the kiss list, adrian pucey
𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟑

chapter thirty-nine
number not found: ADRIAN PUCEY

✧ ━━━ · ✦ · ━━━ ✧

     EPIPHANIES ARE JUST GREAT, AREN'T THEY? That moment of realization that hits you like a boulder. Except with Bianca, she could see this boulder before it actually hit her. Like it was far off in front of her, half a mile or so. And she just didn't acknowledge it or do anything about it until it was staring at her in the eyes, and seconds away from impact. Sometimes these epiphanies suck. But this one doesn't. But it can suck. If Adrian doesn't love her back.

     But he said "undying" right? So Bianca still held out some hope.

     Bianca felt like a headless chicken, speeding out of the Library, with a mission to complete and no idea how to complete it. How was she going to find him? Is she sure she's in love with him? Or does she just not want him to hate her? Does she even want to go about telling him? Shouldn't she just swallow down these feelings and wait it out until they pass? She only has one year left and then she'll never have to see Adrian Pucey again. She'll need to focus on her career, and maybe some time down the line create a family and die peacefully in her sleep. Well, that is a long way down the line.

     But there is one person that would not want her to do that. And Bianca decided, she needed that same person's help, right about now.

     Bianca raced to the Training Ground, where she flew up the stairs to the top of the bleachers, skipping a few as she went. The whizzing specks of yellow showed no signs of stopping, and without the numbers on their match-day robes, it was very hard to locate Maxine O'Flaherty amongst the grey January clouds, and other canary players. Bianca's head was like a whippet ─ darting this way and that, her eyes almost popping out of her sockets, purely due to some kind of necessary speed. She didn't technically have a time frame on confessing her love for Adrian Pucey ─ but maybe Bianca saw it as the more time she wasted, the higher chance there was for him to fall out of love with her, and for her to be the one left broken-hearted. It was clear how little Bianca knew in this area of life.

     After several long and stressful seconds, Bianca finally spotted the brunette, Quaffle in hand, sailing through the sky on a stick that rested beneath her. Now a second problem arose ─ how on earth was Bianca supposed to catch the Chaser's attention from this distance? Not only was Bianca very far away, but the wind ought to deafen Maxine a bit, and the Gryffindor doubts waving her arms about would do much good besides making a fool of herself. And yet her devilishly smart brain solved her problem once again ─ Lee Jordan's microphone, used to project his hilarious commentary throughout a Hogwarts match. Its residentiary home was technically on the actual pitch, but a lot of Captains used it to do just what Bianca wanted to during practice on the Training Ground ─ communicate with the players in the air.

     Cedric Diggory was currently holding down a button, and shouting to one Herbert Fleet in goal.

     "Can I use this please?" Bianca begged the Hufflepuff, as she scrambled down the steps of the bleachers and to the roofed section of the large seating area. She gestured to the old-fashioned, Wizard-approved item of technology.

     Cedric took his hand off of the microphone, and a few of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, stopped mid-air to find out why Cedric's aggressive corrections were no longer echoing throughout the entire Scottish landscape. He stared at Bianca, his lips parted, "Uh, sure. I was actually just about to fly out-"

     With the simple permission that she needed, Bianca lept forward, lifted the microphone off of its wooden stand, and grasped it tight to her mouth. She uttered a quick "thanks!" to Cedric, cutting him off. Intrigued to find out what the Gryffindor wanted with his team, during his practice ─ which was very much private to most students ─ Cedric grabbed his broom and whizzed into the air to meet his team, all hovering mid-pitch, who were all just as intrigued.

     Bianca took a deep breath, "MAXINE O'FLAHERTY!" she shouted into the microphone. There was a sharp ringing sound, that caused the entire team, and the few spectators to wince, including Bianca. She waited for it to pass, before continuing, "PLEASE DISMOUNT YOUR BROOM AND GET OVER HERE!" she instructed. Bianca had never done anything like this before, and until three seconds ago, she hadn't dreamed about disclosing this to a rather large group of people, when it was technically only aimed for one individual, whilst using a loud device to do it. "YOU ARE NEEDED IN THE CUPID DEPARTMENT AND I NEED TO TELL A BOY THAT I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM!"

     She could see Maxine's face from here ─ it started almost annoyed, by Bianca's very public declaration, and because she had interrupted Max's practice. And yet that anger dissolved rather quickly when Bianca's motive unfolded with her words. Maxine's face had molded to one of total and utter proud-mom.

