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

OCTOBER 30TH, 1994

It was normal to see Juno Lennox and Olivia Danes sat at the Gryffindor table. After grabbing a butterbeer with the Weasley twins in Hogsmeade they were invited to sit with them the next day. And then the next. And the next. It was constant. The boys were brilliant, Olivia couldn't remember anyone she had ever met being this funny (or attractive) and after their awkward first encounters she felt herself becoming slightly more comfortable around them. It had become a usual occurrence to see them there most mealtimes. After that first Hogsmeade weekend, the twins had invited them to sit there the next day. And the day after that. And the next- soon it just became normal. Although Olivia often missed the quiet mornings at the Hufflepuff table, an old fashioned romance in her left hand and the overflowing mug of tea in the other, she was growing to love the loud group of people she was beginning to consider her best friends. Alongside George and Fred, Liv had become rather good friends with Lee Jordan. He was one of the loveliest people that she had ever met, with a grin that could light up even the darkest of rooms. Lee was just as hilarious as the twins, an expert Quidditch commentator and a really genuinely nice guy.

They were laughing and joking, like they usually did, when an owl flew over the table and dropped a letter right in front of Olivia. She recognised the handwriting instantly, a scrawl of block capitals on pale pink paper.

"Who's that from?" Lee asked, watching as her eyes scanned over the paper quickly.

"My Dad."

"Is that you getting a lecture about destroying your Mum's shop?" Fred asked, chuckling slightly at the memory of the broken shelves. Liv cleared her throat, preparing to read the letter aloud.

"My dearest Olivia, your Mother told me all about what happened in the shop last weekend. Hahahahahahah, you're a tit. Gave me a right laugh!"

"No way it actually says that!" Juno shouted, leaning over Liv's shoulder to read it for herself. "Oh my god it actually does."

"Anyway, she shouldn't be the person to lecture you about property damage, she literally set the kitchen on fire last night trying to make roast potatoes. Please come back and save me, you're the only person in this house that can make an edible meal. She-"

Liv stopped for a second, folding the letter back up and hiding it from everyone else's view.

"Anything else?" Juno asked, knowing full well from peering at the page Liv's Dad was asking about the boy currently sitting across from the two of them.

"Not much, mostly just telling me about the shop and asking what my song is."

"Your song?" George asked, looking at her curiously.

"The song that sums up the week I had. Dad's one was 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton cause he hasn't stopped working all week. Every year since I've been born he chose a song that summed up the week I had and then made a giant playlist to give me on my birthday. Started choosing them myself when I was 11 and he couldn't properly see me." She smiled fondly, folding the letter back up carefully and placing it in her bag.

"So what is the song?" Lee questioned, leaning forwards in excitement.

"Haven't really decided yet. I'm gonna head back to my dorm and write him back though. See you for the feast tonight?"

Olivia stood up, smiling at the group before turning away. George watched her shyly as she left, waving as she turned back briefly.

"You're so whipped." Fred laughed. George whipped his head round towards the three people sat there, all wearing knowing smiles on their faces.

"What?" He asked, clueless.

"You fancy Olivia so much it's unbelievable." Lee smirked, watching George's face turn bright pink.