the kiss list, adrian pucey
𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 -𝒇𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟑

chapter forty, A LOSER'S GAIN

✧ ━━━ · ✦ · ━━━ ✧

     IT CAME AS NO PROBLEM FOR BIANCA to decide what she wanted to do for her half of her date with Adrian Pucey. Yes, yes, a date. From the moment he suggested the idea that it wasn't just him that planned the whole date, but that both of them input with something they believe the other will enjoy, Bianca had no struggle coming up with an idea. There were quite a few technical issues that she would have to sort, but she was determined to iron them out because there was no way she was doing anything other than the amazing day out that she was planning. She just had to wait a few weeks until it was possible . . .

     But until then, it was Adrian up first, and Bianca couldn't control her excitement.

     "I don't think it's fair," Lee Jordan sulked, from Katie Bell's bed. Everyone had decided to gather in the trio of Gryffindors dorm room to assess the situation regarding Bianca's first date. After Maxine, her two roommates were of course the first people she told about her and Adrian. It was no news to them that Bianca turned out to be in love with the boy from Slytherin, but it was clear that they were just as happy as the Hufflepuff seemed to be.

     "Lee Jordan, can't you just be happy for Bianca?" Oliver rolled his eyes, his arms laced around Katie's as the two of them stood at the foot of her bed. "It's not her fault you're an unsociable saddo."

     "Easy for you to say, Wood." Lee replied. "You've got a girlfriend."

     Katie's forehead creased, "Did he just ignore the insult-"

     "I'm just saying," Lee interrupted, "that it's not hard being the only single one in the group."

     Alicia shrugged, "Fred and George are single."

     Lee's face contorted to one of distaste, whilst the redheaded twins immaturely fist-bumped, "Fred and George are undateable twats."

     Oliver cleared his throat, "Isn't George screwing Mile-"

     "Ladies, ladies," George cut the Keeper off before any more information could be shared, but it was too late since the rest of the group were already sharing dubious looks, and Fred couldn't help but snort, "let's play nice, shall we?" George's face had run red, no matter how casual he tried to play it.

     Angelina got up from her mattress, "George don't act mature just because you got outed," she teased. "So can you all grow up, please? Bianca's got a big date, and she doesn't need you lot making her feel like crap."

     Bianca didn't know when the right time to speak for the first time was, but she thought now was better than ever, "Thank you, Angie," she said. "But it's okay. Lee, we'll find you someone. And boys, you're not undateable twats, and I'm sure many girls or boys would be honoured to date you."

     Lee was not convinced, clearly, and sunk further into the many pillows on Katie's bed. He brooded the same words, "Easy for you to say, you've got Adrian-"

     "And that's enough," Leo wanted the final word, and he wasn't going to let his best friend feel sympathy for a moping Lee Jordan when she had bigger things to think about. He pushed off one of the posters of the blonde's bed, and approached Bianca, offering out his arm. "Bi, would you like me to give you away?" he said, his face sinking like a proud dad, experiencing a bitter-sweet moment with his only daughter.

     Bianca looked at him equivocally, "It's a first date, not a wedding."

     Leo looked at her seriously, "Still a first date. Don't invalidate that, please."

     It took a while for Bianca to finally get out of the room. The group of Gryffindors were either arguing over Lee's "selfishness" (Bianca didn't see it that way and was more preoccupied with the fact that she was going to be late for her date) or discussing George's love life, much to George's displeasure ─ he eventually buried himself in pillows and vouched to not move until he was suffocating.

     But when she did finally escape her own dorm room, only accompanied by Leo, since it was probably best if the rest of them remained where they were just in case George did end up passing out, the nerves finally overtook her, in a current of sickness and a series of losing her footing.

     Leo gave her all the support he could provide, and that support, was him reassuring her that "all will be okay because this is meant to be." And Bianca didn't need much more help after that. Because she believed him, and so, any surviving anxiety left, crumbled, and she left him in the common room and headed to where Adrian had instructed her to go.