     As Maxine gratefully did as she was told, stuffing the Quaffle that was once under her arm, into Malcolm Preece's chest, and flying down towards the scruffy grass on the ground, Bianca had one more proclamation to verbalize. An apology. And although only three were present, and she would therefore have to make several more ─ if this whole "confessing her love" business planned out ─ three was still a good start.

     "AND MALCOLM, CEDRIC, ANTHONY." she started by addressing the three boys she had kissed so suddenly and no more than that. The microphone was definitely not meant for such volume. "I'M SORRY I KISSED YOU AND NEVER SAID ANOTHER WORD TO YOU. ALL WILL BE EXPLAINED I PROMISE. BUT FOR NOW, I HOPE A SHORT APOLOGY WILL SUFFICE."

     The three boys shared a look, all huddled in a little trio, center-pitch, as if to say "you kissed her too?". Although seeing them look rather betrayed, by each other and by her, Bianca was relieved it was out there in the open. And at least the three boys looked somewhat pleased that she had at least brought their kiss(es) up, rather than just letting them marinate in the open, unaddressed and unacknowledged.

     Due to her great dislike for the girl, Bianca didn't notice Tamsin Applebee at first. Probably because of her unfondness for her and her best friend, Heidi Macavoy ─ since terminated from The Kiss List (thank God and thank Adrian) ─ Bianca had forgotten they too, were a part of this team. She decided to address Tamsin, just for the spite. "AND TAMSIN," she yelled, although not necessary, due to the microphone's amplifying abilities, "ADRIAN NEVER LOVED YOU. IN FACT, IF I'M LUCKY, HE'S STILL IN LOVE WITH ME."

     There was more of a reaction to that than there was to Bianca admitting to having kissed 50% of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Malcolm looked as though he had just finished a puzzle ─ the awkwardness after Bianca introduced Adrian Pucey as her "friend" had now been explained. She had been in love with someone else this entire time. And he looked content with the finished masterpiece, now that everything was in its rightful place. Anthony looked rather happy for her, which surprised Bianca, and confused her as to why they hadn't become friends sooner. Cedric was confused. That's all to say.

     Tamsin's reaction was by far the best, however. Of course, it would be. Sort of an "I knew it!" followed by a huff and a grunt and a look of rude disdain. Heidi started offering comfort to her best friend as if Tamsin had just been informed a loved one of hers had recently passed. Heidi pulled Tamsin into a hug, and let her sob into her training gear.

     Maxine, now mounted from her broom, and staring up to the girl in the stands, was beyond a proud-mom now. Beaming with happiness, biting her lip to stop a smile from completely invading her face.

     With her job now done, Bianca fled the bleachers and practically threw herself down the stairs to where Maxine was waiting very patiently, having discarded her broom, and her commitment to practice. And yet, Cedric hadn't said a word. Bianca hadn't decided whether she thought it was out of the kindness of his heart that he let one of his best players leave vital practice early to help her friend by playing Cupid, or whether Malcolm had convinced him to let Maxine go. Either scenario, that made Bianca happy.

     "Finally switched on that brain of yours then, have we?" Maxine smirked, as she led Bianca out of the ground, via the players' exit.

"I haven't known Jason for that long."

Maxine practically gasped her lungs out, "JASON?!"

     Bianca laughed to herself, "Max, I'm joking. I'm obviously talking about Adrian. But it was about time, though, really, wasn't it?"

     Maxine scoffed with pure amusement, "You're telling me!" she laughed, the two of them met with a waft of chilly air, as they exited from underneath the stands, and began their root-march to the castle. "So what's the plan?" Max asked.

     "The Hallway speakers," Bianca said bluntly, staring straight ahead like she was on a mission. Which was very accurate, actually. Except this time ─ she actually knew how to complete it. Lee Jordan's microphone gave her the idea.

     "You're going to go even more public than you just did five minutes ago?" Maxine questioned, skeptically.

     "I'm just going to tell him to meet me on the roof," Bianca explained, her breath running short, but she didn't let that stop her from striding towards the nearest entrance to the main castle. "I can't go looking for him. That'd take ages! He could be anywhere."

