❝ candies and crushes ❞

The streets of Hogsmeade are teeming with student life as everyone ventures out of the castle to enjoy the spookiest day of the year. Carina, Alicia, and Angelina hurry into the nearest shop, Zonko's, eager for the warm reprieve it offers their exposed legs from the cold wind.

They're in nearly identical outfits, with respective red, green, and yellow blazers and the skirts and knee-high socks to match. The idea had been proposed by Alicia for them to go as the Heathers from the muggle movie released only a few years prior and it took very little convincing for Carina and Angelina to agree to it.

Despite the fact that there will be a Halloween party in the Gryffindor common room later that night, the girls wish to enjoy their costumes for a longer period of time instead of only a couple of hours. No one else is in the holiday spirit, preferring to stay warm over fashionably festive.

The trio browses through the joke products, occasionally picking one up to antagonize the others with it. Though the store is quite loud, the silence between the girls as they shop eats away at Carina, growing deafening as she mulls over the realization she's been keeping a secret from her friends for the past couple weeks.

"I have a secret," Carina finally says, immediately capturing the undivided attention of the two Chasers as they drop their nose-biting teacups to face her. She takes a deep breath and wonders if she will regret this decision but spits it out anyways. "IhavefeelingsforGeorge."

"Come again?"

"I have feelings for George," she repeats, growing quieter with each word and causing the girls to have to lean in close in order for the to hear her. "Please don't make me say it again."

"George Weasley?" Angelina questions. "As in the boy who is currently wearing a Jack-o'-lantern on his head?"

She looks outside the shop's window to see Fred, George, and Lee wearing carved pumpkins like they're festive hats. In unison, they jump forward and smash their heads together, causing pumpkin pieces to fly in every direction.

"The very same," Carina confirms, removing her hands from her yellow blazers so that she can hide the blush fanning across her cheeks. "It's terrible, isn't it?"

"No, not at all," Angelina reassures her. "I just didn't think he was your type."

"At least my type isn't professors," she defends herself, worried as to what she assumed her type to be.

"I called him cute once!" Angelina whisper shouts, suddenly in a hurry to leave the shop as people throw odd glances their way.

"I could have went my whole life without hearing you say my uncle is attractive," Carina huffs, not very eager to follow her back into the cold.

"Don't act like you both didn't fawn over Lockhart last year."

"We're focusing on Carina right now," Alicia changes the subject, refusing to let Angelina win the argument.

She takes the lead, guiding them into the Three Broomsticks next door to the shop so that they're not outside for long. It's much louder in the tavern than it has been only moments ago, and anyone wanting to converse with those nearby has to shout in order to be heard.

Carina slips through the sea of adults and teenagers alike, slamming her hand down on a table to claim it only seconds before Blaise Zabini reaches it. The Slytherin sneers but, nevertheless, walks away to find a different seat, earning the girl celebratory high-fives as her friends catch up.

"Tell us everything," Alicia demands, her and Angelina sitting on either side of Carina and scooting their chairs impossibly close so they won't miss a single word. "When did you first realize?"

"That day Flitwick gave us detention."

"That was forever ago!" Angelina shrieks. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Because saying it makes it real!" Carina argues, growing flustered under their intense stares. "I wasn't ready to admit it to myself yet."

"Do you think he feels the same?" Angelina presses on, eager for all of the details.

"Of course he does," Alicia answers for her. "He looks at her like she's hung the moon. I'd say he's been head over heels for her for months, if not longer."

The interrogation continues, growing more intense with each question they can think of. It's stopped only by Hermione and Ron walking in, asking to sit with them since every other space is occupied. Without his permission slip signed, Harry is unable to join them for the day, and Carina makes a mental note to bring him something back from their trip.

The conversation changes drastically, shifting to Professor Lupin's latest class and it's Angelina's turn to be flustered as her friends struggle to contain their giggles. When the rest of the group grows bored of Angelina and Hermione ranting about the latest homework, Ron suggests a game of wizard's chess that Alicia and Carina eagerly agree to, teaming up to defeat the younger boy.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the room, a similar conversation concerning crushes is occurring between a different trio.

"Carina Potter?" Lee repeats incredulously. "As in the girl who is currently fighting your little brother over a game of wizard's chess?"

George looks over just in time to see Carina knock several game pieces to the floor and threaten to do the same to Ron, punches very clearly ready to be thrown between the two.

"The very same," he confirms, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. "She's lovely, isn't she?"

"Took you long enough to admit it," Fred says, not shocked by the news in the slightest. "But could you do me a favor and not tell Harry until after Christmas? I'm not losing this bloody bet."

"You won't have to worry about that if she and Ron kill each other right now," Lee points out, watching as the environment surrounding the duo grows more hostile.

"It's only life-threatening when the argument is over quidditch," George says, dismissing his concern nonchalantly.

"Honestly, I'm surprised neither of them lost a limb after what happened when we were twelve," Fred agrees.

"What-"

"We're focusing on George right now," Fred cuts Lee off before he can ask, turning his attention to his twin. "If you stare any longer, it's going to be creepy instead of cute."

"I was looking for the butterbeers we ordered," he lies, blushing in embarrassment.

"If you say so."

"So when are you going to tell her?" Lee asks.

"Never," George answers adamantly, much to his friends' confusion. "I don't want to ruin our friendship if she doesn't feel the same way."

"Then what's your plan?" Fred presses, genuinely debating hitting his brother for being so dense.

"I think you should just forget about your feelings entirely," Lee suggests.

"Lee!"

"What? I'm only being honest." He holds up his hands in defense as Fred aims to hit him instead. "She just left with Cedric Diggory. You don't stand a chance!"