Chapter 8

"Did I scare you?" he laughed quietly.

"Yes you scared me, you tosser!" I whispered loudly and pushed away from him. "I thought surely you were Professor Snape."

"If Snape ever puts his hands on you like that, he and I will personally have a problem."

I laughed quietly with him for a moment before silence fell over us. My mind raced for something to say, before the lack of conversation could become awkward, but my eyes had adjusted pretty well to the dim light by this point, and I could see that Fred looked completely comfortable in the silence, letting his eyes trail over the way his sweater hung on my petite body.

"So, Freddie," I whispered, trying out the nickname without the sarcastic tone I'd used before, "what kind of trouble are you getting us into tonight?"

"Well, are you hungry?" he asked. As if it wanted in on the conversation, my stomach let out a long low growl in response.

He chuckled, "That settles it then, come on."

He reached out and took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. My heartbeat hammered in my ears, but I tried to ignore it as he pulled me forward into the darkness of the castle.

All the torches that usually kept the corridors well-lit had all been extinguished, and Fred moved almost silently through the black night. I could tell that he had taken this path many times before, because I had absolutely no sense of the direction we were going and he navigated the corridor effortlessly. For a fleeting second, I wondered if Fred had pulled any other girls through the castle late at night. I pushed the thought away quickly though, since it didn't matter, it was me he was pulling now.

He led me around a corner, and whispered, "Lumos!" A bright blue light radiated from the tip of his wand, illuminating the space between us. His skin looked like ghostly in the glow, and his eyes looked an even lighter shade of brown than usual. He squeezed my hand once and then gently let it go, winking at me.

He pointed his wand forward and cast his light over a large painting of a bowl of fruit. He reached out with his left hand and tickled the pear in the picture. I started to ask what he was doing but stopped myself; stranger things had happened at Hogwarts.

The pear let out a small giggle, before transforming into a large green door handle, which Fred then turned. Suddenly, the small corridor was filled with light from the open doorway. Fred grinned at me and then grabbed my hand again, pulling me inside.

The room we entered was huge, at least the size of the Great Hall, with high, rounded ceilings. There were four long tables, just like those we ate on, all lined up next to one another. Around the edges of the room, stacked atop countertops and stoves, were large pots and pans of all varieties. Across from us, on the other end of the room, was a grand brick fireplace, that was roaring with life.

"Fred, what is this pl—" I started, but was cut off by a small squeaking voice.

"Mr. Weasley sir! Hello! Welcome!" The voice came from a creature about two and a half feet tall, with long, lanky limbs, and pointed, bat-like ears. Two round eyes were looking at Fred with admiration. It was wearing an oversized jumper, jogging shorts, and two overly large, mismatched socks. Behind him, a dozen more of the creatures were following, each looking simply delighted. The rest of them wore tea towels stamped with the Hogwarts crest.

"Dobby!" called Fred happily. "How are you, mate?"

"Dobby is simply wonderful!" the creature squeaked in its odd high voice. "Dobby has been hoping to see Harry Potter here at Hogwarts, but Dobby hasn't had the time, you see. There's lots of cookings and cleanings to do here in the Hogwarts kitchen."

I suddenly realized that the tiny creatures here with us, in what was apparently the Hogwarts kitchen, were House Elves . I felt momentarily disappointed that the food I'd always imagined just appearing out of thin air, was not magical at all. But I was then very impressed that these little beings cooked such wonderful meals.

"Well that's wonderful, Dobby," Fred beamed at him, but then nodded down at our connected hands. "There's someone I want to introduce you to. This is Addison Morris, Dobby. She's a Hufflepuff, but by the looks of it, this is her first trip to the kitchen." And then as if for good measure he added, "She's a friend of Harry's too."

I thought that might have been a bit of a stretch, as Harry and I only spent time together when our two friend groups overlapped, but Dobby nodded excitedly. "Dobby is most pleased to meet you, Miss Morris. Any friend of Harry Potter's is a friend of Dobby's."

"Oh—er— call me Addison or Addie," I dropped Fred's hand and reached out to take Dobby's tiny palm in my own, and pumped it up and down gently. A nervous murmur spread through the crowd of House Elves. I frowned.

"Don't you be minding them, Miss Addison Morris, they is just angry that Dobby is getting paying now from Mr. Professor Dumbledore," Dobby said matter-of-factly.

I was confused by his statement, but before I could ask, Fred started again, "Addison and I were hoping to have a little picnic this evening. Do you think you all could put something together for us?"

As if on cue, the House Elves all began bustling around the kitchen, and within moments had returned with a small basket, overflowing with pastries and finger sandwiches. One of the other House Elves presented it to us with a sweeping bow.