     "That's never stopped you before," Maxine countered. It was true ─ Bianca had found herself wandering the Hogwarts walls on numerous occasions before this one, simply trying to find Adrian. But she knew the Slytherin common room password back then ─ they change with the start of every new term, the current one, of which started but two days ago.

     "Those weren't matters of emergency, Max," Bianca said. "Besides, there are only so many places I have access to. And I'm not going to search all of them just to find out he's been in his dorm all day!"

     They reached the nearest open door, where students in various coloured robes, were strolling in and out ─ their smooth flows disrupted by a sweaty Hufflepuff and a stressed Gryffindor, barging past, and into the castle.

     "Okay," Maxine drawled, "So the speakers. You know where to find the controls then?"

     "No," Bianca sang, slightly sore from Maxine's mistrust regarding Bianca's plan. It was just the stress, she told herself. "But I know someone who does."

     Every Monday morning, for the past five years, Fred and George Weasley, along with their pal Lee Jordan have done morning announcements to commence the start of the new week. Bianca rarely paid much attention to the content they were providing the students who were close by to the various speakers, hooked up in the corners of the high ceiling corridors, because she doubted whatever the infamous trio of jokesters had to say, had anything of importance to it.

     The announcements were most likely their opinions on Professor Snape's new haircut. Or the lack of conditioner applied to it. But Bianca always listened in because it was a laugh. Which is why she knew that the three of them would have access to the hallway speakers controls, even if announcements were kept to a minimum besides the Weasley/Jordan show, and required a serious, non-romantically-involved situation to be used. She knew they'd help her out.

     The three boys were (as suspected) easier to locate than Adrian Pucey. Partially because they rarely hung out with other houses besides their fellow Gryffindors, and partially because they make a racket, everywhere they go.

     Bianca didn't care for the Fat Lady's protests when she led Maxine O'Flaherty through the portrait hole, and into a strictly-Gryffindor location (come to think of it, Bianca hasn't been very conformist when it comes to letting non-Gryffindors into their personal common room. In fact, she's been in all four just this school year). She simply swept past and followed the heaves of laughter, and slightly worrying exploding sounds, coming from inside.

     Sure enough, Fred, George, and Lee were all gathered by the fire pit and were currently trying to sell various jokes and unhealthy snacks to the lower years.

     Bianca walked right up to the sofa at which the trio of boys, along with various other Gryffindors, and the Weasley's clientele, were sat, causing all heads to turn, and the fun-snaps-type-joke to fizzle out on the floor. "I need you to tell me where you do the Monday announcements from." she demanded calmly.

     Fred puckered his lips, "Come again?"

     "The speakers," she said. "Where are the controls? You know don't you?"

     George nodded dubiously, "Yeah, we know."

     "Why do you want to?" Lee asked.

     "That's confidential," Bianca replied bluntly.

     "Hang on," A Scottish lilt sounded from behind the two tall twins, "What's she doing here?" Oliver Wood asked, pointing to the Hufflepuff beside Bianca.

     Angelina Johnson appeared from behind Fred but a millisecond after, "Uh, Oliver," she spat, scowling at the Keeper, before stepping around the pillows on the floor to greet her girlfriend. Once by Maxine's side, her forehead creased, "But actually I'm curious too."

     Percy Weasley's ears had clearly pricked up at the word that a Hufflepuff had entered their midst, "That I would like to know too," he strode over from the staircase from the boys' dormitories, book in hand, as he narrowed his eyes at Maxine.

      Bianca was getting exceedingly frustrated.

     "I thought you had practice?" Angelina asked Maxine. She then addressed the rest of the room. Well, rather, Bianca. "What's going on here?"

     "Oh come on," Bianca huffed, her hands slapping her sides. "Of all the times I've brought people from other houses here, you've never questioned it."

     Percy came down from the steps and joined the circle of Gryffindors, and Maxine as if he had been welcomed. "Times?" he repeated exasperatedly. "Plural? I've never questioned it because I've never been made aware!"

     Bianca sighed ─ this was supposed to be a quick interaction, "No offense Percy, but you have absolutely nothing to do with this, so could you please leave?"

     "Nothing to do with it?" he almost laughed as he echoed her words. "I happen to be-"

     "Head boy," All of them said in unison, like a sort of aggravated choir ─ their eyes rolled, and their heads thrown back in a groan. "We know."

     "Look," Bianca said. "I just need you to show me to the speakers, and I won't bother you again. Just please don't ask questions."

     She heard a quiet snort come from behind her. Maxine was smirking, "You'll find out soon enough, anyway."

     "I thought you were supposed to be studying with that Jason kid?" Leo asked having since slumped into one of the sofas nearby after noticing the gathering of a crowd, all of whom were his friends. His words were followed by a very forced wink, and then another, his eye practically squeezing shut so his intentions were clear.

     Bianca pushed her lips into a smile, sarcastically, her face clearly saying "I thought I said no questions?" but she didn't need to say that at loud, "Change of plan. Urgent matter ─ must be attended to immediately." she said, in a monotonal voice. She turned on the spot, like they do in the Navy, and kept changing her gaze between the redheaded twins and their trusty sidekick. "Boys?"

     They shared a look, similar to the one Cedric, Malcolm and Anthony did not too long ago, all simultaneously shrugged, and then Lee replied, "Right this way, ladies."

     Bianca and Maxine followed Fred, George, and Lee, the leader, out of the Gryffindor lounge and through several familiar corridors, until they reached a hidden, narrow staircase, that spiraled high above them. Leo decided to tag along out of curiousity; his girlfriend, Angelina, Oliver and Katie all hanging around a speaker, awaiting Bianca's big news that apparently requires the school's public speakers.

     The three boys stepped aside, to give Bianca and Maxine room to lead the way, and Bianca stared straight up above her. The steps seemed endless, and she was curious if this was just some joke that the trio was playing on her, making her climb hundreds of stairs just to end up nowhere. They were infamous for their pranks after all. But then Bianca came to the conclusion that they were her friends, and she was hopeful that was just the overthinking department in her brain, overworking itself once again.

     Lee gave her a nod of encouragement, and she began her climb.

     It wasn't that high in the end. It was still a staircase, and not the easiest workout ever, but they reached the top, where a small, circular room was situated. It looked out on the Greenhouses and was actually quite a lovely view. It was still rather miserable out, but the school was busy with life, like always ─ some Herbology-loving students spending extra time tending to the plants behind the glass walls, others simply laughing with their friends on nearby benches, because it was such a friendly and welcoming place.

     In this unfamiliar room was a table, pushed right up against the round walls, curving in a half-circle in front of a long window, three chairs tucked underneath, where three microphones, and a few simple controls, on dusty, retro black boxes rested. Wizard approved.

     "This all you need?" George asked.

     Bianca nodded, "Exactly. Thank you, boys." she smiled, grateful that they didn't send her on a wild goose chase.

     "No problem." They replied in unison. They stood there for a moment, Maxine and Bianca stood in a line in front of the boys' own line. They all blinked.

     "Oh," Fred said, breaking the silence, "You didn't think we weren't going to stay to see what you needed it for, did you?"

     Lee chuckled, "Oh yeah, we have to find out what this is about."

     "You'll find out soon enough," Maxine replied, rather sternly. "Now go. Or I'll make you," she smiled sarcastically. It was clear Maxine O'Flaherty was quite the intimidating individual, because George looked at Fred, Fred looked and Lee and Lee looked at George. They left seconds later.

     Leo stayed where he was, and watched them clunk down the stairs, "You didn't mean me, right?"

     The answer became apparent that it was No, Leo, you can stay when Bianca didn't reply, but instead pulled out a chair, and sat down at the controls. She anxiously clicked the TALK button and held it down. After a second of radio silence, she pulled away and slumped further into her chair.

     Maxine and Leo both took a seat next to her, to offer a sense of comfort. Although only Leo sort of did that. He had worked out that this "public announcement" had to concern Adrian and his undying love for her. The edge of his lips tugged up a smile, and he nodded his head, faintly. Whereas Maxine folded her arms and her expression clearly read: "you do it, or I will."

     With some more comfort than the first attempt and the threat of Maxine taking control of the matter, Bianca clicked the button once more and leaned in. "Can Adrian Pucey please report to the north side corridor roof, effective immediately. That's Adrian Pucey to the north side corridor roof. Thank you."

     Bianca had made sure she had collected enough confidence to do that without stuttering or stumbling on her words, because not only is this being projected to the entire castle, and would therefore be embarrassing. But it was also something Adrian would tease her for later. He'd pick up on her nerves and not let her forget that the reason for them, was because she was so in love with him, she couldn't think straight.

approximately six minutes prior
the west wing study hall
5:38 pm

     Adrian doesn't think, in all his five and a half years at Hogwarts, that a day could go as slow as this one. Divination, History of Magic, and Charms in one day? To make things worse, Adrian had been benched for Slytherin's next Quidditch match, because Marcus claims he's been "too distracted" and "falling behind on goal scoring", and has a test in two days for a subject he didn't pay any attention to. And to top the day from heaven off, Bianca Larsson was flirting with Jason Samuels all through History of Magic.

     He is well aware that he was the one that wanted to continue their bet out of the two of them ─ Bianca arguing and surprisingly losing ─ and yet again, he kicks himself for causing his own pain. Adrian was planning on studying in the Library for this History test that was in less than seventy-two hours, but to his delight, Jason had invited Bianca to do just that, and now Adrian can't stand the Library as an environment on the whole.

     Oh, and now, Marcus is talking game strategies in the study hall that was acting as a substitute for the Library, in front of Adrian, having just made him a temporary reserve. Not to mention Marcus' constant blabber made it impossible to concentrate on his note-taking. Even Miles had told Marcus to shut it, and Miles is actually playing next week.

     It made Adrian wonder if every day will be like this when Bianca inevitably wins the bet and he resigns from the team. Maybe that's for the best? Maybe Marcus is right and he actually is too distracted and, in the end, will just be a liability to his team? What is he saying? Of course it's not for the best. Like Bianca with her chess, Quidditch is Adrian's thing. He's good at it, and he loves playing it. Out of all the times, he and his team have won the Hogwarts Interhouse Quidditch Cup, Adrian has never even gotten the chance to touch the cup. Marcus is always lifting it, Cassius makes little Colin Creevey take his picture with it, and Draco is usually the one being thrown in the air because he's the seeker and his dad got them all new, and expensive brooms. Adrian wants his chance to actually win that cup. And he can't do that if he quits the team. Hopefully, Bianca still wants to call it off.

     Marcus is rarely right anyway.

     "Higgs, just don't fuck it up, all right?"

     A lovely close to Marcus' pre-game pep-talk. Terrence ─ ex-seeker until Malfoy bought his spot ─ now plays as a reserve Chaser, and although he's replacing his best friend, he can't wait to get back onto the pitch to play a proper match again. But even he can't stand Marcus' drivel.

     "Why can't Adrian play again?" Graham queried, earning himself a few "shhh's!" from some nearby Ravenclaws who have had just about enough of the Slytherin Quidditch team's disruption to silent study. "No offense, T, but it's a little stupid, isn't it? This close to the game?"

     Marcus grunted, "I'm sorry, are you Captain, Montague?" he snapped. "Or am I?"

     Graham surrendered his hands, stared at his notes, and didn't speak again.

     "So Terrence, you onboard, or am I going to have to make that Nott kid-"

     It was surprising enough that someone was to interrupt Marcus superior, rich-kid, Captain Flint. But it was even more surprising that it was Bianca introverted, not-superior-due-to-pathetic-pureblood-supremacists, chess player Larsson to be the one to do it. And over the microphone used for announcements.

     Her voice came, cutting Flint mid-sentence, echoing through the hallway beside the West Wing study hall, and floating to Adrian's ears like some kind of bizarre dream. "Can Adrian Pucey please report to the north side corridor roof, effective immediately. That's Adrian Pucey to the north side corridor roof. Thank you."

     Adrian quite literally dropped his wet quill, on his dry parchment.

     Being the curious boy he is, Adrian had gotten very familiar with Muggle things. Music, technology, literature. But his most recent conquest to a full understanding of the Muggle Lifestyle is film. To be exact: the romance movies that Bianca always talked about. And now this? This talking over a speaker to get his attention was exactly the cheesy things that Bianca said she has a love-hate relationship with that appeared in these movies he spent more time than he'd like to admit watching. And yet here we are. She always seems to surprise him.

     Adrian was about to get up ─ there was doubt that he was curious as hell to find out what was so important that Bianca spoke over the school's speakers. He was going to go to that roof ─ but, inevitably, that would be impossible, without Marcus speaking his mind.

     "And you said you're not distracted?" he scoffed. "What does your girlfriend want now that's so urgent she's going to steal you away from team-talk and studying?"

