Tea splashed over the side of the teacup from the force with which George slammed it back onto the saucer. "I'm not fucking going anywhere."
"Come on, mate." Fred whined across from him, "I promised Ang I'd take her to Madam Puddifoot's. She'll have my arse if I bail on her."
"Go then." George glared angrily into the depths of his tea. The Hall was almost completely empty. It was lunchtime, but most of the Hogwarts students base could be found enjoying their Valentine's afternoon down in Hogsmeade. "I'm not going with you."
Fred was quiet for a long moment, George ignored him. His whole head felt hot, like his brain had turned into a smoking furnace. He couldn't even taste the tea, he'd scorched his tongue on the first sip but continued until he'd reached his fourth cup.
"Georgie," Fred spoke, softer. "I've got an idea ..."
George glanced up to meet his eyes, willing him to continue.
"I don't think you're gonna like it--"
George sighed exasperated, the day was already too full of things he didn't like. "For fuck's sake, Fred--"
"But hear me out! Okay?"
Fiddling with the teacup in his hands, George resigned to another sigh. "Right. What is it?"
Fred was quiet, he tilted his head: motioning to something behind George who twisted in his seat to face the Ravenclaw table.
The trio of girls were huddled together near the end of the table, giggling, and George instantly recognised the curly-haired blonde - her head tossed back in laughter.
He understood immediately what Fred was insinuating. His head whipped back to his twin, "Are you pulling my leg, mate? I'm not asking Lisa Daniels!" He turned away from them, "I already dug myself a deep enough hole the first time I involved her."
"Listen," Fred leaned closer over the table. "I heard Roger Davies asked her a couple days ago and she said no because he used to date one of her friends or something stupid like that. She doesn't have a valentine."
"I don't want to be her valentine!"
"You don't have to!" Fred threw his arms up in exasperation, "You just ask her, we go down to that stupid coffee shop in Hogsmeade where all the couples are - Marigold and Zach are definitely gonna be there -"
George huffed irritably.
"- you walk in with Lisa Daniels and it gives you an excuse to be there. Let's you keep an eye on them. Make sure she doesn't fall madly in love with the twat."
George considered his brother for a moment. He didn't know whether it was the jealousy causing his brain to short circuit, but Fred's plan did make some semblance of sense.
He'd feel a lot better if he could keep an eye on Zach, make sure he kept his grimy hands to himself.
He looked back to where Lisa was sitting, watching her face twist between expressions. She really was quite beautiful.
__________
The rain had grown significantly more tolerable after Marigold had been allowed to peel off her soaking uniform and jump into a hot shower.
Having lost the weight of worry from her chest, she could even appreciate it. She'd always loved a good storm.
The path down into Hogsmeade was slippery and crowded, but Marigold barely noticed. Her and Zach were huddled close together under the purple umbrella he was holding up, the adrenaline still chasing through their veins as the entrance to Madam Puddifoot's loomed in the distance.
"She's so little!" Marigold laughed, reaching up to wipe a stray raindrop from her brow. "But, without a doubt the fastest Seeker on any of the teams right now."
Zach pulled the door open for Marigold and she blushed lightly before stepping through the entranceway of Madam Puddifoot's. "Thanks."
The sickly sweet smell of the room struck Marigold's senses and she almost cringed.
The shop was cramped, probably the smallest on the road, but every table as far as she could see was crowded with couples.
Marigold almost jumped when Zach placed his hand on the small of her back, ushering her towards an empty table by the window. Unease returned to her, the same unease she'd felt almost immediately after she'd agreed to be Zach's date.
It took a lengthy shower to convince herself to calm down, he said it was nothing serious, she had reminded herself. We can just head to Hogsmeade together, get a cuppa and some lunch?
She fought the urge to pull his hand from her, but he let go when they fell into the seats opposite one another. Marigold smiled at him and forced herself to forget about it.
"I don't reckon the Ravenclaws are too happy about seeing us right now." He commented, eyeing a table nearby them where two Ravenclaw boys were glaring in their direction.
