Late Summer

I turned to see none other than the duo I had feared climbing down the stairs. A smile was instantly plastered upon my lips. In addition, I felt as though Nargles had suddenly inhabited my stomach and were throwing some kind of celebration.

Photographs truly didn't live up to how adorable they both were.

Their hair had changed since I last saw them, now longer and a bit redder, if that was even possible. They seemed to have grown as well, now looking like they might tower over me by an entire meter. Their smiles were dazzling as ever, white and shining like brand new sickles. Finally, both were harbouring golden tans, no doubt from the blazing sun of Africa.

As my mind seemed to be at a loss of words, I could feel the silence creeping upon us like the long shadows of the afternoon.

"So I heard you gits missed me?"

For a minute, I wasn't sure who had spoken. But it was my own voice that echoed in my mind and parted lips reassured me of my suspicions.

Wow. Just like that, I was snapped back into place. Thinking everything over, it all seemed so normal, so routine. I really couldn't believe that I was worried in the first place. Interacting with the twins was just so natural by now. Even if I was unsure about what type of feelings I had towards them, Fred and George were still Fred and George. And I was still me.

"Rubbish!" George replied a bit too hastily. He gave a faltering grin before playfully shoving his twin. "Fred certainly did though. The wanker wouldn't stop going off about you!" Somewhere to my side, Ron scoffed. The other twin simply rolled his eyes and smirked.

"So maybe I talked about you a tad bit," Fred made his way over to the couch and took a seat beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I wasn't set off by his touch, as contact like this was casual for us. But God... had he always had such an enticing scent? He smelled as if he had lurked about in Honeydukes for a good portion of the summer, a sweet, sugary fragrance wafting from him. Would it be wrong to take a lick at him? Probably. "But don't go thinking you're special or anything, I always complain about annoying people." He smirked down at me and I furrowed my eyebrows. Pouting, I shoved away his hold, and stood dramatically.

"Fine! If that's how you feel," flipping my hair for emphasis, I turned to leave. Without a second to waste, Fred grasped at my wrist and pulled me back down. I landed upon his lap and he quickly weaved his arms around my waist and positioned his head on my shoulder.

"Well… you can be a bit of nuisance." The warm breath on my neck was pushing my 'Casual Contact' sensor to a whole new level. I began to feel a bit dizzy. Thankfully, George broke the silence.

"Wanna see our new practice bludgers?" His voice was overbearing, but a welcome option for escape. Nodding my head, I pushed off Fred's arms and stood.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent awkwardly laughing off Fred's advances and conversing with George about anything remotely subject changing. Nonetheless, I was greatly enjoying myself.

Though I kept somewhat rejecting Fred's pick up lines, I really did find them cute.

Or moreover… I found him cute.

So, as I stood outside the Burrow in the crisp, summer night, I couldn't help but smile at the warm and airy sensation that had filled my chest. My heart fluttered at the impossible, yet possible, scenarios that floated amidst my mind. My cheeks warmed at some of the more promiscuous ones and I was glad the darkness kept the embarrassing shade of scarlet, hidden.

I took in a deep breath and relaxed onto the patchy grass below me, stretching out my legs and resting on my hands. I had been standing for nearly an hour, since dinner had finished. I snuck out in the middle of a deep conversation between Ron, Fred, George, and Percy over whether the Chudley Cannons would make any kind of finals this year.

Country sky was much different than city sky. Out here, the stars were bright and vivid with energy. You could feel each twinkle beckoning you to the night, seducing you with their glimmering glamour. The stars in the city were barely visible, hidden by Muggle smog and electricity. You'd be lucky to catch a glimpse of one on a dark evening.

Simply another reason why I loved the Weasley's.

"Aren't you chilly out here?"

I flinched at the sudden sound which interrupted my chain of thoughts. I whipped my head around to see none other than Fred Weasley. He was grinning, like always, friendly and openly, but with a tinge of smugness. Due to his height, I had to angle my head uncomfortably in order to talk to his face and not... some other part of his anatomy.

I sorted through what he had said and shivered. He was quite right. I was freezing to say the least. It was incredible how opposite the temperatures of a summer day and a summer night could be.

"Nope." I smiled at him before turning back to the stars. "'Sides. I'd tough it out like a man if I was." Fred laughed heartily before retorting.