     It was a fine Saturday ─ clear sky, slight breeze, but warmer than most. She was just a little confused at the location she was told to go to at precisely 12 O'Clock: the Quidditch Pitch. Surely occupied, and usually quite muddy, at this time of year, despite the current weather.

     Adrian was waiting at the entrance to the briefing room, where he had heard countless Marcus Flint "we better fucking win" talks, leaning up against the door frame, a slip of black fabric hanging low in his right hand.

     Bianca felt a little less lost when she saw his face light up at the sight of her. She fiddled with her fingers, and offered him a wobbly smile, "Hi."

     "Hi," Adrian took a step closer and held out the fabric to her. His smile had faded and suddenly he went a little too serious for a first date, "I need you to put this on."

     Bianca couldn't help but chuckle as she took the cloth from his hand. It was a long strip of sold black fabric, and laughed properly when she realized what it was, "You need me to put a blindfold on?"

     Adrian shrugged kindly, "It's for surprise purposes."

     With a sigh, Bianca tied the blindfold around her eyes, and everything went black. As suspected. Her breath hitched, but any anxiety died down when she felt the soft touch of Adrian's hand slipping into hers. The next second, he was leading her carefully to somewhere unknown, and Bianca had very quickly forgotten everything she already knew about the Quidditch pitch. 

     She guesses she was walking in a straight line the entire time, but she couldn't be sure. The texture of the ground beneath her changed from concrete to some kind of more flimsy, wooden surface, to a soft blanket which is where Adrian stopped.

     His hand shifted from hers to the fabric across her eyes. Bianca felt his body move behind her, till his breath tickled to the top of her head. 

     He untied the knot, whispered "Ready to be amazed?" rather cringely for Bianca's liking, and the blindfold fell to her neck, to reveal what he had been planning for six years.

     A knitted orange blanket, with hints of ivory, lay flat on the not-muddy-at-all pitch, two woven baskets on either side. An array of fruit and biscuits and cake lay on display, each delight placed so intricately. The stadium stood boldly around them, sheltering the two of them from the outside world, and suddenly, they really were in their very own little bubble. The sky was a perfect blue, that not even the few fluffy clouds that hovered near and far scared them. For some peculiar reason, January had not disappointed.

     Bianca spun towards the boy, and bit her lip, "You did all this?"

     Adrian shook his head, "No, I got Marcus to set it up." 

     Her smile faltered, and Adrian cracked a laugh, "'Course I did it all," he said after a few moments of silence. "What, do you think I'm not romantic enough to lay out a picnic all by myself?"

     Bianca sighed in relief, and let her grin fully take over her face, as she approached the picnic, at which Adrian was already sat, opening up a bottle of orange juice, and preparing two plates. "No," she said sweetly, "I've just never seen this side of you, that's all."

     "Well, then," Adrian smirked. "There's much to learn."

     They spent the rest of the afternoon, baking in the sun, eating delicious treats (of which Adrian had made himself!) and telling each other little details they had never learned in all their years as enemies ─ family-related things, childhood memories, their favourites and least favourites (controversial to say the least). Including how Adrian had secured the Quidditch Pitch for an entire Saturday ─ he said he had to pull quite a few strings. And Bianca learned things about Adrian, that she would have never guessed:

     "You have a sister?" she gawked at the boy, who lay casually across the blanket, occasionally picking a grape from the branch.

     He had a mouthful of fruit when he nodded, "Uh-huh."

     Bianca couldn't quite believe it. Her hair was blocking her eyes, but she didn't care enough to brush it out of the way, because she was too busy ogling at Adrian and his very random statement, and very nonchalant way of sharing information that was completely new to Bianca but shouldn't be. "Was this not relevant knowledge?"

     Adrian shrugged, genuinely unaffected, but silently amused by her gaping expression, "It's not really important," he said. "I'm also not really sure how I would have incorporated that into everyday conversation. Besides, she ran off with some Muggle nurse. They're living in Sweden and I think I'm an uncle."

     Bianca quite literally gasped, "Adrian, oh my."

     "What?" he chuckled, "You didn't tell me you had a cousin at our school," he ate another grape, and Bianca still hadn't moved an inch from her cross-legged position, out of pure shock.