In the corner of the room, the coffee machine wheezed and chatter buzzed around them. The longer Marigold allowed herself to glance around the room, the more faces she recognised. Anthony was at a table by the door with a girl Marigold recognised from Slytherin, Ajah and her girlfriend were practically eating each other in booth near the coffee station and Rose was at the table adjacent with a Gryffindor boy Marigold had never seen.
She turned to meet Zach's eyes again, "Leave them be for today, they're in mourning. I think I'm going to have to buy Roger a box of Peppermint Toads if I ever want him to speak to me again."
They were interrupted when a wizard came up to the table, taking the orders and disappearing between the tables again. It took a few moments, but Marigold relaxed. Her and Zach were good again, the room was cosy and she'd soon be sipping on hot tea.
If she squinted, it was almost like they were back in the Christmas holidays.
__________
"Remember how Diego yelled when the Giant Squid wrapped it's tentacle around his leg?"
Marigold was almost breathless with laughter, she placed a flat hand against her cramping stomach and took a deep breath. "I told him to keep out of the water!"
She couldn't allow herself to think back on the moment without bursting into laughter again. Zach was laughing too.
"The holidays were a good time." He sighed, sipping his coffee again.
Marigold nodded, she couldn't help but agree. "It was our last, so I'm glad we had fun."
Zach's faced turned unexpectedly earnest, "Thanks for that, by the way."
"Well, it wasn't just me." She blushed lightly, "I think Diego may have a fat crush on you."
"Of course it was you." He shook his head, "If you hadn't asked me that day in the owlery, I would have had a miserable Christmas."
Suddenly Zach reached over the table and took Marigold by the hand that had been resting beside her teacup. Her eyes widened. "N-Nobody deserves to be alone around Christmas."
The jingle of the shop door opening offered Marigold an excuse to look away from Zach. It swung wide, allowing for the sounds of the rain and the busy street to momentarily flow into Madam Puddifoot's. The sounds of the outside, however, quickly dimmed to almost nothing when she realised who stood in the doorway.
Across the threshold stepped the longest pair of legs Marigold knew, holding up her most favourite person. Her eyes ran up his torso until they met his face. Her jaw slackened.
With his lips pursed and his eyes chasing around the room, stood George.
Attached to him by means of his long lean arm slung over her shoulders, was Lisa Daniels. Marigold felt her blood simultaneously run cold and stand completely still.
Following behind them, Fred had Angelina by the hand.
"Merlin's beard," She only barely heard Zach, "That twat."
Angelina caught Marigold by the eye and waved frantically over the crowd, mouthing what Marigold could only make out as "he asked me!".
She did nothing, George had spotted her. He was still for a long moment, holding her gaze until he settled with a nod and a short-lived wave. She squeezed Zach's hand unintentionally.
Marigold forced her eyes off of him, straining to pull a smile and send as friendly a wave as she could muster back to Angelina and Fred, who was wiggling his eyebrows smugly at her - glancing suggestively between her and Zach.
She'd just about forgotten that Zach was there.
Lisa was smiling up at George, she was so small and slim that she slotted perfectly against his side. Like the last piece of a puzzle. Marigold watched how her blonde curls bounced as she walked, the four of them pulling out seats at a table Marigold considered far too close to hers.
She forced her eyes back to Zach who was watching her with disconcerted eyes. "You alright?" He asked.
"Yeah, of course." She had forgotten her hand was still enclosed in his. She pulled it back quickly to shakily lift the teacup, bringing it to her mouth. She didn't even register that it had grown almost ice cold, sipping it anyways.
Zach's eyes fell onto George's table, Marigold heard him scoff.
The tea slipped down her throat. She wondered about his scoff, and she didn't know whether it was because of the awkward silence that was then lingering between them or perhaps because she could feel George's gaze burning a hole into the side of her face but the question slipped off her tongue before she had a second to consider it's repercussions: "You don't like the twins?"
Zach met her gaze, he shrugged. "You could say that."
"Why?"
"Hmph," Like a bubble that had been waiting to pop, Zach's chest swelled and he sat up straighter. "The Weasley twins are the two most arrogant pricks to wander the corridors since the founders themselves. They've got so much smoke blown up their arses it's a wonder how they don't float away."
