Two's Company, Three's A Crowd

Chapter 2

(What You Don't Know)

George's POV

Playing quidditch with Ron is always amusing. He'll bob and weave his way around our backyard in the most awkward of ways. Barely ever stopping the quaffle from getting through the hoops. We'll tease him like crazy and make lots of jokes at his expense, but in those instances where he does stop the quaffle, I know that it'll be worth it, when he conquers his fears and becomes a great keeper.

As much as we endlessly pick on him, I'm proud of my little brother.

"Hey Ron when's Harry coming, we need some real competition" I say

"Yeah Ron where's the real quidditch player?" Fred pipes in from behind me.

I swerve to the right and then shoot upward before landing the quaffle right into the tallest hoop.

"Score!"

I see Olivia exist the house with a big jug in her hands; behind her are floating cups.

"I've got some lemonade for you guys!" She calls out cheerfully. Ginny follows behind her and as Olivia turns to listen to something Ginny says to her, they both laugh. I look over to where Fred is flying next to me and we share a look. We'd both noticed that since Olivia had started sharing a room with Ginny 3 days ago that they'd gotten closer and started spending more and more time together. We didn't like it; Olivia was our friend.

We fly back to the ground landing gracefully in front of Olivia, with Ron trailing behind us. The lemonade feels amazing after being in the hot summer sun for hours.

"Oh thank goodness for you Olivia, I was so thirsty!"

"All that losing must make you really parched huh Ron?" Fred says. Good one twin.

"No…I'm just thirsty…" Ron starts grumbling incoherently looking at the ground; poor lad.

Olivia gives Fred a disapproving look and puts down the jug of lemonade onto a nearby table.

"Hey Ron, as much as you'd love to have a rematch with the boys, Ginny needs your help upstairs. As soon as I see Ginny's confused look, I know this is all a ploy to get little Ronald away from us. Good try Olivia.

"Ohhh. Yeah. Of course. I'd totally win if we had a rematch." Ron says sounding more confident and relaxed. Olivia grabs both Ginny and Ron's hands and pulls them towards the house.

"George, would Ron win against us in a rematch?"

"I reckon-" Olivia claps her hand over my month before I can say the rest of my joke and by now Ron is gone, safely tucked into the burrow away from our teasing.

"Hey! I had a good comeback!" I pretend to sound outraged, even though I'm only amused and by the laughter in Olivia's eyes I know she can tell.

"I'm sure you did Georgie." She says taking a step away from us.

"You'll pay for that."

"Yes you will." Fred says cracking his knuckles and pretending to look intimidating and well, failing miserably. "Isn't that right, Georgie?"

I give Fred a look. Can he not call me that; but it only makes him laugh harder.

"Oh no I'm terrified." Olivia responds sarcastically.

"You should be!"

And at that Olivia starts running in the direction of the garden with both Fred and I chasing after her. I'm laughing excitedly until I'm hit with the realization that for once I wish Fred weren't here and that I was the only one chasing after Olivia. Which is weird; Fred and I are twins we do everything together; I never not want him around. Yet as Olivia's dark hair bounces behind her and I hear her laughter I know that I want to be the only one to catch her.

…

"Fred! George! Olivia! Time for dinner, come inside!"

Mum's voice cuts through the garden and we all look towards the burrow where she'd struck her head out the window to yell us over. Olivia is still a few yards ahead of us, but none of us want to surrender. All of a sudden we all start running again.

"FRED! GEORGE!" Mum yells again. This time with a heavy sigh and muttering curses Fred turns around and heads over to the house. Olivia turns around and smiles at me.

"You give up as well?" I know this is my chance to catch her.

"Not a chance!" I sprint after her putting all the energy I have into it. I'm so close to catching her; she's only a few inches away. Until she's not anymore and I'm on top of her. Our faces are inches apart and I can't breathe. I've caught her but what do I do now?

"GOERGE! OLIVIA! NOW!"

We're both shocked at the sound of mum's voice, but neither of us moves. Our eyes are locked together and I start to realize just how close our bodies are.

"Are you gonna kiss me or what?" oh mother of merlin she did not just say that.

"What in merlin's name are you too doing?" Percy says a few feet away from us. I'd been so distracted I hadn't even heard Percy approaching. The moment ruined Olivia and I stand up and shake off the grass from our clothing.

"Dinner's ready." Percy reminds us, "everyone's waiting."

"Oh, really Percy, we had no idea." I say sarcastically. I'm gutted; I can't believe I missed my chance to kiss Olivia and my anger is rolling off me in waves. I've never been more annoyed with Percy, and that's saying something. Olivia brushes past me and runs over to the house. I'm still standing in the same place, looking at the last place she'd been, when Percy breaks my concentration.

"So what were you doing?" can he be any more clueless? I push past him, slapping the back of his head.

"Flirting, obviously!"

…

Dinner is an awkward affair, well for me anyway. Olivia won't make eye contact with me and Fred keeps sending me questioning looks. I on the other hand am completely out of it. I keep thinking back to past situations, wondering if I'd missed any hints and signs that Olivia was interested in me. But that just makes me more confused than anything else.

"Excited to start at the ministry in a few weeks Percy?" I'm only shaken out of my thoughts at the sound of Olivia's voice. She's leaning with one hand resting on her chin, giving Percy her undivided attention.

"Why yes I am Olivia, thank you for asking." Percy sticks his chest out even more as the table's attention shifts to him.

"It's a very advanced position, right?" Olivia feeds right into Percy by asking him another question. He smiles even wider looking like a stuck up brat.

"Yes it is! You're such a good listener! I often wonder how you're friends with the twins"

"Be nice Percy!" Mum warns.

"Oh don't worry mum, we aren't insulted by our dear brother." Fred says confidently.

It takes me a second to remember that it's my turn to say something and Fred's expecting gaze from across the table pushes me to come up with a witty response but even as I'm talking and joking my eyes don't leave Olivia's; whose finally made eye contact with me for the first time since we'd started dinner. The conversation around the table goes back to normal and everyone starts conversing between themselves. I stare at Olivia until she looks up and makes eye contact. Once she does, I month the words we need to talk across the table and once she nods I know she understands.

Once dinner is over Olivia and I help mum clean up and put everything away for as long as we can, waiting until everyone has gone up to his or her room before heading upstairs. There's a thick silence between us; once we're up along the stairs far enough to be out of sight and grab Olivia's arm and turn her around to face me.

"What's wrong? Are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself. I don't know why I said that back there I just-"

I kiss her stopping her mid sentence, not waiting to hear any of her doubts. Olivia and I we're good together and I know it. As we break away from each other, Olivia gives me a confused look.

"Alright now that that's taken care of, would you like to play a game of exploding snap?"