"Thank you," said Fred kindly, as he took the basket. The House Elf squeaked and nodded, before quickly returning to the group. "I'll see if I can get Harry down here to visit you soon, okay Dobby?"

"Thank you very much Mr. Weasley, sir!" he jumped up and down with excitement.

We both waved at the tiny smiling creatures as Fred took my hand once more, and pulled me back through the doorway, into the darkness.

A few minutes of being blindly led through the corridors later, Fred had us climbing a set of tall winding stairs. Unwilling to pull out his wand and alert the sleeping portraits to our presence, he guided me carefully up step after step in the blackness, until we finally stepped out into the night.

"The astronomy tower?" I asked.

He shrugged, "There's no better place to see the stars in Britain."

He was right. The night sky dropped like a curtain right off the edge of the tower, and I couldn't see any of the Hogwarts grounds. Above us, golden stars dotted the sky, stretching out in all directions. I noted two of the constellations that my dad had pointed out to me when I was little.

The whole thing was sort of romantic, and I'd never thought either of the Weasley twins to be the romantic type. Fred spread out a large tablecloth on the hard stone floor of the tower and laid our food out on it. We sat cross legged across from each other in silence for a few moments, crunching on pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts.

"You know I'd never seen a House Elf before," I said finally, between bites.

"Ever?" Fred asked in disbelief.

"You know as well as anyone that I'm a muggle-born," I laughed. "I know I've been a part of this world now for nearly five years, but some of it still seems so new."

"This world?" he raised an eyebrow and asked gently.

"You know, the magical world."

"I guess I just never really thought about it that way. I've just thought of it as one world with different kinds of people," he said.

"I've just always sort of separated it I guess. The life I had with my family before just seems so far removed from what I'm doing now," I sighed.

"Tell me about them," he said after a moment.

"Huh?"

"Your family," he prompted. "Tell me about them."

He uncrossed his legs and leaned back against the stone wall. He smiled at me warmly and patted the ground next to him. I crawled over the spread of food and tucked myself into the space beside him, drawing my knees to my chest. He settled an arm lightly over my shoulders.

"There isn't much to tell," I began, "My dad is a solicitor." I looked over and saw a slight frown form on his lips. "That's a sort of muggle job that deals with legal documents and other things that have to do with the law."

Fred nodded thoughtfully but waited for me to continue.

"My mum always just stayed home with us. Dad's job pays well, so she never really needed to work. I have a little brother too."

"You do?" he sounded surprised. "How old is he?"

"He's twelve."

"Ah," he nodded, starting to put the pieces together. "So he isn't a wizard then?"

I shook my head.

"Do you get along with them okay, your family?" he asked, reaching up and tucking a piece of honey-colored hair behind my ear with his free hand. The butterflies that I hadn't thought about in what felt like ages, returned.

"I used to," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Lately though, it feels like we're living entirely different lives, and I don't see how having a witch for a daughter fits into theirs. Especially after what happened at the Cup. It reminded me how unfriendly magic can be to their kind."

"You Know Who is gone," he pointed out.

"But how long until someone else with the same ideas comes around? Or until one of his most loyal followers that skipped out on Azkaban rises to power? I'm afraid that the longer I stay in their lives, the more danger I put them in," I leaned my head over to rest it on his shoulder. The hand that was resting across my shoulders started tracing familiar patterns into the fabric covering my skin. Sitting like this reminded me of the night in the woods at the Cup, how amidst all the fear I'd had, Fred had made me feel safe. I wanted to feel safe like this forever.

"Well for everyone's sake, let's hope that doesn't happen. My dad has faith that magic and non-magic peoples can cooperate and live in harmony."

"That would be nice," I said almost bitterly, thinking of all the Draco Malfoys of the world.

"Do you ever wish you hadn't been born a witch?" he whispered.

I thought about this for a long moment. Long enough that I was afraid he would think I wasn't going to answer. I'd let this statement float through my head on more than one occasion, especially when I was feeling particularly isolated from my family, but I was never sure if I actually meant it.

"No," I said finally. "I mean, I guess maybe I've thought it before, but I don't think I could trade this life for anything. Sometimes the things I get to experience are more amazing than my wildest daydreams," I sighed and worked up the courage to say the next thing I'd been thinking. I turned my head forward not meeting his eyes, "Besides, if I wasn't born a witch, I would've never met you."

Fred reached over and gently took my chin in his fingertips, nudging my face back in his direction. "And I am so happy to have met you, Addison Morris."