     Bianca frowned, "Not exactly exciting news, is it?"

     "My point exactly."

     One thing that stood out to Bianca, however, was something he had lied to her about. Something that baffled her to the point speech was impossible. And it wasn't even a bad lie, just a surprising one:

     "There's no way," she shook her head violently, and it was impossible for Adrian not to laugh hysterically. He understood the reasoning behind her pure shock, but that wasn't going to stop him from finding it amusing.

     Adrian held his fist to his mouth, as if to block out any further laughter, "My mum entered me into competitions," he said, his shoulders popping as he chuckled.

     Bianca was yet to smile she was still so dumbfounded, "Did you win any?" she asked in amazement.

     "A few," he shrugged, snapping a dry cracker in half, "but I gave it up. It became boring. Always was, to be honest."

     Bianca was offended, astounded, and incredibly happy all at once ─ Adrian knew how to play chess this entire time.

     "So I wasted my free time teaching you something that you had been playing since you were a kid?" Her head lolled to the side.

     "I wouldn't say wasted," Adrian replied, before smirking and taking a bite out of the now cheese-covered cracker. "It was bonding. And technically, I had forgotten a lot of the rules, I just didn't tell you that everything came back to me and that I actually played dumb for a while just to humour you. But Chess is a complicated game. The last proper match I played, I was eight."

     A smile had finally tugged at her lips, and Bianca had decided that being pleasantly surprised was the best way to react right now. "Who taught you?" she asked.

     "My Grandpa. But you're the better teacher."

     And it was moments like these, that Bianca was perplexed by their relationship. How they had spent so much time together, whether that be hating each other, tolerating each other, or denying their love, but, in some sense, were still strangers. And that didn't matter to either of them, because there was time. There is still plenty of time to learn all of those supposedly unimportant details, and Bianca was very excited to see where they led.

     Likewise, Adrian learned things about Bianca, that he couldn't possibly have imagined:

     "Your middle name is Janet?!" His eyes were wide, and he had bolted upright from his once slumped position.

     Unfortunately for Adrian, Bianca shot down any exciting thoughts from his head rather quickly, "It has nothing to do with the Jackson siblings," she stated bluntly.

     To which Adrian sulked, "Oh."

     It may have been a mistake to eat various crackers with cheese and apples and little cakes, of which were slightly burned in the middle, but Bianca didn't have the heart to tell him, since Adrian had other plans as well as a sweet picnic on the Quidditch Pitch. There was an actual reason behind the location of their date, and Bianca had been wondering about it since she arrived.

      Adrian abruptly got up from the blanket, and dusted off his trousers from the few crumbs that had settled, "I have one more surprise," he said after chewing and swallowing. He bent down slightly and held out his hand for her to take.

     "Oh God," Bianca whimpered teasingly. 

     "Don't Oh God me," he smirked, edging his hand closer to her, encouraging her to follow him wherever he planned to take her. "I'm very good at surprises I'll have you know."

     Bianca rolled her eyes and he heaved her to her feet, before muttering a supposed-to-be-discreet "Accio Broomstick" because he didn't want to give it away straight away. But Adrian didn't end up being all that quiet, and Bianca heard him before his broom had even started flying in their direction and soaring into Adrian's hand.

     She scoffed in amusement, and glared at the stick in his hands and then the self-satisfied look on his face, "A broom?" One of her eyebrows lifted.

     Adrian shrugged, and he suddenly became very nervous. And although it is their first date, that's not how this one was supposed to go. It should be easy-sailing. But no, Adrian was staring at the ground sheepishly and picking at the wood. "I always wanted to be the one to teach you how to play Quidditch and-"

     "I know how to play, Adrian, I'm not-"

     "Can you not ruin this incredibly romantic moment please?"

     Bianca enveloped her lips together to smother her escaping snort. "Right, sorry. Proceed."

     "Thank you," Adrian said, a hint of playfulness in his tone, like their short interaction of bickering made all his nerves just dissipate. "Now, as I was saying," he continued. "I always wanted to be the one to teach you how to properly play Quidditch, and I have my doubts that Wood did any good, so I thought, maybe we could have some fun now."