"Rubbish. I can see you shivering from here." His footsteps squished gently along on grass and I suddenly felt something drop on my shoulders. Reaching up, I pulled the soft fabric around me, discovering it to be one of Fred's sweaters. It too was laced with the sweet scent. "Always so stubborn." He nonchalantly took a seat next to me, mimicking my position. His fingers overlapped my own and the corners of my lips twitched upwards.

"Well, how else am I supposed to deal with you…?" For now, I choose to leave 'two' out from the end of my sentence. From the corner of my eye, I saw him tilt his head towards me and I subconsciously did the same. His eyes were dazzling in the nighttime. Looking into them was exactly like staring up at the dark, starry skies. He chuckled.

"I can think of a few ways." Suddenly, his lips were crashing down onto mine. I was a bit taken aback at first, unsure of what way to move, but I soon found a groove. I pushed back against his lips and wrapped my arms around his neck. He grasped my hip and pulled me closer, seating me atop him, a bit uncomfortably. Our lips moved together in quick, strong patterns, each of us hungry just to feel each other out. I felt as though no matter how firmly and fiery I kissed, I couldn't get enough contact. I assumed Fred was feeling the same, with the forcefulness he was exerting. After several minutes, we broke apart, both out of breath. It certainly wasn't the most graceful kiss, but it was enjoyable and memorable, nonetheless.

He continued to keep a hold on me, eventually lying backwards onto the grass. I rolled beside him and conformed into his side. He wrapped an arm around me in a gentle hold.

"See? I told you." I could almost hear the smirk in his voice. I batted at him playfully in.

"Yeah. The one and only time you'll actually be right about something." He laughed again and kissed the top of my head. For a while we just lied there, content beneath the onyx sky. The chill I had experienced whilst alone was now unimaginable. Heat radiated from Fred to myself in a most pleasant way, and I did not dare break away. However, my ginger companion had other plans.

Fred rolled onto his side facing me and propped his head on his fist. I played copycat and looked up at him with a smile. He reached up and ruffled my short hair in a childish manner.

"So does this mean I get to kiss you whenever I want?' His voice was quite playful, but had serious undertones, which rang blissfully in my ears. I couldn't help but flush a bit at what he was hinting.

"Are you… steady… me girlfriend?" I seemed to have lost the ability to say anything relatively competent.

"Something like that," he grinned softly. "I figure there's not much point in dating to 'get to know each other'. It would be like a skipping record." He had a point. Being best mates, we knew nearly everything about each other, including many distasteful qualities. Why go through an entire process of what would just be review? "So, whaddya say?"

"Yes, of course." I leaned in and chastely kissed him on the lips before pulling back. "But… I have one condition." He raised an eyebrow in curiosity. I pushed myself up into a seated position, crossing my legs. My eyes wandered back to sky. "Things… I don't want them to get, well… awkward." I bit my lip and looked at Fred. He seemed to be a bit perplexed.

"Elaborate…"

"Well… if things don't work out for the better, I still want us to be best mates." A look of realization washed over his face.

"Of course, love. I feel the same way." He sat up as well and pulled me onto his lap, placing us in almost the same situation as earlier in the day.

"I want most everything to stay the same. Except… you know." Fred kissed my neck deviously.

"I do know." He suavely whispered. I shivered a bit, but ignored him.

"So… uh…" This boy had me quite a bit brain dead. "Oh! Uh, with George-" I stopped mid-sentence. I had almost forgotten all about George. I felt terrible. I had gotten so wrapped up in all of this that I had forgotten there was a third tip in our Bermuda Triangle. Fred sighed.

"Don't worry about that. Not now at least." His voice held a bit of annoyance, that didn't seem to be directed toward anyone in particular.

"Okay," I replied hesitantly. "Then that's that." I removed one of his hands from my waist and intertwined his fingers with my own.

"That's that," he reiterated before starting a full out tickle war.

The following week was incredible. At first I was a bit unsure of how to act in front of others with our new relationship. But just like always, things functioned like clockwork just with a small addition of another cog. The Weasleys were practically family to me and each one of them were fine with the relationship. George was especially ecstatic about it, almost to the point of abnormality. Even Mrs. Weasley seemed condoling, only crying out that we all were "Growing up s-so quickly!" The only intimidating event was when she made it clear that we were not allowed to be in each other's sleeping quarters.

Her conditions were certainly acceptable.

For now, at least.