Hogsmead Trip...Can You Say Disaster?

Fred was up extremely early the morning of the Hogsmead visit. He had a mixture of excitement and nerves whizzing around in his stomach and as much as he tried to stay in bed until everyone else got up he just couldn't't. Practically jumping from his bed he grabbed a handful of clothes, his wash bag and a mixture of different colognes and scampered off to the bathroom. George had heard him moving about and managed to catch sight of Fred skipping out of the dorm room, making a mental note to take the mick out of him later that day before rolling over and going back to sleep.

Once in the secrecy of the boys bathroom and with the reassurance he would be on his own for at least a couple of hours he started getting himself ready. Now if a girl spent as long getting ready it would be considered normal but if your name was Fred Weasley then it was nothing but strange. After showering and shaving his 'beard' he started pulling on different clothes. He went through about six outfits, humming a very jaunty Weird Sister's song as he did so, until he settled on a pair of dark blue jeans, some sneakers, and a simple t-shirt under a shirt. He moved from side to side checking himself out to make sure it all looked good. Once he was satisfied he moved on to his hair.

Now that was a challenge. Fred and George had both decided to grow their hair that year and at the current moment it was longish, reaching their shoulders. Fred rarely groomed his hair, it was just something in the day which took up time but today was different and he spent a lengthy twenty minutes brushing it back and gelling it. After several moments he decided to stop fafing and gave himself a wink as he splashed on an interesting scented cologne.

He deposited his stuff back into his room and then hurried downstairs. He was meeting Megan in the Great hall and wanted to be there first so he could see what she was wearing and just to make sure she actually turned up. He walked into the Great Hall and looked around. It wasn't packed, only a few other people were up as early, they all looked sleepy and as though they would much rather be in bed but obviously couldn't't sleep. Fred on the other hand couldn't't have looked more awake as he sat down at the Gryffindor table and grabbing some toast. He was beaming, knowing that finally he was getting his date.

Slowly the hall began to fill up. Everyone was excited about going into Hogsmead and Fred could hear the chatting around him, but his eyes were fixed on the doors. George walked over and sat opposite him, taking in his insistent stare at the doors, chuckled and grabbed some toast.

And then she walked through. She was with her friend from Hufflepuff who gave her hug and headed off to their breakfast table. Fred thought she looked gorgeous. She'd clearly made an effort but had managed to down play things. Her hair was loose and hanging over her shoulder, her make up light and natural. She was wearing a pair of light jeans and flat shoes whilst up top she had opted to go for an emerald green strap top and a small black shrug. The locket he gave her was right on show for everyone to see. She looked relaxed and at ease but still had an edge of sexiness about her which Fred had never seen on her before. He liked it and had a sneaking suspicion her friend might have played some influencing factor in what she was wearing.

Megan spotted Fred and hurried over to him. Several boys turned to look at her, including George who actually did a double take as she approached. Fred didn't notice as he couldn't't take his eyes off her. She slipped in to a seat next to him and smiled before grabbing some toast and orange juice.

" You look beautiful." said Fred.

Megan's cheeks reddened as she smiled a little before turning and looking at Fred, taking in his appearance.

" You don't scrub up too bad yourself." she said looking down slightly, biting into her toast. Fred noticed the way she ate and found it another of those adorable 'Megan' things. He smiled to himself and started to eat his. Breakfast was over pretty fast and soon Fred found himself walking alone with Megan into Hogsmead. George had opted to go ahead with Lee so Fred could have some time. To start they walked in silence before Megan broke it.

" So what are we doing today?" she asked catching Fred off guard, he stumbled over a tree root he hadn't seen when he turned to look at Megan.

Embarrassed to the core, Fred straighten up again, brushing himself off and began rubbing his ear, which he often did when he was put on the spot. In truth he'd been so excited that she said yes he hadn't actually thought about what they could do.

" Erm...well...we could go to Honeydukes...and then...then.."

" I've always wanted to go up to Shrieking Shack but I've never had the guts to go on my own." suggested Megan noting Fred's hesitation.

" Yeah sounds good. So...are you coming to watch the next Quidditch match?" he asked thinking of anything to say.

" Of course...I've never missed a match to date."

" Really?"

" Yeah...I may be a geeky study girl but underneath I'm just as Quidditch obsessed as the rest...maybe even more."

" Your not a geeky study girl." said Fred, sticking up for her. " You just enjoy working hard."

Megan smiled at him. She hadn't expected him to defend her so quickly as people never really did, mainly because they were busy calling her a geek. She'd gotten so use the nickname that she believed it about herself.

" So did you go to the World Cup last summer?" she asked, rubbing her hands together.

" Oh yeah, dad got us some great tickets..."