     "You dork."

     Bianca didn't actually find it dorky at all. It was sweet, and a lot more enjoyable than she thought it ever could be. Flying with Oliver was (as much as she hates to admit it) a ruse and a mean one at that. And sure, she picked up a few tips from Oliver, and he is certainly a great teacher, but Bianca will happily confess, that she paid a lot more attention with Adrian by her side.

     He effortlessly guided her around the pitch, making sure she was in no danger at all. He let her use his broom instead of some manky one from the shed. Bianca appreciated this the most, considering Adrian cradles that broom like a baby.

     Once she got the hang of it, he even played as Keeper and went easy on her, so she scored a few goals. And of all the times Adrian has thought about playing Quidditch with Bianca Larsson, this was so much better than he could have ever imagined.

     And when the sun said its goodbye in the form of a beautiful sunset, that bathed the Hogwarts Castle and entire pitch in golden rays and orangey hues, and when they were too tired to go on, they collapsed once more on the blanket in the middle, and stared up at the sky, and watched it blue turn to black.

     "So. As we know," Adrian said, "I won the bet."

     Bianca turned her head to look at him, and how the last of the sun illuminated his cheekbones and defined his jawline as he lay so still and peaceful beside her, and her forehead creased, "I wouldn't say you won-"

     Adrian ignored her interjection, "And as my prize," he drawled, "I wish to know how you did it."

     Bianca returned her gaze into the hazy sky above them, "How I kissed so many?"

     Adrian hummed, and she felt his shoulder budge beside her, as he nodded his head, "Uh-hm."

     Bianca took in a deep breath, sucking in the cold air, and soaking up the freshness of the atmosphere, "Okay," she sang, slightly apprehensive to tell Adrian how The Kiss List played out. And then she remembered that they were on a date, and she noticed his reassuring smile, and suddenly, she wasn't so reluctant anymore. "Anthony Rickett, Chess Tournament."

     "Ah."

     "George Weasley, poker game."

     Adrian cocked a brow, "Interesting."

     "Oliver Wood, Quidditch pitch."

     He pretended to shudder dramatically, "Ew."

     Bianca chuckled to herself, and felt his hand graze hers, "Malcolm Preece, Hogsmeade."

     "Next!" he cried.

     "And Jason Samuels," she stated finally. "Well, I asked him."

     Adrian sighed, "Yet another rule break," he tutted. "But I'm okay with that one since it made you realize how in love with me you were."

     Bianca rolled onto her side and Adrian followed suit. His breath warmed her face, and their hands overlapped, "I never said that," she said.

     "Nah," Adrian sang, "but I'm smart enough to read between the lines."

     Bianca took a moment to welcome all of these new thoughts. How she had lost the bet that once consumed her everything, to the point that it was so childish it was almost embarrassing, and yet had she really lost? Stepping back now, from their picturesque scene; the epitome of romance; a safe escape from reality, Bianca doesn't think she ever lost anything. Not really. Sure, the bet, but when she realizes what she's gained from it, none of that matters in the slightest.

     Adrian lay back on his back, and folded his arms behind his head, "So, when do I meet the parents?" he questioned cockily, making Bianca cackle. "I'm loved by all, so don't worry if you think there's any chance they won't like me."

     She patted his leg jokily, "Slow your horses there bud."

     Adrian pushed off from his hands and popped an elbow to rest on, "My horses are going at a perfectly respectable pace, thank you very much," he defended.

     "Well, if you insist," Bianca said, mirroring his position and resting her head into her hand, "how about you accompany me to a wedding in summer?"

     "I'm sorry. I just need freeze time for a second," he blinked a few times just to exaggerate his disbelief. "You're asking me to be your date to a wedding? In public? For real?"

     Adrian's mouth had fallen open a little, and Bianca reached out and closed it humorously, "Hey, you just said that's what you wanted," she countered.

     "I know, I know, but you still asked me, and I need time to appreciate that."