Surprise forced it's way out of Marigold's body through a disbelieving laugh. Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates and she couldn't help but think that if either of the twins had heard what just came out of Zach's mouth that he would be bound to a bed in the hospital wing until they graduated.
"They're ... definitely confident." She struggled to find an answer that wouldn't cause tension. Zach's response had made her uncomfortable but she knew she shouldn't have asked in the first place, Fred and George were still her friends - if nothing more.
"Confident? They're egotistical prats." He bit into his toasted sandwich, unfazed. "But you seem keen on them, so maybe we should change the subject."
Marigold couldn't fight the urge any longer, her gaze skipped back to their table.
She immediately regretted it. Lisa's icy pale face had disappeared into the crook of George's neck, her thin fingers lingering gently around his jaw. Marigold watched in horror as George's hand curled around the neck of her coat, lip tucked between his teeth.
The vision burned into her mind, like a steaming brandishing-iron searing the soft pink flesh of her brain. She looked back down to her plate. She was only a few bites off from finishing her toasted sandwich but suddenly felt like violently vomiting it all up again. "We're just good friends." She responded, weakly.
Zach nodded, he hadn't noticed her change in demeanour. "Anyways, I ran into Maxine on my way to meet you by the Hall. You know how curious she is, asked me a million questions. Asked if we were gonna become, you know ... a couple."
Marigold's head whipped up to meet his gaze, he was watching her expectantly. Her mind was churning like a cauldron in the dungeons. How had her day turned so dreadfully unpleasant?
Opting to take the path of least resistance, Marigold forced out a casual chuckle. "Max, she's too inquisitive for her own good." She shook her head, taking her teaspoon and mixing her tea unnecessarily, "Always trying to see things that aren't there."
"Oh." Zach was quiet a moment, "Yeah."
Picking up the menu and grasping desperately for a change in conversation, Marigold spoke again. "Want some cake? Elin said that they make the best marmalade cake here."
Zach pursed his lips and for a moment Marigold thought he was going to try reintroduce the topic, but he nodded. "Not a fan of marmalade. Do they have pumpkin?"
He took the menu from her hands and Marigold grabbed the distraction as another opportunity to sneak a glance at George's table. Angelina and Fred had their faces hidden by a large menu (Marigold could only imagine what they were doing behind it), when she looked to Lisa - the short Ravenclaw girl was talking animatedly, smiling and waving her hands around. She looked so beautiful. Draped in a neatly knitted blue scarf and a matching beanie, tufts of soft white hair peeking out from beneath it. Blood red lipstick stained her lips.
When she looked, Marigold met George's eyes dead on. His expression was unreadable.
On impulse, Marigold was about to smile and wave - be polite, as she had been brought up to behave - but her eyes caught the smudge of cherry red lipstick staining his jaw and her breath caught in her throat.
Seething hot jealousy clawed it's way up her neck until she felt like her whole head was ringing. Marigold turned away from him, intent on ignoring his gaze.
Something was alive and writhing around in her stomach. It didn't help when Zach's hand caught hers again, he was watching her from over the menu. "You ready to order?"
Resisting the initial impulse to pull her hand from his, Marigold allowed her mouth to turn up at the corners. "Yeah ... yeah, of course." She could feel still feel the heat of a gaze on her face and in a stroke of bitterness, it motivated her to slip her fingers between Zach's so that they were intertwined. "I just wanted to say thanks for asking me out today. I'm enjoying it ... a lot."
Zach smiled then, bigger than she'd seen all afternoon. The raven-haired boy leaned forward on his elbows over the small table that separated them so that their faces were far closer than they'd been just a few seconds before.
"I'm glad." She noticed his gaze slip from her eyes down to her mouth.
A barely formed thought flashed across her mind, am I really going to do this?
But Zach had already made the decision for the both of them and was inching slowly closer. Letting her mind fall blank, Marigold's eyes shut and she felt the brush of his nose against hers ... the warmth of his breath fanning her lips—
An earsplitting crash and a shrill yelp made Marigold jump so hard that her and Zach's foreheads collided with enough force to knock her back against her chair.
"Ow, fuck!"
She pressed her cool hand gingerly against her throbbing head, turning irritated in search of the source of the noise.
Just a few feet from their table, shards of what Marigold could only assume was previously a mug lay in a pool of steaming hot chocolate that flooded the floor around Fred and George's table.
Angelina was watching George incredulously, "George! What the hell was that?"
Lisa's eyes were transfixed on the puddle, "My hot chocolate ..."
Fred was watching George, unspeaking, while George fidgeted uncomfortably - reaching back and scratching the back of his neck unnecessarily. "Sorry, I'll get you another."
He met Marigold's eyes. She looked away.
Across from her, Zach was assessing the bump on his forehead. "Didn't realise you were so hard-headed, Goldie."
She chuckled lightly, feeling her own swollen skin: "I could say the same to you."
An awkward silence fell between them. They watched as the server wizard returned, whipping out his wand and chanting some incantation under his breath to clean up the mess of hot chocolate before promising to bring another.
"You wanna get out of here?" Zach surprised Marigold by speaking first. "We could swing by Honeydukes, if you want? It'll give you a chance to buy those Peppermint Toads for Roger."
Very glad that Zach had decided to forgo mentioning the fact that they'd almost just kissed, Marigold smiled and nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good."
They tossed some galleons onto the table, enough for their bill and stood to leave.
Marigold had no other choice but to wave Angelina goodbye, she also sent Fred a friendly wink, but avoided looking at George altogether. Marigold knew if she had to look and see Lisa giggling up at him again that she wouldn't be able to leave with Zach.
The door jingled behind them, shutting on George and Lisa Daniels.
__________
"Hey, Lisa?" Angelina was eyeing her across the table with concern, "You want me to come with you to the bathroom and we can try get some of that hot chocolate out before it stains your top?"
Lisa looked up from where she was fruitlessly dabbing her white turtleneck with serviettes. "That would be great, thanks Angelina."
Angelina nodded, "Yeah of course," she looked to the boys, sending George an annoyed glance. "We'll be right back."
George watched the pair disappear between the tables and into the hallway near the back of the shop.
"Well, that was smooth."
He ran a hand through his hair, his heart pumping a thousand beats a minute. "What else was I supposed to do? They were about to kiss!"
"Well, if Ang didn't know you liked Marigold before: she definitely does now."
He glanced to the empty seat where Marigold had just stood from. "Shit."
__________
The sun had already slipped behind the North Tower of the castle when Marigold stumbled, arm looped around Zach's, into the archway of the corridor towards the common room.
Zach tossed up another Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean into the air, leaning back to catch it in his mouth. Marigold watched his face twist in disgust and she laughed, "What flavour is it?"
He swallowed loudly and with great struggle, holding a precautionary hand over his mouth. "Sardine. Or maybe soap."
The corridors were busy, there were only a few more minutes until the gate separating Hogsmeade and Hogwarts was locked for the night and the stragglers were making their way up to the castle before it shut.
Marigold had found it a lot easier to enjoy her time with Zach once she'd lost the looming presence of George. The two had stopped by Honeydukes, she'd bought Roger his condolence gift and a box of toffees for her and Elin to snack on in their dorm. Although hesitant to admit it, Marigold had enjoyed her afternoon.
She watched him, how the corridor light reflected off his black locks. Zach smiled, offering her a jelly bean.
"Oh, no thanks. I'd rather not."
He laughed, pulling her closer to his side and Marigold allowed her head to slip onto his shoulder. They walked for a few feet, unspeaking.
For what felt like the hundredth time since she crossed the doorway leaving Madam Puddifoot's behind her, the image of Lisa curled up against George shone behind her eyes. It hurt as much as if they were standing in front of her.
From where her head was resting, she could see the bottom of Zach's jaw. She wondered if it wasn't just easier to try to move on. To tuck her feelings into a crevice deep in her mind, as she had done with Cedric, and move on.
Zach wasn't a bad guy, she could learn to like him if she tried, maybe even one day love him.
"Goldie!"
