Sound of Love

3: Visit to Hogsmeade

You had left the courtyard and started making your way to the Grand Hall to find if there was any lunch left over, when you felt a hand on your shoulder.

"Y/N, There you are!" To your dismay, it was your older cousin, Dominic. He was also a student here at Hogwarts, a Gryffindor. Dominic was relatively popular and good looking, and being part of the Quidditch team meant he had a pretty good physique. He usually was surrounded by people, and as you were very busy last year, you two hadn't crossed paths very often. You loved him, but being his little cousin and all, he was very.. Over the top when showing affection. He was extremely touchy and verbally affectionate, often calling you weird childish pet names he made up off the top of his head (his favorite being 'Pookie'). He adored you, and you didn't really mind it except for when you were in public.

"Hi... Dominic," you responded slowly, looking around to make sure no one was going to witness the embarrassing conversation that was probably about to ensue.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever! Wait... Have you been avoiding me, Pookie?" he asked, growing concerned. His loud voice echoed in the corridor in front of the Great Hall. You cringed, and covered his mouth.

"No, no! I've just been busy!" you said in a panic. He looked crestfallen. You hesitantly tried to appease him before he could say anything else by giving him a hug. He looked unconvinced.

"Is that really the reason?" No, it was not. You avoided him in public to avoid awkward conversations like this, but you couldn't tell him that.

Knowing that he most appreciated verbal affection, you said, "That's the reason. You know I love you, so stop fussing." His face lit up at your words.

"My Pookie bear loves me! You are just too cute sometimes, you know that?" he exclaimed too loudly for your liking, bringing you into a tighter hug, and giving you a kiss on your forehead. Once again, his loud voice echoed in the corridor, but this time you couldn't check to see if anyone had heard because you were buried in his chest. To your horror, you heard a door slam, but you couldn't see who it was. Whoever it was, they had definitely heard you. Your face went red from embarrassment and anger, and you gave up trying to lie to spare his feelings.

"Dom, someone heard that! Could you stop treating me like I'm some sort of puppy? You're hardly two years older than me!" you huffed. "Seriously, it's humiliating.." Dominic looked taken aback, and he let you go from the hug.

"...Is it too much?" he asked in all seriousness.

"Yeah, it's WEIRD." you replied, not able to stop yourself from laughing at his reaction as if he thought it was the most normal thing in the world.

"I'm sorry, Y/N. I didn't mean to embarrass you," he said apologetically, his warm smile slowly returning. "I'll stop from now on, I solemnly swear!" he proclaimed, doing a dramatic 'cross my heart' gesture. Despite his joke, he was being genuine. "Now, you'd better be here to get some extra lunch, because you're looking a little thin these days.." he said with a hint of genuine concern, to which you chuckled. After you made him promise a second time, you forgave him and the two of you walked side by side to the Great Hall doors, catching up and telling jokes.

    After you had your fill, you said goodbye to Dominic and his friends, and made your way out the Great Hall. You still needed to kill some time before it was time to go to Hogsmeade with your friends. In the end, you decided to go to the Undercroft in hopes of conjuring some more stuff after you had finished your homework.

    You opened the secret door to the Undercroft and got in. While walking down the passageway to the metal entrance, you heard voices echoing.

"-some Gryffindor jerk..."