I feel a bit bad for disappearing around here, but I've been busy finishing up some university assignments, and I'm also not quite sure about how I've been feeling lately, so I needed to disconnect from everything.
Content Warnings: Fluff and angst, hurt/comfort, injury, sickness.
Summary: On a dare, Garreth tests one of his experimental brews on himself and lands himself in the hospital. The fear you have around his condition makes you decide to finally confess your feelings for him.
A/N: There is a lot of Leander in this, I literally couldn't help myself. It was fun looking at his friendship with Garreth more.
~~~
Garreth mucking about with his potions ingredients trying to come up with new brews, or even just experimenting to see what could possibly happen when things were combined, was not a new or uncommon sight. On this day, he found himself in his room of requirement, doing the latter. He leaned over a bubbling cauldron, the steam flushing his face as he added pinches of this and that, just to see what reaction he’d be met with.
His best friend, Leander, sat sprawled out in an armchair near by, absentmindedly flicking his wand at the various seemingly random portraits that hung on the walls, tipping the witches and wizards in their frames and laughing at their startled expressions.
A fizzle and a crackling sound arose from Garreth’s cauldron, pulling Leander’s attention back to his friend. “What are you doing?”
“Oh ya know, just trying things out.”
“Was that supposed to happen?”
“Dunno. Just kinda throwing things in. Whats the worst that could happen?”
Leander shook his head. He was more than used to Garreth’s antics, but scoffed none the less at his friends disregard for inviting on whatever chaos could come.
Garreth wandered around his potting stations, picking stems and leaves from his various plants and tossing them into his cauldron along with the hodgepodge of things he had already added that he collected from the forest. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting… but the pleasant aroma that arose as he stirred the mixture, was not it.
“Huh. Interesting.”
“What?” Leander asked, watching with a look of intrigue on his face.
“It smells really good… For just an experiment, I’m really delighted it went well.”
“Yeah?” Leander asked, raising his brows, with a devious grin growing across his face. “Dare you to drink some.”
“Are you mad? Five minutes ago you were scoffing at me and now you want me to drink it?” Garreth sounded only mildly perturbed, and was mostly just teasing his friend. He couldn’t lie to himself, the temptation to taste it had already crossed his mind.
“You said it smells good. Doesn’t that mean it’s fine?”
Garreth looked around his workstation with the remnants of the ingredients he had added strewn about the tabletop. Nothing in the cauldron was inherently dangerous individually… Well, not very dangerous anyway.
“Ah, fuck it. I’ll do it.” He resolved. He smirked at Leander who was crossing the floor to stand by and watch more closely, and to get a whiff of the concoction himself.
“It does smell delicious…” Leander tilted his head, arching a brow and giving an approving grin.
He watched with his hands on his hips as Garreth dipped his ladle deep into the cauldron, gave it a final stir and lifted the utensil to his lips. He blew across the top to cool the mixture, the decadent rich scent right under his nose enveloped him, making him salivate.
“Here goes nothing.” Garreth said, pressing the ladle to his lips. His eyes squinted at the steam still floating off of the surface of the liquid. He tilted the ladle forwards, letting the sweet smelling liquid pour into his mouth, and he swallowed it.
Leander watched with bated breath for any reaction… And then Garreth’s eyes rolled back in his head. He took a staggered step backwards, dropping the ladle on the floor, before collapsing.
Leander sharply exhaled all of the breath from his lungs at the sight of this show. “Okay, so maybe it didn’t taste as good as it smelled. But that was a little dramatic, even for you.” He jested at his friend.
When another moment passed, and then another, and Garreth still hadn’t sat back up and laughed and yelled ‘gotcha!’ Leander started to panic.
He dropped to his knees beside his friend and shook his shoulders roughly. “Garreth.. Garreth! Oh my god what did I have you do? Fuck fuck fuck… GARRETH. GET UP.”
There was no response. He had to get him to the hospital wing now. Leander searched the shelves nearest the fireplace… Where the fuck is the floo powder? He didn’t want to spare the time to search too long, the shelves were kind of a mess...
Leander cast levioso on Garreth’s unconscious body, hoping it would aide in bringing him to the hospital wing. He couldn’t even make it through the doorway without knocking Garreth’s head into it. Leander winced, lowered the other boy back to the floor, and scooped him up and hoisted him over his shoulder, opting to carry him instead, and made his way to the hospital wing as quickly as he could.
The trip seemed to take ages. Garreth was difficult to carry and the number of staircases was just outrageous. Leander’s steps became staggered by the time he had finally reached the faculty tower and once he made it to the hospital wing, he was on the verge of collapsing himself.
Nurse Blainey rushed to them as soon as she caught sight of them. “Over her, put him over here.” she instructed him. “What happened Prewett?” She raised her brows and looked at him expectantly.
“I-I-I dared him to drink it, it was my fault. Is he going to be okay?”
“Drink what, exactly, come on, out with it!”
“Umm, I don’t know actually… he was just experimenting, throwing things into the cauldron… He said it smelled good, so I dared him to drink it…”
Nurse Blainey got to work while Leander tried to explain. She was muttering something about ‘blasted amateur potion makers’ and their ‘inability to brew up some common sense.’
The nurse’s first idea was to get him to vomit the potion back out. Leander stood back while the nurse tipped Garreth onto his side and unceremoniously prodded the back of his throat with her wand to trigger his gag reflex. This didn’t seem to work, he only drooled a bit. Her next attempt was pouring wiggenweld into Garreth’s mouth, down his throat. The liquid went down, but it didn’t seem to have an effect.