A familiar voice called over the crowd from behind them and Marigold turned to find Angelina near the end of the corridor, smiling and waving her over. The twins stood beside her, they were talking animatedly with each other.
Marigold hesitated. She didn't want to. But as it always was, the pull of George's presence was too strong and she looked to meet Zach's eyes.
"I should ..." She motioned towards Angelina and Zach nodded.
"Yeah, sure."
"I enjoyed today. A lot." Marigold's lips pulled into a smile and her eyes crinkled around the corners. She leaned forward and placed the gentlest of pecks to his cool cheek. "Thanks."
Zach nodded, meeting her eyes. "Anything for you, cap."
Marigold offered him a last fond look before slipping her arm from his, turning and twisting between the flow of oncoming students towards Angelina and the twins.
She was pulled roughly into Angelina's arms for a hug and Marigold chuckled over her shoulder, letting her hand rest at the small of Angelina's back. "Someone's chirpy." She commented, patting her and pulling away.
Angelina blushed, glancing up to Fred. "Just had a good day, is all."
"Hey gents." Marigold greeted, trying her best to avoid looking George in the eyes - opting to grin up at Fred. "Glad to hear you guys had fun."
Marigold tried to ignore how hyper-aware she was of Lisa's absence.
"Congrats on this morning." Fred quipped, "I don't know how you guys pulled it off in that rain, but hats off to you lot."
Marigold beamed, with all that had happened, she'd just about forgotten about her win that morning. "Thanks Freddie. I'm going to be shaking water out my ears for days to come."
From the corner of her eye, Marigold could see George's mouth opening to speak but he was cut off when Angelina took her by the arm. "I wanted to hear how your date with Zach went, I know you and him have had your moments in the past--"
"It went amazing. I loved it." She could feel the weight of George's gaze. "I was thinking about asking him out again, maybe when we're allowed to go down to Hogsmeade again."
It was a fib but Marigold wanted to say something, anything, to soothe the ache in her chest. Not that George would care if she saw Zach again or didn't, but it made her feel slightly better.
"Oh, is that so?" For the first time, George spoke up.
Marigold was forced to meet his eyes. She instantly regretted it: the look on his face almost turned her to melted candle wax, it was stern in a way she'd never seen it before.
"Yeah." She was forced into prolonging the lie. Before she could bite her tongue, the next question flew from her lips. "Where's Lisa?"
George shrugged, "Gone to bed. Must be exhausted, we had a fun day. If you know what I mean." He leered down at her, and not for the first time that day, Marigold wished she could punch him in the face.
"I can see that." She could feel her face reddening in a vile mix of jealousy and embarrassment. "You've got a little bit of ..." She motioned to the side of his neck where Marigold could still see the stain of red lipstick. George reached up and swiped effortlessly at it. It was still there.
He stared down at her. The thought of how moments before her lips were pressed sweetly against Zach's cheek fueled the scalding fire of jealousy that was burning in his chest. George was seeing red and his words fell from his lips like searing sparks leaping out from the depths of the flames.
"I'm surprised you don't have any hickeys of your own." He dared, "Looked like you and Zach couldn't keep your hands off of each other."
"Oh, definitely." Her tone was venomous. "After we left the coffee shop, Zach pulled me into the alleyway behind Zonko's and snogged me senseless."
Another lie.
If someone had told him that smoke was protruding from his ears in that moment, George would have believed them.
"He did?" Angelina's eyes were wide in surprise, "Why didn't you say--"
"Sorry, Ang. I'm really tired." Marigold didn't look even remotely tired. "I'm gonna head to bed. I'll see you guys in the morning."
Angelina's expression was twisting into one of concern, "Uhm, alright--"
"Me too." In those few moments, neither George or Marigold had broken the eye contact between them. "See you in the morning."
And like an evanescent storm, both of them turned on their heels and marched, jealous and angry, back towards their respective common rooms.
Angelina watched Marigold's retreating figure, shock painted across her face. "What ... what just happened?"
Fred shook his head, mind reeling from the encounter that he'd just witnessed. "Two fucking idiots just happened."
__________
i had so much fun writing this chapter :) a little angst never hurt anybody ...