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--- CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE ---

The Second Task

Juliet Christie

The date was February 23rd and I was on edge. The next day was the scheduled second task and I was dreading it. I knew my fears had been stupid the first time around and it was probably just as pointless to be worrying so much during the second run, but I couldn't help it. The first task had been dragons…I couldn't help but be terrified of what they would do to top that one.

Cedric wasn't worried at all. He had his plan perfectly laid out. He knew exactly what he was going to do. The only part that he was unsure about was the part of the song from the clue that spoke of stealing something from him. His only comment had been "I hope it's not my underwear. Twice in one year might be a bit overdone". He had been trying to lighten the mood. I hadn't found it funny.

Yes, Cedric's bubblehead charm had been practiced in the Prefect's bathroom on several occasions, and he was positive that he'd be able to perform flawlessly at the task. He had even done research about the Hogwarts' lake to find out what sorts of creatures were living there. He wanted to succeed this time around—to redeem himself of last time.

Even with all of Cedric's pre-meditation and preparation, I was in no way going to sit back and enjoy the tournament. Every spare moment I got was devoted to researching the lake as well, and any time I was around Cedric I would quiz him about useful spells and methods of avoiding Gryndillows and other foul underwater creatures. I'll admit he did seem well-prepared, but I was by no means going to shrug it off and leave it alone.

Frankly I was shocked by just how much I feared the second task. If I thought I had been worried the first time around, I had been wrong. The jitters I had felt at the first task had been nothing compared to what I felt during the second. I wasn't sure if it was because I thought the task itself was more dangerous, or if it was simply the fact that I had come to acknowledge the fact that I was in love with him. I thought it was probably the latter. Certainly after realizing you loved someone you were far more likely to want to keep them safe at all costs.

But even so, I would have thought the fact that I had been having mixed feelings toward Fred would have hindered the protectiveness I felt for Cedric. On the contrary, whatever those feelings happened to be seemed to strengthen the fear I had for Cedric and his involvement in the second task. Maybe I was feeling guilty due to the fact that I was enjoying not having to share Fred with Angelina anymore.

Whatever the case may have been, it didn't change the fact that I was dreading the second task.

Right up until the end of the day I spent every spare moment I had pouring over books I had borrowed from the library, searching for something that would be beneficial to Cedric. I also pondered over the meaning behind the clue. I searched through chapters upon chapters of information about merpeople…whether they liked to steal from humans…what their food preferences were…what type of water they liked to live in…how much light they got…nothing seemed to offer up any more help than what Cedric had already put together for himself.

Instead of reassuring me that all was going to be fine, the fact only made me worry even more. I couldn't help but feel something life-altering was going to happen the next day, and I was certain if it had to do with the Triwizard Tournament, that it couldn't be good.

"Juliet," I looked up from my stack of books on the coffee table in the middle of the common room to see Katie speaking to me from a few feet away, "Professor McGonagall wants to speak with you in her office."

I shot her a confused look. It was nearly curfew. "What does she want?"

Katie shrugged. "No idea. She just told me to fetch you for her."

I slammed my book shut, feeling slightly relieved that I had a distraction to keep me from worrying excessively about the second task.

"Well I guess I'd better not keep her waiting," I said, rising from my seat. "I'll be back," I said to the twins who were seated in armchairs next to the fire.

George nodded and gave me a wave as I headed out the portrait door.

"We'll wait up," I heard Fred promise.

…He probably shouldn't have.

-------

Fred Weasley

Juliet had been missing ever since McGonagall had asked to speak with her in her office. No one had seen her in hours, and I was beginning to get worried. George assured me she was probably with Cedric, wishing him good luck and all, but surely she would have returned. It was almost midnight and there was still no sign of her.

"Are you sure she didn't just sneak past the common room?" George suggested. "Maybe she's in bed right now."

I shook my head. "I would have noticed, George."

He rolled his eyes at me. "Of course you would have."

I glared at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what that's supposed to mean," George snickered.

