Magnolia stretched her limbs out, rubbing away the sleep from her eyes. She'd been up late the night before sitting with The Twins and Juniper catching back up, finding themselves laughing about their previous prank successes. Though it was also the night her body wouldn't stop buzzing from all the touch from Fred. After June and George had both gone up for bed, Magnolia and Fred stayed downstairs continuing with their conversation. They barely noticed the other two had left.
There was nothing too out of the ordinary at first, but the feelings growing in her tummy made it feel like her body was on fire. Magnolia lost the luxury of feeling butterflies, the flutter flattening to waves feeling like hot water weighing in her gut.
She needed to shut it off, nothing would have ruined a friendship quicker than one falling for the other. Magnolia feared she'd end up like Laurie, if she didn't shut it off now, pleading for her best friend to love her the same way she had. But she couldn't help herself when Fred was the one initiating everything. Maybe it wasn't as one-sided as she had thought.
Even Juniper had picked up on it the next morning, "What was that?" She questioned tiredly, sitting up in bed, "The hand-holding all day, and that hug before you came in last night? Don't think I didn't catch that," She clarified.
Magnolia bit at her cheek and avoided Juniper's gaze. She ducked away, making a b-line towards her trunk. Magnolia had to figure it out for herself, but it wouldn't hurt to get some advice.
Juniper cut her off before she could take another step, "I've told you all about Lee and now you've got to do the same," She scolded, "It's only fair Maggie,"
Magnolia wasn't fully ready to admit to herself that she liked Fred far more than anticipated. She was trying to get rid of the feelings, not talk about them and stir up more because of her own observations. But Magnolia felt weird keeping it to herself. Juniper had done what she could to put into words how she and Lee felt for one another.
"Fine, I'll tell you," Magnolia sighed.
In two days, Magnolia began to feel like every move she made was being watched over like a chessboard as she went back and forth with Fred. The two were inseparable during the waking hours of the day. Magnolia found herself coming up, nearly past midnight, sneaking into her room for the night when she and Fred had been kicked out of the lobby and sent to their rooms. Juniper and George gave the pair knowing looks as they both returned to their respective rooms with red hot blushes on their cheeks.
"What do you think it'll be like this year? With a mad man running around and all," Magnolia asked, sitting across from Fred, her legs stretched across to his lap. His hand danced along comfortably and mindlessly on her knee.
"I'm not really sure, but I know we'll be fine," He reassured, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand above the table with his other hand.
"Let's hope you're right, I'm not really interested in taking another three-month snooze," She groaned, with a sigh.
Her back fell to the booth, letting her head rest against the booth, Fred shook his head with an easy smile that made Magnolia feel all bubbly inside. She couldn't kid herself, she'd now felt a crush strong enough to know that's what this was, it wasn't the same puppy love feeling as it had been with Cedric. Things were easy with Fred and the flutters were melting into waves with each passing hour as she felt herself slipping deeper into the crush.
"I'll make you a promise that everything will be okay," Fred lifted her hand away, before bringing up his pinky, "Pinky promise?"
Magnolia hesitated, "How can you make that kind of promise?"
"I can at least promise that you'll be okay?" He offered again.
"If I'm not okay by the end of the year what's going to happen?" She challenged, the butterflies in her tummy were melting into waves, calmer but more consistent.
Magnolia hated how her thoughts would drift off, and she had begun thinking about what Fred's lips felt like. Or what it might have felt like to be held differently in his arms, like a girl he could one day love, and not like a best friend.
"You'll just have to give me that chance for you to find out," He returned with a smirk, he brought his pinky up again, "What do you say?"
Magnolia rolled her eyes, and reluctantly hooked her pinky around his, "I guess we'll be waiting together then,"
"Clear out, you two, I've got to get home myself now," Daria, the waitress that stayed late most nights with the pair, waved Fred and Magnolia up from their table, "Have a goodnight, Love Birds," the older waitress teased, making the teens break out each in a furious blush.
"Sorry, Daria," Magnolia mumbled, leaving a few extra galleons on the table for her troubles.
"Have a good night!" Fred waved goodbye as they went up to their rooms.