“Is he… is he going to be alright?” Leander asked. His voice was shaky and quiet, a mixture of anxiety, guilt and shame.
“How long has be been unconscious?” She asked, sounding worried, “This may be a job for St. Mungos.”
Leander looked horror stricken. His face lost all of its color as his eyes laid on his best friend laying still in the hospital bed. He cleared his throat before speaking, caught off guard by the gravity of her words. “Ugh, I dunno, must be going on 10 minutes…” He guessed, he didn’t know how long it had taken him to carry Garreth all the way here. “St. Mungos… that means this is really serious…”
“He’s poisoned himself.” She said point blank. “Go back now and retrieve a vial of whatever it is that he drank.”
Leander nodded. “Oh.. of course, I will. And then you’ll be able to reverse it?” He sounded hopeful.
“There are antidotes, but I don’t have every possible remedy on hand Prewett. Go get me the sample! Now! Off with you!” She ordered him.
He turned and hurried out of the hospital wing, sprinting back towards the room of requirement desperately hoping the door would appear for him. It had to, right? This was necessary. He was out of breath by the time he reached the hall where the door should be. The only thought in his mind was needing to help Garreth, fixing the result of his stupid fucking dare. The door appeared.
With shaky hands Leander pulled an empty vial from Garreth’s shelf and bottled a sample of the brew, corking it tightly, and began sprinting back to the hospital wing with it clutched firmly in his hand.
He took the stairs two at a time and made it back in seemingly no time. He was gasping his breaths as he handed the vial to Nurse Blainey. “Here… this is it.”
She nodded and took the bottle, uncorking it and smelling it. Her eyes narrowed. She couldn’t pinpoint what all was in it. “Very well. Back to class with you, now. I will do what I can, and if it comes to it, I’ll transfer him. Check back later.”
Leander didn’t want to leave, he didn’t want to leave his friend alone especially when it was his fault he was even in this mess. But he didn’t have it in him to argue. The overwhelming guilt he felt had chiseled away at his typically combative nature. He took a few backwards steps, eyes locked on Garreth, before turning and heading out of the hospital wing with his head sunk low and tears pooling in his eyes.
~~~
You noticed right away that Garreth was missing from dinner when you arrived in the great hall. You assumed that maybe he got lost in time while working on an assignment and you expected he’d appear at any moment. You didn’t exactly have plans with him this evening, but dinner wouldn’t be the same without the two of you shooting little glances at each other from across the room, trying to make the other laugh. It was just one of the many little games you two always played.
You filled your plate and ate your meal whilst chatting with friends absentmindedly, drawing your gaze to the doors of the great hall and scanning and re-scanning the Gryffindor table every few minutes, just waiting for Garreth to appear. But he never did.
After dinner you caught sight of Leander leaving the Gryffindor table, and you hurry to catch up with him, knowing he was close with Garreth as well and would likely know what was up. You grabbed his shoulder from behind and he turned to face you.
For a moment you just look up at him. You saw it in his eyes, something was wrong. “What happened, where is Garreth?”
He was more than a little taken aback by your sudden appearance and he furrowed his brow at you for a moment. He rubbed the back of his neck before he began to speak. “Um… He uh… Look, please don’t be mad at me, okay. I already feel bad enough…”
You took a sharp breath in before exhaling slowly, trying to keep your composure. “Out with it Leander, what happened?”
He couldn’t make eye contact with you as he spoke. “He was brewing a potion, after lunch, like, an experimental one. And... I… I dared him to drink it... and he just fell over. I took him to the Hospital Wing right away.”
There was a long moment of silence between the two of you as you stared up at him.
“Are you actually serious?” You shook your head and narrowed your eyes at him, gesturing with frustration as you questioned him rhetorically, “Why would you dare him to do something so stupid… ugh!! And why would he listen to you?”
You just couldn’t believe how either of them could be so senseless, so careless. Sure Garreth was a bit mischievous, but this was just something else. And Leander… You weren’t close with him but you had assumed, incorrectly apparently, that he had enough sense than to dare his friend to do something so downright idiotic.
You set your anger aside for the moment and became overwhelmed with worry over Garreth, you did everything you could to keep your mind from drifting to worse case scenarios. Leander snapping back at you pulled your head away from those dark thoughts.
“Look I already feel guilty enough and I already got lectured by Nurse Blainey.” He scolded you. “Now are you going to come see him with me or not, because that’s where I’m headed now.”
You scoffed. “Yes, I’m coming with you.”
The two of you made your way from the Great Hall up through the Faculty Tower and into the Hospital Wing. Although, when you arrived, it appeared all of the hospital beds were empty. You gave Leander a questioning look and his heart sank as though he knew something you didn’t.
Nurse Blainey saw you both approaching and walked towards you both to meet you. “I had to transfer him,” she said, looking at Leander, before she glanced at you.
“Transferred?” You asked, the look of concern on your face as you looked at the nurse started growing exponentially.
“To St. Mungos,” Nurse Blainey spoke. “I thought it would be the best option.”
“Well, can… can we go visit him there?” Your voice was faltering, as you began getting choked up with your worry.
Nurse Blainey sighed, shifting her gaze between you and Leander. It was already getting late, you knew it was pushing it to even ask, but you were desperate to see Garreth, to see if he was alright. “Fine. Take the Floo Network. I’ll write you both slips, should you arrive back to the castle past curfew.”
You and Leander both began thanking her immediately. She walked over to her desk and started writing up notes for you both excusing you from curfew for the evening, and from a small container in her desk drawer, she gave each of you a small handful of floo powder.
