Chapter Text
“Now why am I putting on a dress?” Gwen’s voice rang out from her bathroom.
“Because it’s your birthday and you should look nice,” Adora said from her spot on Gwen’s bed.
Gwen made her way from the bathroom to stare at her mother.
“Why should I look nice, if we’re just going to be eating chicken pot pie and watching movies?” Gwen said skeptically.
“We’re not having chicken pot pie,” Adora said, rising from the bed.
“We’re not?” Gwen said, surprised because they had chicken potpie every year for Gwen’s birthday, “What are we having?”
“A nice surprise meal,” Adora said, winking at her suspicious daughter.
“I don’t like this,” Gwen muttered.
Adora laughed.
“I know, Winny, but finish getting ready. Maybe brush your hair,” Adora said as she came over and kissed Gwen on the forehead.
“Love you,” Adora said.
Gwen smiled slightly, despite her worry.
“Love you more,” She said.
Gwen waited until Adora walked out of the room and the down the stairs to move towards her dressing table. She looked at her reflection. Not much had changed over the summer. She was far tanner from spending the days outside; she had a slight sprinkling of freckles on her olive skin. Her dark hair highlighted by the sun’s UV kiss. She always preferred summer. It wasn’t a weather thing, more so than what summer consisted of. She loved being at home.
The summer had gone just as Gwen hoped it would. The days were filled with long sunrises, good books, bright flowers, and romantic movies to finish off the night. She corresponded with Hermione and Ron all summer, seeing them both a few times.
She slowly brushed through her hair. Her eyes darting to the small arrangement of letters by her window, she had kept all of her letters wrapped together based on person. The largest stack was the Hermione pile, her best friend writing her every day or so since they were moved from the burrow. There were letters from Ginny, who loved to relay all of the secret coming and goings of the group to Gwen, mostly to tell her of all the hilarious jokes the twins have pulled. The pile from Ron was small, but each letter meant a lot.
The second largest pile, all in the now familiar scrawl of Colin. Those were the letters that made Gwen’s heart pump a little faster and looked the most worn out from her repetitious late night readings.
She was meant to see Colin soon. He had told her in his last letter that he wanted to see her for her birthday before they headed back to school. They had seen each other quite a bit since the summer began, and things were progressing rather well between them.
Gwen’s smile faded as she stared at the last pile. Usually one of the largest piles, Harry’s letters remained opened but not responded too. She felt the familiar prickle of guilt and stood up from her dressing table and walked to the letters.
Sitting on the floor, she pulled Harry’s latest letter from the pile and read quietly.
Gwen,
Why haven’t you responded to any of my letters? Why hasn’t anyone responded to any of my letters? You, Hermione, and Ron…where are you? What’s going on? I miss you.
The letter continued from there but Gwen couldn’t finish. She rested her chin on the window pane as she reflected on the meeting that took place at the beginning of the summer.
“Gwen, someone is here to see you,” Adora shouted from the bottom of the stairs.
Gwen had been sitting on her bed, reading a novel that Adora insisted she read. She flipped to her stomach and crawled up, curious as to who had come to see her. It could’ve been Hermione or any of the Weasley’s, but Adora would have said so, if that were the case. It might be Colin, but they had only hung out once and while it went great-it would be a bit weird, if he showed up unexpectedly.
Gwen carefully made her way downstairs, trying to avoid all of the squeaky parts on each stair. She turned and entered the living room, almost lurching backwards when she saw who was sitting on her sofa across from her mother.
“Professor Dumbledore,” Gwen choked out, feeling astounded and embarrassed.
“Ms. Easton,” Dumbledore said kindly, nodding his head in her direction as he took another sip of tea.
Gwen tugged on the edge of her black shorts; suddenly wishing she was wearing her uniform.
“Please do sit,” Dumbledore said, motioning to the couch, as if she were in his house.
Gwen walked over and sat on the edge of the sofa, staring at the professor.
“Want some tea, Winny?” Adora said gently, knowing who was sitting across from her daughter.
“No thank you,” Gwen said quietly, looking at her mother briefly.
Adora stood up and smiled.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” She said before continuing, “I’ll just be in the kitchen.”
Although her face was kind, her voice had a slight edge, but who she was warning Gwen wasn’t sure.
Dumbledore waiting until the kitchen door swung shut, leaving just the two of them in eerie silence.
“How are you, Gwen?” Dumbledore said.
“I’m well. How are you?” Gwen said, sounding a bit automatic.
“I’m worried I don’t have good news for you,” Dumbledore said.
Gwen’s anxiety shot up, but she kept her voice steady.
“What is it?”
“I’m sure you’ve already begun to receive letters from your friends,” He said casually, throwing Gwen off.
“Uhh…yes,” She said slowly.
Was Dumbledore here to check in on her correspondence?
“Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley?” Dumbledore said lightly.
