Chapter 9

Natalie spent a lot of her free time studying and working on preparing for her OWLs. The twins were making fun of her for constantly studying but she wanted to get the highest marks this year. If Penelope was a prefect, then Natalie could be the brightest witch in her grade. She was studying without telling her friend so that she could get a leg up.

"I figured I'd find you with your nose in a book." Fred laughed as he slid in the seat across the table from the Slytherin girl. "What're you doing studying on a beautiful day like today."

"Some of us have dreams to go off and get jobs after we graduate from school." Natalie flipped her blonde hair over her emerald colored jumper. "What are you up to?"

"Bothering you of course." He flashed her a bright smile. "Coming to steal you and take you outside."

"Can I at least work on homework outside?"

Fred groaned and threw his head back like that was the worst question he could've received. He got shushed by the librarian. "I suppose… let's go sit by the lake. It'll be better than the library."

"Isn't it cold outside?" Natalie protested while he helped her clean her work area.

"You've got a jumper on! Besides, the sun is out and there's no wind, so it feels warm." Fred took her bag out of her hand and swung it over his own shoulder.

"Thanks, Freddie." She smiled. "Where's George?"

Fred frowned and looked hurt. "Is just one Weasley twin not enough?" he pouted his lips, "I'm hurt, Natalie."

She rolled her pale eyes. "No. That's not what I meant. I just forget sometimes that you two aren't attached at the hip."

Natalie began to get suspicious. Usually when they were separated that meant a prank was about to happen. Being their friend did not mean that you were except from these pranks. In fact, sometimes it meant they tested it on you before they tried a more grand version on another target.

Once the two students got to the lake, Natalie sat down in the grass. Fred joined her. "You can read, I don't care. I just wanted to spend time with you." He blushed and looked at the lake, avoiding her eyes.

"Have you even begun to read this week's chapters of Herbology?" Natalie asked accusingly at her friend.

He laughed. "No, I suppose I haven't gotten around to that yet."

"I'll read to you. Sometimes reading aloud helps me anyways." Natalie opened her Herbology textbook and opened to the correct page.

She settled and laid down with her head on his leg while holding the textbook up in the air for her to read and to point out academic images when needed for Fred. Natalie began to read about Self-fertilizing shrubs and Chinese Chomping Cabbages. Fred began to play with her hair while she was reading which was quite distracting. She had to keep focusing hard on the words in front of her.

When she finished the chapter, she looked at Fred's face. His eyes were trained on her own. "Were you even paying attention?"

"I was a bit pre-occupied." He chuckled to himself as he continued to mess with the blonde strands of hair in between his fingertips.

Natalie felt a lump in her throat from nerves. If there was a line for their friendship, today they were surely crossing it. She knew she had to ask. For her mental sanity, she had to know what he was thinking. "Fred…"

"Mmhmm?" He sighed still playing with her hair.

"What're we doing?"

He stopped playing with her hair and stared into her eyes. "Honestly?"

"Yea, honestly."

"I'm not really sure." He admitted. "What do you want to be doing?"

She bit her lip. Natalie hated being vulnerable. "Why do I have to be the one to speak first." She complained as she messed with her fingernails.

"Okay that's fair. You did ask first. Well… I like you and care about you. You clearly care about me since your biggest fear is my death. We hangout basically every day and eat almost every other meal together…" he trailed off staring at the lake now.

"We've been doing that since our first year." She pointed out.

"I don't know. I think something's changed. Is that wrong of me to think that?" Fred grew sad at the thought of that. "I mean… this feels right. Doesn't it?"

Natalie smiled softly. "This does feel nice. I could stay out here for hours. Aren't you afraid? That we are going to ruin everything?"

Fred laughed. "What do you mean, Nat?"

"Our friendship."

He bit his lip. "I'm more afraid to not try. I think I could regret it if I never admitted that I like you, Natalie. I like you more than a friend and I don't want to keep quiet about it anymore."

She nodded taking in his words. "So…"

"So…" He laughed repeating her. "What do you think if we tried going on a date sometime?"

"What will we do, Fred? The next Hogsmeade trip isn't until December."

"I'll sneak you into the Gryffindor common room. It'll be fun. I promise! You'll have to borrow a Gryffindor jumper. I think that green would stick out like a sore thumb." He laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Only if you want, of course."

"I'd love that, Fred." Natalie smiled at her best friend. She just hoped she wouldn't regret this decision. There was no going back now and changing what they decided to do. This was a changing point in their friendship.

Natalie was ecstatic but also incredibly nervous. She felt very out of control in this situation and for once, was surprised by the actions of Fred Weasley.