"Would you let it go?" I grumbled, running my hands through my hair in frustration. "And even if I didn't notice she would have come say goodnight."

"Would she?"

I glared at him, unsure of exactly what he meant.

"Listen mate," he said. "I know you hate to hear this—trust me, I'm not too fond of the idea either—but she's probably with Cedric. It wouldn't be the first time she spent the night with him."

I glared angrily at him. "Julie is not sleeping with him," I growled.

"I didn't say that," George defended. "But she has spent the night at Hufflepuff before. That's probably what she's doing tonight."

"Why would she stay there tonight?" I asked. "The second task is tomorrow. She wouldn't want Diggory skimping out on his sleep."

"Fine, don't believe me on this. If she's not with Diggory then where is she?"

I pursed my lips angrily, knowing he was right. Where else would she have gone? She had been spending every free minute she had with him since they'd been together.

Why should tonight be any different?

But still, it killed me to think that she was spending the night with him…even if she wasn't sleeping with him (which I was sure she was not)…the thought of her cuddled up in bed with him was gut-wrenching. As far as I knew Juliet had never spent the night in any guy's bed…apart from mine. Of course, I knew the odd days in the summer that the two of us had curled up in my bed together hadn't meant anything romantic-wise, but still…even back then, I always knew the two of us were different. We could share that kind of thing. I hated that Cedric had now moved in not only as the boyfriend, but had also taken away a lot of the things that Julie and me had shared in the past. Now that she was with him, she wouldn't snuggle up with me on the sofa by the fire like she used to. We didn't stay up all night long talking and laughing either…she did those things with him instead.

George yawned and stood up, slapping me on the shoulder. He had failed to notice I was growing more and more depressed with each passing second.

"You coming upstairs?" he asked. "She'll be back in the morning in any case. There's no sense in waiting up for her all night."

My response was a grunt, but I stood up as well. I reckoned he was right. If Juliet was with the bloke, there really was no point in me waiting around for her. It's not like she wanted me waiting for her anyway…she was happy with him, and I had to deal with it.

I took one last hopeful glance at the portrait hole door, and when she didn't appear there I let out a sigh and followed George up the stairs to the dormitory.

Juliet didn't want me now.

I had missed my chance.

-------

George's reassurances proved to fall through. Stupid wanker had no idea what he was talking about. The next morning Juliet was still nowhere to be found. I was beginning to panic, seeing as she didn't meet up with us in the common room in the morning.

"She'll be at breakfast…she's probably going down to the Hall with Diggory," George said.

Wrong again, George! Bloody prat.

When we got down to the Great Hall Katie and Alicia both informed us that they hadn't seen Juliet all night. What's worse, Cedric came down and took a seat at the Hufflepuff table, and Julie was not with him.

I watched as Diggory sat down. He scanned the Gryffindor table and his eyes landed on me and George. His lips pursed and he did another scan of the Hall. He was looking for her too.

"George, Jules isn't with Diggory," I said, nodding in the direction of Hufflepuff.

George followed my gaze. His eyes widened in surprise. He looked worried. 'Bout time.

"Where is she?" he asked. He sounded concerned.

"Gee I don't know George. Maybe you should have listened to me earlier…then perhaps she wouldn't be missing right now," I said harshly.

"Where do you think she could have gotten to?" George asked. "You think she was abducted by someone?" His tone was sarcastic now.

"Well I don't know. I don't see her, do you?"

"Relax, mate. She's around somewhere. She'll be there at the task for sure. She wouldn't want to miss Diggory in action," George said.

It didn't make me feel any better, but he was probably right. There was no way Juliet was going to miss watching Diggory's task. She'd definitely be there. I tried to relax. She was around. No big deal, she would be there.

Shortly after breakfast every student in the Great Hall left to dress warmly for the second task. George and I returned to our dormitory with Lee to pull on jumpers over our clothes and grab hats. The February air was frigid and biting. I found myself daydreaming of cuddling Juliet close outside in the cold…. I mentally scolded myself. She was with Cedric. I was only making it harder for myself by allowing my brain to fantasize.

"We're supposed to be gathering at the lake," Lee said as the three of us headed back down through the common room. I found myself frowning at the fact that Juliet was not standing alongside Alicia and Katie.

Where did that girl get to?

"I wonder why?" George mused as the girls joined us. Each of them was bundled up in winter clothing, and Alicia immediately snuggled herself under George's left arm, slipping her arm around his waist. The sight made me frown. Seeing happy couples together made me miserable. Even when I had been with Angelina I hated the physical interaction. She wasn't the person I had wanted to be with. On top of that she had lied to me about Juliet…I definitely made the right decision in dumping her. But still…seeing the happiness between George and Alicia made me infinitely envious.

My mood only darkened further when our group was joined by Ethan—Diggory's friend and Katie's sort-of boyfriend…or were they together now? Doesn't matter. The two flirted so much that it made me nauseous.

Groaning inwardly at how quickly the day had deteriorated into a horror story, I slowed my pace, allowing the happy couples to take the lead. Instead I fell back with Lee, who had frighteningly seemed to become my better half.

Cringe.

"What do you reckon they'll have the champions do?" Lee asked as we followed the long train of students who were making their way out onto Hogwarts grounds.

"Hopefully something dangerous," I said dryly.

Don't judge me. I'm actually not that cruel. I wouldn't want Diggory getting himself mortally injured…just a little bit wounded. I wouldn't mind him losing just a bit of his pride. I'm jealous…it's not a crime.

Of course, then Juliet would worry and make a fuss over him, and that might be too disgusting and painful to endure…

"If it weren't dangerous it wouldn't be the Triwizard Tournament," Lee pointed out.

Good point. Maybe I would get to enjoy just a little bit of humiliation on Diggory's part. There wasn't any harm in him getting knocked down a peg. Juliet would still adore him, and I'd still be alone, but it would make me feel just a tad bit better. That was really all I could ask for at that point anyway.

"How long do you reckon that Fleur girl will last through this one?" Lee asked as we rounded the corner toward the lake. There were stands erected there. Obviously this thing was taking place in the water…

"I'd wager ten Galleons she doesn't make it past twenty minutes," I said with a chuckle. She didn't seem like the swimming type, and now that the lake was in sight I was sure the task was going to involve some sort of underwater activity.

"That long, eh?" Lee mused. "I would have gone with less."

"Want to put a couple Sickles on it?" I offered, knowing full well that Lee would be up for a bit of gambling. Of course, after the Bagman issue I didn't actually have anything to be spending on bets, but Lee didn't have to know that. "I bet Frenchie comes in last."

"I'd be a fool to bet against that," Lee laughed. "But I'll bet you Krum wins this one."

"Alright. My money's on Harry," I said.

"You're on," Lee agreed. "Krum wins and you owe me three Sickles. Harry wins and I owe you three."

Lee and I shook on it and hurried through the remaining steps to the stands where we took our spots as spectators.

The crowd grew quickly and soon we were standing amongst a sea of students. The stands were lined along the edge of the lake, and everyone had piled themselves in to stand watch over the four champions standing on the lowest platform. Juliet was still nowhere to be found.

George, Lee, Alicia, and I had situated ourselves on the ground level, nearest to the champions and the panel of judges. I could clearly see the look of pure terror on Harry's face, along with the worried but determined expression on Diggory's. I wondered briefly if he was as worried about Juliet as I was. I doubted it.

"Hope you can swim, Harry!" I yelled out, trying to clear my head and get into my usual state of mind. Harry jolted around and spotted me instantly at the front of the thick crowd of students. "I've got three sickles that say you win this thing!"

He gave me a very strained smile and turned back to stare out at the ominous-looking lake. I watched the back of Diggory's head, hoping he had heard me. Although I was well aware of the fact that he was a decent guy (as much as I hated to admit it), I wanted him to remain assured that I wasn't supporting him in the competition. I'll admit I was feeling fairly bitter, and taunting him was a bit low…but he had the girl, so I didn't seem the harm in getting some fun out of it too.

