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

NOVEMBER 23RD, 1994

Olivia couldn't say she was surprised when Harry Potter's name was pulled from the Goblet of Fire. She was, however, surprised by the way everyone else was treating him because of it. She had lost count of all the hateful badges and targeted shouts in the corridors aimed at the poor boy, her heart heavy as even his best friend wouldn't speak to him. The girls had insisted that Lee and the twins stick with Ron on the next Hogsmeade trip instead of them, he clearly needed the company more than they did. It was strange not seeing Ron and Harry joined at the hip, since it was usually Hermione that they fought with, but it was becoming a far more common sight.

Liv found herself wandering towards the pair after finishing dinner the night before the first task, shooting a slight smile at the boy with the lightning bolt scar.

"Mind if I sit?" She asked. Hermione smiled, nodding at her. Olivia noticed how their plates had barely been touched.

"I believe you, you know."

Harry looked at her for the first time during their interaction.

"Really?"

"Yeah, you would think you would want one quiet year. You've pretty much been in mortal peril since you got here."

Harry sent her a small appreciative smile, watching as she gathered her things.

"Juno believes you too, she's been threatening anyone who talks shit about you. Nearly killed one of Diggory's mates the other day. We're on your side." Liv tried to reassure the nervous child that sat beside her, placing her hand on top of his.

"Please try and eat something, both of you, you'll need the energy for tomorrow. Good luck, you're gonna be brilliant!"

And just like that, she left them. She smiled at her boys, sitting with Ron (who was still quite annoyed at Harry, even though he seemed to be softening), catching up with Juno who was waiting for her at the end of the room. The girls made their way to the Hufflepuff common room, tapping the barrel two from the bottom in the middle of the second row and walking in. The room was nearly empty, yet the round fireplace was lit with a roaring amber fire. It was so different to the Slytherin common room that Juno was used to, cosy and warm and sunny all the time. Liv sat cross-legged on the faded yellow leather armchair beside the fireplace, Juno sitting down on the sofa across from her.

"So, how's George?"

"Juno we were literally just with them at dinner, you know how he is."

"Just checking!" She smirked, watching Liv avoid her gaze to pull out a copy of Pride and Prejudice from her bag.

"He calls me Liv."

"So what? I call you Liv all the time!"

"It's just different Juno. First time he called me it we were sat in the hospital wing and I was too worried about him and his stupid beard to notice it!"

Liv hit her head off her book in frustration, slinking down in the chair.

"Ten galleons says he asks you to the ball."

"Juno!"

"I'm being serious!"

"Fine." She grumbled, flipping the page. "We still have to figure out what they're getting for Christmas."

"That's ages away though!"

"We only have a month left to think of this."

"Oh shit. I'll think of some ideas."

Juno left not too long after this conversation occurred. People filtered in the room for a while after dinner had ended, students tending to the plants that surrounded the room smuggled in by Professor Sprout at least once a week. With people frantically studying for exams, picking up late pieces of homework and playing games of exploding snap and wizard's chess, the Hufflepuff common room felt both alive and serene at the same time. Olivia desperately tried to ignore the couples cuddled up on the couch opposite her, instead staring intensely at the page in front of her.