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

NOVEMBER 24TH, 1994 (CONT)

The Gryffindor common room was bursting at the seams with excitement as Juno and Olivia walked through the portrait hole, red and gold illuminating the incredibly busy room. Loud music blasted as Harry sat on top of Fred and George's shoulders, looking as though he would rather be in bed than at the party thrown in his honour. Liv sent a wave in his direction, which he returned instantly (albeit rather timidly). George grinned at the pair of them, Fred turned to them with a look in his eyes that they couldn't quite place. Juno was finding it rather difficult to look away from him, but managed to tear her eyes off the boy in enough time to notice Lee stumbling towards the two of them.

"Evening ladies!" He shouted over the booming music, winking at them as he handed over two bottles of firewhiskey.

"Are you drunk?" Asked Olivia, taking the bottles from his hands as Juno laughed at him." It's a Tuesday evening!"

"Just a bit tipsy Livvy!"

Juno opened her bottle and began downing the liquid, ignoring the painful sensation at the back of her throat as she did so. Liv took a single sip and handed back the bottle, wincing as she swallowed.

"That tastes like battery acid!"

"More for me then." Lee cheered, gladly taking it out of her hands.

The girls sat down with Lee on the sofas beside the fireplace, Liv taking a small bottle of vodka out of her boot and gratefully taking the cup full of lemonade Hermione had handed to her. They watched as the twins paraded Harry around the room, Ron watching from the side-lines.
The golden egg was presented, deafening screeches filling the room. It was shut as quickly as it had been opened, most people deciding to filter out of the room and up to bed- Harry, Ron and Hermione included. George sat himself down beside Olivia and Lee (who was basically passed out her lap at that point), whilst Fred beckoned Juno over to where he was. She was handed another bottle of firewhiskey by the boy who was now towering over her, looking at her with something in his eyes she couldn't quite detect. She smiled up at him, yawning as she did so.

"Long day Lennox?" Fred asked, smirking down at her.

"You have no idea, Weasley." She giggled flirtatiously, smacking his chest lightly with the back of her head. "Watching them two pine after one another is exhausting."

"Tell me about it! He's barely thinking straight."

She turned her back to him for a moment, watching as George told Liv a very enthusiastic story. She was hanging onto his every word, her eyes never leaving him as he gestured wildly as if he was only doing it to make her laugh. Juno felt Fred's eyes on her this entire time, turning back to face him with a slight smirk.

"Are you?"

For a split second, it seemed as though Fred Weasley was flustered. Of course, this disappeared almost instantly- and he was back smirking at her as though he hadn't let his facade slip.

"Difficult to tell when you look like that."

He looked her up and down, taking her in inch by inch. Short white skirt and top, black boots that stretched over the knees of her impossibly long legs and a gold chain belt dangling from her hips. She looked incredible. She always did, he thought, but he especially liked it when she was devoting the entire evening to spending time with him.

"Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

A cheeky grin spread across his face as she looked up at him, eyes dark and batting at him. He placed his rather large hand underneath her chin, tilting her face up so he could look into them properly. And suddenly, it felt as though there was nobody else in the room. The loud music blasting seemed to quiet, and the only thing he was focusing on was Juno's lips.