They stuffed the excuse notes into the pockets of their robes and made their way to the fireplace. Leander went first, dropping the powder into the flames, stepping inside, and speaking St. Mungos Hospital, then disappearing. You followed right after.
Just a moment later the two of you were standing in the bustling and crowded lobby of St. Mungos Hospital. You didn’t speak a word to each other, just headed to the reception desk, where an older witch looked between the two of you. “Here to visit someone?”
You nodded. “Garreth Weasley.” You answered her. You watched as she scrolled through a long parchment with many names on it.
“Weasley…” She searched the list. “Third floor, potion and plant poisoning ward.” She stated, then began giving directions to the closest staircase.
You and Leander followed her instructions, heading down a long hallway, around a corner and up three flights of stairs. Once on the correct floor, the two of you headed to yet another reception desk, specific to that department, spoke with another employee, were instructed to take seats in the waiting area, and told that you’d be informed when you’d be able to visit.
The two of you shared a silent, concerned look. Neither of you had really anticipated this news… It had already been a few hours between the actual incident and your arrivals to the hospital. Why couldn’t you just go right back to see him now? Your mind was racing as you took a seat with Leander in the waiting area.
~~~
The wait was long, and mostly silent. Your thoughts were shifting between a few different things… anger at the idiot of a boy sitting next to you for causing this mess, and worry over the one you were here to see. Not to mention your feelings surrounding him. You knew you had a crush on Garreth before and always had, but now, overwhelmed with uncertainty over his condition, you really felt like this was more than just a crush. A lot more. What if this accident would keep him in here, in the hospital and away from you for awhile? That thought alone was unbearable, it made your stomach knot up just to think about.
You guided your thoughts to happy times you and Garreth had spent together to keep from dwelling on the terrible scenarios that kept trying to work their way into your mind. You thought of the first time he took you into Hogsmeade, just the two of you, back in fifth year shortly after you’d first met in Potions class. Gods that was so long ago. If this whole ordeal had shown you anything, it was that you needed to let Garreth know how you felt for him, finally.
As time passed slowly, you began to fidget and become more uncomfortable with the wait. It had been at least an hour since you took your seat in the waiting room, and you hadn’t gotten a single update since arriving. What was taking so long? Was something wrong?
You were slouched back in your chair, tapping your fingers on the arm rest and sighing with exasperation, apparently too frequently, because Leander eventually broke the silence, telling you firmly, “Cut it out already, will you?”
“Will you cut it out?” You snapped back at him, gesturing to his mere existence.
He looked puzzled. “I’m not even doing anything.”
“Your antics, your idiotic dares. Conjure up a brain, will you?” You huffed and turned in your seat facing away from him slightly.
He scoffed. “Yep, thanks, I totally needed that. So helpful.”
After several more long and excruciating minutes of silence, one of the healers walked out into the waiting area, and approached you and Leander. “You two are waiting to see Mr. Weasley, correct?”
You both stood up, nodding. “How is he? Can we see him?” You asked eagerly, anticipation rising for some hopefully good news.
“We’ve found an effective antidote and he will make a full recovery, and will be back at school with you first thing in the morning. But at the moment he is quite weak, and tired. He’d been sleeping, but is awake now. You can see him, one at a time. His room is down the hall and to the left, when you’re ready. Oh and do be considerate, it’s a shared room.” The healer nodded and headed away.
Immediately relief washed over your face and you turned to Leander, completely dropping the attitude that you had with him previously, and asked nervously, “Can I see him first?”
Leander narrowed his eyes and scoffed at you. “I’m his best friend, so I should go first. And besides, I need to apologize for all of this.”
You started speaking quickly, before your mind had time to process your words, “Well, I’m in lo-” You looked away and cleared your throat, trying to catch yourself before you said something completely stupid and embarrassing, but it was probably too late for that. “Um… Never mind.”
“Oh?” Leander asked with a smirk as a wide grin spread across his smug face. You didn’t have to finish your sentence. He knew what you were going to say. “Well if that’s so, I suppose you can see him first.”
You smiled at him and nodded, trying not to blush but really who can control that? “Thanks, Leander.” You told him, and headed down the hall in the direction the healer had motioned too.
The hospital room was a large one, with many beds and a couple of other patients, not dissimilar to the hospital wing back at the castle. You spotted Garreth right away and crossed the room to him quickly. He turned his head towards you when he heard the door open and gave you a rather surprised looking expression that grew quickly into one of happiness, despite the very clear appearance of exhaustion that was also present. He looked weak, was more pale than he typically was, and there was a bucket near his bed, indicating that at some point during his stay, he must have been getting quite sick.
You took a seat in the chair beside his bed. He looked at you with a lot of fondness as he spoke to you, quietly. “When they said I’d have a visitor, I did not expect you.”
You conversed in hushed tones, not wanting to bother anyone else in the room. “Well, Leander is here too. But they’re only letting us visit one at a time.” You sighed, feeling relieved to finally see that he’d be alright.
“Just couldn’t wait to see me back at school, eh?” He grinned, he was really quite glad you were here. “Well, it’s a nice surprise.”
His words almost always make you blush and this was no exception, but at the moment you still had a hard time wrapping your mind around his decision to try that damn potion in the first place… And now that you knew he’d be alright, it seemed like a decent time to bug him about it.
“Why’d you go and drink that potion? Why would you let Leander dare you into something so foolish?” Your words were quiet but stern, you narrowed your eyes at him, and watched his expression soften a bit as he took in your sentiment. He could see that you had been scared over him.
He gave you a warm smile, and spoke with a hint of teasing in his voice. He seemed flattered that you seemed to care so much. “It was pretty stupid wasn’t it?” He chuckled. “I have no good excuse, I just make bad decisions sometimes. I’m sorry if I worried you, though.”