We waited a surprisingly long time for the task to begin…you would think the big-shot wizards would have had the thing under control and ready to go before they called the entire castle down to watch…Merlin. But once it had got underway, it turned out to be a remarkably boring event.

"Something was stolen from each of the champions last night. Something of value and deep personal importance to them," Dumbledore's voice boomed moments before the task was to begin. "They have exactly one hour to retrieve it from the lake. They will be awarded points based on the length of time they take in retrieving what has been stolen, as well as their methods in which to do so."

The crowd cheered and clapped as the task was commenced and the four champions dove into the lake. Harry was the least graceful, but I stood by my decision to bet against Lee, despite Krum's perfect dive.

"That Delacour girl may not be any good at challenges," Lee said as the four of them disappeared into the water, "but Merlin, is she ever easy on the eyes!"

I sniggered at Lee. "Keep your mind out of the gutter."

"How do you know it's in the gutter?" Lee asked, staring out at the rippling water.

"It's always in the gutter."

Lee grinned. "No harm in looking."

I talked with Lee for the majority of the hour as we waited for the end of the task…all the while worrying excessively about Juliet and where she could have gotten to. I was definitely not focused at all, and continually scanned my eyes over the crowds of students in search of her.

As predicted, Fleur didn't last long into the challenge. I wasn't even certain how long she was under before she was pulled back out. From the sounds of it she couldn't get past the Gryndillows. I was mildly disappointed. I wanted Harry to win, but I would have found it funny if Diggory had been beaten by the princess.

It wasn't until with only two minutes left (and still no sign of Julie) that there was any hint of another champion reaching the surface. We watched as a disturbance from beneath the water caught the audience's attention. My eyes were immediately on the ripples of the Black Lake. There were murmurs of excitement from the crowd as everyone got ready to cheer for whoever it was who was resurfacing.

I kept my eyes on the water, more out of pure curiosity than anything else. I was more focussed on where in the world Juliet was to be worried about some stupid game. Thus, my mind was not in the right place at all as I watched Diggory emerge from the dark water.

Figures. Not only does he make it out unharmed, he makes it out first.

"Well, looks like neither of us win this one, mate," Lee shouted over the noise.

The cheer from the surrounding students was ear-splitting. The Hogwarts supporters were screaming frantically for Diggory. People were jumping up and down all around me, and if it weren't for the fact that I was standing near the front I would not have seen who surfaced second—sputtering and also soaking wet—only moments after Diggory.

My head spun at the sight.

It was Juliet.

'Something was stolen from each of the champions last night…something of value and deep personal importance to them…'

I felt my stomach lurch and my heart twist up painfully.

Perfect.

Just bloody perfect.

-----

Juliet Christie

I immediately regained consciousness as I broke the surface of the water. Cedric was there with me, holding me up as I got over the initial shock of what was going on. Of course, McG had briefly prepared me for what was going to happen, but regaining consciousness in the middle of a lake while sputtering for air was a bit mind-boggling.

"You alright?" Cedric called, and I realized how loud it was. People were cheering all around us from the shoreline.

I didn't reply—I felt quite incapable of speaking while I was gasping for air—and swam quickly toward the shore where there was a large dock set up in front of the stands full of people. Cedric swam with me, helping push me up onto the dock as Hagrid reached down and easily pulled me up out of the frigid water with one hand.

I hadn't realized how frighteningly cold the water was. It became apparent when I made it onto the dock and felt the frigid February air hit my wet body.

I was immediately covered in a thick blanket by someone nearby, and Cedric was given one as well. I could feel my teeth chattering almost immediately after I was out of the water, and my limbs felt numb from the cold.

Cedric was there, and he bent to place a kiss on my wet forehead. His hair was dripping, but there was a huge grin on his face.

"Didn't I tell you? Everything's fine," he said, grinning against the side of my head.

