Fred just stared after Anne, and then went back to the living room. There, he found Ron interrogating Hermione and Ginny on why Anne really came to visit.
"She told you, Ron, she was bored at home and decided to come say hi." Hermione said exasperatedly.
"Come on, Ron." Ginny said sternly "Do you think that we would really keep anything from you?"
"Yea, I do! Why did she cover up her arm when we came in?" Ron asked accusingly. "What aren't you telling us?"
Neither Hermione nor Ginny answered, they just looked at each other. It was Fred who answered "Ron, let it go. She obviously came to confide in Hermione and Ginny, not you. If she wanted you to know why she came to visit she would've told you straight out. You don't own her, Ron."
Everyone stared at Fred for a second and then Harry said "What was that about Fred?"
"Nothing…" he mumbled in reply. "I'm going to go bed." He walked off with everyone staring after him very confused.
"I never bloody said that I owned her." Ron said dejectedly after Fred had gone.
"Well, I'm going to find out what's wrong with Fred." Ginny said getting up from the couch. She went up the stairs to Fred and George's room. She knocked lightly, but nothing happened. She knocked harder and she heard Fred voice "Go away, Ron!"
"It's not Ron." She said, "It's Ginny. Can I come in?" The door opened and she was admitted. "What do you want Ginny?" he asked tiredly.
"I want to know what happened when you walked Anne to the door. Something's happened to put you in such a weird mood; I want to know what happened. Please tell me, Fred. Maybe I can help."
"I doubt it, but I'll tell you only if you promise not to breathe a word of it to anyone else." She nodded solemnly and he continued. "I kissed her, Ginny. I just couldn't help myself. I've liked her for so long and to see her so sad… I know I shouldn't have done it, but I did and now I don't know what to do." He hung his head dejectedly as he finished.
"I'm sorry, Fred. But how did she react? Did she kiss you back?" he nodded slightly saying "yea, but only for like half a second. I don't think it counts."
"Oh, but it does. If a girl kisses any guy back, even if it's for a split second, it means she likes him back. When we are kissed, our subconscious kicks in and takes control. Then we realize what were actually doing and stop. She kissed you back, Fred. That means in her heart she wanted you to kiss her and she wanted to kiss you back. It's what her head is telling her that is the issue here."
"Really?"
"I'm a girl, Fred, I should know." Fred contemplated this statement for a minute and then said "I guess you're right. What do you think I should do now?"
"Apologize to her."
"What? But you just said…"
Ginny interrupted him saying "I know what I said but if you want to actually admit that she likes you, you have to act as if you think what you did was wrong. Explain to her that you like and keep apologizing profusely for not asking if she liked you back before you kissed her."
"Ok, I will. I am trusting you Ginny if this does not work then it is your entire fault. And also, you better not tell anyone what I just told you, otherwise I tell Harry about you."
"You wouldn't dare!" Ginny said shocked.
"Oh, yes I will. If you tell I'll tell, ok?"
"Fine. I'm going to back down stairs and try to come up some lie to them about why you acted so weird." Ginny said walking towards the door.
"Tell them I was upset because Anne said that she is dating Malfoy and we got into an argument over whether or not he was right for her."
Ginny nodded and then ran down the stairs back to the living room. When she arrived she was bombarded with questions from all sides.
"What's wrong with Fred?" Hermione asked
"Did he tell you anything?" Harry asked.
"Does he think that he owns her?" Ron asked angrily.
"Whoa! One at a time, people. Yes, Harry, he told me what was wrong. No, Ron, he does not think that he owns Anne. You're a bloody idiot if that thought ever crossed your mind. Anyways, he told me she said that she was seeing someone and he didn't think that the person she was seeing was the right guy for her. They got into an argument and then she left."
"Oh…" Ron said a little relieved. "Did he say who it was?"
"Yes, but he asked me not to say. And no I'm not going to tell you, no matter how much you beg." She said resolutely as she got imploring looks from everyone.
"Fine, I'm going to bed." Ron said getting up from his chair and walking out of the room. Hermione soon followed him, leaving Ginny and Harry alone in the living room.
"Ginny," Harry said patting the spot next to him on the love seat "It's Malfoy, isn't?"
She sat down next to him and nodded slightly but then immediately shook her head no. "No, Harry, that's no it at all. Fred kissed her, as she was leaving today. Anne kissed him back but then ran away. He was confused and needed some help. You can't tell anyone, especially not Ron."
"I won't if that is what you wish. But I didn't think that Fred liked her, we all know that Ron does. He has ever since he met her, that day at Hogwarts. She didn't just come to visit because she was bored at home, did she? Why did she come, Ginny?"
"I can't tell you Harry. That is her secret and belongs completely to her. I have no right to tell you or anyone else for that matter. Please, don't ask me again." She asked him pleadingly. He nodded as his hand caressed her face fondly. "You are the most loyal person that I know, Ginny Weasley."
"Thank you, Harry. That means a lot to me. I should go to bed." She said getting up from the love seat and beginning to walk towards the door. Harry sighed, getting up to follow her upstairs. Suddenly, she stopped and turned to face him. "Isn't your birthday tomorrow?" she asked randomly.
"Yes, it is. Thanks for remembering?" he said confused. Next thing he knew her lips had connected with his. From instinct, his arms wrapped around her waist pulling her closer as her arms wrapped around him as well. But just as suddenly as she kissed him, she stopped and whispered "Happy Birthday, Harry." Then she was gone, leaving him standing in the living room alone and completely confused.
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