──────────────
'IT'S A DATE'
──────────────

♡

Absently stroking Tabby's fur as she slept in her lap, Mina was sitting in an armchair by the common room's fireplace, invested in a hardcover book she'd already read twice.

"Ready to go, Mina Mouse?" Josiah's voice met her ears. Looking up, she saw him and Ella bundled up in coats and beanies with tote bags slung over their shoulders. "Hogsmeade awaits us!"

"You guys go ahead," she said, pulling the blanket over her legs closer. "I think I'll sit this one out."

"But it's the first trip of the year!" He half sat on the arm of her chair. "Everyone goes on the first trip. You're usually the one dragging us to Hogsmeade every weekend."

"I know, but...I don't know," Mina shrugged half-heartedly. "I'm just not feeling it today."

Ella eyed her sceptically. "This isn't because you don't want to see Harry with Heather, is it?"

"No," Mina lied, and lowered her voice to a mumble as the two gave her disbelieving looks. She sunk in her seat a little. "...Maybe."

"You can't let Harry dating someone else spoil all your fun, Mins," Josiah said softly, and leaned down to pat Tabby. Hufflepuff students of differing year levels filtered out of the common room with loud, excited chatter. Her heart felt heavy as she watched them—and this showed on her face, apparently.

"C'mon, you're coming with us, and you're gonna have fun," Ella spoke, taking the book from Mina's hold and tucking it under her arm.

"But—"

"Uh-uh, no buts," she said as Josiah picked up Tabby from Mina's lap; making kissy sounds to the cat as he held her to his chest, rocking her side to side like a baby. "Get into something warm and meet us down here in five, okay?"

Mina made to protest again, crossing her arms stubbornly, but Ella cut her off. "I'll buy you your favourite red sweets at Honeyduke's..."

"...the raspberry ones?"

"Mhm."

"...okay, then," Mina uncrossed her arms, a smile forming on her face. She quickly stood and made for her dormitory; Ella cheering inwardly to herself and Josiah dropping Tabby onto the chair as she growled.

. . . . .

It wasn't cold enough to snow, but the chilly breeze made Mina's cheeks and nose flush a faint pink as she adjusted her thick woollen scarf.

They were probably the last students to reach the village, but excitement radiated from them nevertheless, as Hogsmeade was always a treat they looked forward to every year. She linked her arms through Ella's and Josiah's as a strong gust of icy wind made the trio shiver simultaneously.

"Three Broomsticks for the first stop?" Josiah asked, rubbing his cold hands together as the quaint wizard village finally came into view, and the two girls nodded vigorously.

"I can't feel my toes," Mina said as they neared the pub; the three squeezing together to stay huddled close as they passed fellow witches and wizards. A few sugar-high third year Gryffindor's ran past them. "Or my fingers."

"Butterbeer will fix that," Ella sighed in relief as the Three Broomsticks' sign met her sight, swaying slightly in the wind. "Nearly there," she said; drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

Engrossed in warmth once the three finally shuffled inside, the faint smokey smell drew a nostalgic comfort in Mina's chest as they stepped through the crowded pub to find a vacant booth. It had old wooden floorboards and dark furniture, lit dimly with the soft glow of candles and overhanging lights.

Leading the other two past tables and chairs, Mina stopped short as she spotted Harry and Heather sitting together on the same side of a booth in the far corner.

"Absolutely not—" she said, but Ella shoved her forward lightly, urging her to continue before she could leave.

"We are not turning around now. Just pretend they're not there," she spoke, and Mina hesitated, but continued forward; pulling her gaze away from the two who were, once more, seemingly in their own little world together.

"There's an empty one," Josiah reached over from the two to point at a booth only a few seats away from the one Heather and Harry were sitting at.

"But that's so close to them!"

"There's no other free ones—quick, get it before that old couple snags it," he said, quickly stepping past the two girls.

Josiah reached the table first, cutting off the elderly man, to whom he feigned an apologetic smile at before motioning for the girls to join him.

"Sorry..." Mina muttered awkwardly to the man and woman linked by entwined hands as she stepped past them, sliding into the booth beside Josiah and opposite Ella.

Peering around as she pulled off her beanie and unravelled her scarf, Mina stopped midway through unzipping her jacket. A few booths across from theirs, she saw Heather lean closer to Harry and whisper something in his ear.

"I'll go order," Mina stood abruptly and unzipped the rest of her jacket, leaving it on the seat beside Josiah before stepping away.

Her heart hammered in her chest, and she tried her best to calm it down as she manoeuvred between tables and finally stood in line in front of the bar. She looked around for something to take her attention away from the jealousy bubbling in her blood when a voice met her ear.

"Hey, Mina."

Turning around, she met the kind face of Charlie standing behind her in the line.

"Hey," she greeted, stepping forward as the line of people moved closer to the counter. "Sorry for rushing off on you last Friday."

"Oh, no worries," he chuckled. "Did you end up finishing the essay?"

"Yeah—thanks again for that, it really helped," Mina smiled, and he returned it.

"Ah, it's no problem, really," Charlie shrugged, hands in his jacket pockets. He hesitated a little before he said, "Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Well—you see—" he stammered, but took a breath and continued. "There's this party in the Gryffindor common room later tonight. I was wondering if you maybe wanted to go with me? You don't have to, obviously, and I'm not sure if it's really your type of thing, those parties, but I just thought—"

"Yes," Mina interrupted his mini-ramble; surprising herself. He seemed surprised too, and was at a loss for words. "I'll go with you," she said, nodding.

"Cool! Okay," Charlie couldn't suppress his grin. She'd never really noticed how nice of a smile he'd had before. "Meet me at the front of the Gryffindor common room tonight at eight?"

"Sounds good."

"Then it's a date. I'll see you then," he said, and lingered there for a moment, before giving her a small nod like last time and stepping away. Mina watched his figure until he reached the door, where she caught a glimpse of the smile still on his face before he slipped outside.

♡

a/n
charlie >>>
-g