Next thing I knew, he had closed the short distance between us and his lips were on mine. The arm around my shoulders dropped down and tightened at my waist, pulling me closer to him. I reached up and twisted my fingers into his unkempt but soft hair. The sweet smell of cinnamon and firewood that had faded from the sweater I was wearing, swirled up off of Fred's skin and flooded my senses. Somewhere in the back of my brain a voice was screaming, reminding me that this was my very first kiss, and with Fred Weasley at that. This should be awkward, but it felt more natural than the first time I'd cast a spell.

Fred pulled away, but kept his hand lightly under my chin. I couldn't see much in the dark, but I could see the goofy grin that spread across his face. I couldn't help but smile in response. It was almost as if the world stopped around us, there was no Hogwarts, no bedtime, no chance of detention. There was just Fred and me.

"I'm er— pretty new at this," he said awkwardly, but still smiling.

I laughed, "Me too."

"You're unlike anyone I've ever met," he whispered. "I just want you to know that you're incredibly special."

It felt awkward coming out of my mouth, but I meant it with all my heart, "You're special too, Freddie."

We sat together for a long while, me tucked into his side while he ran one hand up and down my arm and held my own hand in his other. I asked him about his family, and what it was like growing up with so many kids at home. He told me about his mum, and how she'd never met a stranger. I secretly hoped I'd get to meet her someday, and maybe not just as a friend of Ginny's.

We talked about Quidditch, and all the teams we'd ever liked. My list was shorter than his, but I didn't mind. I was excited to learn more about the sport I loved so much from this boy. He told me all about his and George's plans to open a joke shop in Diagon Alley, and how his mum couldn't bear to see them throw their future away for pranks. He angrily recanted their exchanges with Ludo Bagman, and how they'd all but resorted to blackmail to get the money he owes them.

We talked so long, that my eyelids grew heavy. When my head started nodding, and I couldn't keep my eyes open, Fred insisted that he get me back to my common room for bed. He carefully led me back down the stairs, leaving the basket and food on the astronomy tower. I meant to ask him what he planned to do about the evidence we'd left, but I was too tired to care. He guided me half-asleep through the castle, and kissed me lightly one more time before he left me at the stack of barrels that hid the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room.

I wandered drowsily down the tunnel with a sleepy grin on my face. I knew I'd get hell for it, but I walked past Charlie's bed without waking her when I got to our dormitory. I was asleep in my bed, surrounded by the faint smell of burnt hickory and cinnamon, before my head hit the pillow.

I woke the next morning to the low murmur of voices from out in the common room. I wasn't sure what time it was, but I kept my eyes closed tightly, snuggled deeper into the thick quilt I had tucked up under my chin and hoped to drift back to sleep.

Slowly, last night's events came trickling back to me, and a small smile crept onto my face. I let my eyes peek open. The circular window at the edge of my room was letting in bright rays of light. The sun never came through the window in the morning this time of year, so I knew it must be at least noon. I let myself steal a look over to Charlie's bed and saw that it was empty. Perhaps I wouldn't receive her wrath after all.

I settled back into my feather pillow and closed my eyes. I tried to relive every minute of the previous night. I let every touch, every laugh, every look we exchanged play through my head on loop. If I wasn't still smelling Fred on his sweater and in my hair, I might wonder if the whole day before had been a dream.

A few moments later, the door to my dormitory banged open and Charlie shouted at me, "Oi! Get up you, its past lunch."

I groaned in response, but grinned into my pillow.

"I mean it, Addison Morris!" she demanded as she came around my bed and ripped the covers off of me. I opened one eye to see her standing over me. "You said you'd wake me up. I think I've been more than accommodating in letting you sleep this long."

"Alright, fine," I grumbled, but couldn't help smiling. "I'm up, I'm up."

I yawned and sat up on my bed, pulling my knees into my chest. Charlie kicked off her shoes and crawled up onto the other end, piling the blanket between us. I pulled it over my legs and looked at her.

"Alright, spill it."

I told her all about my night with Fred. From him scaring me outside the common room, to the house elves in the kitchen, to our kiss on the astronomy tower. She squealed and grinned along with me as I told her about every moment. When I had finished, she had pretended to pass out onto my bed in an overload of "mush" as she called it.

"I had no idea he was so sweet," she cooed.

"Me either," I smiled shyly and felt the familiar heat creep back into my face.

"D'you think he'll ask you to be his girlfriend?" she asked eagerly, rolling over onto her stomach, resting her chin in her hands.

I sighed, "I dunno. I'd like to think so. I don't think he's ever had one, suppose he doesn't want something that serious?"

"Addie, he said he'd never met anyone like you before. I think you might be the exception to the rule," she pointed out.