     Adrian gritted his teeth, as he began tidying away his stationary, starting with screwing the lid to his inkpot back on. "One, not my girlfriend. Two, I'm apparently not a part of this team, so your "pep-talk" is quite literally useless to me," he said, the muscles in his jaw still clenched, as he put the cap back on his quill, and gathered his various pieces of parchment into a neat pile. Marcus had his eyes pierced on Adrian, full of incredulity that Adrian would talk to his best friend like this. Supposed best friend at least. "Three, you've distracted me since we bloody sat down." Adrian got to his feet, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked around the table, sticking his head between Marcus and Cassius. "And four? Fuck you, Flint."

present
announcement tower
5:44 pm

     Bianca's hands were sweating, as she released her finger from the TALK button.

     Leo didn't make anything better: "Hate to burst your adorably, lovestruck bubble, but what if he's outside and is therefore not in the speakers' range?"

     The speakers are located in almost every hallway where necessary. There's one in Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Tower, as well as the Hufflepuff basement and Slytherin common room. So even if Adrian was in his dorm, someone who was in range would have surely told him by now. Bianca just realized the publicity of her voice. That's a lot of people.

     The only place he might not be able to hear it, besides well and truly outside of the castle, is the Great Hall. What with the noisy students, it's quite hard to hear her relatively quiet voice. But he won't be there because even with silent study happening every day, the Great Hall will now be being prepared for dinner that happens in only twenty minutes. Silent study ends at 5:30 pm.

     "They project quite loudly," Maxine said, now twiddling a pencil in her hand. "I've heard Fred Weasley's laugh from the broom shed once before."

     Bianca took a deep breath in. Part of her hoped Adrian was on his way to the roof right now. The other part, silently hoping, he wasn't planning on doing what she had asked. "Well, I guess I better go find out."

     Her chair made an awful screeching sound, when it scratched the concrete floor, as she pushed it out from underneath her. Bianca locked her fingers together to try and bring her nerves level down to manageable and approached the exit to the staircase.

     "Go get yo man!" Maxine howled.

     Bianca turned her head to the girl, and her mouth twitched into the nicest smile she could muster, "Please don't ever say that again?"

     "Sorry."

     Bianca held her breath the entire way to the roof where she asked him to meet. It was impossible to let herself breathe without running the risk that she would flee the castle entirely and catch a train home. And yet she didn't even let that breath out when she stumbled upon him, standing by the edge. "You came?"

     Adrian turned to face her, his hands in his pockets, "You told me to."

     "Well, yeah," she let out an airy, not to mention very awkward laugh, and began fiddling with the hairband on her wrist. Bianca took a step closer,  "but I guess I thought that maybe-"

     "I'd bail because I hate you right now?" he finished, cocking his head.

     "Yeah, that." It took a second for her to process what he had said, and when her brain had finally done so, her eyes shot up from the floor. "You don't though right? Hate me?"

     He squinted his eyes, and rocked on his heels, "I wouldn't say hate," he replied playfully.

     Adrian waited for her to speak. She was the one that called him here after all. And in quite an urgent, and very public display. But she didn't, and he wanted to make this easier for her. Whatever this is. "Is this gonna be like that one scene in that movie where the guy holds that music projector thingy to his girlfriend's open window to win her back?" he asked, a smirk playing at his lips.

     Bianca finally let that breath out, and a smile broke out on her face. "Oh my God, you watched Say Anything?" she asked incredulously. "Didn't that hurt your masculinity so much that you combusted?" she suddenly felt comfortable enough to take a step forward. And so did he.

     "It was so boring, but I couldn't turn it off," Adrian admitted. "I've gotten pretty good with Muggle devices, and it led me to a strange obsession with Hugh Grant. That man is very attractive."

    Bianca had so many questions. So, so many that her senses were flooded. But she decided to put them on pause, and do what she came here to do. Maxine would be up her ass if she was here right now. "I would love to return to this conversation. In fact, I'm going to make sure we do. So, rain check? But first I have something to say. And I just realized that I don't quite know how to start."

     "Hugh Grant probably would," he joked.

     Although Bianca appreciated his attempt to lighten the air, she needed to do something first. "Adrian."

     "Right sorry," he rambled, before playfully bowing, and unraveling his hand and holding it above his head. "Proceed."

     Bianca let the smile prick at her lips, but that was as far as she was going to let it. "I'm sorry for being an idiot."

     "I don't think you're an idiot."

     "No, I know that. Because I haven't told you."