The rest of the conversation was pretty much dominated by Quidditch. They visited Honeydukes, walked up to the Shrieking Shack, even looking into the post office before heading toward Zonko's. They had to pass the Three Broomsticks on their way and both noted how pack it seemed. Megan wiggled her mouth a little before turning to Fred.

" Listen, how about I go in and grab some Butterbeers and a table. You go with George and come and find me when ya done. That okay?" said Megan.

" Yeah sounds fine...your not going to leave though are you?"

Megan didn't reply but instead raised her eyebrows indicating there was an unlikely chance of that. He said a quick goodbye and watched as she headed into the pub before turning and running toward Zonko's. George was waiting outside for him and demanded to know what had happened before they went in but Fred decided until the end of the day to keep things close to the chest, if not for anything but to not jinx what might occur.

The owner of Zonko's was particular interesting in having Fred and George work there during the summer and was excited about their enthusiasm when it came to keeping people laughing. He was completely bowled over by both of them and ended up having a lengthy chat with them about the art of fake wands. Fred ended up losing track of time and by the time he stood outside The Three Broomsticks was praying Megan hadn't got annoyed and left. He braced himself and pushed the door open, instantly looking around for her.

And then...with the feeling of a thousand pokers twisting his guts, he saw her but she wasn't alone. Oh no, she was sitting there as bold as brass with a two very handsome looking strangers that Fred most definitely didn't recognize from school. The one closest to Megan looked older, had broad shoulders and stirring brown eyes. He had an air of charm about him and sat smiling and laughing as Megan said something obviously funny. Megan in turn was leaning on the table, her head propped up on one of her arms and was looking at the mystery man with a big smile on her face. Her attention was fully on him. Fred stayed just long enough to witness the man indicate him buying her another drink, and then the pair of them embracing in a very elaborate hug. He'd never seen Megan hug anyone like that before and with a whole range of emotions hitting him at once, turned on his heel and stormed all the way back up to castle.

During dinner that evening it became increasingly obvious to everyone that Fred's big date hadn't gone to plan. He was sat huffily, his arms folded on the table, practically stabbing his food with a very determine glare at the huge pile of sausages in front of him. George and Lee exchanged anxious glances with one another before George plucked up the courage to talk to Fred.

" So...how'd it go?" he said perhaps a little more carefully then usual.

" Well it was going fine until she started hugging and accepting drinks from a complete stranger!" shot Fred, not taking his eyes off the sausages.

" Ah...so all in all not that great a date." said Lee.

" Oh yeah...it went exactly the way I wanted it too."

" Did you ask her who the bloke was...or did you not stick around to find out?"

" What do you think? I wasn't about to stand around and watch her try it on with some guy."

The conversation seemed wavering to say the least and only ended when Fred pushed his plate away and left the Great Hall. He passed Megan on the way but she simply turned in her seat, ignoring his angry stare at her. He flung his stuff down in the common room but was irritated when everyone else showed up so stormed off to his dorm and tried to sleep.

He was so angry. If she didn't like him then why did she agree to go on a date with him in the first place? Why couldn't't she just be up front with him and admit that she didn't like him in that way. Fair enough he wouldn't like it if she did but he certainly prefer it to being treated like fool. His gut was twisting, his head pounding and he had an uncontrollable urge to hit the closest thing. In the five years he had loved Megan, he's never felt so heartbroken and alone. He felt even worse then he did when he heard she was going with Harrison to the Yull Ball.

He was so pent up that sleeping failed to become an option and once everyone whom he shared a dorm with had turned up and gone to sleep he crept back downstairs and plonked himself down in a chair, looking into the flames. He heard a distinctive creep on the stairs and tried with all his might to hide himself but no such luck. Moments later Hermione had stormed up to him and practically hit him around the face.

" What the bloody hell is wrong with you Fred Weasley?" she said her arms folded, tapping her pink slippers in waiting for an answer.

Fred was confused. What the hell had he done to make Hermione so upset with him? He stood thinking about it, and came to the conclusion that he'd done absolutely nothing to annoy her for a change. He shrugged his shoulders at her and waited.

" You finally get Megan to say yes to going on a date with you and then you stand her up...really nice, very grown up of you...and just when she was starting to take your advances seriously."

" Excuse me but she was the one who was hugging and flirting with another guy!" he said angry that it was coming back on him.

" When was she doing that?"

" When she was suppose to be waiting in the Three Broomsticks for me...and don't try and defend her because I saw it with my own two eyes." he said defiantly sitting back down. Hermione shook her head and raised her eyes.

" You stupid moron...that was her brother...he was back from Argentina and was with some friends in the pub...obviously when his little sister who he hasn't seen for six months walked in he was going to sit with her and give her the odd hug."

Fred opened his mouth but no sound came out.