     "If you don't want to come, that's perfectly okay," Bianca pretended to busy herself with the hem of her jumper, with a look of false sulk, "I'll just go with my cousin. At least she won't-"

     "No, no," Adrian cut her off, lying flat once more, playing it off all cool and casual, whilst his stomach was doing tiny little somersaults inside, "that won't be necessary. I'll go."

     "Great," Bianca slipped her arm underneath her and lay flat beside him. "July 30th. But be warned, you will be entering Muggle territory."

     "Oh, now I'm definitely going."

     Adrian couldn't be happier with how his half of their first date was playing out. He had been secretly dreaming of this since he was eleven and now that it was really happening, his brain had forgotten how to function.

     "So what's the plan for your half of this date?" he asked, hoping that since some time had passed since he last questioned her on her date plan, he might have more luck this time around.

     Bianca plumped her lips and lifted her chin, "I can't tell you that."

     "Fine," he grunted. "Will you at least give me a hint."

     Bianca thought about what she could tell him ─ something that didn't give too much away, but would also shut him up. "We can't do it for another three weeks," she said flatly.

     "What?"

     "It'll be worth it, I promise."

     Adrian nodded his head and bit his lip, before cupping her cheek and drawing his lips to hers. And as sweet as their kiss was, Adrian lost his balance and toppled over, only to land on top of Bianca, and they laughed until it got too cold. 

➼

     THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO BIANCA'S perfectly planned date were excruciating for Adrian. He didn't know how to act, he didn't know what this meant for their relationship status, he didn't even know if he was allowed to kiss her until these three weeks were done.

     And unlucky for him, the three weeks in preparation for first-date-part-two did not fly by, with plenty of kisses, and public displays of affection. Bianca said no to labels until her half of the date was done. And reluctantly, Adrian agreed, so long as this date was worthwhile. But that didn't make it any less difficult to deal with. He suffered in silence ─ she was not his girlfriend, and Adrian hated that with every bone in his body. Because to him, she should be.

     And so, one day, he waited for her outside of her Muggle Studies lesson and was resolute to change just that. The possible rejection and humiliation that follows that same rejection didn't even occur to him as he followed her head of swaying yellow hair outside to the grassland near Hagrid's hut because he only had one thing on his mind: her saying yes.

     "Bianca."

     There were two other people pushed up against her sides, the three girls walking perfect sync, which is probably why she didn't reply on the first try.

     Like some kind of stalker, Adrian followed them down a few of the steps, hearing their laughter as they went until he thought his creepiness had gone too far, so he picked up his pace, and hurried down the few steps between them.

     "Hey, Bianca?"

     Her blonde hair whipped in a circle upon hearing her name, and their eyes locked finally, "Adrian," she greeted him with a polite smile.

     Adrian looked at the two now identifiable girls beside her: Angelina Johson and Katie Bell. He cleared his throat, and Bianca blinked a few times almost to tell him to spit it out. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he muttered, a wave of nausea washing over him, almost enough to knock him over. Adrian never got nervous. Why now?

     "Sure."

     Bianca dismissed herself from her two friends and followed Adrian in the opposite direction. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

     His eagerness to ask her had changed to the complete opposite feeling. He was terrified. And it was unchangeable like he couldn't get rid of the nerves even if she said yes. What did a relationship really mean? Has he thought this through? They leave school in just over a year, what then? And suddenly, he wasn't so sure.

     His throat ran dry, "I-I just wanted to say that . . . I-I really enjoyed our date the other week," he bluffed, like a wire in his brain had changed lanes, and now he had really screwed up.

     But Bianca didn't look fazed ─ she didn't know what he was planning on asking her in the first place after all. "I did too."

     Another part of Adrian's brain, however, took those exact words as confirmation. He then looked at her. Like really looked at her. Her big eyes sparkling and bright, not leaving his for even a second as if now that she was talking to Adrian, nothing else really mattered. Her smile, tender, and comforting. How her soft, shiny hair drifted in front of her face, but she didn't bother to move it out of the way, as if she was waiting for him to do it.

     So that's exactly what he did.