     "Told me what?"

     This was it. This was her chance. To get it off her chest. To have it out in the open. What she had been excited for. And although her heart was screaming at her brain to comply, it didn't quite and sent another signal to her vocal cords. "I never kissed Duncan Inglebee."

     It's called procrastination. And Bianca thinks there will be a lot of it throughout the process of confessing one's love to another.

     Adrian's mouth fell open, "You're kidding."

     "No. I'm ashamed honestly. Because I got so caught up in this stupid bet that-"

     "Hey!" he injected, pouting like a child.

     Bianca tilted her head, "Adrian, come on," she murmured. "It was childish and silly. And I became so invested in it, it blinded me from the things that were right in front of me! It all kinda dawned on me just today. That I actually have a great group of friends. That I really, really I don't hate your guts, in fact very far from that." She was getting close. "And that I fucking love this school and I don't want it to end!" her shoulders drooped to the floor, solemnly. "I may be this ambitious, strangely smart person, but I don't know what I'm going to do when I leave here! My parents haven't spoken to me about my career because they're so caught up in their own, and have no idea what a Witch can actually do with her life after Wizarding School! I'm scared, Adrian. And I don't have that far to go until I'm chucked in the deep end with no lifejacket to keep me above the surface."

     Adrian had put no thought into his future. Quidditch maybe? Ministry like his dad? That's probably where he'll have to end up. But he didn't care if he didn't have it all figured out. That'll come with time. He's got a year left to have fun with his mates, and win some games, and do what he loves in a school that, just like Bianca, he loves. But he didn't know what she was getting at. "I don't know what you're saying."

     "We're young!" she sighed. "And I don't know what that means. My parents met when they were in high school, and I don't remember the last time that they even held hands. Granted, I'm not there for 70% of the year, and they're always at work, so I don't know what happens then, and maybe they do kiss and whatever parents in love do when their children are at boarding school and maybe-"

     Adrian bit his lip, "Bianca," he said, with hopes to calm her, and end her long, continuous train of speech. "You're rambling."

     "Right," she blushed a vivid red and was very glad the sun was disappearing behind the turrets of the castle. "Um sorry, I'm just nervous."

     "Nervous?"

     "Very," she confessed, her voice shaky. It took another deep breath for her to proceed. "My point is, is that, maybe we are too young. And- and maybe this is risky."

     Adrian's confusion continued, "What is?"

     Bianca was well aware that what she was saying made no sense to him until she confessed what it was she wanted, no needed to confess, which is why she told herself she better get a move on. "I'm getting there," she promised. "I'm sorry for lying. And for being stupid and leading you on. For being a dick when it really wasn't the time to. And I guess I'm sorry for not realizing sooner."

     Adrian had become so lost, that he began questioning why he showed up in the first place. His forehead had several horizontal indents running across his skin. He chuckled dryly, releasing his hands from his pockets, "Realizing what?" he inquired. "You're being very vague and mysterious here and I'm rather confused. Can you just get to the point where you tell me what the fuck you're-"

     Bianca had been saying these two words to herself since the beginning of The Kiss List. Those two words that tell her that actually, nothing matters that much. Nothing is that consequential, or momentous. And she said them again to herself right in this moment:

     Fuck. It.

     For something she had gotten used to, nothing prepared her for what she was about to do. No one can prepare for this kind of feeling. Relief. Overwhelming joy. Certainty.

     Bianca closed the gap between them, ignoring any further words that were falling out of his mouth, and she connected their lips in one perfect movement.

     And there are no words to do it justice.

     Bianca never knew that one moment could hold a million sweet thoughts. Then again, she never imagined herself kissing Adrian Pucey on a rooftop, the sinking sun being their loving witness.

     When his initial shock had passed, Adrian's hands found her waist, and he pulled her tighter. He had been thinking about this moment for five and a half years, and now that it was finally happening, he had no idea how to go about it.

     And yet that was okay. He didn't need to know because this was right. Everything about this was right. The surroundings ─ a beautiful castle, lost to breathtaking Scottish landscape and bathed in the ombre of the sunset. Her scent ─ as rosy as ever, meaning more now than a dainty potion. Her lips ─ as soft as he imagined they would be, painting a perfect picture of her emotions, and how she feels. How she feels. She kissed me. She's kissing me.

