For the rest of the day, Fred ignored me. I would see him in the hall and wave to him so I could get his attention, but he made sure he avoided me like the plague.
"Don't worry hun. It's that time of the month for him again." George tried to make a joke, and I tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace.
"Awwww, come here!" He pulled me into a hug from behind. "He's just a little git. He'll see he's being a douche bag and apologize." I simply nodded my head.
Fred and I butt heads all the time. Whenever we do, it always works out. So, why do I feel like this time it might not?
Fred came out from behind the corner of the corridor and saw George's arms wrapped around my middle and my hands holding on to his arms gently. Shit…double shit…triple shit…okay, I think you have the idea.
At first it looked like he was in shock. Then it slowly turned from that to (somewhat) hurt, then slowly turned into anger. I could feel his anger pulsate through his body, even though he was down the hall.
He turned on his heel and power walked towards the way he came. George lifted my arms gingerly (A/N: i had to include a ginger joke…XD) and ran after his brother.
"Oi! Fred! Wait up!" And I was left alone in the hallway. But not for long…
"Well…what do we have here?" I could recognize that stuck up, snotty, arrogant voice anywhere. Draco Malfoy. I've hated that child since the first moment I got here.
He just looked like a prick, neh?
"Aria Norman…such a pretty girl." He took a piece of my hair and pulled it, not hard enough for it to hurt, but hard enough for it to spring back into place when he let go.
"Too bad you're only a half-blood…and a Gryffindor…it's a shame really. I wouldn't mind taking you as a wife." He started walking in circles behind me, analyzing me.
I shivered at the thought of being married to Draco Malfoy. That's disgusting! I'd have little demon babies with prematurely gray hair!
I started to go off in my own little world while he started talking. I remember when I first met Malfoy. It was the first week of school. Fred had to stop me from ripping his face off…and other parts of his anatomy.
"Harry…I really don't see how you don't like Hermione. You two would be great for each other!" I told him, my arms in front of me. I talk with my hands a lot…
"Ari…for the last time…I do not like Hermione like that. We're only friends." He'd been trying to explain this to me for hours, but I refused to listen. I still think that they'd be a good couple. (A/N: I really don't feel this way. RONxHERMIONE. XD)
"Look Crabbe, Goyle. It's Potter. And his lady friend." I turned and saw a rather small boy with silver hair that was slicked back with so much gel I thought it would break if I touched it.
Ron and Hermione came over to where we were. Thank god for that, I thought I'd have to cover up his murder, only me and harry.
"Malfoy, just leave him alone." Ron said. "I don't understand why you have this anger towards Harry. He's never done anything to you." Hermione glared at him head on.
"Shut up, you filthy mud-blood!" Malfoy all but shouted at Hermione. She stood there, stunned. I decided to speak up.
"What the hell does that mean? Mud-blood? Is that supposed to be an insult?" I put my hands on my hips and cocked them to the side. I'm gonna have this boy's ass on a platter. She hurt Mione's feelings! Bastard.
"Who's this?" Malfoy tried to be charming. It didn't work. He didn't have the best first impression with me. "I happen to be Aria Norman. Who are you, you son of a bitch?" I smiled sweetly, contradicting my harsh words.
He smiled; vilely, I might add. "You're a feisty one. I like that. I'm Draco Malfoy. Slytherin." He tried to kiss the top of my hand, but I slapped him in the face.
I was about to lunge when large arms came over my torso. "Though I love the thought of Malfoy getting slapped, I doubt it's the best time considering Snape is right over there."
One of the mystery person's fingers pointed in Snape's direction. He was looking as constipated as ever. He looked over at us in disgust, and walked the other way down the corridor.
I turned in the persons arms and saw Fred's warm, smiling face looking down at me. "Hello love!" That was the day Fred Weasley saved Draco Malfoy's life. That was also the day I fell in love with Fred Weasley.
"Oi, Aria, are you listening to me?" Draco snapped his fingers in front of my face. I glared at him. "No, I'm imaging you being sent off to Siberia for the rest of your god-forsaken like"
He smirked at me. "You're still as feisty as the day I met you. You'll come to your senses soon and see that I'm the man you should spend the rest of your life with."
I lifted my hand to smack him but someone caught it before I had the beautiful opportunity to. "Is there a problem, Malfoy?" I heard Cedric Diggory's smooth voice behind me.
Draco's smirk disappeared from his face. "No, we were just having a friendly conversation." He said venomously. "I suggest you leave. Now." Draco sent a glare Cedric's way while he walked down the hall, back to where he came from.
Cedric let go of my wrist, but kept hold of my hand. "Not the best way to spend your birthday, is it?" He smiled at me and I melted into a pool of jelly. Like I said, I love Fred, with all of my heart. But Cedric is sexy as hell!
I replied. "Not really." He chuckled. "Walk with me?" I blushed and nodded. He really is a charmer.
We walked along the Black Lake a couple of times, lapping it. He was the most down to earth person. It was odd, seeing how he's so perfect.
"So, little Yankee, how is your birthday so far?" He looked ahead, but he had a blush on his cheeks. Hell, so did I. "It's been really nice actually. Fred and George called me down this morning so they could sing me their screwed up version of happy birthday."
He laughed heartily. "Your friends and you seem to have a lot of fun, don't you?" I smiled. "We really do. I wouldn't trade them in for the world." We walked in silence after that, but it was a comfortable silence.
"Aria…don't you have to go back to the common room? To go with your friends and open your presents?" He smiled. Oh yeah! He got me the present.