     Adrian took a step closer, and gently picked a strand, and tucked it behind her ear, his hand brushing against his cheek, and although it was icy cold, she wanted to feel his skin on hers again, when he moved his hand out of the way.

     He took a deep breath in, and if that didn't calm his nerves, then Adrian concluded that he would just have to ask her all flustered and skittish. He sighed, "I can't do this anymore."

     Her smile wavered, and concern fell over her, "Do what?"

     "Pretend I'm not desperately in love with you."

     Not a limb moved in Bianca's body and it felt as though her body had gone on low-power mode, and shut down any operations currently in progress. Except for her heart ─ that just starting beating faster and faster and faster, until it might as well have burst out of her chest.

     When she didn't reply, Adrian thought he should add a little more context, "You were the one that kissed me, so why should I have to wait for the other 50% of a date just to make it official?"

     She shook her head, and said candidly, "I don't have an answer for that."

     Adrian's logical-thinking side of his brain didn't quite have enough time to analyse what that meant and therefore come to a solid conclusion, before his heart had already taken control of his actions, "Exactly," he said, hope tinting his voice. "So . . . will you be my girlfriend?"

     Did Bianca say no to labels since they hadn't even had their first date yet? Yes. Did she secretly hope that Adrian would ask anyway? Also yes. It was still a few days until her date plan was even possible, so, in all fairness, he had every right to ask. And she was so glad he took that right and used it.

     Although her heart was no longer a vigorously-beating mess and was now as warm as an oven and all things nice, Bianca couldn't help but resist the urge to play with him one last time: "No."

     "Oh."

     She winced and hugged her books tighter, "Sorry, but that wasn't mentioned on the Terms and Conditions of the bet." 

     Adrian's lips parted, and Bianca had never seen such disappointment before in her life. His shoulders sagged, and his eyes lost that glow that she loved so much. It was so hard to watch, but she had to let herself have some fun right?

     "Right."

     His face was far too solemn for her heart's liking, and so she rubbed his arm lightly, "I'm kidding, Adrian," she chuckled. Her breath wobbled, but nothing was going to stop her from answering his question: "I would love to be your girlfriend."

     His grin broke out faster than anything she had ever seen, and soon enough, his arms were around her waist. And for the first time in her life, Bianca thought that PDAs were okay sometimes.

➼

     "WE'RE LEAVING THE CASTLE?"

     February Half-term had finally come around, and although he was squirming with silent excitement, Adrian couldn't help but be anxious as to why his girlfriend was leading him out of the main entrance of the castle, at 7:00 am in the morning.

     All he was told was to be up by 6:30 so they could eat some breakfast before they left and to wear comfortable shoes and that was it. Adrian appreciated that Bianca wanted it to be kept a surprise, but he would at least have hoped for a few more details.

     Bianca's plan was simple (not at all actually, but she had to tell herself that so she doesn't worry). Get the Hogwarts Express back to Kings Cross since it runs during the Half-Term holidays, and then use the Floo Network from the Leaky Cauldron back to the connection in the Hogwarts Kitchens. They couldn't have used the Floo to London since at this time in the morning the elves would be busy in the Kitchens and there was a very high chance that they wouldn't let Bianca and Adrian leave just for the day (there are a select few grumpy ones), and so using it back would work, since dinner would be done and the Kitchen elves would have gone to bed by the time they get back. And although they had to wait three weeks (which Bianca liked to think went quite fast anyway) the train was right there at their disposal. It was perfect! Complicated, but perfect.

    "Yup," she grinned, flying down a flight of stairs and quickening her pace now that they were leaving the castle's grounds.

     Adrian tried to keep up, but curiousity got the better of him, and he stopped on the middle step and stared down at her hopelessly, "How far?"

     Bianca groaned, "You'll see," she said, hopping up the steps to close the small gap between them, before grabbing onto his wrist, and tugging him down the rest of the stairs. "Now hurry up, or we'll miss the train."

     Adrian had to think fast or he would trip over his own legs, as they began carrying him at a high speed towards where the carriages were stationed ─ two of which were already on their way to the station. 