     He tugged her a little closer, and Bianca pressed against the balls of her feet so her lips rested comfortably on his, not wanting to ever come apart. Because they are bound in a kiss that is so tender the world should stop on its axis and take note of their love.

     Is that what this is? Really and truly? Love huh.

     His warm aroma was like no other comfort that Bianca has ever experienced. That same sweet, nose-tickling smell of freshly-baked blueberry muffins, heating her body like no fire could. There might as well be a thunderstorm, or hail or pounding rain, and that wouldn't matter. The snow globe had returned, sealing their kiss in a tight, snug bubble, for no one to disturb. Not even the harshest of weather. There might as well be a thunderstorm, followed by streaks of flashy lighting. Because it felt like electric currents were running through her veins.

     For the time their lips were locked together in a tender embrace, the world itself ceased to exist, blurred and indistinct as an impressionist masterpiece.

     She didn't want to pull away, not ever. The cold wasn't bothering her. His lips had warmed hers, and his cheeks sent balmy waves to her palms. But after delicate seconds that seemed to pass as if time was a myth, she parted her lips from his and stared into those eyes with a whole new perspective on life entirely.

     Adrian smirked at the first chance he got, "Oh."

     Bianca shrugged innocently, and answered his question regarding why she asked him here: "I'm adding someone to The Kiss List."

     "Huh. So that's why you made me a mixtape."

     She rested her arms on his shoulders, and held her hands behind his head, lowering her heels to the ground, "In my defense," she said, "I made that before you confessed your love to me."

     "Ohh right," Adrian sang, "and before you broke my heart as well right?"

     "That's not fair. Haven't I redeemed myself?" Bianca batted her eyelashes, jokily.

     He grimaced, "Possibly."

     Bianca bit her lip, and immediately wished his to meet hers again. It was like home ─ kissing this boy. "You know, I only have a month left to finish this bet, and I still have like three people still to kiss from the list. And you know, I don't think I can do it," she said sarcastically, wincing and causing him to chuckle. She so could do it. She just didn't want to.

     Adrian hummed, "No, yeah neither do I," he played along.

     "I think that means I owe you a date?"

     "That you do."

     And just like that, Bianca Larsson had officially lost their bet. The end.

     Kidding.

     "But I have a proposition," Adrian drawled.

     Bianca hollowed her mouth, "Oh, God."

     Adrian humorously pursed his lips in false offense. "Are you going to let me finish or?"

     "Well," Bianca argued, "the last time you had a proposal to make, look where that ended us."

     Adrian scoffed, admiring how perfectly she fitted in his arms, and how comfortably his hands rested on her lower back and how easily she slipped towards his chest. "Yeah, in a pretty good position if you ask me."

     Bianca pretended to ponder his reply, but there was no question about it: Bianca loved where she was stood. And she didn't even have any trouble admitting it. "I agree. Carry on."

     "So, seeing as I made you fall in love with me," he sang, earning himself a mockery of an eye roll from the Gryffindor in his arms, "why don't we make the date double-sided."

     She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head, "Elaborate."

     He cocked an eyebrow, "I plan half of the date. You plan the other half."

     "Sounds intriguing. Tell me more."

     There was a new kind of atmosphere on the roof that evening. The kind that's all warm and fuzzy. Sort of like when you go on holiday, and everything is so much more welcoming in a foreign place. Because this was all foreign to them ─ this new feeling.

     They missed dinner due to talking for so long. Bianca came to learn that Adrian had other Muggle-born friends and that he managed to get a pocket-sized, Hogwarts-friendly TV, so he could binge every movie she had ever mentioned to him. She gave him more recommendations and he wrote them down. She told him she kissed Jason and he wasn't happy, but quickly got over it upon learning it led to her awakening that meant they were where they are right now.

     Adrian even fell asleep on Bianca's lap, and she watched his chest rise and fall until it was too late, and her hands felt like ice. He walked her as far as to the portrait hole, where Bianca let him go ─ even though she didn't want him to, she really didn't want him to ─ because she felt she had already stepped over the line too much concerning non-Gryffindors in the Gryffindor common room. They shared a kiss goodnight, and everything was good. Really good.

     And oh how the tables have turned.

     In fact, turning tables is an understatement. If you were to tell September-Bianca that she had let Adrian Pucey fall asleep on her lap, and kissed him goodnight, she would have laughed in your face and told you to piss right off.