Fred hooked his arm around Magnolia's shoulder, a motion that wouldn't have affected her anyway aside from adding warmth before. Now she was fighting jitters all over, teenage hormones had that effect, she kept trying to justify. Magnolia couldn't admit that she just simply liked the feeling she had around Fred.
"Are you sure we're all actually going to be okay?" Magnolia mumbles,
They were right outside Magnolia's shared room with Juniper, "I'd never make a promise to you that I couldn't keep," Fred reassured her, "I won't let you get hurt again, not after last time,"
"No scars or marks left though, so I wasn't that hurt," She attempted to play it off with a weak smile. Her hand treads across her arm nervously holding against herself.
But, Fred didn't react the same, "It's not funny, Maggie. I'm serious," He frowned, "You could've gotten so hurt, and it would've been my fault,"
"I know it's not funny, but all I did was lay there," Magnolia argued, "And I was the one who was out past curfew. It's not like I've got some map to help me," She shrugged.
Magnolia had still been struggling with what happened since she got the full story. She knew how lucky she was to even be alive but she'd also been grateful to go relatively unscathed. Aside from the loss of physical time, Magnolia hadn't remembered or felt anything the entire time. Yet she hadn't considered how her friends may have been affected.
"You've just gotta be more careful, and if I can help make sure that happens, I'm going to," He confirmed, reaching to hold Magnolia.
Magnolia nearly froze up as Fred wrapped his arms around her waist. Her face muffled in his chest, she couldn't hide her face along his neck anymore with the extra inches he grew over the summer. His chin rested along the top of Magnolia's head, as he took her in his arms. She finally coiled her arms around him, tucking into his chest tighter.
Fred noticed the smell of vanilla coming from her flannel from years of baking in it, and the scent of rich strawberries filled his nose from her hair, and had the smell of citrus and honey from somewhere he couldn't place. Magnolia smelled like the sweetest fruit cobbler. Fred was fighting every impulse to kiss her. While Magnolia savored Fred's scent that she'd already grown used to, holding back her impulses.
The door opened behind them, a tired snicker brought them back to reality. Magnolia ripped away first, tucking her hands behind her back. She hoped her blush wasn't too noticeable.
Juniper squinted between them with a tired grin before lifting her finger to her lip, shushing them, "We've got an early morning, there are other guests here, shut up and go to bed," Her scolding came out in a mumbled jumble.
Magnolia and Fred watched her shuffling back. Magnolia hadn't planned to go in just yet, but Juniper grabbed Magnolia's arm tugging her inside on her way back through the door. Juniper had dragged Magnolia inside and closed the door without another word to Fred. The door felt like the only thing keeping either one of them from making a mistake.
Juniper grumbled something tiredly before climbing back into bed. Magnolia hesitated by the door, cracking it open just enough to see Fred wiping away a blush at his cheeks as he muttered something to himself. Juniper had fallen back asleep quickly, Magnolia tip-toed just outside the door, tugging Fred's shoulder back. She didn't get to say goodnight. He turned back, the blush had mostly faded.
"If you get down to the train first, save me a seat," Magnolia requested, with a small smile.
"Anything else I can do?" He offered.
Magnolia was half in and half out of the doorway, "Have a goodnight, Freddie," she smiled, fighting a yawn.
"Have a goodnight, Mags," Fred returned, swiftly bending down to press a soft kiss to Magnolia's cheek.
Just kiss him already, she had fought herself. But she froze. There was no point in fighting it, Magnolia's cheeks rippled red and felt on fire. The whirls in her stomach felt like rough waves crashing against ports. Magnolia barely let Fred slip his head away before she was pretty much slamming the door shut behind him. Her back pressed against the door fighting herself from going back out there.
Magnolia recalled the night prior with Juniper. The other girl sitting on the bed nodding along as Magnolia rambled off how last night's events unfolded.
Magnolia's POV:
"I've just gotta make sure I'm gathering the details right, " Juniper paused me, as I bent down to gather up clothes to change into for the train ride.
I nodded, inviting her to continue.
"Alright, so what I'm gathering is that you like Fred," Juniper stated, awaiting a nod.