     His eyes went wide, "Train? Bianca, train?"

     The Hogwarts Express was empty on the way back to London. No one visited home at Half-term, besides a select few. It was one week ─ why take two five-hour train rides for one week? Tell that to Bianca and Adrian ─ currently riding the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade station at the early time of 7:00 am (you bet Adrian complained ─ it is his break after all), who were about to spend five hours there and back, just for one day out in the capital. Of course, Adrian didn't know that just yet.

     "Where are you taking me?" Adrian asked, his leg bouncing up and down, as he tried to steady himself on the small table, sticking out from underneath the window sill. He was growing impatient ─ this was the third time he had asked this and they had been on the train for no less than an hour and a half.

     Bianca stifled a laugh. She also stifled slapping him across the face for being so irritating, but she didn't think that was a very romantic thing to do. "That's not for you to know until we get there." 

      Adrian groaned ─ it was more or less the same reply every time. "What's wrong with me knowing now?"

     Bianca shrugged innocently, "It's for surprise purposes."

     No matter how eager he was to know where she was planning on kidnapping him to, Adrian couldn't help but chuckle out how she repeated what he had told her. It was almost like they were a couple or something.

     They were like any Muggle couple on the way into London. And Bianca couldn't quite wrap her head around that. 

     Adrian wasn't too much of a dork, when they made it to Kings Cross and therefore the rest of the Underground tube system, since he has been on a train before. 

     The most amusing part, of course, was his fascination with the barriers that grant you access to the platform. Bianca had never seen such an adorable attempt at getting through. In order to board the Hogwarts Express, you didn't need a Muggle train ticket. And his parents always bought the tickets that meant he could get onto the Kings Cross platform anyway. He was given assistance to get through the barriers ─ he never had to get through by himself.

     Adrian had waved his ticket in front of the two-part doors since he wasn't really watching the Muggles passing him by and feeding their ticket through the receiver like you were supposed to. It took a few seconds, but they got there. And it wasn't embarrassing for Bianca. Guiding her Wizard boyfriend through the ticket barriers at a London tube station, an act which, to Muggles, is a very common one, was not humiliating at all. Bianca was not only amused but exhilarated by the adventure ahead. 

     They spoke of London on the various tubes required to get to Oxford Circus ─ once Adrian had gotten over how different a British underground train was to the Hogwarts Express that he was used to. He had also worked out that somewhere in London was their final destination because he couldn't name anywhere else in the UK of interest. And because his Geography extended as far as knowing that Kings Cross station is in London. But that's about all he knows. Which is useful, considering Bianca wants to keep this a surprise right till the very end.

     The tube was very full, for a Sunday, and Bianca had missed the atmosphere that followed Londoners. She was happy it was full ─ it meant he could experience London for how it always is: busy with life.

     No matter the two strangers squished up against them on either side, Adrian clearly didn't mind making conversation. The tracks screeched beneath them, and the soot from the tunnels fogged up the windows, but it was all part of the experience. 

     Adrian leaned over to Bianca's ears, and whispered softly, "You're my girlfriend."

     Her chuckle that followed was light and airy, and she suddenly became unaware of the stuffy tube, and the man coughing by the sliding doors, because she was too distracted by his eyes, glinting right at hers, "Yes, Adrian," she said back, "I am."

     "I know," he replied, his dimples popping out and it was the first time she had ever seen them, "I need to say it out loud a few times just to know it's real."

     If Bianca thought that Adrian finding a tube train amazing was adorable then she just had to wait for him to get to their destination. He was mesmerised by how much access one vehicle could give them to a city like London. Of course, he didn't quite know just how big London actually is, and the map on the wall of the tube definitely confused his Wizard mind. But what amazed him the most, was just how much of London, he had yet to explore. It was like a whole other universe, with new things, and new people. New places, and new feelings he had never experienced before. He cursed his blood-status-crazed heritage for never giving him the opportunities to explore such an incredible place. Kings Cross wasn't enough. He wishes every student at Hogwarts will eventually get the chance to encounter London for all its glory like he is witnessing right now. With the right person, and at the right time. 

     He had never understood how marvellous life could be until he stepped out of Oxford Circus station, where he was greeted by hustling muggles, and a bright blue sky. The atmosphere was different. Or maybe it wasn't, and he was just too stressed at half-past ten in the morning on September first, so he never got to appreciate the exciting expressions of London town.

     Bianca could barely move her boyfriend because he was standing so rock still. Adrian refused to move until he had taken it all in. The roads that were like rivers of cars. The buildings that have seen the modern age pass, standing in silent witness. The canvas of life, before him, each passing tourist or businessman or shopper, someone different, like the art of each face is something he wanted to savour. 

     Eventually, she got him to budge, but Adrian still kept a broad smile on his face as they joined the flow, two of millions, connected and separate, feeling like a true Londoner. And that was something to cherish.

     But no matter his look of wonderment when he emerged from the, at least to most visitors, grimy, sweaty tube station, nothing could beat the emotions he portrayed when they reached their final destination, and Bianca's surprise was revealed.

     "Holy-"

     His mouth was open wide, and to anyone passing by, he must look rather silly, gawking at a whimsical, slightly irrelevant shop, and standing in the middle of the road. The road wasn't accessible to driving cars, but that's not the point.

     Bianca's hands tried to settle in the others grasp just to ease her happiness.

     Adrian turned to face his girlfriend, and now she knew he didn't care that it took five and a half hours to get here. "I get it now. Surprise purposes. I'm glad you didn't ruin it for me."

     To Adrian, this quaint, dainty shop, that looked as though it was picked right out of a little girl's antique dolls village, was not irrelevant at all. It had a green and white tatted canopy, overhanging across the front wall, and rows of tarnished red bricks, loosely stacked. The window was cloudy, and slightly cracked, but Adrian could see through it okay. It was the most perfect imperfect shop he had ever seen.

     Across the top, were the words The Motif Music Shop typed in a serif font.

     It was the Vinyl shop, where his love for Michael Jackson originated.

     Bianca's face flushed bright pink, her hair tickling her skin as it drifted in the light breeze, "Now you get the chance to have a proper look."

     Adrian's mind was brewing up questions like a child, "How did you find it?" he asked eagerly, his smile not faltering even for a millisecond; it looked almost, unbreakable, permanent.

     "Adrian, I'm a witch," Bianca said. "And a very smart one at that. I have my resources."

     The boy closed the gap between them, and engulfed her in a tight squeeze of a hug, her feet lifting off the ground, as he spun the two of them in a circle, on the cobblestone path in front of the shop. It truly was movie-like. And that reminds Bianca, she must make sure to ask Adrian to compile a list of all the romantic comedies he has already watched, so she can assess what else they can watch together. She even has very high hopes that they'll last past Christmas, and that opens up a whole new category of films that she can subject him to.

     He planted a dozen kisses on her cheek, before spinning once more, and carefully placing her on the ground, "Is it too soon to tell you that I love you?"

     Bianca shrugged, her heart heavy with warmth, "You've said it once."

     As the streets of London passed by, and life went on around them, Adrian and Bianca browsed the worn cardboard sleeves, imprinted with various artists, a simple song serenading them through the speakers tucked away in the top corners of the shop.

     Adrian finally got the next MJ album along with some of Bianca's top picks, and the two of them left, content with their purchases, and life was as it should be. For once, she wasn't thinking about the dangers of the city they were in or if her arranged plan to get back to Hogwarts via Floo Powder was going to work, because nothing else truly mattered.

     The brass bell above them chimed, as the door floated to a close, and they rejoined the bustling streets of England's capital, their hands locked without the intent of doing so to start with.

     With the wind in their hair, and their arms swaying by their sides, they never let go from their unconscious grasp, the entire way home.

𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒔!

is this too far fetched??
actually, i don't care,
because i love this too
much.

but seriously

HOW IS IT OVER
ALREADY?!

the epilogue should
be out some time next
week btw, but then that
is officially it.

unless . . . 

i think i might write some
one-shots if i miss them too much.
would y'all read them?