Hopelessly Devoted To You

[Flavio Morales-Tipene]

Set in October of 2045 on the night of the Halloween feast.

The Halloween feast that year was Flavio's favourite so far for countless reasons. Some of those reasons were related to his more comfortable, fun costume and participating in all the spooky festivities, but the most prominent reason was related to the time he was spending with November. Dressing in a matching costume and dancing with her for most of the night was an experience like no other and one he was sure he would remember for a long time. After the stress of hiding his feelings for her in his fourth year and the issue between her and Amber, spending a night with November that was completely carefree was refreshing and exactly what he needed. Now that his OWLs were on his mind, being the reason he was stressed out, it was nice to spend time with someone he cared about and have an opportunity to relax and be himself, putting his worries surrounding school out of his mind for a night.

He never wanted the night to end so as the feast drew to a close he offered to walk November back to the entrance of her house, intentionally taking the long way through the castle to spend an extra few minutes with her. It was as they walked through the corridors he draped an arm around November's shoulders, feeling content with his life in that moment even through the few questions surrounding November and his relationship with her that were on his mind. "This has been really fun." He mused feeling unsure of what else to say as he walked with his friend that was more than just a friend.​

<i></i>

 

[November Albertson]

November thought the Halloween Feast had been really fun. Everyone had done so well with their costumes she couldn't believe it. She thought the winners had really done well and was impressed by all of them. Walking back to her common room November felt incredibly happy to be with Flavio. Though they weren't an official couple she was happy that now she did not have to hide the feelings she had for him which had been growing ever since the third year. He was very different from herself, a Ravenclaw and foreign. Though most people were foreign at the school as they weren't in the United States here, which was where she came from. She was still blushing whenever he gave her attention that was for someone more than just a friend. Such as him putting his arm over her shoulder, that made her blush.

Glancing up at the taller guy, November smiled as he talked about the night. "It was really fun dancing with you, though I might suggest some dance lessons....for the both of us," she said with a bright laugh. Her hand moved up and played with Flavio's fingers of the arm that was around her. They were sweet, she was sure someone somewhere was possibly puking at the sight of them. But she didn't care, she really liked him and liked being close with him.


​

 

[Flavio Morales-Tipene]

</COLOR>

<COLOR color="#000">Flavio smiled at November's joke, thinking that between the pair of them he needed dance lessons more than she did. But he didn't comment on it, instead focusing on the many thoughts on his mind surrounding that night and specifically a question that had been plaguing his mind constantly, even despite the stress of school in recent weeks since he and November began spending more time together. He knew they were more than friends as that was what he suggested when they admitted their feelings for each other. But since then they were stuck in an unusual limbo between being friends and dating that he wasn't entirely comfortable with. Whenever a silence fell like it did in that moment, the limbo they were in became all the more apparent to him and it always made him feel uneasy. He liked being close with November, being her date to events like the Halloween feast just passed, comfortably draping his arm around her shoulder, able to hold her hand if he wanted to and spending time with her for the sake of it. But ideally he wanted November to be his girlfriend and for what they had to be considered exclusive. He was just not sure how to bring up the subject, not wanting to mention it at the Halloween feast from fear of tainting the memory of what was a fun night with awkwardness, and even as a lull in conversation followed November's words he still felt like asking her the question on his mind wouldn't be appropriate.

He decided the best course of action was to hint at it and gauge November's reaction first. That way they could still have a fun time on the way back to her house and he would not need to worry about her rejecting him if he did eventually ask the question. He cleared his throat, trying to seem nonchalant as he spoke but he wasn't sure if he succeeded. "I really like spending time with you, you now. I am glad you were my date tonight. Even if my dancing could be a lot better." He said, squeezing November's shoulders affectionately hoping that she felt the same.​

​

 

[November Albertson]

November smiled back at Flavio. Everything was turning out to be pretty perfect this year, she couldn't believe how turned around things were. Last year this time she had been hoping Flavio would invite her to the Yule Ball, after all she had started their friendship by randomly asking him the previous year. She had been disappointed when he ended up going to the ball with another girl. But everything was working out in the end. Tonight had been wonderful, they danced and went as a pair. They didn't win the couple's prize but she thought they were really cute in their outfits anyways. She was surprised how nice Flavio looked as a greaser guy. She listened to his words and was sure that her face was flushed pink again, like it always was when he gave her attention meant for more than just a friend. "Thanks for getting dressed up with me, I enjoyed it, being your date was really fun," she said in return. She felt a little awkward unsure of what to say or do, she knew from movies this would be a moment where they should kiss or hug or something and say goodnight but she wasn't ready to say goodnight to Flavio. She wished the moment could last forever, although she knew they both needed their sleep and to go off their separate ways. She wondered why Flavio was being so quiet as they stood near the entrance of the Hufflepuff dorms, though they both were quiet people. "It was a wonderful time, and I really like spending time with you, as well," she said unsure why she felt so embarrassed to admit feelings for him to his face still. He knew she liked him and she knew he liked her.
​

 

[Flavio Morales-Tipene]

As the pair finally reached the entrance to Hufflepuff house Flavio went quiet, unsure whether it was still the right moment to ask November the question on his mind. But she had returned his confession that he liked spending time with her and thought the night had been wonderful so he at least knew what they had was not one sided. It was merely a matter of figuring out if being exclusive rather than simply hanging out was what November also wanted. Flavio stepped away from November, withdrawing his arm from her shoulders and turning to face her to say goodnight. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but the feast was over and it was getting late meaning they needed to part ways sooner or later.

Flavio reached forward, holding one of November's hands in his own as he spoke. "So, before we say goodnight I do have something to ask you." He looked to their hands, feeling like if he looked November in the eye he would not have the courage to finally ask his question. He cleared his throat awkwardly before continuing. "I have been thinking, and it makes me uncomfortable to spend time with you the way we have been, without being able to call you my girlfriend. So I was wondering if you wanted what we have to be an official girlfriend and boyfriend thing. Is that something you want, too? To be my girlfriend?" The worry that November might have just wanted to stay his friend after everything weighed heavily on his mind, but he had asked her the question and all he could do was wait for her to respond.​

<i></i>

 

[November Albertson]

November's shoulders felt cold as Flavio lifted his arm away. She couldn't help but feel a little sad as he did but they had made it to the point where she'd go into her own Common Room. It was just another time where she wished she'd been a Ravenclaw instead of a Hufflepuff. She watched him take her hands, confused why he was being quieter than usual. He seemed to be lacking in some confidence that was utterly unlike him. "Alright," she said quickly while he seemed to pause. She could feel her stomach doing flips inside her. It was a terrifying moment waiting for him to speak. At first his phrasing made her nervous, thinking it was possible that he was breaking up with her when they weren't really together at all.

Nerves were released when Flavio finally got all his words out and November had a big smile on her face. They weren't over, they were just beginning. He finally asked her what she had been hoping he'd ask when they first shared their feelings at the beginning of the year. It'd been nice hanging out with him and knowing it was more than just a friend thing, but he was correct. It was awkward not being official, just hanging out, it had been weird when people would talk to her about him and she'd have to say they weren't official. She thought this was the perfect end to their first big date. "Of course, yes, I'd love to be your girlfriend!" November said happy while letting go of his hands so she could pounce on him with a hug. Briefly her mind wondered if he thought there was even the slightly possibility where she'd say no. He couldn't have really believed a thought like that, she thought it was obvious to him now how much she liked him.
​