voice. "Why would I say no? I think it's 'bout time for this to happen, isn't it?"

I stood up and faced him. He stood up too, and I realized that we were at the same height, for the first time in a long time. Either I was tall, or he was short (probably the first option would be more relevant). I looked at him and smiled, and he smiled back. I gave him the biggest hug ever, squeezing him as much as I could.

"Liv!", I heard Rose calling from behind me. "Liv, come on, we're late for Her– WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!", I got so startled by her shout that I stumbled on the arm of the couch and fell to the floor.

"So... I reckon you guys made up?", she said, helping me up.

"Yeah", Fred said, still startled and disturbed. "And we're going to the School Ball together!", I completed, smirking at him.

"Yes!!! I knew it would be good at the end!", she squealed, hugging both of us, then pushing us to each other, so we could hug again. I didn't bother. Even when he squeezed my face and kissed me on my left cheek. "See you later, Liv!", he said after we pulled away, leaving the portrait hole.

I could feel my cheek tingle and burn all day. Sometimes I'd unconsciously place my hand on it just to feel the heat of it. It felt good, and mostly, it felt like it was a start to a brand-new start.

Our last class of the day was Divination. I like this class, even though it mostly tells pure rubbish.

"Well, dear miss Greenfield, if you please could tell us, what do you see in miss Wesasley's cup?", Professor Trelawney said in her iconic mysterious voice.

Our class today was reading the future in tea leaves since missed this material last year.

"Well, Lucy..." I tried to sound as mysterious as Professor Trelawney. Lucy chuckled and rolled her eyes. "I see a shape of an eagle, and when I flip it over, I see a sun. An eagle says that you'll have a fierce companion in your future life. And the sun tells that you will be happy."

"Well then, I hope this will be true! Oh, my hero, I hope you're out there awaiting me", she said sarcastically, pouting her lips and her eyes shining, and most of the kids laughed. "My turn! I see... it looks like a pair of flamingos?... I think it means... hold on a second..." she checked her book. "It says 'strong-bond relationship with your significant other'. When you'll truly fall in love, this guy will be the one for you. And you'll love each other for a lifetime."

I felt myself flushing, again. "I hope so", I said, trying not to laugh nor cry.

And yeah. I hoped genuinely that Fred and I will be together and love each other for a lifetime. Although I'd like my relationship private. Not Amy nor Abby will need to know about us until the Ball. Nosey little bitches. Even Mum shouldn't get involved in this. It's MY life. Period.