I nod, "I think so,"
"And he's clearly got some sort of attraction to you." She stated again,
I shrug, "I guess, but I'm not a mind reader so I've got no clue,"
"Let's be honest, he does." She rolled her eyes, "What's the problem here? You should just tell him,"
Juniper didn't understand, it wasn't like she and Lee spent a summer together at one's house, or had been caught in almost a dozen detentions with him. Their parents didn't check on one another every time they saw each other. She had things easier, Lee and she weren't friends like Fred and me. It was just a crush, all my crushes went away after a kiss. Maybe I just had to kiss him, I almost laughed to myself, that seemed to make all my crushes go away apparently.
"I'm not going to wreck a friendship to fulfill a little harmless crush, that's stupid," I explained, "Maybe I wanna kiss him just to see what it's like and it's nothing more than my body's jerk reaction to puberty?" I added suggestively.
She groaned, "You are both so annoying,"
"Whatever, let's just get ready. We don't have a lot of time left," I glanced at the clock beside her. Juniper groaned again, laying back in bed.
Sometimes I wondered how she'd managed to make it to anything else on time without me around. I changed from my pajamas, pulling on an oversized band T-shirt that fit me more like a dress, along with a pair of black tights with little white daisies scattering the fabric that kept my legs warm. I grabbed a pair of black shorts to go under the shirt. The best part of Mum and Elliot being away while I packed was getting to steal their clothes. Mum kept so many old band t-shirts from her youth, it was odd how oversized they'd been considering Mum had been small like I was, but I loved the bands too much not to snag at least a few anyway. Along with Elliot's thick winter flannels he had owned more than enough to not miss a couple.
"Wow, you look cute," Juniper grinned, lacing up her shoes.
"Thanks," I blushed, I wasn't trying to look cute, I just didn't want to wear jeans on the train all day, and thought this would be more comfortable.
"What's that Muggle word your friend used to describe that style she wears?" Juniper questioned, "Meaning dirty and nasty?" The words seemed awkward in her mouth.
"Grunge?" I hoped this was what she meant or else we'd be here for hours since Willow seems to find and use the oddest words.
Juniper clapped, "Yes! You look grunge, I like it!" She complimented.
I thanked her again and went back to packing the rest of my trunk. Tucking my books back in my bag, I pulled on my boots and an oversized jacket, getting the last of my things together for the train.
Juniper sluggishly got ready behind me, changing out of her mismatched pajamas, replacing the ratty T-shirt with a clean white long sleeve and yellow spaghetti-strapped dress over the top that fell just above her knee, along with my high-top Chuck's that she insisted on borrowing despite being a size bigger than me. June crammed her foot in anyways, stretching out the fabric more.
When Willow had stayed at the Cottage, she brought me her best vintage tees and told me I needed to spice up my plain wardrobe, she had said. I'd miss her, but she could be a little overwhelming at times. My fingers moved to my ears, I should be able to change the earrings out soon. I could wear the little gold ones, I thought to myself.
"Let's get a move on," Juniper groaned, holding the door open with her trunk stashed in the hall.
I hated how fast she managed to get ready once she was awake. Juniper changed so rapidly, it'd almost give me whiplash from her previous tired grumbles. She went from dragging her feet to sprinting around me.
When we came down, Fred and George were joined by the rest of the Weasley family as they stressfully gathered in the lobby as Arthur checked out from their rooms. Fred glanced over and gave me a wave before turning back around to whisper something to George. He wore a patterned button-up that fit perfectly with a thicker jacket over top.
The lobby was filling quickly with all the checking-out guests, bringing room keys back, and others complaining about stupid issues like a cold pillow.
"I'll take care of it," Juniper informed, before squeezing around Percy and Ron to see the second Innkeeper, beside a frantic Molly.
I still never understood how she'd managed to get this brigade on the train every year. Last year being the slight one-time exception. Nevertheless, it amazed me and she even juggled helping kids who weren't hers, like me in the past and Hermione this year.
Juniper squeezed past again, muttering apologies as she stepped over Ron crouched down trying to grab his nasty rat. When she joined my side again, she gripped my coat nearly falling. We walked away from the inn. I was finally able to get a breath of fresh air, cooling my warm skin. It was still so strange that the weather had begun to turn, I liked enjoying the last few days of summer on my birthday. However, Mother Nature decided otherwise.
