Friends | ?????? ???????

year 4.

Third person pov.

over the summer Hallie and George had sent letters back and forth more than three times a week. keeping each other updated and also saying how much they had missed seeing each other everyday.
Hallie had not once thought about George in a romantic way. but now, that's all she thought about. she denied having feelings because her heart didn't churn in her chest when she thought about him, but she couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like if she did. she assumed that it was probably just hormones.

her body had changed over the summer, she had finally got her teenage body but she wasn't so sure she loved it all that much.

George had of course grown taller, how could he even grow more. he was already a giant (said by Hallie and Sage in agreement.)
he still thought of Hallie, he couldn't stop.
he really was considering putting himself in
St Mungos for insanity.
he didn't even know if Hallie felt the same way, and that was eating him alive.
he contemplated just sending a letter, confessing his feelings. he wrote the whole thing, read over it, let it sit in his room for three days then stuffed it somewhere and decided he wouldn't risk their friendship.
but he truly felt like he was going mental.

-

Hallies pov.

September first had rolled around the corner and i was walking around the train station looking for Sage.
we had agreed to meet right where i had been standing.
i had to fight off my mother because she wanted to meet George so bad. i told her that i was already late (which was a lie.)
to be completely honest. i was nervous as hell.
usually i would be so excited to see George, and of course i was but i had changed, not just physically, but mentally.
and i couldn't look at him without a romantic thought going through my head.

"Hallie!" i heard Sages voice shout loudly, her footsteps approaching from behind me.
i turned to see Sage who was jogging over with an owl cage in hand and her trunk.
she had of course changed as well.
her body had taken its teenage shape, her hair looked well tamed and beautiful as it always did, and i had even noticed how she was wearing a bit of makeup.
we quickly hugged each other, complimenting each others outfits and looks.
it felt just the same as it did the last time we saw each other which i was incredibly grateful for.

"excited to see Fred then?" i asked Sage as we walked down to the train. Sages cheeks had turned pink.
"we sent letters all summer. and i think he was flirting with me!" Sage said excitedly.
"really?!" i shared her excitement and she went on to explain the things he said. she was giggling like a mad man.

we found our way onto the train and into an empty compartment. we put up our bags and sat down across from each other.
we continued to chat about Fred, then about what we did that summer.
i hadn't told her about the weird thoughts i had about George. because, i wasn't completely sure what it was yet. and i didn't want to sound crazy. "oh yes i think about what it would be like if we held hands and dated but i don't like him" she would look at me like i was mad.

"i think i know these people" said a voice from the door of the compartment.
Sage and I turned our heads quickly and saw Fred and George standing in the doorway.
Sage got up and gave Fred a hug, looking at me with raised eyebrows. his voice had gotten deeper and i could tell how flustered she was just by her face.
George squeezed past the two hugging and we both gave each other an awkward hug.
i didn't mean for it to be awkward but, it felt weird after all the things i thought about him.
i don't know why he hugged me awkwardly in return.

i gave Fred a side hug and we all sat down. George a bit stiff next to me.
it was awkward for a bit until Fred had began cracking jokes to cut the tension.
we all soon warmed up, which was good since we were going to be in this train for 9 hours.
my mind was distracted from the thoughts about George and it felt like we were back in third year on our way to platform 9 3/4 for summer.

-

the train ride was great, we talked for hours, played games, ate things from the trolley, some of us read, some of us slept and then we had finally arrived at Hogwarts.
we all got into a carriage together and rode up to the school.
we had to separate to put our things up and to eat the welcome feast in The Great Hall.

after the feast, Sage and I walked around for a bit and found ourselves in the library. she talked more about Fred, specifically his voice change.
i was back to thinking about George. why was he the one acting strange? i didn't understand it. we sent many letters then it's awkward between the both of us when we see each other?
i guess maybe this is the age when you start to think about your romantic feelings towards others.
but, i didn't like George like that. that's what i keep telling myself, but it doesn't seem to be working because i'm still thinking about him.

Sage and I went up to the Hufflepuff common room after a bit of reading in the library and hung out with each other for the rest of the night.
we went up to our room, talked more about our summer, more about what Fred said in his letters. i contemplated telling Sage once again about my George thoughts. but for some reason i didn't want her to tell me that i had fancied George. because, i didn't. and, what if i did and he didn't. i couldn't stop overthinking about it so i had decided to go to bed and think about it more in the morning.

1056 words.
4/21/2023