You exhaled and sighed. “You did worry me! You really did.”
“Yeah. Well, It won’t happen again, I can promise you that much. Won’t be testing anything experimental on myself again. Nothing that experimental, anyway.” He still had a hint of humor in his voice that was irritating to you given the situation, as though he wasn’t taking this all as seriously as he should have been.
You didn’t reply, you were frustrated and emotional. You could feel tears coming on and you did not want him to see that. You got up and although you were frustrated, you spoke to him as calmly as you could, and excused yourself. “Leander is waiting to see you. I’ll send him in and I’ll be back once he’s finished… He’s got a lot to say, I think.”
Garreth nodded and you turned and headed out of the room and back towards the waiting area. Leander stood as you came towards him.
“Finished already?” He asked sounding more than a little shocked. He noticed your expression. “Everything alright?”
“It’s fine. He’s typical Garreth.” You said with a bit of annoyance. “You go and see him, I’ll wait and go back in once you’ve gotten a turn.”
Leander nodded and patted your shoulder as he walked past you and towards Garreth’s room. You sat back down and attempted to calm yourself. You couldn’t let yourself stay frustrated, you couldn’t, not if you wanted to tell him how you felt.
~~~
“Hey mate.” Leander greeted Garreth as he took the seat at his bedside. He began speaking right away, not even giving Garreth the chance to greet him back. He leaned forward in the chair, his elbows on his knees, guilt plastering his face. “Look, I’m… I’m really sorry about all of this. Never expected this to be the outcome of that dare. I hope you can forgive me, I’ve been so worried.”
“Calm yourself Lee, I’m fine. And – let’s be honest – I’d have probably drank it even if you hadn’t dared me to.”
“Crazy bastard.” Leander chuckled, “You had better tell them that because they’re pretty pissed at me, you know?” He said and gestured towards the direction of the door. “They uh… Yeah I think you really scared them, I think they care about you a lot.”
Garreth smiled. “Yeah? I care about them too.”
“Well, I shan’t keep you from them, then. I’ll see you back at school in the morning, yeah? We’re alright, mate?”
Garreth nodded. “Of course we are. Definitely.”
“Thanks.” Leander said with a relived expression. He waved and turned back, heading out into the waiting area once again.
You were surprised to see Leander back so soon. He sat beside you. “He forgave me. I’m going to head back to Hogwarts, unless you want me to wait and accompany you back once you’ve finished speaking with him again?”
“You go on. I’ll be alright and don’t need you to wait around. Thanks, though.”
The two of you parted ways, and you headed back to Garreth’s room yet again. When you arrived at his bedside, you pulled the curtains surrounding his bed area closed, before pulling up the chair and sitting down again.
“Hey, you.” He greeted, as you sat, looking around at the closed curtain. It seemed he approved of the added privacy. “Look, I really am sorry to have scared you.” His mood was much softer this time. You immediately questioned in your mind if Leander had said something to him about your little accidental confession. “And, it really won’t happen again.”
“I should hope not… I really was worried. I couldn’t keep my mind from replying these awful worst case scenarios. I’d be… pretty lost without you.”
“Is that right?” He grinned and his cheeks blushed a faint pink. “Well, I have no intentions of going anywhere. So I guess you’re stuck with me.”
“That wouldn’t be the worst fate, I suppose.” You teased him with a bit of a laugh.
“No, it wouldn’t, would it?” He sighed and smiled at you.
You were quite pleased with the little back and forth. It really showed more than anything that he really would be okay after all. He was his usual self, fun and playful. You reached for Garreth’s hand and took it, squeezing it and looked in his eyes. “I want to be honest with you about something.”
“Go on.” He squeezed your fingers in return, a grin spreading across his face as he waited for you to speak.
You ran your thumb over his knuckles. “I care about you a lot.”
“Yeah?” His eyes lit up, obviously pleased to hear you say it. The way he looked at you just made your breath catch.
“Yes.”
“Well, the feeling is mutual.” He was very matter of fact and spoke with a smile.
You didn’t say anything else for a moment. You weren’t sure if you really got your point across. You knew ‘care’ wasn’t strong enough of a word, but you were happy that he returned that sentiment. You were a bit lost in thought when he shifted over in his hospital bed and patted the edge for you to sit beside him. You raised your brows at him and he nodded, then you moved to sit beside him on the bed. He rested a hand on your leg, running his thumb back and forth across the fabric of your uniform.
You could feel your face heating up with every gentle passing stroke of his thumb. You opened your mouth to speak and ended up confessing, “I more than care, actually.”
His face lit up. “I thought that might be the case, and the feeling is still mutual.” He moved his hands up around your waist and at that point you were ready to just give in to your feelings. You were dying to kiss him, and you were confident enough now that he wanted it too. You leaned forward towards him, gently cupping his face in your hands, you brought your lips to his in a slow, tender kiss.
This was the only true way for you to convey how you really felt. You let the passion behind all of your emotions come out in the kiss, and he eagerly reciprocated. His hands pulled you closer at your waist and ran up your back. You could feel him smile against your lips and he let out a quiet pleasured hum, like he was savoring every second. You deepened the kiss, your tongue finding his gently and your fingers twirling in his hair.
When your kiss broke after several long moments, you both had wide grins across your face, looking at each other warmly, still holding each other close. You pressed another quick kiss to his cheek.
“And here I thought you were angry with me.” Garreth whispered, a glint in his eyes as he looked over you, fully soaking in the moment between you.
“I was angry earlier, but… I have a forgiving nature. Lucky for you.” You teased him, whispering back, your hand resting on his chest with his fingers laced through yours.
“That’s right, lucky for me, indeed.” He took a deep breath, speaking more seriously now. “I am very lucky that nothing worse happened. But I’m also glad my antics earlier brought you to me, like this.”
“It’s funny how things play out, isn’t it? I was scared to lose you, and couldn’t go another day without telling you how I felt.” You admitted, looking at him fondly.
“Well, I’m glad you did. Finally.” He laughed, though still trying to keep his voice down as not to bother the other patients.
“Finally?” You chuckled. “You could have confessed to me, you know, at any point.” You chided, holding back a laugh.
“That’s right, I could have. But I was a bit nervous.” He admitted, squeezing your hands.
“Too nervous to talk about feelings, but not too nervous to drink a random experiment?” You jested, playfully shoving his shoulder.
He put his hands up in mock indignation, and spoke with a smile on his face. “That’s me. I don’t make any sense, and I’m a bit reckless, but you know it’s all part of my charm.”
From somewhere on the other side of the curtain surrounding his area of the hospital room, a harsh sounding voice shushed loudly.
You and Garreth shared a look, eyes wide. He covered his mouth, realizing your conversation had been growing steadily louder.
“You aren’t wrong.” You whispered. “But, it’s getting late, and I really ought to get back to Hogwarts. I should be letting you rest, anyway.”
He gave you his best pouty face, but nodded, you were right after all. “You really are stuck with me, once I’m back to school in the morning.”
“Good.” You kissed his lips once more, quickly and with a bit of a giggle. You smiled and waved goodbye to him as you drew back the curtain and headed back to Hogwarts.
Hey I have a Garreth fic idea if youre down for it?
So I was thinking about Garreth being absolutely infatuated with MC, and it drives him mad when she keeps being whisked away to defeat poachers and dark wizards.
Then she gets severely hurt and taken to hospital, where Garreth had a sudden outburst of frustration when she's in the hospital bed and he storms off.
After MC gets better she decides to confront Garreth where he spills out his feelings about loving her and being afraid of seeing her badly hurt (or dead if one of the raids goes wrong).
MC also has strong feelings for him and she admits it too, then they make out hard and then things escalate from there if you know what I mean 😏
I hope the idea is good enough as I've never made a fic request before 😅
He just couldn't help it. He just had to shuffle a little closer and peer over MC's shoulder as she stirred her cauldron. Her potion was looking fairly decent he noticed, the colour almost perfect. He dared to lean a little closer, the scent of her perfume teasing his nose. "Not bad, MC," he said.
She gave him a little sideways look, her lips curving up into that cute little smirk she did. His heart did a little flip. Why was she so damn cute? It was killing him.
"I guess all the pointers you've been giving me are paying off," she said.
He beamed at her praise, shifting to lean casually against the work table in an effort to look cool. Unfortunately, his elbow caught against a pot of dittany leaves and it tumbled over, the leaves scattering everywhere. "Oh, shit," he muttered. He quickly scrambled to gather up said pot and leaves, a blush colouring his cheeks.
MC bit back a giggle. "What are you doing?" She hissed under her breath, turning to keep an eye out for Sharp. Garreth didn't need any more detentions.
Garreth was scooping the leaves frantically into the pot. "It's fine, no problem," he muttered. He put the pot back where it had been, dusting off his hands and throwing her a sheepish grin. "See? As if it never happened."
Her smile did things to him, fluttering, chaotic things, but he was finding it to be quite addictive. If she was nearby, he had to have an excuse to be next to her. If he got to accidently brush up against her, or, even better, if she put her hand on him, (which she had done, three times now!), then it was enough to make his day.
After following her with his eyes for two years, he might finally pluck up the courage to do something about it. Maybe.
When class was over, Natty leant close to speak into his ear as they packed up their things. "Why don't you just ask her out?"
"Who?" He asked.
Natty gave him a look. "You couldn't be more obvious. She isn't seeing anyone, you know. Just ask!"
Garreth chewed his bottom lip as he watched MC walk out of class. If only it was that easy.
....*....
"Psst!"
Garreth looked up from his book, glancing around the courtyard. He had found a quiet spot to study, catching up on some reading ready for mock exams that were fast approaching. He frowned. Who had made that noise?
"Psst, Garreth!"
He looked up again, a smile brightening his face as he saw MC beckoning him over. She was peering around a column, clearly not wanting to be seen. Curious, he closed his book and headed over.
As soon as he was close, her hand whipped out and clutched his sleeve, she yanked him behind the column and led him towards a shadowed corner. "Ooop, what's this then?" He asked, a little surprised.
She double checked nobody was looking before pulling out a wooden box from her enchanted pocket. "I have a gift for you, but it's er...how shall I put this...hot property? Black Market stuff?"
He looked at the box, his eyes shooting back to hers at her choice of words. "You mean...stolen?"
She cringed. "Shhh!" She pulled him further into the corner. "Not so loud. But, yes...I acquired them, so to speak. I raided an Ashwinder camp, and when I was having a rummage through their supplies I saw this, and I immediately thought of you."
He frowned. "Another Ashwinder camp? Merlin, MC, I thought you were done with all that these days."
Her smile was rueful. "I stumbled across it," she said. She gave a little shrug. "What can I say? I'm addicted to the adrenaline I guess."
"You could get seriously hurt," he grumbled. The very thought made his stomach twist up into knots.
"I'm fine," she insisted. She gestured to herself as proof and smiled. "Perfectly well."
She was most certainly perfect. And too good at winning him over. His gaze dropped to the box. "So, what is it?"
"Open it," she said, excitedly.
It was a fully stocked potion kit, and some of the ingredients were very rare. He gasped as he inspected some of the vials. "These are amazing!"
She was practically bouncing with joy. "I knew you would love it."
He smiled at her, all forgiven. She smiled back. Gods, he could just fucking kiss her right now!
But he didn't. He just gave her a hug instead. And when her arms squeezed him right back, he knew he would be replaying this moment over and over before he went to sleep tonight.
....*....
Garreth had been lounging back on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room, reading up about some of the ways his new ingredients could be used, when he heard some 6th year students come in, gossiping.
"Did you see all the blood?" One of them said.
"Yeah, she didn't look good," the other replied. "I've seen her in Crossed Wands, she is bloody good at duelling, whatever this was it must have been bad."
"It was Sallow's face that got me," the first one said. "I always thought he was scared of nothing, but he looked scared as he carried her in."
Garreth sat up, an unsettling feeling washing over him. "What's that you said? Why was Sallow looking scared?"
They both paused and gave each other a look. The boy gave Garreth a grave face. "We just saw him carrying MC to the hospital wing. She was cut up pretty bad."
"Not moving either," the other one said.
Garreth shot up from the sofa, panic gripping him. "When was this?"
"Just now."
Garreth ran.
....*....
Sebastian was sitting just inside the entrance of the hospital wing, a cut on his forehead and lashes on his arms. Garreth gaped at him. "What happened?"
"Ashwinders," Sebastian sighed. His face was tight with worry and he looked towards where curtains had been drawn around a bed. "I only just managed to get MC out of there. It was bad."
Garreth sighed in fear and annoyance. "Why do you two do this shit?"
Sebastian scowled. "Don't start, Weasley. I've just had Ominis chewing my ear off, I don't need you at it as well."
Garreth was struggling to get a full breath in his lungs. "How bad is she?"
Sebastian paled. He stared at Garreth. "I know you like her..." He trailed off. He swallowed and looked back towards MC. "Just...prepare yourself. She got hit with a pretty powerful Diffindo."
It was a while before Garreth was even allowed to see MC. Sebastian sat with him for a while, but Nurse Blainey sent him away with strict orders to get some sleep. Sebastian promised to be back first thing.
Finally, Garreth was allowed to see her. As he peered around the curtains, Garreth winced, his eyes burning with tears at the sight of her asleep in that bed. Her skin was awfully pale, and the wounds...gods! How was she still alive?
He sat on the chair beside her bed and took her hand into his. He had always imagined what it would be like to hold her hand, he never expected the first time to be like this. It hurt. It made him angry. He could have lost her.
Who was he kidding? He didn't even have the nuts to ask her to be his. And look at her, running around fighting dark wizards and facing death on the regular. He didnt even deserve her.
But he would still sit at her bedside. There was nowhere else he would rather be.
....*....
It took a week for the worst of the wounds to close, and she was weak. But she still had a smile for him when Garreth visited, bringing treats from Honeydukes, and telling her about the exciting new ideas he had for the box of ingredients she had given him.
"You will have them all used up in no time," she said. She smiled. "I'm glad you like them."
"Even if I do use them all up, you won't go out looking for more trouble to find more, will you?" Garreth felt his stomach clench at the thought of her out there again, risking her life.
"I don't look for trouble, Garreth," she frowned. "But, I also won't stand by and watch others cause pain and trouble either. Innocent people get hurt!"
"Like you, you mean?" Garreth bit out. "And why is that your problem? You should be here, studying, preparing for your exams, not running around catching dark wizards."
She stared at him. "If I want to be an Auror then it's all experience," she said. "I have a unique gift, Garreth. Of course I am going to use it for the greater good."
He knew he was being a git, but his fear was clawing up his throat. He couldn't get the image of those wounds out of his mind. They were almost faded now, but he would always remember the red, angry slices on her beautiful skin.
"You almost died! If Sebastian hadn't been there, you would have!"
"But he was there," she said. She reached for his hand. "I'm alright. I will be out of here in no time."
"And then you will be running off to get yourself killed properly, I suppose."
She pulled her hand back. "I'm not going to let this stop me from doing what is right," she said, firmly.
"Then I guess you'd better hope that Sebastian will always be there to catch you when you fall," he said, bitterly. He shunted the chair back and stood, his hands clenched into fists. He had to get out of here.
"Garreth..." She sounded hurt, sad.
He paused at the curtains edge and turned to look back at her. She was utterly beautiful, pale and tired, but so perfect. He thought he might cry. "I just...I just can't lose you. I'm sorry."
He rushed from the hospital wing, regretting those last words out of his lips and the rawness with which he had spoken. The truth of them rung in his ears and he blinked back tears.
....*....
He couldn't face going back to the hospital wing to see her. He felt like an idiot, and he was pretty sure he had annoyed her. None of it seemed fair, and he had been in a foul mood for the last two days. The only time he bit back his frustration was when he asked Sebastian how she was doing.
Sebastian clapped him on the shoulder. "She will be out tomorrow, mate," he said. "You two need to talk. Not only am I sick of seeing your miserable mug, but I am getting rather tired of listening to her worrying over you."
Garreth frowned. "Worrying over me?"
Sebastian sighed. "You haven't been to see her, and she's noticed."
....*....
"So, this is where you've been hiding."
Garreth looked up from his notes, the parchments spread out on the bench in front of him covered in scribbled notes, some crossed out, some underlined. Beside him, his potion box was open and there were vials scattered around the cauldron that was simmering away nicely.
Working on his passion was always a good distraction, and he had begged to use the classroom after hours. Lately, he had been rather well behaved in class, and his assignments had been receiving good grades. Somehow, he was in Sharp's good books.
The reason for the need of distraction had just walked into the room. He had set himself up around the corner, hidden from the door for maximum peace and quiet. But, MC had found him. He put down his quill and slid his hands into his pockets. "Hi," he said.
She moved closer, her wounds healed, her face looking much healthier than the last time he had seen her. His mouth couldn't help but curve up a little. He had missed her.
"What are you working on?" She leant onto the table, picking up a parchment to see his notes. She grinned. "How can you even read these? Your scribbles are barely legible."
"I know what it says, and this way nobody can steal my ideas," he said. He tapped his temple and gave her a wink.
Her cheeks turned a little pink and she slid the parchment back towards him. She cleared her throat and peered into the cauldron. "So, tell me, what genuis are you brewing up this time?"
He pinched his lower lip between thumb and forefinger, eyeing her carefully. Was she going to be cross with him? He'd had to do something. The fear and worry was driving him crazy.
She met his gaze, curious. "Garreth, what is it?"
"It's..." He sighed, cringing a little. "It's an advanced healing potion. I figured that if you really were that determined to go off fighting every bad wizard that dares step foot in your vicinity, then I would rather you went prepared."
He rubbed his hand through his hair, feeling like a first class prick. It sounded like he didn't believe in her capabilities, but he did.
She stared at him, lips parted in surprise. "Why would you do all of this for me? I thought you were mad at me."
"I wasn't exactly mad at you," he said.
"Then what was it?" She asked.
He couldn't meet her eyes. She would see the truth. He was a rubbish poker player.
He startled as she grabbed his hand. His eyes flew to hers. "Tell me the truth," she begged. "I know you sat by my bedside, and you told me you couldn't lose me. Now you're trying to make a potion for me, to stop me getting hurt. What I want to know is why you can't even look at me? Why are you avoiding me? Please, Garreth...I can't lose you either!"
He sucked in a breath. For the life of him, he couldn't tear his gaze from hers now. She was close enough that he could see the little flecks of colour in her eyes, each eyelash curling up to frame those beautiful eyes that he could drown in. He was up to his neck in it with her, it was quite possible he would drown.
"I think I love you," he admitted. "You're beautiful, and you drive me fucking nuts. You're brave, you're brilliant, you make me smile...fuck, I think about you all the time."
The words just kept spilling from his lips, and her eyes were getting wider and wider, but now that he had started he just couldn't stop.
"When you run off to fight Merlin know's what, I'm scared shitless that you won't come back. I couldn't bear it if I never saw you again. Seeing you lying in that hospital bed damn near floored me, MC. I wasn't angry...I was scared."
He put a hand to his mouth. He had to stop this spouting off, she was going to run right back out of this room at any moment, shouting to whomever cared to listen that Weasley had lost his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned his face away. Exposed was too mild a word for how he felt right then. He felt his cheeks growing hot and he wanted to disappear through the floor.
"Garreth," she whispered. He felt the gentle tug of her fingers on his shirt sleeve. "Garreth, please, look at me..."
His breath shook. What an idiot! But he dropped his hand and braced himself to turn back to her. He gaped. She was crying!
"Er...shit...what?" He was confused, his hands flapped uselessly as he thought about touching her, offering her some kind of comfort, but then thought maybe it was best not to. "You're upset...oh, shit. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say all that. Ignore me, I'm an idiot. Fuck, me and my big mouth..."
He grunted as she pressed her hand against his mouth, then she huffed a laugh through her tears and now he was really fucking confused. What was happening?!
"If you would just shut that big mouth of yours for a minute, then I just might be able to get a word in!"
He didn't dare move. His lips were tingling under the touch of her fingers. "Sorry," he mumbled. The word muffled against her restraint.
She smiled, her eyes all shiny with tears. He hated that he had made her cry. But, that thought soon vanished as she shifted the fingers that were pressed to his mouth. She slid them slowly along to trace the line of his jaw. He swallowed so hard it was almost a gulp.
Then, bloody hell, she was leaning in, her face getting ever closer. His heart quickened to a gallop. He might have even made a strange, whining noise, he wasn't entirely sure. Her lips touched his and every fibre of his being was screaming. She's kissing me!
He stared as her eyes fluttered closed, honestly her cuteness just went up another notch, and her lips were so soft. Not one, or two, but three soft kisses before she stopped to look up at him.
"Wow," he croaked. Nice one, Weasley, that will charm her.
She giggled. And then she booped him on the nose. "You're so cute," she said.
Cute? He didn't want her to think he was cute! He wanted her to be breathless, flushed and swooning in his arms.
He kissed her, his lips sealing firmly over hers, his hand coming up to cup the back of her head. He tilted her slightly, leaning forward to dip her backwards a little. Her hands gripped at the front of his shirt, and a small sound came from the back of her throat. Yes, this was much better.
Gods, she felt so good in his arms. His other hand moved to her waist, the delicious curve of it a delight under his gentle caress. She arched against him, her softness a tantalising tease, and he felt the blood rush immediately to his pants.
He kissed at her bottom lip, his tongue swirling for a taste, and when she parted her lips, he didn't hesitate, months of yearning driving him to kiss her deeper. He moaned into her mouth, his hand moving to pull her hips in closer. His blood thrummed through his veins, a haze of desire, thick and heady, was wrapping around him, driven by her little sounds and gasping breaths.
