Sorry about the long wait again, but this chapter is longer than usual (for my stories anyway).
Before I start I just want to mention a couple of issues brought up in a review that I think I should mention to everyone who's reading as they are very good points;
Firstly, Luna's personality. I have picked probably the hardest character in the HP world to write and will not use that as an excuse. With post-DH stories it's easier to write for Luna because she will have obviously grown up a lot from the girl she was before, but this is pre-DH. I promise to do my very hardest to keep her as the Luna we all know and love and I hope that you wonderful people who take your time to read my story will appreciate that fact and I promise I will do my very best with her characterisation. Secondly, Fred and George's relationship. One of the things I love most about Fred and George is their connection; the fact that they're best friends as well as brothers, and so that will be a very strong feature in this story, but I understand that twins (and all siblings) will not always get along and there is some tension between the two in this chapter and there will be more coming up in a few chapters time.
A big thank you to SuchStuffAsDreamsAreMadeFrom for bringing up these points as well as your kind comments about this story. I welcome any constructive critisism (It's what all writers work from, I know I definately do) and I hope you continue to enjoy the story.
George moved around the corner and cleared his throat. Immediately, Luna pulled away from Fred and ran over to George with concern-filled eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile that did little to ease her worry as she held his face in her hands. ''Are you alright?''
''Of course I am,'' George brushed away stray strands of hair out of her eyes and pulled her closer to him. ''I'm sorry I worried you.''
''Did Madame Pomfrey have any idea what it was?'' Fred asked after a few silent moments, reminding them that he was there.
''Err, not exactly. She thinks it was something I ate. Apparently people have been in and out of the hospital wing for the last few days. All I know is that I'm going to give dinner a miss.''
''Are you staying in the common room or...''
''No, I'm not going into the common room just yet.'' George answered whilst looking at Luna.
''Oh don't worry about leaving me; I'm not going to the Great Hall anyway. I'd rather go for a walk.'' Luna informed them.
''You're not going to eat?''
''I'm not really hungry anymore. I'll see you later.'' Luna began to walk off, but before George could go after her, Fred grabbed on to his arm.
''What?''
''When she found out what happened to you, she really panicked George. There's something more going on with her and I think you're the only person she's going to open up to.''
George didn't miss the sadness in Fred's voice, but that wasn't what was important at that moment. ''Do you have any idea of what it's about?''
''Nope,'' Fred shook his head. ''she wouldn't say.''
''Thanks for looking out for her Fred,'' George told him honestly. Despite the alarm bells ringing in his head, he always had, and always would appreciate the protectiveness Fred had over Luna.
''No problem. You better get going.'' Fred gestured to the, now, empty corridor and George started after Luna.
When he found her, she was sat in one of the courtyard's archways; her silver eyes were staring off far into the distance and a gentle breeze blew her long tresses away from her face. For a few moments, George stood and watched her, thinking about the many bizarre yet purely Luna-like thoughts that must have been running through her head.
''Unless you have developed telepathy, I doubt you will find any answers by staring at me.'' The corner of Luna's lips turned up into a small smile, but she continued to stare forwards.
''What makes you think that I'm looking for answers?'' George asked as he sat down beside her.
''Because I know that Fred would have told you that something was upsetting me. So you are here to find out what it was?'' Luna said serenely as she looked at him with her bight smile, which told him that she didn't mind his asking, but was also one which dared him to claim otherwise.
''The all knowing Luna Lovegood speaks again.'' George watched as Luna's smile faded, and her eyes went off to somewhere else. ''What is it Luna?''
''It's quite silly really,''
''Well, you tell me, and then I'll tell you whether it's silly or not.'' George put an arm across her shoulders and she relaxed under his touch.
''Shortly before Mum died, she got sick. It was nothing too serious; a simple stomach bug that could be cured with a simple antidote. Of course, Mum was one of those people who could never just sit around and do nothing even when she was sick; a bit like you. Despite Dad telling her to stay in bed until he could go to fetch her medicine, Mum got up and started doing her usual magical experiments like everything was fine...and then it all went badly wrong and she was killed. Dad was later told that Mum mixed volatile ingredients together...meaning her illness must have caused her to lose concentration, or to hallucinate.'' Luna's eyes then focused on George, whose hand had moved over hers. ''If my mum had rested and had accepted the fact that she was sick, then she might still be here. You and Fred are always experimenting with things; most of which are meant to blow up when you make them correctly. When I found out that you were ill in a very similar way to Mum...''
