TNS Oneshots

Magical love

"Can anyone give us a brief explanation of the Mandrake, as a recap?" Professor Longbottom's voice rang through the greenhouse, attracting the attention of the students.

Piper's hand naturally shot up first, eager to answer the question. The professor regarded the class for a moment before calling on her to answer, already knowing full well that she's going to formulate a perfect response. Piper could faintly hear the snickers of Finn Abey and James Potter in the background, probably mocking her for being a "Know-it-all". Admittedly, James Potter was a fellow Gryffindor and should back up Piper, but he struck a friendship with Finn the moment they stepped on the Hogwarts express. And since Finn hated Piper (for absolutely no reason), James was bound to hate her too. For a Hufflepuff, Finn Abey sure wasn't the nicest.

"One of the greatest plants in Herbology, the Mandrake is a crucial ingredient in most antidote treatments. The secret to cultivating a fully-grown Mandrake, should you need it, was earmuffs. A Mandrake cry is fatal to anyone who hears it."

Neville Longbottom smiled, contentedly nodding his head.

"10 points to Gryffindor" He said, before turning towards the plants and continuing on with the lesson.

Back in the hallways after the lesson, Amy was met with a disgruntled Piper madly trudging towards her.

"Yeesh someone's in a mood"

"It's him again"

Amy laughed, shaking her head

"When are you two going to get off each other's backs? You're always mercilessly annoying each other"

"I do not! He's the egoistic, arrogant one here!"
"Oh sure piper, you're no angel. You're also very cold towards him"
"As if" The brunette scoffed, tightening her grip on the books in her hands.

She thought over what Amy said, had she actually been treating Finn that badly? Nah, he's just a jerk that hates her. He's trying to intimidate her and she wasn't going to allow him to get to her. Top of her class, full marks on all her O.W.L.S., the smartest witch of her age (the next Hermione Granger, as they call her), she definitely got many snide and rude remarks on a regular basis, and none fazed her except his. Whenever she saw him she felt a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach, and knowing that he hated her somehow made her feel a mix of anger, frustration, disappointment and sadness. What she knew for sure is that she loathed him, and always will.

Amy let out a loud squeal as they neared the classroom door, and when Piper peaked her head in she saw exactly why. Standing there was Harry Potter. Piper has heard stories about him and his brave feats, but she never thought she'd actually get the chance to meet him in person. And now that he's here, she saw it as the perfect opportunity to prove her worth and was more determined than ever to show them all what she's made of.

"Okay so, if you don't already know me my name is Harry Potter. I work as an auror for the ministry of magic, and I'm here today to teach you about boggarts"

Piper smiled to herself, the idea of someone not knowing who Harry Potter amusing her. A few wand motions and "Riddikulus" utterings later, the practical part was finally about to start. Piper was seething to be the first one up there, the first one to get rid of that creature and attract the attention of the boy who lived. So naturally, when Harry asked for volunteers, she directly put her hand up.

"Ah, the brunette in the back? You seem very eager"
Piper rolled her shoulders backwards and straightened her posture, heading to the front of the class. Harry gave her a small smile before opening the wood closet, and she was ready to face anything that comes out.

She wasn't ready. She had expected lots of possibilities. Her being burned in a fire, her loved ones dying in torturous ways. What she didn't expect was herself, sitting in the corner of the room, with her knees tucked into her chest. The figure's face was ghostly white, and it struck Piper all at once. Her biggest fear is being alone. She's always been abandoned. By her parents who don't care about her, by her classmates that constantly ridicule her. She was lonely and she didn't know it. A few tears that she wasn't aware of spilled down her cheeks, but she felt hopeless, unable to move.

That's when she felt movement behind her, and as she turned she spotted those ocean blue eyes.

"Riddikulus!"

The wand movement was wrong. Usually, she'd correct him, oh boy how she'd love to have an edge on Finn Abey. But she couldn't bring herself to care at the moment.

Piper looked back to see what the figure would turn into, what Finn's greatest fear was, but it stayed rooted to the spot, unmoving. Piper could feel her heart race inside her chest. His greatest fear was... her being alone?

"Riddikulus!" He said again, this time getting the wand movement right. The figure turned into a wisp of smoke before going back into the closet, Harry promptly locking the door on it.

That's when everything started to make sense again. Piper looked around to see her classmate's eyes on hers, some snickering, some dead silent. Except Finn. He had his hand on her shoulder, rubbing soothing circles in a calming motion, but he didn't even seem to notice what he was doing for he was absentmindedly staring far into the distance.

Piper felt the colour rush to her cheeks and she ran out of the classroom in a frenzy, settling on a bench outside under the sunlight. All she felt was utter shame. She couldn't bare to think of how she'd face her classmates again, not after what she's done.

She felt someone sit next to her, it was Finn. Great, the last person she needed to see right now.

"Why are you here?" She asked, wiping at her tears

He gave her a soft smile, leaning back on the bench.

"To apologize. For everything"
"Huh?"
"I've treated you very badly these past few years, I made you believe you were alone"

"Who told you I need anyone-"

"Piper..."
" Okay fine, but why are you telling me this?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair

"It's because I just figured out I like you. Wait no scrap that, I love you"

Piper stared at him for a moment, completely baffled. The she fell into a fit of laughter, the sound making Finn jokingly roll his eyes

"You done joking around now?" She finally asked, her face still holding a wide smile
"And who told you I was joking?" He raised his eyebrows questioningly

"Oh"
"This is so cliché .Guy likes girl, treats her badly. I never meant it to be this way I promise. I never meant to treat you like that"

Piper bit her lip, fumbling with her fingers. A silence settled over them for a while until Piper finally broke it

"I think I like you too"

"Wait you-"

" I don't know what love is but I'm assuming the giddy feeling I get in my stomach relates to it?"
Finn laughed, his eyes twinkling

"Yes piper, it does"

"Well umm can I, you know-"
He nodded and she crashed her lips to his, entangling her fingers in his curly hair

"Okay I definitely like you" She whispered as they separated, Finn's hand still in hers

"Glad you got that figured out" He laughed

"Well, I'm still gonna beat you in class "

He scoffed, rolling his eyes

"In your dreams Deane"

She smiled, pulling him off the bench. They walked into the castle hand in hand, both content with ridiculous smiles on their faces.