I really did want to hope that Fred wanted to be more than just friends, but it was easy to say and do things that you never would, late at night. He could have woken up this morning and regretted every minute he spent with me. I'd been let down by people I let myself get my hopes up over before, and I didn't know if I could bear to let myself hope for Fred. He almost seemed too good to be true.

I dressed for the day, folding Fred's sweater carefully over the back of the chair next to my bed. I knew he'd be wanting it back soon, and I knew it was silly, but I wanted to hold onto it just a little longer. Charlie and I worked in the common room for most of the afternoon, and I was able to knock out a substantial bit of my homework. Towards supper time, she suggested trying to go find Fred and George, but before I could answer, she decided against it, determining it would be better for me to play hard to get for a few days.

Around six o'clock, we tucked our books and parchment rolls away, and decided it was probably time to make our way to the Great Hall to eat. Susan, who had just returned from the library with some other fourth years, decided to join us. She mentioned that she'd overheard a couple of Ravenclaw boys talking about the tournament, and we walked the distance to dinner, chattering about what the tasks in the tournament could possibly entail.

I smelled hints of herbs and roasted meat as we entered the Great Hall and took our usual seats at the Hufflepuff table. I had a forkful of chicken and mashed potatoes halfway in my mouth when they entered the room.

George walked in first, throwing a laugh over his shoulder to Fred, who had an arm slung around Angelina's shoulders. They were doubled over in laughter, tears gleaming over a joke I'd never hear. I watched as Fred poked her in the side and she howled even louder, swatting his hand away playfully. I let my fork lower back down to my plate and my stomach dropped. It wasn't like I hadn't seen Fred throw his arm around girls in the past, but this left a deep feeling of disappointment within me, maybe he didn't want anything to change.

Fred raised his gaze as they neared the Gryffindor table. His eyes met mine and my face burned red. He tried to smile at me, but I dropped my head and turned my attention back to my dinner in front of me. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Fred drop his arm from around Angelina. I willed myself to stop watching, but I could have sworn I felt her gaze boring into the top of my head.

"You alright?" Charlie muttered from beside me. Susan was too absorbed with her food to have noticed the exchange, but now her eyes snapped up and met mine.

"I'm fine," I whispered with finality. "I don't want to talk about it."

She dropped the subject, and returned to her dinner. A crease formed in Susan's forehead but I shook my head at her. I'd look like a real git if I let tears spill over a guy I'd kissed one time. I suddenly wasn't hungry anymore, so I waited quietly, keeping my gaze averted from the Gryffindor table, until Charlie and Susan were finished eating.

My mood had flipped completely, what had been such a lovely, lighthearted day had become soured and miserable. Fred was a flirtatious guy. I shouldn't have been so quick to believe him when he said he was new to dragging girls up to the astronomy tower in the dark and kissing them. Why was I so naïve? I'd watched my friends around me have their young hearts stomped on because they trusted boys who never deserved it. Why did I think I was the exception?

When we got back to our dormitory, I immediately stalked over to my chair and ripped the jumper off of it. I dropped it to the floor as casually as I could, and kicked it under my bed. Charlie watched with pity in her eyes but didn't say anything. We got ready for bed in silence but she gave me a soft smile and said goodnight before putting out the lamp by her bed.

I laid awake for a long while, staring at the way the lamp beside my bed flickered soft orange light across the ceiling. Every moment, I grew angrier, and more hurt. My thoughts raced between every touch, every word, and every moment from the night before. Had all of it been lies? Had he even cared to get to know more about me and my family, or was he just trying to get me alone?

Hot tears welled up in my eyes and slowly slid down my cheeks. I was an idiot for letting myself believe Fred's words; that I was special. I was no more special than Angelina or any of the other girls he liked to get a laugh out of.

I promised myself that night, that I would stop getting excited over something as silly as teenage boys. I had goals in life; dreams I wanted to accomplish. I wanted to be a Healer one day, and I would never get there if I let my attention stray from my studies. I needed top marks on my O.W.L.'s and my N.E.W.T's at the end of seventh year. I vowed that I wouldn't worry about finding love, or finding a boyfriend, at least until I was done with school. I was probably too young for that anyway.

Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, content in knowing that I was going to be the best damn Healer that St. Mungo's had ever seen, and I wasn't going to let anyone get in my way.

A/N: Sorry for the delay between chapters. I've been in a bit of slump recently, but I have several more chapters written that just need editing and posting. Also apologizing in advance for the frustration that these next few chapters bring. This story might be a little bit of a slow burn and the beginning of this chapter is really just a tease. I'm having so much fun writing this, and I hope you all are enjoying. Thanks a bunch if you've made it this far!(-: