I woke up the next day at dawn. I groaned as I stretched out my arms and glanced around the room. Everyone was asleep. So quietly, I pulled on a cloak and snuck down to the quidditch pitch.
I knew there were no teams this year because of the tournament, and quidditch wasn't very popular in America, but it seemed like the place to be.
"There's no teams this year," a voice called. I whipped around to find Ron walking towards me.
I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, I know, Ronald. Finally out of bed before the breakfast bell rings, are you?"
Ron shrugged indifferently. "I like to go for walks. Near the lake, with the flowers. It reminds me of - you know - nevermind."
I smiled lightly before nodding and turning back to the quidditch pitch and sitting on a lump of grass.
Ron walked over and sat next to me, still gazing into the horizon towards Hogwarts.
"It reminds you of her," I said happily. "Hermione."
Ron's eyes widened. "What -"
"Legilimens," I said quietly, tapping my skull. "She likes you too, you know."
Ron sighed exasperatedly. "In my dreams," I hear him mutter.
I rolled my eyes and nudged him playfully. "Go on, ask her out. You're a Gryffindor, brave and true, aren't you? She'll say yes."
Ron groaned. "That's why I don't ask. Imagine how awkward for Harry! And - if it didn't work, no friend, blip."
I grinned. "Well we'll never know unless you ask. She's probably moping around about you now..."
Ron looked at me sideways. He looked rather confused all of a sudden. "Bet she's not as bad as Fred..." he mumbled.
I looked at him abruptly. "What?!"
Ron's POV
Willow whipped around at me. "What?!"
I facepalmed. "Haven't you noticed? He's been moped around about some Gryffindor girl - Lyla, I think - oh, why doesn't she like me that way, etc etc."
Suddenly, I saw Willow's eyes well up. "I thought he wasn't ready for a - relationship."
I frowned forcefully. "Oh yeah, apparently he just said that, but he thought the other girl was clingy."
Willow opened and closed her mouth, before running towards the castle.
Still in a daze, I stumbled out of the stadium.
"Hello, Ron!" Suddenly I felt like myself again.
Three giggling girls pranced up to me. I knew them to be Lyla, Lavender, and Parvati.
"I have to go," I muttered.
"Oh no, stay!" The girl named Lavender insisted, grabbing my arm and dragging me to a classroom.
Willow's POV
I sprinted into the castle crying. I quickly made my way to the Gryffindor common room to find Fred moping in the corner.
I wiped the tears away fiercely and stormed up to him.
"You complete arse Fred Weasley!" I yelled. "I thought you weren't ready! How the heck am I clingy? Who's Lyla?!"
Fred turned quickly, looking shocked. "What?"
I looked at him disgustedly. "So first you tell me you're not ready, then you go on moping about a girl and call me clingy?"
Fred ogled at me. "Huh?"
I glared at him, shaking with fury. "Don't play dumb, Weasley. Your younger brother told me everything.
At that moment George walked down the stairs, sliding along the banister ever so slightly so he could see us without coming fully downstairs. "Hey guys," George said confusedly. "What's up? Is that giggling trio trying to slip you a love potion again, Fred?"
Everything clicked. How could I be so stupid?
"Never mind," I mumbled. "See you guys."
Fred sighed and nudged me playfully. "Come on, Willow! The other schools'll come soon!"
I shook my head. "I'm going to look through the Ministry files again."
"Again?" George said, clearly exasperated. "This is stupid, Willow! What is it? Are your parents secretly not Muggles who are just hiding from the Dark Lord?"
I flipped over at him.
"First of all, my parents were born and raised in America, where the Dark Lord was a mere freaking comic book character. Second of all, it's not stupid, if you had no idea who your parent were and you've never had any sense of identity, you'd want to figure it out too."
Fred's POV
I stood in shock as Willow walked away after snapping at us. I had only known Willow for a couple weeks, but we hardly disagreed.
George gaped after Willow's back as she walked further away. "Th-that's, she's mental! I was only-"
"Joking?" I snapped. "It wasn't funny, George."
I quickly paced after Willow.
"Will!" I shouted.
I sighed, slowing down. Hearing voices, I slowly peeked around the corner.
There was Hermione, sitting down next to Willow.
"-and he said he wasn't ready, but I thought he actually liked me, you know?"
I hung my head. Was she still on about that?
Willow looked at Hermione, and I had to duck behind a corner so she wouldn't see me.
I heard Hermione sigh. "Maybe you should date other guys. You know, see if it is love, or just a crush?"
I gritted my teeth. Hermione was suggesting Will date other guys?
Willow sighed. I heard her get up and leave the hallway, heels clicking. As soon as I was sure she was gone, I stormed into the hallway, slamming into-
Hermione's POV
It broke my heart as Willow left. I had thought Fred really liked her, and here she was basically getting rejected.
Someone rammed into me.
"HERMIONE!" Fred bellowed. "What have you done?!"
I sighed. "Fred, Willow deserves more."
He looked at me, clearly hurt. "What do you mean?"
I looked at him dead in the eye. "Fred, Willow is ready. You're not. If it's meant to be in the end, it's not happening now."
Fred buried his face in his hands. "I was going to ask her out tonight," he mumbled.
I bit my lip sympathetically, nodding. "I'm really sorry. She went to the library, if you?"
Fred nodded quickly before running off.
Fred's POV
I ran as fast as I could, sprinting towards the library.
"Willow!" I yelled as I saw her blue hair, earning a dirty look from Madam Pince.
Willow spun around, but when she saw me she stood up abruptly.
"Fred-"
"Look, I've been meaning to ask you, and I really need to know. Be my girlfriend?"
Willow had a watery smile on her face.
"No," she said, whispering happily, pushing my hand away. I hadn't even realized I had grabbed her shoulder.
"Fred, it wouldn't work," she said quietly. "You don't support my mission, and eventually I'll return to the US. I can't be that selfish with you."
Willow's POV
Fred looked at me, heartbroken. I felt just as upset. But I knew as long as I was with Fred, I couldn't concentrate on my mission. If he asked me to stay, I knew I wouldn't be able to refuse.
"No romance in my library!" Madam Pince's shrieks interrupted us. "Out! OUT!"
She shoved us out of the door in a heap. I gathered up my books, not looking at Fred, and walked briskly away. As I left, I let a small grin creep on to my face.
At least I knew he liked me.