An: Chapter 10, wherein the identity crisis runs rampant and confessions are made.
Disclaimer: don't own Fred and George, or Professor Binns. But the rest here are mine.
Chapter 10 – The Date
Claire sat in the common room. Her books were already set out on the table in front of her. Since she had never had a date before, Claire wasn't sure if George had intended for them to do any actual studying at all. The more she thought of it that way, the more she regretted starting the whole charade. What if George thinks it's a real date? How awkward would that be? What if he wants to kiss her? She had heard plenty of stories from her mother about a certain Sirius Black, back in his school years, and all the things he used to get up to. Sure, George wasn't really like that at all, but still, boys can be unpredictable. She fiddled with her quill with impatience. That kind of thinking wasn't going to do her any good. She was there for Lauren. She must be strong, and dominant, and retaining some kind of grasp of self-control. No-matter what, she wouldn't touch him. She couldn't. George belongs to Lauren.
Fred paced nervously back and fourth in front of the Fat Lady. He had been pacing for quite a while now. The Fat Lady pulled out a pocket watch and checked the time. She was due for a Bridge game with the Speckled Witch and Strawberry Girl in a few minutes. She knew it was her duty as a Gate Keeper to give everyone a chance to enter, but this was just too much. She spoke up.
"Boy, are you going to give me the password and enter or not? I don't have all day." she said sternly.
Fred looked up, surprised. "Oh. Um. Right. Just a few more – "
She began to glare at him.
"Alright then. No time like the present." he laughed weakly.
"Just say the password." the Fat Lady pursed her lips together.
"Gooseberries."
Muttering something along the lines of "About blooming time", the Fat Lady swung her portrait open, revealing the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. Fred walked through and quickly scanned the room for Lauren. He saw a blonde twin sitting at one of the tables, work set out, chewing on her quill. Fred walked up and dropped his armful of books on the table next to her.
"Hello Lauren." Fred greeted, taking the seat next to hers.
Claire smiled back at Fred. She did her best to hide how absolutely terrified she was.
She took a deep breath. "So, are you ready to study…ah….History?"
Fred glanced into her eyes. "Sure." he smiled.
Lauren yawned. She'd spent most of the afternoon in that spot, reading her book. She was almost finished. It was just perfect. The setting autumn sun warmed the air around her, and created fantastical colours in the sky among the clouds and in the reflection in the lake. A lazy breeze blew in, brushing her blonde hair out of her face. It was so perfect, Lauren felt like she could stay there forever.
Suddenly, a shadow was cast across her face. She looked up. George was standing over her, cheeks flushed with anger, eyes full of confusion and his underlying expression weary.
"George!" Lauren exclaimed. She hadn't expected to meet anyone outside.
"Lauren? I thought you were supposed in the common room with F – ah, me." he replied, sitting down next to her.
"Oh, right. I was," she made up quickly. She had no idea what he was talking about, but decided to go along with it anyway, "but I decided to come outside…with you."
George scrunched his eyebrows. "Oh. Well, did you bring your books?"
Again, she had no idea what he was referring to. "No. I think I left them in my dorm. Sorry."
George nodded. "That's ok. I didn't really want to study anyway."
"Hmm." Lauren replied, pretending to agree.
They sat in silence for a while, staring into the depths of the lake. Lauren played with the grass next to her, distractedly.
"So, remind me, why were we going to study?" she asked, breaking the silence.
George blushed. "Umm … because I needed a tutor for History. Still do, I guess. Don't you remember?"
"Oh, of course. That's right. Just…had a mental blank, for a second." she smiled nervously.
The silence resumed.
After a while, Lauren spoke up again. "So, what were you going to do then?"
"Huh?" George was confused once more.
"If you weren't going to study with me, why did you come?"
George looked away. "Ah…you know, it's…it's kind of a funny story." he started, nervously scratching the back of his neck, "Fred had the impression that this was supposed to kind of be…a ...a date."
"Oh." was all Lauren could manage. This time, it was her turn to blush. All her previous shyness returned instantly. She thought back to that night. The night her heart was broken. But now the boy was sitting next to her, blushing. It didn't make sense. She had to do something to find out the truth; whether George really liked her back or not. She recalled her sisters' words, the ones that previously inspired her to act. She found the courage once more.
"Fred was right." she said quietly.
"Huh?" George looked up.
"Fred was right." she repeated, louder.
"About what?"
"About this being a date." she replied, using all her courage. He didn't reply. She began to feel humiliated. Maybe she was wrong. The silence was more painful that a thousand hot knives, cutting into her soul.
But then, all the pain vanished, with just two simple words.
"Thank Merlin."
Lauren looked into Georges' eyes. He cupped her cheeks with his hands and kissed her. It was all very sweet and simple. No tongue. But Lauren was elated all the same. All her previous fears melted away. She felt as though they were the only two people in the world, floating on a cloud, far away from the troubles of society. But just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. George pulled away. She felt disappointed, and was already missing his lips pressed against hers.
"Sorry." he muttered, embarrassed.
Lauren couldn't help herself; she started to laugh. For some reason, unbeknown to her, there was something completely hilarious.
George looked hurt. "What's so funny?"
Lauren managed to stop and catch her breath. "You."
"How am I funny?...I mean, right now, how am I funny?"
She thought for a moment. She had really known it all along. "You're just so clueless." she smiled.
George opened his mouth to argue, but realised that she was right.
"I mean, you'd think you'd know, after I already told you that I fancy you, like a week ago. And then you kiss me, and still don't get it. It's frustrating, you know?"
George frowned. "So, you really do like me?"
"Of course."
"Oh. I thought Fred might have been lying."
"What would Fred know about all this?" Lauren wasn't sure that George was talking about.
"He's the one you – I mean, I talk to Fred about all these things. All the time." He said quickly. George wasn't quite ready to reveal what had really happened that night. It was too embarrassing to admit what a coward he was.
"Oh. I see. Well, I really do like you. I think that's quite established now. But, the question is," she began, taking a deep breath, "Do you like me?"
George hesitated for a moment, caught unaware at the sudden question. He sighed with relief. "Lauren, of course I like you. I've had a thing for you since we met."
"What, back in first year?" she was shocked.
"Well, maybe not exactly, but it was about the end first year. After you pranked Flitch on April Fools. That enchanted paint can was brilliant." he looked at her in awe.
"You've liked me all these years? I had no idea."
"I know. I'm a great actor." he joked.
"I'll say." she agreed.
"And I desperately wanted to tell you. But I was afraid you'd laugh at me." George confessed.
"You were afraid? That's the exact reason why I didn't tell you for the last three years."
"You've liked me that long too? Looks like we're both great actors."
"More like fools. I can't believe it. All this time we've wasted. I feel like such an idiot." Lauren smacked her forehead.
George laughed. "A very attractive idiot."
"Oh shut up." she shoved him playfully. He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. They kissed once more.
"…And so, it happened that in 1563, the Elves of Whitmore Forest gained their independence from the Great Elvin Monarchy and started their own form of government." Claire quoted in a bored monotone.
"You sound just like Binns when you talk like that." Fred commented, chewing on his quill.
Claire looked up from the thick text book. "I do, don't I?"
"Indeed. If you only coughed every five sentences, it would be a perfect imitation."
Claire laughed. "I know! It's so strange. What could possibly make a ghost cough?"
"Ghost dust? I dunno. Maybe he does it on purpose." Fred shrugged, smiling.
"Who would purposely cough? And why?"
"That is a very good question. Perhaps we should ask him next lesson. That is, if we don't all fall asleep. He has like, got to be the most boring professor ever!"
Claire cracked up laughing. The long day and beating up her brain by reading old boring history books had exhausted her. She was beyond sleepy and had finally reached what she liked to call, a 'tired high'.
"Did you just snort?" Fred asked, after hearing a misplaced noise amongst her laugher.
This caused her to laugh even more. Fred started laughing too. Two first years, who had been quietly talking in the corner, suddenly got up and left.
Claire managed to stop first. "I think we just scared those kids away." she said, catching her breath.
"It's funny how easy little kids are to scare. Like when me and George were trying to sell some Skiving Snack boxes to some first years, the girls just all ran away squealing as soon as they heard the word vomit. Such wimps." Fred told her.
Claire started laughing again, but stopped suddenly. "You mean, you and Fred, right?"
"Huh?"
"Just then, you said, 'me and George', but you are George, so, you must mean Fred, right?" she asked him, narrowing her eyes.
"Of course. I meant Fred. I get a bit muddled up sometimes. You know, since we're twins and everything. You know what I mean, right Lauren?" he recovered, mentally cursing for his slip up.
Claire looked away. "Yeah, get muddled up all the time." she muttered.
"You know, Lauren, I've got to be honest with you." Fred started.
Claire looked up. "Oh yeah? What about?"
"I don't really want to study. In fact, I don't really need to."
"Then why did you ask me to help you?" she asked, already guessing what he was about to say.
"I asked you, more as a date."
"A date?" Claire blushed. Her fears were confirmed.
"Yeah. I hope you don't mind. It was just the only way I could think of to ask you out, without actually asking you." he confessed.
"Why didn't you just ask me?" she asked.
"Because I was afraid you'd say no." he replied quietly.
An awkward silence descended.
Claire broke it. "Ok, George, I've got a confession to make. I'm not entirely sure what happened the other night, but all I know is, I really do like you. Like, really. And I think you like me to."
Fred was surprised, happy and sad all at the same time. He hadn't been expecting that response. And he was thrilled that she liked him, but then, devastated that it was George she liked. But at the time, he was too intoxicated by fatigue to care.
"You're right. I really like you too." They slowly leaned in and kissed. Screw George, he thought, he was in love with Lauren.
Yay, another chapter done! A big thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter. you guys rock!
Just to clear a few things up, since people have been expressing their concern at being a bit confused, here's basically what happened:
Fred and Claire were on a "date" pretening to be Lauren and George. They both thought the other was Lauren or George. And now each of them thinks they are in love with George or Lauren (respectively), not realising that they really are Fred and Claire.
Outside, the real George and Lauren end up on a real "date', knowing full well who the other is. And at the same time realising that they do care for each other.
Basically, George and Lauren are official, and so are Fred and Claire, but in their case, they are acting under aliases and don't really know it.
And if that was even more confusing, well, i don't know how best to explain it. If you're confused, try reading it again, or asking me a question, preferably a direct one that allows me to explain more simply. But overall, sorry if it is confusing. I know i understand it all, but that's because i'm the one writing it.
Also, sorry if Fred and George seem a bit OOC. The thing is, the only side we really see of them in the books is the prankster, class-clown kind of side. For all we know, they could really be something along the lines of my version, if Rowling had focused on them alittle more. So, in my defence, i don't really think they are OOC at all.