Gwen suddenly felt very defensive and made no remark. Dumbledore seemed to recognize the obstinacy in her and simply smiled.
“And Mr. Potter, I’m sure?” He finished.
“I’m sorry, Professor, what exactly are you asking?” Gwen said, trying to sound polite.
“I’m not here to ask anything. I’ve come to tell you that you must not respond to the letters,” Dumbledore said.
“Not respond to the letters? Why?”
This was not how she thought this conversation was going to go.
“Not all the letters, I assure you. Simply Harry’s,” Dumbledore clarified.
“I can’t respond to Harry’s letters?” Gwen asked.
“No, for his own safety it’s better that he doesn’t know what takes place this summer,” Dumbledore said.
“What?” Gwen asked feeling more confused with his every attempt at clarification.
Dumbledore went on for the next few minutes to explain better.
“He’ll be very upset,” Gwen, said when Dumbledore finished.
“Yes, but he’ll be safe,” Dumbledore countered.
Gwen frowned but she nodded.
“And I must express you, Ms. Easton, that you too are welcomed to our new location. As a known friend of Harry’s, you are also at risk,” Dumbledore offered.
Gwen debated for a moment before Dumbledore continued.
“Of course, as your mother possesses no magic, we could not guarantee a spot for her…considering what she might see,” Dumbledore said, sounding apologetic.
“I stay with my mother,” Gwen said without a second thought.
“Very well,” Dumbledore said, as if he expected her to respond the way she did.
And on that note he left, leaving Gwen confused and staring at the half-finished letter addressed to Harry, before she crumbled it up and threw it away.
“Gwen, food’s ready!” Adora’s voice from downstairs broke Gwen from her thoughts.
“Coming,” Gwen called out, her voice hoarse.
She cleared out her throat and stuffed the letters back where they belonged. Quickly standing and smoothing out her dress, she made her downstairs. She was too preoccupied by thoughts of her friends to notice the silence downstairs, as opposed to the soft crooning of the radio.
“So what are we eating?” She asked, walking into the kitchen only to pause.
There, in the middle of her kitchen, with a crooked party hat and an equally crooked grin stood Colin. He held balloons in one hand and a kazoo in the other. When Gwen walked in he blew into it hard.
“Happy birthday!” He shouted.
Gwen knew she probably looked surprised. Her mouth was slightly ajar as she stared at the tall boy.
She must have been silent for too long because Adora called out her name.
“Gwen,” She said.
“Sorry,” Gwen said quickly, “I’m just…surprised.”
Colin grinned, “That’s the point.”
Gwen laughed and walked towards him.
“Thank you,” She said.
Wrapping her arms around his chest, because his neck was too far for her to reach for every time she tried to hug him.
Colin hugged her back instantly while laughing into her hair.
“So you both thought to sneak around me?” Gwen said, pulling back to look at the grinning Adora.
“I asked your mom a few weeks back, if she didn’t mind if I borrowed you,” Colin explained.
“She usually doesn’t share,” Gwen teased.
“I guess I’m just that special,” Colin said, grinning at her.
“Don’t forget a sweater,” Adora said to Gwen.
“Where are we going?” Gwen asked, looking at Colin.
“It’s a secret,” He said, winking.
Gwen frowned.
“I don’t like surprises.”
“You’ll like this. I’m sure,” Colin said confidently.
Gwen was still frowning but she took the sweater that Adora handed her.
“Home by 11,” Adora said, looking at the two of them.
“Yes, ma’am,” Colin said, saluting.
Gwen shook her head, smiling.
“I’ll be home,” She said.
With a quick kiss to her mother’s cheek, out the door Colin and she headed.
“So we’re walking?” Gwen asked.
“It’s not far from here,” Colin assured.
Gwen raised her eyebrows skeptically.
“I’ve lived here for awhile, Colin,” She said, “There’s not that much around.”
“Don’t ruin the surprise,” He said.
He reached for hand to pull her along. Gwen blushed a little. It wasn’t the first time they held hands, but she always felt nervous.
Their relationship had been steadily moving forward at a slow pace throughout the summer, by her request. Colin had tried to kiss her once, and she pulled away before he could. When she embarrassingly tried to apologize and explain, he was incredibly sweet about it. He just kind of grinned.
“Sorry, I just couldn’t help but try,” He said sheepishly.
Gwen covered her face with her hands.
“I’m sorry,” She muffled through her hands.
Colin reached forward and gently pried her hands away from her face.
“Hey,” He said, bringing her eyes to him, “There’s nothing for you to feel sorry for. I’m the one who should apologize. It was dickish of me to think you wanted to kiss without asking.”
“No,” Gwen said, “Don’t be sorry. I did want to kiss you. I mean, I still do, but I just…can’t.”
She could tell he was confused.
