A/N: I'm doing something really bad...I am updating twice in one day, on the same story. I do not do this often. I should be updating one of my other stories. I'm sorry. Please review and thank you for reading!
"I don't understand. How come you didn't tell me about any of this before?"
"I had to see if you were trustworthy, didn't I?" Ginny teased, nudging her new friend in the hip, "We don't just tell random people about the Order, or about the DA. Especially not about the Order" she paused, "Plus Ron's convinced you're a French spy"
"He's...what?" Viria spluttered, and Ginny laughed too.
"It's fine, Hermione knocked that idea out of him straightaway. So. Do you want to join?" she was looking hopefully at Viria, "The more members we have, the better"
Viria grinned, "Of course I want to join! Anything against Umbridge is good with me"
"And against You-Know-Who" Ginny added.
"Well, that's just a bonus!" Viria laughed, "Where do I sign up?"
"I thought we could maybe get started on Patronuses today" Harry suggested. He looked slightly uncomfortable, and Viria thought how hard it must be to try and teach people your own age without feeling patronising.
There was a murmured rush of excitement around the room.
"I'm not promising you'll be able to do it on your first try" said Harry hastily, "It's just a really good thing to be able to do, especially if Dumbledore's right and the Dementors are under Voldemort's control"
There was another set of murmurs. Even Viria was a little startled; she'd never heard anyone say Voldemort's name outright before. But then, this was Harry Potter, and she knew all about Harry Potter.
"Go on, you have a go first" Ginny urged. Viria looked down at her wand, then back up at Ginny.
"I don't think so"
"You don't know until you try"
They all managed to produce little swirls of silver vapour, but not much more, not on that first day – though, if she was honest, Viria had been expecting Hermione to get it instantly.
Harry wandered around the room, advising everyone, but Viria wasn't the only one who noticed that he spent more time lingering around Cho than anyone else. Ginny scowled and put more aggression into the spell than was needed, while Viria smiled sympathetically.
Fred and George were nearby, arguing over who was closer to producing a Patronus, but grinning as they did so. Viria was trying not to look. She couldn't believe her and Fred had nearly kissed! If only George hadn't interrupted...but Fred had been nothing but normal since, and hadn't expressed any form of romantic interest. She hadn't told Ginny, and she wasn't planning to, either.
"Viria! Viria, you're doing it!"
"What?" Viria snapped out of her thought and gaped.
There was a bird, made of gleaming silver vapour, arcing in the air above them. A hummingbird.
"Bloody Hell!" Ron exclaimed. The entire DA was gazing up at the bird, Viria's Patronus, which disappeared as quickly as it had come. There was a round of applause, and everyone set to the spell with renewed effort.
Harry came over, looking delighted, "Viria, that's brilliant!"
"Thanks" she murmured, slightly dazed, "I don't actually remember saying the spell..."
"Well done, you" Fred had come over and ruffled her curls cheerfully. She swatted him away, laughing.
"Get off!"
"I was only trying to congratulate you" Fred paused, still grinning, "What were you thinking about? It looked pretty strong"
"It was" Harry agreed.
"Yeah, what were you thinking about?" Ginny asked, looking suddenly deeply interested. Viria reddened and tried to stop herself looking at Fred.
"I don't know. Can't remember"
"It was about two minutes ago, of course you can remember!" Fred laughed.
"It was nothing" she said firmly, and their eyes met. A strange expression crossed Fred's face, and she wondered if he realised what she was trying to hide. He looked uncomfortable, so she thought he probably had.
Ginny's eyes were narrowed and Viria knew she'd have to come up with something good for the inevitable questions she'd get later.
"I think that'll have to be it for today" Harry called over the noise, "But well done everyone, especially Viria! On her first meeting as well"
Everyone reluctantly gathered up their things and started leaving. Ginny went off with Luna and Viria hung back for a few minutes. Fred was doing the same, despite the fact that George was glaring at him from the doorway before he slipped out.
"Come on, there's no-one here. You can tell me now" Fred was grinning, but she knew that he knew what she'd been thinking.
"It's stupid" she muttered.
"You seem to think everything you think about is stupid. Come on" Fred laughed, "Just pretend I'm Ginny and you share everything with me"
Viria laughed, then fell silent again, "I don't think I'd be telling Ginny, to be honest"
Fred looked at her for a minute or so. He would never have a better opportunity than now. And she'd definitely been thinking about their almost kiss; he'd seen it in her eyes. But there was a tiny part of him that didn't want to rush things. A tiny part of him that didn't really care if he won or lost the bet.
Her lips were parted again, and she was looking slightly hopeful. Moments passed. She sighed, loudly, and folded her arms.
"Fred, are you going to kiss me or what?"
Fred was more than a little taken aback. He knew she'd stood up to Umbridge, but otherwise he'd always seen her as quite sweet and shy. She wasn't looking very shy at that moment in time, with her eyebrows raised and her arms crossed. He couldn't resist a smile.
"Maybe"
"Then get on with it, before we die of old age, please"
Fred leaned closer to her, ran his fingers through her hair. She suddenly didn't look so confident.
"I was thinking about you" she whispered.
And he kissed her.
