Loss, Gain, Love

Olivia sat on her four-poster bed, crying. The other three Gryffindor sixth year girls were still down in the common room. Even if they would have been there, she couldn't have told them. She couldn't tell anyone. She just had to pretend it wasn't happening.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning, Olivia woke early and decided to head down to the Great Hall for breakfast. As she stole quietly out of the girls' hall she ran smack into a tall redheaded figure.

"Oh! Fred! I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking."

"That's OK!" he said with a grin.

It was common knowledge that Fred was head over heels in love with Olivia, although she didn't exactly return the feelings. The two of them were very good friends, all crushes aside, and often talked for hours on end. Even now, as they walked down to breakfast, they talked of Quidditch, homework, and the latest gossip.

As they approached the Great Hall, Fred caught Olivia's shoulder.

"Liv, you were crying last night."

"How did you know that?"

"I heard you on my way to bed."

"Oh..."

"Why were you crying? You need to tell me."

"I can't."

"Why not? I can help you."

"I don't think you can."

"I can try. Olivia I can tell this is hurting you. I want to know."

"It will just hurt you as well. You don't want to know."

"Yes I do. Tell me, please."

" I will tell you later. Just not now."

Fred gave her one last concerned look before walking into the Hall.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Thinking about the fact that she would soon have to tell Fred made Olivia feel queasy, so she decided to forego breakfast. She ran out the oak front doors and right into Seamus Finnigan.

"Whoa Olivia!"

Olivia rose her dark eyes to Seamus' face. As much as she tried to stop them, tears overflowed and spilled down her cheeks.

"Hey now! No crying within five miles of me!" Seamus joked.

Despite her tears, Olivia grinned.

"Now that's better! What's wrong?"

Olivia told him the whole story. He made a face.

"Wow, that's pretty bad! I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Not really. I'm just going to have to tell Fred."

She wiped her eyes and gave Seamus a parting hug.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Olivia tugged nervously at her dark auburn curls as she waited for Fred at the bottom of the Common Room stairs.

"Olivia."

Olivia jumped as Fred came down the stairs at a half jog.

"You ready to tell me?"

Olivia nodded and took a deep breath.

"I know you've liked me since third year. But I like someone else. Someone close to you. I knew you'd be upset which is why...."

"Olivia, you're ranting. Just tell me who it is, I can handle it."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Try me."

"George."

"I'm Fred, remember?"

"No, it's George, I like George."

Fred's face fell.

"Oh my God."

"Fred, I'm so sorry."

Without answering, he pushed past her. She could see the tears in his eyes as he ran up the stairs. At this, Olivia burst into tears herself and slumped into a chair.

"You told him, I take it?"

Olivia looked up to see Seamus coming through the Portrait Hole. She nodded with a sob. He sat down next to her.

"I don't know how I can help you, but I am here if you need me."

Olivia sobbed into his shoulder.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Once again, Olivia sat on her four-poster bed crying. The other three Gryffindor sixth year girls came bursting into the room.

"Liv, they've just told us."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, that sounds rough."

Katie sat down next to her.

"But Seamus just told us that he likes you, A LOT!"

Olivia's head snapped up.

"What?"

"Seamus likes you!" Angelina exclaimed.

"Do you like him?" Alicia asked.

"Alicia, I like George."

"Yeah, but you and Seamus would be sooooo cute! You know you like him!"

Olivia looked at her.

"Well, he has been really nice to me...."

The three of them grinned.

"See!"

"Hold on, I still have the whole Fred and George mess to sort out. I need to talk to Fred. And you can't expect me to just stop liking George."

"Yeah, just think on it for a while."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Olivia sat next to Seamus in the Common Room. Alicia had been right; she did like him. But she liked George as well.

"Liv."

She looked up to see Fred standing there.

"Yeah?"

"I need to talk to you, alone."

"Right." She stood up, "I'll see you later Seamus."

She and Fred seated themselves on the stairs.

"Why, Olivia?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you like George?

"I...don't know. Believe me, Fred, I tried to pretend that I didn't like him. I knew it would hurt you. I tried for 2 whole months to make it go away, but it doesn't work like that."

"I understand. All I want is for you to be happy. If that requires you dating my brother, then I'll deal."

"Thanks, Fred."

"But George doesn't like you like that, you know."

Olivia's look of relief suddenly changed to a look of hurt. She got up without another word and walked briskly back to the dormitory.

As she opened the door, she found herself face to face with (you guessed it!) Seamus.

"I judged by the look on Fred's face that you would need me again."

She explained all about her conversation with Fred.

"He TOLD you George doesn't like you?"

"Yeah..."

"I think he was lying when he said all he wanted was for you to be happy. Because if you want someone to be happy, you don't tell them that the person the love doesn't like them."

Olivia looked at Seamus.

"You're right. But, oh well."

"Well I'd better go..."

"OK, thanks, Seamus."

"Anytime."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Olivia had explained everything to Katie, Alicia, and Angelina.

"So are you going to wait around for George or are you going to go out with Seamus?"

"I don't know, Angelina. What do you think?"

"I think you should do whatever your heart says is right. Then everything will turn out OK."

"Do whatever my heart says is right......"