"Are they always running around like a zoo?" June sighed, adjusting her coat.
I paused for a second looking back to the years I'd seen them depart, "Actually yes." I nodded.
I felt a brush against my shoulder, glancing over my shoulder I saw that Fred and George had slipped away from the madness of their family. Fred reached over to hook
his pinky with mine, catching up to match my pace.
"Can I help you with your trunk?" He offered, tugging it lightly from my hand.
"I can take it," I insisted. I didn't need his help carrying my trunk.
I tugged it, it was heavy but for the sake of my sanity I'd endure the burn forming in my muscles. Juniper chuckled beside me, tugging her trunk behind her, I nudged her causing it to slip from her hand. Juniper fell a few steps behind as she tried to catch her trunk.
I forced a light cough covering my chuckle. Picking up in step, I pulled ahead so Juniper couldn't do the same to me. We weren't nearly as far from Kings Cross Station as I had thought. I clutched tighter to my trunk, part of me wished I had let Fred take the trunk. The burning in my muscles had grown but I needed this small independence from Fred.
Fred didn't give me much choice when we got to the station though as he tugged my trunk away from me piling it on top of his like it weighed nothing. He shoved the cart ahead of us away from my grasp as I tried to at least push the cart that held our things.
"I'm not letting you steer our stuff into someone like I've seen you do countless times before," Fred teased.
I tried to recall the occasions he may have meant. The memory of me scraping my cart alongside his nearly knocking both over in the process, as we raced to catch the train on time last term.
"We were running behind, what'd you expect? Expert steering in a crisis?" I arched my brow at him awaiting an answer.
Fred rolled his eyes, hooking his arm with mine, and dragging me alongside him through to the platform, while George and Juniper had followed behind. I felt like I was being escorted to the train.
"Let's hope nobody gets left behind this time," I sighed, glancing off at Harry and Ron climbing on the train.
It seemed like all of my classmates had begun to look different from the last time I'd seen them. Perhaps it was the fact I hadn't got a good look at anyone for six months but everyone had seemed to be coming out of the awkward middle school stage. I noticed Roxy's blonde hair had grown out from the shaggy cut she used to sport, falling into subtle layers, and she'd slimmed out too. Her legs much like Demi's stretched to her neck. There had certainly been a change in the air as everyone seemed to be maturing. I wonder if I had been lucky enough to have the same, growing out of my pudgy babyface.
Juniper tugged on Roxy's bag strap as she struggled to stuff her trunk away, I was unsure if it was to gather her attention or screw with her. Another quick departure from Roxy's parents led to her packing away on her own. It seemed like they cared more about their friends in Paris than their own daughter. Nevertheless, Roxy and Juniper stuffed their things always under the train.
Fred ignored my pleas to put my stuff on the train, simply packing it away for me before I could argue. This was odd behavior, to say the least, first the flirting and mysterious planning for a Hogsmeade trip months away, and now this. His insistence on being my muscle. It looked like he'd put on more muscle, I'd be lying to say it wasn't impressive watching him lug the heavy trunks up with ease. That wasn't the point, though.
"You know he can see you drool," Juniper whispered with a smirk as she playfully smacked my butt, climbing on the train behind me.
I choked on the air, as I turned to threaten her but she'd already sprint onto the train, to catch a seat. My cheeks felt hot, I couldn't believe she just did that. We were going to have another talk about boundaries. She was far too comfortable with other people from having a sister.
Fred turned around giving me a strange look, noticing the blush on my cheeks, "You feeling okay? You look hot…" He grinned, before his expression dropped, "I mean like feverish," He corrected with a chuckle.
"I'm fine," I replied as casually as I could force.
"Let's just get in a seat before one of the younger kids tries to snag 'em all," Fred suggested.
"Probably a good idea," I agreed, climbing up on the train first.
I followed down the aisles walking the direction June had gone off in, with Fred behind in tow. Juniper and Roxy found a compartment towards the back of the train, it tended to be reserved for students above the third year, we usually found something towards the front but as older students left we finally nabbed one. It was somehow quieter and I couldn't hear the chattering first years as some cried for their mums.
Fred sat down first taking a seat by the window, I sat down across from him at the other window seat. Glancing out as students began to pile on the train with the warning blow.