''...You were worried I might do something and hurt myself.'' George finished for her. Luna nodded and George gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. ''Luna, Madame Pomfrey gave me some stuff to take and, honestly, I feel perfectly fine now, and even if I was unwell; I would be careful.''
Luna looked at him sceptically and George smirked as a thought crossed his mind. ''Well if you don't believe me, then when I am ill; I'm going to have to have around the clock care from a very attractive nurse.''
The corner of Luna's mouth turned up into a crooked smile but she looked at him with narrow eyes. ''I hope you're talking about me, George Weasley.''
''I don't know, there is that really cute barmaid in the Three Broomsticks...'' He joked, earning a playful whack on the arm from Luna. ''Ouch, I see you're feeling better then.''
''Much better,'' Luna chuckled.
After escorting Luna to the Ravenclaw portrait, George slowly made his way to the Gryffindor common room. After being assured that Luna was now alright, George's worry turned to Fred, or to Fred's feelings; to be more exact. His brother had been acting oddly for several weeks, but it had always been put down to problems with Angelina. But as George thought more about what had had seen earlier with Fred and Luna; he began to seriously question the truth.
The common room was packed with Gryffindors. It was the time of evening that was late enough for everyone to be heading to their common room, but not late enough for many to be heading to their dormitories. Spotting Ron with Harry and Hermione on the chairs by the fireplace, George crossed to his younger brother. ''Hey Ron, have you seen Fred?''
''I saw him go up to the dormitory a little while ago. He looked a bit out of things, is he alright?''
''That's what I'm going to hopefully find out.'' George replied before heading up the stairs.
The fifth year boys' dormitory would have been empty if it was not for Fred being there. As soon as he saw his brother, George had to ask, ''What is it Fred?''
''What?'' Fred, who was sat in the middle of his bed writing on a piece of parchment which was certain to be a piece of last minute homework, looked up.
''It's not hard to notice; something's been up with you lately and we both know it has nothing to do with Angelina.''
Fred's expression went from confused to resigned as he put down his quill. ''George, honestly, I don't know what...''
''Are you in love with her?'' He had the question in his head but he had not wanted to ask in fear of the answer, however, his voice had betrayed him and Fred looked at him in shock.
He hadn't said her name, but the pained look as he asked had told Fred who the 'her' was that George was referring to. ''George, I have loved Luna since the day we met her, but I have never loved her in that way.''
''Are you sure?''
''Yes,'' Fred said defiantly. ''I don't completely understand what I'm feeling right now, but understand enough to know that it's not that.''
''Obviously you are feeling something for her that you haven't felt before.''
''What does it matter!'' Fred snapped with frustration; not at George, but at his own confused emotions. ''Even if I do, George, can you imagine Luna even feeling something for me in even the slightest romantic way?''
''No, but I wouldn't have imagined you feeling anything either.''
''George, Luna loves you with every single fibre of that great big heart of hers.'' Fred spoke matter-of-factly. ''She has always been drawn towards you. You're the one that actually convinces me to do work so we'll both be back here the next year, I would just fail everything and get kicked out it you weren't here to give me the occasional kick up the backside; you're the sensible...well more sensible...one out of the two of us; you're the one who showed her interest and admiration while I was sat there teasing her about Nargles or Pygmy-Hornsnacks...or whatever she calls them...'' Fred waved his hand; the last part wasn't important.
George noted the strength and honesty in his voice. Fred had just said all the reasons why Luna would be in love with George and not him, and he had not sounded saddened in the slightest. ''And that doesn't bother you?''
Fred shook his head. George couldn't help but chuckle. ''Blimey, I can see why you have no idea how you're feeling. I'm confused and it's not even my feelings that are going bonkers.''
Fred chuckled. ''Tell me about it...I'm sorry George.''
''How about you save the apologies until you know what you're actually apologising for.''
''I just don't get it...I don't love Luna in that way, but I feel something when I'm around her.'' George tried to hide his unhappiness at what Fred had said, but he failed. ''Sorry, that's probably something you could do without hearing your brother say about your girlfriend.''