"I think I would have p-preferred not t-to have been included," I said, shivering with the cold. "The th-thing you'd m-m-miss most," I said, attempting sarcasm, "r-r-rubbish. N-no r-reason t-t-t-to kidnap me."

Cedric laughed heartily as the photographer from the Daily Prophet came over to ask for a picture.

"Can we get both of you together?" he grunted.

I had no idea why they wanted me in the picture as well, but I obliged, forcing myself to smile. I'm sure it turned out as more of a grimace, but whatever.

When I took a moment to look around at my surroundings I noticed Fleur Delacour was seated nearby. She was dripping wet and looked anxious and defeated.

"What happened to her?" I asked Cedric as the two of us were given a second blanket each to huddle under.

He shrugged. "Didn't make it through I guess," he said.

"So I guess that m-means you w-won this round," I said, smiling at the look of glee on his face.

"I think so," he said. "Harry could have made it back first, but he was sticking around down there for some reason…I'm not sure why."

"Was it s-scary down th-there?" I questioned, yelling over the noise as I continued to shiver. I was curious about the world I had just spent the last hour and a half in without being able to see it.

"I'm not planning a return trip," he replied with a smirk.

I was staring out at the crowd of students surrounding us when I spotted Fred and George. They saw me looking in their direction and waved me over frantically. Lee and Alicia were with them, exchanging animated high-fives with Cedric's Hufflepuff friends.

I turned back to Cedric. "I'm not n-needed for any more p-p-pictures, right?" I asked through chattering teeth.

He turned around to see what had caught my attention and chuckled.

"They look worried," he said, spotting the exasperated look on both of the twins' faces. "You'd better go reassure them."

"I'll s-see you when t-this is all over," I said to him, then took off in the direction of the twins as quickly as my frozen legs would carry me.

I reached them with some difficulty, having to squeeze my blanket-wrapped body in between the thick crowd of students. I stumbled a few times, but managed not to fall…this was a good thing, as I was unsure whether or not I'd be able to pull myself back up again afterwards.

"Julie! Are you all right? You had us worried sick!" George said, putting his hands on my shoulders.

"Oh please! You weren't worried in the slightest!" Fred disagreed. "You probably wouldn't have even noticed she was missing if I hadn't said something about it."

"Pish posh, I worried plenty."

My teeth were chattering as I allowed the boys to survey me for injury. I was sure they had been wondering where I had been all night, but obviously they were aware of the answer now.

Fred took his hat off and stuffed it onto my head. "Merlin! You're freezing!" he said, sounding positively appalled. He tugged on the strings to ensure my ears were covered securely.

"Well I was in t-t-the l-l-l-lake," I stuttered, shivering hard.

"Your lips are blue," George pointed out just as a deafening roar rippled through the crowd again. I turned my head to see who had made it out of the lake now.

"Krum!" Lee yelled, ecstatic, turning toward Fred. "I get one Sickle for that! He made it out before Harry."

Fred ignored him and pulled me against his chest. "Come here," he ordered, wrapping his arms around me securely. "You're going to get sick."

I shivered again, feeling only slightly warmer from the combination of the hat, the blanket, and Fred's body against mine. I felt almost certain that I was going to lose a few toes.

"I th-th-think I n-n-n-need to g-g-go b-back t-t-t-to the c-common room-m-m," I stuttered. I felt like I was feeling colder and colder by the second. I shouldn't have agreed to do the task…it had been a stupid idea. Cedric could have rescued Ethan or Codie instead and left me standing in the stands substantially less cold.

Fred looked at me, debating whether or not it was a good idea to manoeuvre me back through the crowd of rowdy students. It only took him half a second of staring at my pale face before he nodded and turned me in the direction of the castle.

"I'm taking Julie back inside," I heard him say to the others. "We'll see you later."

He didn't wait for a reply, but pushed through the students, calling out to them to make a path for us.

We went immediately back up to the common room. Fred wanted to take me to the hospital wing, but I insisted that all I needed was to curl up with some blankets by the fire. I was certain once I was warm again I'd feel fine.

Fred obliged, and hurried me up the tower and through the Fat Lady portrait. The fire was dimming, so Fred poked at it with his wand until it was roaring pleasantly again. I curled myself up on the squashy sofa nearest the fire and waited for him to sit down with me.

"Do you want me to go get you some cocoa?" he asked. It was adorable how worried he was about me. If I hadn't been so cold I would have found it endearing.

I shook my head weakly. "No. I don't w-want you to l-leave."

"I'd be fast," he promised.

I shook my head again. "Just st-stay here with me, 'kay?"

Fred obliged and sunk down next to me. I felt kind of bad for making him miss out on the end of the second task to take care of me, but I really didn't want to be left alone in the common room. It also felt peaceful and just…nice to have just the two of us for once, despite how awful I felt. We hadn't had any one-on-one time in forever.

"So…" he said as the two of us stared into the crackling fire. It was helping ease the numbness in my arms and legs, but I was still fiercely cold, despite the fact that I had changed my clothing as soon as I got inside. "Did you get to see any of what happened in the lake?"

I shook my head weakly, allowing my cheek to make contact with Fred's shoulder as I cuddled into him. He felt so warm…I could feel my shivering subsiding, although my body didn't feel any warmer.

"I was under a spell," I mumbled quietly. "I couldn't see or hear anything."

"Do you know who else was down there?" he asked as he eased his arms around my body. If I didn't know any better I would have said he was reluctant…or nervous.

"There was your brother, Hermione, and a little blonde girl I assume was Fleur's sister," I told him, allowing my arms to find their way around his torso. Fred had laid a blanket over me, and I shifted it so we were cuddled beneath it together.

"Hermione?" he asked. "Wow…I didn't realize Hermy and Krum were so close…"

I shrugged. "Maybe they aren't," I suggested. "McGonagall said they chose people whom the champions care deeply about. She didn't say anything about it being the other way around."

"Mmm…" Fred mumbled. He sounded doubtful. I guess I could understand why. Harry and Ron obviously cared very deeply for each other—they were like brothers. Same would go for Fleur and her sister…and of course, me and Cedric…

I fell into silence as I stared at the dancing flames of the fire across from us and enjoyed the sensation of the feeling returning to my fingers and toes. Fred was quiet too, and I listened to the deep, methodical sound of his breathing.

"You had me worried sick you know," he said suddenly.

"Hmm?" I asked, my position remaining unchanged.

"When you didn't come back last night," he clarified. "And then this morning when I couldn't find you…I was worried."

I lifted up my head at his statement, cocking it to one side. "Really? Why?"

He scoffed. "No one knew where you were."

"And what? You thought I was in some sort of trouble?"

He shrugged, and I noticed very suddenly how intent his gaze was. His crystal clear blue eyes were locked with mine. "I was worried you might be."

I stared at him, feeling very numb, but not at all from the cold. It was my senses that felt numb. My nerves didn't seem to be working…my brain was frozen. I knew I wasn't feeling right…my body seemed to have lost all feeling. I knew I was cold, and yet I didn't feel it. I was instead much more focussed on Fred than my personal well-being.

"Well…aside from being frozen solid…I feel…perfect," I said. My voice was barely above a whisper as my eyes bore into his.

"You feeling any warmer yet?" he asked, removing one of his hands from around my waist. He pulled his hat off of my damp hair and ran his fingers through my locks carefully. He stopped, instead placing his warm hand against my cheek.

In that instant when his skin touched mine, something changed. There was electricity in the air very suddenly and without warning. I was hyper-aware of every spot on my body where my skin connected with his…his hand on my face, my arms around his body, my legs brushing up against his…

I reached up and placed my cool hand over his. He didn't react to the movement…his eyes stayed locked on mine.

I felt my lips part slightly as his thumb brushed across the corner of my mouth. He was immediately distracted, his eyes darting down to stare at my lips. I felt my heartbeat pick up.

"I'm…getting there," I whispered, barely aware that I was speaking at all. Not a single thought was running through my head. I was running on pure instinct and natural reaction.

Fred swallowed, and his eyes found mine again as I let my hand drop. His hand didn't move from my face, but he began rubbing my cheek in soft circles with his thumb as his hand travelled excruciatingly slowly from my cheek to my chin, and then to my neck…

I found myself studying every detail of his face. I took in every strand of his red hair, every freckle dotted across his nose and cheeks…every curve of his strong facial features…the precise shade of blue of his eyes…the exact shape of his lips…

"Fred…" his name escaped my lips in a whisper, and his eyes moved down to my mouth once more.

Each second that passed between the time we sat staring at each other and the time it took his lips to meet mine felt like an eternity. I could count every one of his eyelashes…every single one of his freckles, before our lips touched.

When they did, it was pure bliss. I was completely lost to my actions. I was both hyper-aware of what was going on and also extremely ignorant to the world around me. My lips on Fred's was all I could think about.

Although I was sure he had been the one to lean in—the one to initiate the kiss—I was the one to deepen it. My tongue traced along his bottom lip softly and I pulled myself closer to him, my arms still locked around his torso.

Fred's mouth opened invitingly, and his tongue found mine as our lips moved in synchronization. His hand moved to my still-damp hair and pulled my face closer to his.

I surprised myself when a moan sounded from my throat, but I wasn't surprised enough to stop. Fred seemed to take that as encouragement, and the kiss only grew more passionate.

His hands were holding me firmly to him as I manoeuvred my body (no longer feeling cold from the lake) onto his. I straddled his lap—never breaking the kiss—and my hands travelled up his chest and into his hair at the back of his neck. His hands were on my back, pulling me to him with irresistible force. I wouldn't have been able to pull away if I wanted to…and trust me, I didn't want to.

I was breathing heavily and small noises were escaping my mouth as I pressed my lips against his forcefully. I never wanted to stop kissing him…

Even so, I did.

I pulled my lips reluctantly away from Fred's and stared down at him intently. I didn't move from my spot on his lap, and his hands remained on my hips, holding me firmly in place.

I didn't speak, not out of fear of what we had just done, and not because I didn't know what to say, but because there wasn't anything to say. My brain was frozen in place. No thoughts ran through my head, thus I didn't feel the need to say anything at all. I just sat there, my hands on his neck and his on my back…my skin was stinging from the cold in a way that made me certain I should have gone to the hospital wing…but I didn't care.

We sat staring at each other like that in silence as our breathing slowed back down to regular pace. My eyes never left his.

When the rest of Gryffindor began making their way toward the common room we were given plenty of warning. We could hear them from down the corridor—they were cheering and yelling at the tops of their lungs.

Still acting without thought, I bent my head and placed another soft, lingering kiss on Fred's lips before I eased myself off of his lap. He let his hands drop to his sides as I removed myself, his expression unreadable.

I picked up the forgotten blanket from the floor and positioned myself next to him again, letting my head fall back onto his shoulder. He didn't hold me like he had previously. He seemed frightened to move.

I closed my eyes and tried to block out the building noise coming from the students just outside and focused on the beating of Fred's heart as I marvelled at the bizarre feeling of my skin tingling with cold.

Neither of us said anything as Gryffindor came pouring in through the Fat Lady portrait.

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A/N: I wanted to let everyone know that my one-short, Fred-centric story Cuddling has been nominated in the Quibbler Awards. You can vote for Cuddling on the Quibbler Awards website (the link is on my profile, or you can Google search Quibbler Awards). Voting doesn't start until the 10th of January and runs from January 10th to January 20th. If any of you have read the story (or will read the story) and enjoyed it, then you can vote for it under "Best Fluff" and/or "Best One-shot"!

Oh, and of course I remind you all that I want a ton of reviews for this chapter! Ha. Thanks for all the support, as always.