disclaimer
You know how it goes. . . all Harry Potter characters and locations mentioned belong to Jo: she done it, we know she done it, and we all wish we done it first 'cause then we'd all be rich.
warning
This story contains boy x boy relationships. If you are against that sort of thing in any way, shape, or form, I suggest that you press the back button on your browser now. However, if you do enjoy that sort of thing, press forward. Flamers will not be tolerated.
from the author
I can't say that I've been a Potter fan since the series was created, but I did become interested after reading Philosopher's Stone. However, it wasn't until after Prisoner of Azkaban that I had really began to delve farther into the series.
And, while this is not the first fan story I've ever written, this is the first one I've ever submitted to be read by an audience.
update: Thank you all for the reviews and hits thus far. Since I consider myself to be a novice writer, it means a great deal to me that people enjoy what I write.
You'll notice that the first few chapters are being submitted rather soon and I'm slightly afraid that the quality of the story may be compromised in the process. So, if you should notice a lacking of quality, please let me know.
part one: night
Molly Weasley awoke with a start in the middle of the night to the sound the ghoul in the attic, wailing away and beating on pipes. She looked over to her husband, Arthur, noting that he was still fast asleep. Straying from her bed, she made her way downstairs.
"Who's down there?" she asked, seeing that there was a dim glow coming from the kitchen. Fred was sitting at the table, his arms folded on the top and his head slumped over. It was obvious to Molly that he was asleep. She tip-toed past him and grabbed a light blanket and draped it over his shoulders. Fred had stirred slightly, looking groggily to his left. "Oi, hey Mum."
"What are you doing sleeping down here?" Molly asked. Fred stifled a yawn and blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting. His mother looked at his face, noticing that his eyes were slightly pink and his cheeks were damp from tears. "What's wrong?"
"Oh.. nothing, Mum," Fred replied. "You know George, eh? Left a mess all over before he dozed off. Couldn't sleep with that mess." Molly knew this was a lie, however. She had seen the twins rolling around in filth on the floor before. Molly smirked and put her hand on Fred's shoulder.
"We both know you're lying, Fred," she told him. "So how about you tell me what's really going on."
Fred looked at her, mouth agape and brows arched. He wasn't sure what to tell her, but he could feel his eyes tearing up, yearning to cry again. He gulped loudly, looking around, trying to think... then returning his eyes to his mum's. "George had read my journal, and.. well.. there was something in there that I didn't want known."
"What was it?" Molly asked, feeling slightly nervous, but kept in mind that she loved her son. She braced herself for whatever it could be.
"Can I talk to Fred alone, Mum?" They both turned to see George standing at the bottom of the stairs, his hair falling over his eyes and his pajamas uneven. Fred had forced himself to stop crying.
"If that's okay with Fred," Molly said, looking from George to Fred. Fred nodded and Molly stood, walking towards the stairs, past George. She walked up the stairs, but stopped once she was out of view and sat on a stair to listen.
"You mind if I sit down?" George said calmly, putting his hand on the chair is mum was sitting in before. Fred nodded again. "I couldn't sleep, Fred."
"...you're a lot more calm than you should be," Fred said, trying to calm himself down.
"I've had a while to think everything over," Georged told Fred, put his hand on his brother's shoulder. He inhaled deeply and sighed. "I don't mind."
Fred felt confused. He thought for sure that George was going to tell everyone, laughing as everyone would tease and taunt him. "But it's not right, George. I'm not supposed to have these feelings."
"Fred, Fred... everyone has feelings they can't control and despite how wrong they feel, it's often better if you go along with them."
Still confused, Fred looked at George. "But, still.. this is seriously not right at all."
"Shush, Fred," George said quietly, putting a finger against his brother's lips. Fred's cheeks flushed pink, his eyes trying to look away from George. George laughed and pulled Fred closer, hugging him tightly, Fred's arms hanging limp from shock.
"George...?" Fred asked, then stifling himself as he leaned into his brother's shoulder and embraced him back. A smile spread across his face.
"What say you and I go to bed?" George said, pulling away. He smiled and shrugged, putting his hands on Fred's shoulders. "I couldn't sleep without you nearby."
"Oh dear," Molly said to herself as she saw the twins standing up. She quickly stood and raced to her own bedroom and lunged into her bed. Arthur had stirred and turned to his side, looking at Molly.
"What's the matter, Mollywobbles?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing," she replied, trying to smile sweetly despite the obvious look of deep thought on her face. "Just had a bit of a bad dream..."