LOVE ISN'T EASY (but it sure is hard enough)

OCTOBER 9TH, 1994

The castle felt abuzz with excitement as the first Hogsmeade trip of the year grew closer and closer. Third years plotting what they would do for their very first time, couples dreaming of walking hand in hand down the cobblestones, students stealing glances at those who they wish would ask them shyly to share a butterbeer. Olivia, however, was dreading it. 

"Come on Liv, it's gonna be fine!" 

Juno could feel how anxious her friend was from a mile away. The girls hadn't been able to shake the twins since they first met them- they definitely weren't complaining at all, but things just felt... different.

"It won't be fine, it'll be awful! Something's bound to go wrong here." Liv whimpered, flopping face down onto her bed.

"What's gonna go wrong?" Juno asked, sitting on the floor beside her friend.

"He doesn't like me Juno, he won't ever like me! They only care about me because of you, you're like the most interesting thing about me."

Juno heard small sniffles coming from Liv, and turned to face her. Liv looked over at her, eyes red and watery.

"Don't be an idiot Liv! Why would he not like you? You're stunning, you're smart and you're literally the sweetest person I've ever met. Nobody would lend Hermione her favourite books or make sure Ginny was okay when she was crying even though you had never had a conversation with her before unless they were the kindest, most genuine person in this whole castle."

Liv smiled, she never really could take a compliment but Juno's words made her feel at least a little better. The Hufflepuff dorms were practically empty save the two of them, with Liv's roommates bound to reappear at any point.

"I'm gonna head to bed now but I'm meeting you for breakfast in the hall early tomorrow- wear something cute! Love you!"

And with that, Juno waltzed out of the room and back to the Slytherin dorms. Liv sat up on her bed, wondering why on earth she had to dress cute to go round a few local shops and come home after a couple of hours when things inevitably got boring.

Juno was early for once in her life. It was practically a miracle.

She stood outside the Great Hall, leaning against the stone wall and waiting for Olivia to turn up.

"What the fuck are you wearing?"

Liv stared at her in confusion, taking her outfit in for the first time. Juno stood slightly taller than she usually did, black over the knee boots boosting her height ever so slightly. A cream turtleneck tucked into a black denim skirt, and a black belt with a gold buckle resting delicately on her hips, gold and green necklaces dangled from her neck and a long black coat draped over her shoulders. Her dark hair was swept up into a sleek ponytail and her lips were coated in a thick gloss.

"Never mind what I'm wearing, look at you!"

Liv couldn't have looked more different- brown corduroy overalls hung loosely from her shoulders over a thick, dark green jumper. The trouser legs were cuffed, with white socks peeking out of her slightly scuffed white trainers. Her hair parted in the middle, her fringe freshly trimmed.

"What? You said dress cute!"

"Yeah, like hot cute not toddler cute!"

"These are comfy! Besides, we're going to Hogsmeade, not bloody Paris fashion week."

Juno rolled her eyes, grabbing her friend's hand and pulling her back in the direction of the Hufflepuff dorms (ignoring Liv's loud complaints about missing breakfast).

Liv was sitting on her bed, surrounded by the contents of her entire closet as Juno tore all the clothes out of the wardrobe, desperately trying to find something "cute" for her to wear.