Felix Felicis- A George Weasley and Adrian Pucey Love Triangle

9. Under the Willow

The next week goes by in a blur. I don't sit with Adrian or George in Divination, sitting with my friend Angelina Johnson instead. She speaks to me of quidditch, growing fashion trends, and never of boys. What a relief. I've barely spoken to either Adrian or George. I've, truthfully, been avoiding them both.

The last few days I've been spending hours hidden in the corners of the library, sitting in my dorm, or at my favorite spot by the Black Lake. I'm sitting by the lake now, basking in the last bit of warm sun of the season whilst studying for an upcoming Potions exam. It's only the second week of September, but it's already begun to be chilly.

"Oi!" I look up from my textbook to see Ron and Lee walking up to me.

"Hello boys," I smile sweetly, "How've you two been?"

"Well you'd know if you'd just bloody talk to us! You've been impossible to find as of late" Ron huffs, frustrated.

"I only get to see you in class, which leaves no time to tease you!" Lee complains.

"I've been trying to study; you all know that. I haven't meant to disappear" I lie. I had wanted to disappear. The shame of what I'd done had become too much for me to look at any of my friends in the eye. They all hated Adrian, hated how he looked at me, and hated how I didn't hate it.

"Listen, we're meant to go to Hogsmeade next weekend, and you are coming with us! No excuses. We miss you. We all miss you" Lee says.

Ron giggles, "Some of us more than others" I slap his leg.

"Sure. I've been needing to go to Honeydukes anyways; I've run out of chocolate frogs!" I giggle, not replying to Ron's comment.

I have only four days to figure out how I'd interact with George on our trip to the small village. Great.

--

The boys and I had sat under the tree for a few hours, speaking of how to prank different professors the next time we were in class. Now, we all walk to enter the castle for dinner. Right at the giant doors I stop in my tracks, sighing. I tell the boys to go on in before me. I forgot one of my books under the big willow tree we were sitting under. Lee offers to get it for me, but I tell him I can manage on my own.

I'm standing under the tree, watching the sun set over the lake. This has always been my favorite spot to hide away. It was so serene.

"Erm, hey there" A deep voice says lightly behind me. I recognize that voice in an instant. I turn to see Adrian Pucey standing in front of me.

"Oh. Hi" I say shortly.

"I was just getting back from my walk and saw you over here." He takes a step closer, continuing, "You haven't really spoken to me since..." He trails off.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just didn't know what to say." I look into his beautiful, light eyes.

"I know what you think of me. I know what everyone says. You think I'm a player. That I just want you to use you and then forget you. Everyone thinks it," He looks down, blushing, "but that's not who I am. I just haven't had the courage to come up and talk to you."

It's my turn to blush. Had Adrian really been watching me from afar? The girl who didn't want him, because everyone else did? What changed his mind? Why did it have to be now, of all times? I hadn't noticed how close he had gotten. Close enough to reach out and touch my shoulder.

"I know you don't know me yet. But I want to change that." He doesn't lean in, not wanting to cross a boundary that he thinks is there now. "This weekend, at Hogsmeade. Grab a butterbeer with me."

I look up at him, staring into his soft eyes. I had never noticed how kind they were. From afar he looked cold, brooding, angry.

"I think I can do that" I smile at him. With my agreement set in place, he smiles back. He leans in quickly, giving me a squeeze on the shoulder.

"We best get to dinner, then."

--

I don't know how I manage to make it to the weekend, but I somehow do. I wake up on the morning of this wretched Hogsmeade trip, unsure of what to expect. The weather was already on the colder side, so I decide to layer up in my favorite sweater and a light coat. On my way out of my dorm, I run into Hermione and Ginny.

"Hey girls, ready for Hogsmeade?" I ask cheerfully. They both smile and say yes, and an idea dawns on me, "I know we're meant to leave soon, but do you think you can help me with something before we all go?"

It takes only five minutes with Hermione's advanced magic to complete what I had asked for. I look in the mirror and see she's truly worked wonders. My hair is perfectly straight, shiny, and soft. Ginny had been working on my makeup while Hermione worked on my hair, making me look beautiful.

I hug them both and thank them before heading down to the common room. The three of us make our way past the students bustling by the door, into the main corridor.