Notes: Yeah for chapter two, which is actually chapter sixteen. I don't even mind that I've rewritten this story anymore. Ignore any errors and ignore!
Warning: Cursing, violence and some tragic events
Summary: and so the lion fell in love with the snake, version two
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Reminder: Please review!!!


Never thought I'd say "I'm sorry"
Never thought I'd be the one to bring you down
Now when I look out my window
But there doesn't seem to be anyone around
-Brand New Day, Forty Foot Echo

I woke up the next morning feeling sick to my stomach. It was nervousness and excitement, the latter of which I was confused about. I guess I was excited because I might have my old-new life back. And I was obviously nervous because if Fred didn't believe me, I would have to go back to the life I had before I met him (only it was hard because now I did know him) and try to cope with it.

"Are you coming?" Melinda asked, pausing at the door. I was sitting on my bed, thinking.

"You go on. I have to use the bathroom." She nodded and left. I sat on my bed for a few more minutes before I left for the library.

"They'll be here any second." Hermione told me, looking up from her book.

I sat down next to her. "They?" I repeated, but a moment later Fred, George, Ron, and Harry came into view.

"What is she doing here?" Ron asked.

"Sit down." Hermione told them.

"What-" He started.

"Sit."

The four of them sat down. I noticed, feeling sorry for myself, that none of them wanted to sit in the chair next to me. Hermione started talking; telling them the same things she told me yesterday and I watched their disbelieving faces. Hermione showed them the picture in the book and suddenly four sets of eyes scrutinized my face long enough to make me feel uncomfortable.

Hermione finished talking and they all continued staring at me, with different looks on their faces. George, Harry, and Ron looked like they believed Hermione. Fred looked upset and I felt guilty for feeling smug about it, but he deserved a taste of his own medicine.

I grabbed my bag and stood up. I nodded at Hermione before leaving. I was halfway to Herbology when I heard someone behind me call my name. I sighed quietly and turned around.

"What do you want Fred?" I asked, surprised by my calm tone.

"I'm sorry." He said.

I quickly raised and lowered my eyebrows. "Okay."

He looked startled. Maybe he thought I'd be angrier or something. "Polly, you have to try to see it from my perspective. First you join the Inquisitorial Squad, then you lie to your friends about our relationship, and then you tell Umbridge about the DA. What was I supposed to do?" His eyes were begging me to understand.

I took a deep breath. "You were supposed to believe me," I whispered.

"I'm sorry." He told me, reaching out for me.

I stepped back. "I have to get to class." I turned from him and walked down to class.

"Ten points from Slytherin for tardiness." Professor Sprout said as I entered the greenhouse. She went back to talking about something or another.

Melinda leaned forward. "Where were you?" she demanded.

"I had to talk to some people about what happened with Umbridge." I told her.

"The Weasel?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

I felt myself blush. "Am I that easy to read?"

She shrugged and turned back to face Sprout. "Not really," she said truthfully.

I spent the rest of the day in another daze, but for a different reason. This time I knew if I didn't get over this, we may never be the same, or even together. I hated to admit it, but Fred did have a point. The membership, the lying, the spilling of secrets. What would I have thought if I was in his place?

I made up my mind. As much as I felt hurt for him not trusting me, my longing to be with him was greater. I decided the next time I saw him, I would tell him I wanted to be with him, no matter what had happened. I also hated to admit that I would probably beg for a second chance.

I didn't see him, however, until I was on my way from Care of Magical Creatures to Defense Against the Dark Arts. He was standing there by the southwest entrance.

He was looking in the wrong direction then from where I was approaching, but I hoped he was looking for me because of the way his neck was craned and how he was on his tiptoes.

I hurried up to him and tapped on his shoulder. He whirled around. "Polly-"

"Stop talking." I told him before dragging him away from the door until the volume toned down a little. A group of Second Years were heading outside and they were too noisy to have a decent conversation around.

"Polly-" he started again.

"I said stop talking." I reminded him. He immediately became silent.

I struggled with where to begin. "I'm sorry…for everything. I'm sorry Umbridge found out about the DA, and I'm sorry everyone got into trouble. I never meant for it to happen." Fred looked surprised. "And I'm sorry I walked away from you instead of talking to you about this." I added quickly.

Fred opened his mouth, but I held my hand up. "Let me finish." I licked my lips and sighed. "I'm also willing to beg for a second chance if-"

"Polly?" Fred asked.

"Fred?"

He smiled. "Stop talking." He said before he tugged me closer to him and kissed me.

"I am very happy right now." I told him when we pulled apart.

"I'm glad."

I glanced at my watch. "Great. I'm super late for Umbridge's class."

"Sorry."

I smiled up at him. "It's fine. I'll get detention for a good reason.

"I'll see you after class," he told me when we parted ways.

I ran the entire way to class and slid past the door. I hurried in and sat down at my seat, breathing heavily. Melinda and Jason gave me dirty looks.

"Thank you for finally arriving Ms. Sparks." Umbridge said from her desk. "Take care to see it doesn't happen again."

I blinked at her, surprised that nothing bad was going to happen to me. Then I realized it was because I helped her in the most important way.

"Well?" Melinda whispered when Umbridge turned away. "Where were you?"

"Talking to Fred."

She didn't look happy. "So you're back together then?"

I smiled and nodded before starting to copy from the board.