Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own characters.

Note: Warning, this chapter is REALLY sad. I teared up while proofing over it. Good luck.

5TH YEAR- FRED WEASLEY (7TH YEAR).

The Unwilling Breakup

I made a quick trip to my room, just to make sure George and Lee weren't in there, but mostly to get myself ready to dump Tammie. It was harder now though, after talking with Matt. He didn't want her, but he had to, but he wouldn't have said those things just for my benefit. Why did he sound so different anyway, and what did he mean about chatting later? What did he have to tell me and Melinda? I wanted to think more but I knew I meant what I said last night, this morning. I needed to make sure my brother was alright.

With that thought, a deep sigh and a heavy heart I slowly made my way up the stairs to the common room. I honestly felt like I was marching to my own funeral. I thought as I looked around the common room, surprised to see Tammie sitting on the arm of the chair.

"I thought you transported yourself back to America" I said in a strained attempt at a joke as I continued up the stairs.

"It's still a good looking option" she replied as I looked around at the empty common room.

"Tammie—" I started but she was quick to interrupt.

"Please, don't tell me how much I hurt you, don't tell me you care, don't even tell me that Draco is the core cause. I know what I said wasn't right or fair or true and I know I shouldn't have been so—" she paused to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry" she said with a pleading expression. "Fred, I apologize, I do, and if you can't forgive me I understand, but I need you to hear me say it." God this wasn't going to be easy. I thought to myself as I put up all my defenses and guards up.

"I accept your apology" I said slowly. "I talked to Matt, he explained what happened" she blinked, truly stunned but I ignored that for the moment. "He said he went back to pushing you after the game was over, he wanted know the truth of what was happening around here" I said as I sat down on the arm of another chair as she stood up. "Do you remember any of last night? I assume being pushed that much can't be good mentally" I said almost looking for a reason not to dump her.

"I'm fine, I do remember what I said and…" pause. "I can't get pass that; my fault or not, I still said it, you don't deserve that, I don't deserve you" I would've laughed had I not been focused on how to dump her. She was trying that on me, a Malfoy telling a Weasley they—a Malfoy—were undeserving.

"I've been saying that for the last two years and now you're going to turn around and use it on me? Don't do that, don't tell me what I deserve. Don't tell me you're not good enough" I said, the ability to dump her nearly going down the drain. "Whatdo you wanna do Tammie?" I asked tiredly, maybe she thought about it all and night and decided she wanted to be apart, that's how it usually went.

"Be with you" she said quietly. No, of course this was the one time she was saying everything I wanted to hear, but I couldn't be affected by it.

"It's a known fact that pushing people only affects people who are able to be influenced, you wouldn't have been influenced if you didn't feel it somewhere in your heart. So clearly I must be doing something wrong, so what am I doing? What do you want?" What was I doing? This was so wrong, this hurt so much and I was just saying stupid shit, none of this was fact and even if it was, I didn't care.

"To be with you" she repeated, her eyes glossy as I looked away. Don't cry, please don't cry. I begged as she continued talking. I was barely listening though, I was forcing myself to get angry, to be mad that all this was coming out now, where was this desire all summer? Why didn't she say anything then? Why did I feel her love only when we were about to break up? "It's not you, you've done everything right, you've been too good to me—"

"Then why am I not enough for you!" I interrupted, shouted really as I dug deep in my brain for the painful memories of her with everyone else. How Oliver made her smile, how he seemed to be mature for her; how Lee balanced her out, both of them bouncing their humor off the other; her and Draco—even though they were cousins—how they quickly made up, how it was easy and natural. Her and Matt, they fell into step together, they worked together, conversations between them were easy flowing, simple, they're movements together were in sync and automatic though neither ever noticed. Us. I ran my tongue over my teeth as I tried to think of how good we were, how much better we were than the rest of them, how we always came back together. "I don't want to end this," I can't end this. "But if I do, and we make up, I don't know if we can be together again—"

"Then don't end it!" she quickly interrupted in a pleading tone as I felt like someone spilled steaming hot pumpkin juice on me. I was stinging, so much pain, pain I had to pretend wasn't there. Hurt her. George's words echoed in my head. George. He was hurt, he was falling, something was wrong with him, my brother. Tammie was strong, she'd be okay, she was always okay.

"I can't be with you" I finally got out, the words tasting like a spoiled butterbeer ten years after it's expiration date. "I need to figure out how to get pass last night—"

"I'm sorry, I am, for everything, for anything, just, please…" she trailed off as I worked my jaw into not giving in. She looked so sad, she really didn't want me to end this. It wasn't like before. I could tell, there was something more there. Just the way she reached out for me, the way she touched my hand showed more. There was more. "Give me another chance, anything, just, don't do this. Freddie, please, what else can I do to convince you?" I knew she asked because it was a last resort because if she did say it I couldn't dump her. But, I knew she wouldn't say it and I knew that's what would break me, therefore, I said to tell her anyway, I had to hurt myself to ultimately hurt her.

"Say it Tammie…" I said in a low voice, my chest tightening as she looked away, her eyes dangerously close to tears.

"It's not you, I swear" she said as expected. It hurt, standing in front of her, knowing she felt it but not hearing it. It was enough though, I already dumped her, we were over. I twisted at the words, it's over. I repeated as I pulled my hands out of hers; I could see her wince in pain as I did so.

"Okay" I repeated as I moved toward the portrait, not able to recognize my own tone, I hated hurting her but I wasn't done yet, I reminded myself morbidly as I let the words just fall out. "I should go, Charity was trying to catch me before I left the Great Hall" I said, and though it was a lie, it had the desired effect.

"Don't sink to my level, don't get yourself involved with someone like her" she replied, her tone between harsh and pain. I forced myself to laugh.

"She knows what she wants" I quickly replied. I just wanted to get this conversation over, I wanted to stop hurting her. "Besides, Malfoy, you still have a few hours before people expect you to go after Matt" I told her feeling like I was different person completely as I glanced down at an invisible watch.

"Stop it" she said in a shaky voice. I didn't know why I glared at her, maybe I was glaring at my reflection from the picture on the fireplace's mantle. I hated what I saw. This was the girl I was in love with and was doing this shit to her? Why? Right, I was supposed to be doing this for George; but now, the empty feeling, watching tears run down Tammie's cheeks and forcing myself to not doing anything about it only made me hate George a little.

"Now we're even" I whispered, meaning for it to cut her even more, all those times she hurt me, the conversation I overheard, this was all payback, but as I watched her turn away to silently cry I could only think how much I hated payback and knew the karma was going to kill me.