''It's alright,'' That was a lie and the truth at the same time. ''I mean, you're right; it's not something I really want to hear, but if it helps you figure out what you're feeling then it's best that you say it.''
''Bloody hell, you sound like Mum.'' Fred laughed.
''Yeah well, after about a hundred lectures from her I'm bound to pick some things up.''
The humour Fred had found in the situation evaporated as he thought back to the matter at hand and George watched as Fred thought to himself. ''Okay, so you aren't in love with her. Are you attracted to her?''
Fred thought for a moment. ''No...I mean, Luna's a good looking girl;she's attractive, but I'm not attracted to her.''
''Right,'' George was now completely confused as to what was going on inside his brother's head. ''So, what do you know you feel?''
Again, Fred took another couple of moments to ponder over the question before he answered. ''When I see you two together, and you're so obviously right for each other, I do feel jealous, and when Luna will only talk to you about something – like she did earlier – it does hurt me. And recently, I have found myself looking at Luna differently, and I have been wondering if it's how you felt all that time while you were in love with Luna before you got together.''
George's eyes widened as the metaphorical gears in his brain began to turn and helped him piece things together. ''Fred, by any chance, did these feelings start to develop after you and Angelina started having problems?''
''Yeah...George, what are you thinking?''
''Maybe, what you want isn't Luna, maybe it's what Luna and I have.'' Fred raised his eyebrows and waved his hand in a gesture to elaborate. George obliged, ''Okay Fred, you've told me you're not attracted to Luna, and that you're not in love with her, but you find yourself looking at Luna differently and you get jealous when Luna and I are together and when Luna will tell me things that she won't tell you...''
''You do realise that you sound like a bloody therapist now, but yes, carry on.''
''Fred, we always thought that once you and Angelina finally got together you would have the same thing with her that I have with Luna, and when you two did get together...''
''It wasn't all sunshine and pixie dust like we had thought.'' Fred finished for him. George nodded and Fred thought over what his highly-analytical brother had been saying. ''Maybe, when things didn't work out with Angelina, I started wanting a relationship like your and Luna's a lot more than I realised...so much that I started to be jealous of the relationship you and Luna have. I don't want to be with Luna, I want to have the relationship that you two have. With someone who's my best friend, not just my girlfriend.''
''Eureka!'' George threw his hands up in the air in a gesture of a cheer. ''We have successfully discovered what the bloody hell is going on inside of your head.''
Despite George's enthusiasm, Fred's smile was weak. ''Yeah, I suppose.''
George sighed and dropped his hands. ''Now what's wrong?''
''Well I know what my problem is, but I still don't have any flippin' clue about what I'm going to do about it.''
''Well, do you think you and Angelina could work well together, as a couple and as best friends?''
Fred thought over almost four years of friendship with Angelina, and a couple of those also included a pretty serious crush on her too, and the answer came to him, ''yes, I do.''
''Like you said, the beginning wasn't as great as it could have been. But maybe if you both actually spoke to each other, then things might work out and you may have with Angelina what I have with Luna.''
''Yeah, you're right. I'll talk to her first thing tomorrow.''
''You better or I'll lock the pair of you in the potions cupboard until you make up; I'm sure that will reopen some memories for the pair of you the number of times I've seen you sneak off into it.''
''Fair enough,'' Fred smirked. George, not ready to be going to bed, headed back for the common room. ''And I am sorry about all this George, now that I know what I'm saying sorry for.''
George turned back at the door. ''Don't worry about it. I just hope you and Angelina can work things out.'' Briefly, George disappeared through the door, only to appear again as a thought occurred to him. ''But Fred, if you ever do fall in love with my girlfriend, then I will be rigging your broomstick with flaming fireworks.''
Next chapter; The school year comes to an end and while the school deals with the death of Cedric and the return of Voldemort, Harry gives Fred and George a gift that will certainly make a difference to their lives.
I know that things weren't as serious as they might have first appeared to be but I hope that you can understand why I couldn't make Fred actually be in love with Luna. For me, I just couldn't imagine him falling in love with someone who George loves so much. It's the same reason why I don't understand how on Earth JK Rowling could say that George ended up with Angelina. But that is my opinion and if you aren't happy with how this chapter went, than that is your own opinion and I respect that.
Hope everyone continues to enjoy. Sorry this chapter has more talking from me in it than the actual story.