"Oh yeah! Um…well, I'll see you later, I guess?" I looked up at him. He smiled. "Yeah." He swooped down and kissed my cheek. "Bye Aria. Happy birthday." He gave me one last smile and walked back to the Ravenclaw common room.
I let out a shaky sigh. He's sexy, but I love Fred. I feel…dirty for doing that to him. Damn my good looks!
The walk back to the common room was short and sweet, and when I walked back in, it was pitch black. "Erm…this isn't right…" I was about to illuminate my wand, when the lights turned back on and all of my friends jumped out from behind different pieces of furniture.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled and I 'eeped' in fear and jumped like a baby. Oh yeah, I'm smooth. "Good god, you guys scared that crap out of me!" I grabbed the spot over my heart on my chest.
"Now…I thought that we had the party this morning?" I was really confused.
Fred and George laughed. "That was just so we could piss you off and wake you up early, but we still love you!" They both came up and gave me bear hugs each, Fred holding on longer. "You're not mad at me anymore?" I said trying to breathe through the death lock he had me in.
"No, George told me what was going on. I don't know why I freaked out like that." He held me out at arm's length and looked down embarrassed. I smiled and hugged him again.
"I forgive you! You big loveable twin!" He let out a relieved sigh and laughed. "God, I'm so glad that Dumbledore gave us the day off today because of the snow." Ron said.
It was true. The snow was so bad that he cancelled school. I learned that the hard way when I got dressed this morning and I walked outside with Fred to go to breakfast. I had to run back inside and get my jacket.
"I know right?" I said and plopped down on the couch.
"Present time!" Harry yelled and ran to me with a package. "Guys, you really didn't have to get me anything." I said as he shoved the box into my face. "But we wanted to!" Hermione said.
"We love you, Ari." Fred said. A shiver ran up my spine as he smiled warmly at me. I wish he meant it the way I wanted him to mean it. I sighed. "Fine, fine, fine." I began to open the package Harry gave me.
"I got it in Hogsmeade. I hope you like it." Harry told me anxiously. "Harry, I'm sure I'll like it because you gave it to me, hun!" I smiled back at him. When the package was fully opened, I beamed at what I saw.
He had gotten me tea bags. I. Love. Tea. With a passion. "Oh my god, Harry, I love ya!" I jumped up and hugged him tightly. "You're welcome. I got you Chai, Black, Spice, Oolong, Green, and White tea."
My eyes sparkled when he said that. "Harry, I'd kiss ya, but I don't like you like that!" I hugged him again. Fred pulled me off of him. "Okay, okay, don't rape the poor child." I grinned up at him.
Ron came up to me. "Me next! Me next!" I smiled and laughed at his spazztic-ness. I've taught him well. "Okay, Ron. Don't pee yourself." His blush was the color of this hair.
He handed me a bag and I took out its contents. It was a handmade steel red rose. I smiled at him. "Ron, this is beautiful! Oh my god! Where'd you get this?"
He smiled at me, pleased that I liked his gift. "I found it in Hogsmeade with Harry at some gothic store and knew you would love it. So I got it for you."I ran up to him and hugged him.
"This really is beautiful, Ron. Thank you. For real." He smiled and said, "Only the best for my best friend." "Hell yeah!" I said.
Hermione pushed her way through the crowd. "My turn." She handed me a very neatly wrapped package. I smiled. "Thank god you didn't let Ron wrap it. He'd break it." She smiled.
"You can never trust Ronald with anything." We both broke into a fit of giggles, but Ron didn't look so amused. "Just open the damn present already."
I obliged and carefully un-wrapped it. I found a leather-bound journal, and the words written on it said, 'The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword.' I loved it. I have a passion for writing.
"Mione, you know me too well!" I squealed and ran up to her and engulfed her into a bear hug. "I absolutely, positively, love it!" She laughed with me and smiled. "I'm so glad!"
George came and bumped Hermione out of the way. She let out an, 'oomph!' and sat down on the couch grumpily. "My turn!" He said in a sing song voice.
I simply stared then burst out into laughter. He handed me a box that looked wrapped haphazardly. "Very nice!" I managed to giggle out and started to tear open the paper.
"I found it in a muggle store when we were visiting a family friend dad managed to meet while working at the ministry. I fell in love with it." I saw the outside of the box and it said, 'Bullshit' on a red button.
It was a spoof of the Easy button from Best Buy. "George…THIS IS AMAZING!" I said, laughing so hard I was crying. I managed to open the box and press the button. It said, brilliantly, "BULLSHIT!"
Everyone started to laugh. I ran to George and jumped on him. He held me up by the back of my thighs. "God, that is so amazing!" He almost lost his grip on me, but it only caused us to laugh louder.
Fred took me down from George and looked straight into my eyes. "My turn." He said it so gently, it made me melt. He handed me a single red rose and a folded piece of paper.
I looked at the paper and started to open it but he put his hand on mine tenderly. "Don't open it down here. Open it when you get to your room." I nodded slightly.
We shared a moment with his hands on mine when Hermione came up to us and thrust another present into my hands. "Another one?" She smiled. "You're loved! Besides, it's from Cedric." When she said his name, Fred pulled back.
I nodded. My hands felt cold because Fred wasn't holding them. When I picked up his rose and started to smell it, he smiled slightly. "Well…I think we should get to bed, neh?" George said as everyone agreed.
We all went our separate ways, Hermione and I going to our room that we shared. We were quite lucky sharing a room together.
I sat down on my bed and started to read Fred's letter and its contents.
…I gasped at what it said…
A/N: Cliffy! :) Thank you, loyal readers. REVIEW, MESSAGE! I NEED ENCOURAGEMENT, PEOPLE! :) Tank Yew!