He felt her hands tugging at his shirt, pulling it out of his waistband, and then she was sliding warm palms over his stomach and back. His cock twitched eagerly, the feel of her touch making him sigh, making him want her all the more fiercely.
He needed to taste more, hungry and desperate to bury himself against her softness, drown in her scent, his lips grazed against her throat, the skin there delicate and sweet. Animalistic need made him bite, his teeth gentle but possessive, his mouth drawing her flesh upwards into a heady suck. Her moan almost made him come undone.
As natural as breathing, their hands explored, he was tugging at her tie, loosening the buttons on her shirt, his mouth devouring the skin over her collar bones. Her fingers were in his hair, tugging sharply, raising goosebumps along his flesh.
It wasn't enough. He would always want more. But, he should stop, before this got too far, before he began to play out the naughty fantasy of taking her over the potions table. His face warmed at the thought.
Reluctantly, he pulled back a little, staring down at her flushed face. It was deeply satisfying to see the damp plumpness of her lips, the darkened look in her dazed eyes. Red blemishes marred her pretty neck, and the rumpled state of her clothing was incredibly sexy. He almost groaned with the effort of restraint.
"Why did you stop?" She panted.
He smiled. "Not exactly the most private of spots to ravish you."
Her smirk was utter sin. "Exciting though, right?"
His eyes flared at her naughtiness. "MC!"
Her giggle was very naughty, her hand smoothing over his stomach before tugging at his waistband. She looked up at him through her lashes. "I want you," she whispered.
Garreth sucked in a breath, the ache for her sharpening into a pain. He pressed his forehead to hers, his hands moulding her hips and around to cup her arse. Fuck, she was so soft and round and he wanted to bury himself in it.
"Do you want me?" The breathless moan in her words had him panting.
"Fuck, yes," he groaned.
She arched, grinding against him, slow, teasing rocks of her hips. Garreth could hardly breathe, staring at the movement she made, transfixed. His cock was straining in his pants, dripping and desperate.
Fuck the fact they were in a classroom, he couldn't quite care when she was writhing up against him like this. His hand had a life of its own, sliding up her skirt to reveal the tops of those high socks she wore, the silky skin of her bare thigh was utter bliss, and then he had a handful of peachy soft arse, his fingers hunting greedily under the fabric of her knickers. "Oh, fuck," he groaned, through gritted teeth.
He moulded the shape of her, his fingers tracing the sexy curve of her cheeks, the tips grazing dangerously close to her heat. She moaned, writhing against him. "Touch me," she begged.
He slid a hand a little lower, squeezing her cheek, before dipping his fingers below. She was hot and wet and he groaned as his fingers slid against the slick. She panted desperately, her finger nails beginning to bite into his skin.
He sucked at her neck, nibbled her ear. "More?" He asked. She nodded, whimpering.
He slid a hand around to tug open her knickers at the front, sliding a tentative finger in that way. He felt her thighs part eagerly, his breaths hot against her ear as he slowly circled the pad of his finger over her slippery folds. Fuck, she felt good.
He went for it, finding the hot throb of her opening and slid his finger inwards, her walls immediately clenching around him. "Fucking hell," he groaned.
"Yes," she panted. Her hips rocked. "Garreth..."
Now, he would happily admit that he was inexperienced, a few cheeky snogs did not prepare you for the full blown raging horniness of this moment. He was fucking loving it, in his element, but he was 100% winging it. He had no idea how experienced she was, but she was bold, he would give her that.
Despite the burning need to explode in his pants, Garreth was gentle as he touched her, his finger probing, sliding in and out in a slow rhythm as she moaned and clutched at him. "Good?" He asked.
"Yes," she whined. Her hand gripped his wrist, her fingers fumbling to hold his. She moved his finger a little, pressing against her and rubbing, an incredibly sexy sound spilled from her mouth. It was fucking filthy, and her hips rolled. "Oh, gods, yes...there, Garreth. Right there."
His eyebrows raised so high in arousal and wonder, he rubbed where she had put him, and watched as she became an absolute mess. He forgot about himself for now, he was transfixed, getting the hang of a rhythm as he swirled and rubbed against her clit. Her face and neck flushed crimson, and the sounds she made, fuck!
She pulled him in for a kiss, and he obliged, their tongues fighting for dominance as she panted and moaned into his mouth. He felt the bite of his own arousal hovering at the edge of his awareness, and he wasn't sure if he would be able to hold it off. He just worked his finger faster, concentrating on that.
And then, she was gasping, her hand slapping down onto the table top, and he felt her clench madly, juices throbbing out over his hand. She sagged and her held her about the waist. "Are you alright?" He asked.
She sighed, nodding, brushing her hair back from her flushed, sweaty face. "Never better," she gasped.
....*....
The bite of early winter chill stung his cheeks, turning them pink. He adjusted his scarf and held MC closer against him, savouring her warmth. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She rested her head against his chest, her arms wrapped about his waist.
He thought he might be the happiest bloke in the world.
The rush and snap of Quidditch players rushed past and they both looked up. The match was in full swing, Gryffindor winning against Hufflepuff currently. Usually, he would be jumping up and down, hollering his head off, but today he was utterly content to stand and hold the girl he loved.
Leander had mocked him for going soft in the head, but he didn't care. One day, he was going to turn the teasing on him. He would take his mate's mocking quite happily, because this was quite possibly the best feeling in the world.
Well, almost. No, the best, was when they were both naked and holding each other close like this. Since that evening in the potions classroom, he had been unable to keep his hands to himself, addicted to making her fall apart like she had.
And when she returned the favour, or they timed it to jointly release their desire for each other, well...that was just fucking perfect in his eyes.
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