“Is…there someone else?” He asked before continuing quickly, “It’s okay if there is, I mean, we’re not really dating, I guess.”
Gwen felt slightly bruised by the “not-dating” thing even though they had never talked about it.
“No, there’s no one else,” She insisted, “It’s just me. I’m weird, I guess.”
“It’s okay. I like you anyways,” Colin said, grinning again.
Gwen laughed.
“Thanks so much.”
They sat in silence, Colin still holding her hands as they sat across from each other. Colin played with her limp fingers for a few moments before speaking again.
“So…if there’s no one else, and you want to kiss me but can’t, and you’re a bit weird, and I like it…would you maybe like to date?” He said.
“Like boyfriend and girlfriend?” She asked, feeling embarrassed and juvenile.
Colin smiled with his mouth closed, a clear sign of his nervousness.
“Yeah, like boyfriend and girlfriend,” He confirmed.
Gwen sat quietly for a moment.
“You really want a girlfriend who won’t kiss you?” She asked.
“I don’t mind if you won’t kiss me yet, as long as you’re not kissing anyone else,” He said.
“Well then as long as you’re not kissing anyone else, while you’re waiting for me to kiss you,” Gwen argued.
Colin smiled a bit wider.
“It’s a deal,” He said, shaking both of her hands in his.
Gwen laughed.
“So we’re dating?” She asked.
“Yes, and whenever you’re ready we can start kissing,” He teased.
Gwen smacked the top of his head.
Gwen and Colin continued to walk hand-and-hand as they ambled across the field. Gwen knew they were headed towards the lake, but said nothing.
Finally, they made it and Colin turned to Gwen.
“Close your eyes,” He said.
Gwen raised her eyebrows and smiled.
“I know where we are,” She said.
Colin huffed slightly.
“Can you please just play along?” He begged.
Gwen grinned but complied with his wishes.
Colin stepped behind her and covered his eyes with his hands to ensure she didn’t look. Gwen heard his breathing and the faint sounds of bugs chirping. She walked a few more steps past a tree when Colin halted, and moved his hands.
“Open your eyes,” He said quietly.
Gwen opened her eyes to what might be the most beautiful picnic she’d ever seen. A large blanket lay a few feet away from the lake, with enchanted candles that lit up all around them and beautifully made up dinner-probably made by one of their mothers.
Tears came to Gwen’s eyes as she continued to stare silently at the scene in front of her.
Colin again, not used to people going so long without reaction, walked in front of her tentatively.
“You like it?” He asked.
Gwen looked up at him, her eyes glittering from the moon, and smiled.
“I love it,” She whispered.
Colin smiled at her, clearly happy.
“Let’s sit,” He offered, leading Gwen to the blanket.
They sat side-by-side and ate their dinner and talking. Gwen was quieter than usual, which meant to say she was very quiet. She felt a bit overwhelmed by the gesture and just wanted to absorb it all.
When they finished their dessert, Colin turned his head and looked at her.
“Happy birthday, Gwen,” He said quietly.
Gwen looked at him and her heart sped up. Her gaze dropped to his lips and when she looked up, Colin looked more serious than she’d ever seen him.
“Can…” He began, “Can I kiss you?”
Gwen, emboldened by the gesture, silently leaned forward and pressed her lips to the stunned Colin. It took him a few seconds to get over his surprise, before he reached up and gently pressed his hand to her cheek, deepening the kiss.
After a few moments they pulled away and Gwen smiled widely. She just had her first kiss.
“Wow,” Colin grinned, “No wonder you needed to take your time.”
He wriggled his eyebrows at her and Gwen laughed, pushing him slightly. He caught her hand, still grinning. He leaned in and pressed another kiss against her lips.
The rest of the night was filled with their laughter and gentle kisses. Gwen felt giddy by the end of the night when Colin walked her home. They stood outside her front door, facing each other and holding hands.
“Thank you, for tonight,” Gwen said.
“It was my pleasure,” He said, leaning down and kissing her once more.
Gwen laughed as one kiss turned to two, but she eventually pulled away and turned the knob to her front door.
“Goodnight,” She said quietly, taking a step inside.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you something.” Colin said.
Gwen paused.
“What?”
Colin quickly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her once more, deeper than any of the previous times. Gwen’s hands slid off the doorknob and came to rest at his sides.
The kiss lasted until they were both out of breath and Colin pulled away.
“Night,” Colin said slightly breathless, grinning as widely as ever.
“Night,” She said softly.
Gwen smiled as he stepped backwards and she stepped back over the threshold and shut the door behind her. She rested her forehead against the cool wood. With her eyes closed, she played the night over in her head. Sighing, she turned around.
“Looks like you had fun,” An amused voice said.
Gwen’s eyes snapped open as she focused on the person who sat on the foot of her stairs, smirking at her.
“What are you doing here?” She shrieked.