"Don't wanna sit by me?" Fred questioned, leaning forward on his knees.
With his growth spurt, he was able to close the distance between us quicker, his limbs giving him the advantage. It wasn't intimidating but it gave Fred a different perspective, and it was gonna be harder to challenge him back.
"I am sitting by you, just not right next to you. You know I like the window seat though," I reminded him, the window gave me peace of mind for some reason. I leaned forward trying to see outside.
"What if we swapped halfway? I get the first half where everything is interesting and you can stare at as many green hills your little heart can handle?" Fred suggested.
Roxy was sitting at the end of the seat beside Fred, the open seat still available. Juniper had stood beside me stuffing her things in the overhead, while George got comfortable squeezing me, closer to the window. He had little regard for his increase in height, stretching his knees wider to utilize the majority of leg space in front of him. While Fred seemed more aware, keeping his legs tighter and closer. As soon as Lee got here, we'd have to move around anyway. I glanced at the empty middle seat again, between the crushing from George, I'd rather just lose out on the view.
"Fine," I huffed, moving from the seat I usually found comfort in and climbed over George's legs.
"Wicked!" George quietly cheered sliding over to the window across from his taking the seat at the window.
I sat beside Fred, crossing my legs in front of me to keep my legs covered more. Even with my coat and thicker tights, I was a lot colder than I expected to be. I felt goosebumps rise on my skin, and a shiver trickled down my spine. I felt Fred's pinky tug against mine. Hiding our discreetly joined hands in between where his leg brushed along mine. His legs nearly tangled with George as they both crammed alongside the window.
Why the two tallest insisted on sitting in the most cramped part of the compartment, I had no idea. That was how the twins simply were, odd and stubborn. I had yet to get a chance at telling Fred about the promises I made to Mum. I couldn't rack up the same amount of trouble I had last year.
Mum had worried enough and I needed to keep my head focused on my studies again. I had very little clue how my O.W.L.S would go this term, they'd be my first after I missed them last year and I had to scramble to catch back up now. I wonder if I'd get any sort of leniency or extra help. It was likely but I was willing to do what I had to.
Lee joined us, as the train tugged away, barely scraping by to catch it. I do admit it gave the twins and me a good laugh watching as his dreads bounced as he ran to jump on. He huffed, dropping his bag on the ground and plopping beside June. She sympathetically gave him a soft pat on the shoulder, to which he returned by lacing their fingers together. We all watched silently as Lee leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Juniper's cheek.
"Ew!" Roxy groaned, "Is this a thing now?" She cried out in disgust.
Juniper and Lee glanced between each other with a simultaneous shrug. I watched his thumb pad over the back of her hand, in his attempt at soothing her. Fred does the same thing, I loved when he did that thing, I thought to myself.
Roxy pretended to gag herself loudly, "I can't believe it, have you properly kissed too?" She finally questioned.
They shook their heads, I have a feeling they may have prepared themselves for interrogation before even seeing each other the first time again. Roxy sighed, leaning her head back before slowly turning to Fred and me with a pointed stare.
Her blue eyes glazed over every detail between him and me. I unhooked my finger moving my hand away. I didn't need Roxy to be annoyed with me too. The feeling of being crammed under a microscope came to mind. Roxy sighed pinching between her brows.
"I'm going to lose it this year," Roxy glared over at George, "You can't go crazy on me too." She warned. He nodded before smirking at his brother across from him.
A lot was being unspoken that I felt I was left out about. The awkward glances around the cart made it evidently clear.
"Holy shit! You've got your ears pierced!" Roxy finally noticed, reaching out to look at my ears.
A pair of small gold hoops hung from my ears, similar to the hoop in my nose she hadn't seemed to notice yet.
"Yeah, got that done and this also," I pointed out, to which her eyes grew wider, noticing the hoop hooked on my nose.
"Your mum let you get that?" She mused.
I shook my head with a smirk, "Godric no! She hasn't got a clue, I had Willow do it. That's become a problem for future me to do deal with,"
Roxy grinned, "You little troublemaker," she pinched at my cheek.
I swatted her hand away, "You've got to stop doing that, I'm not scared of you," I warned.
Roxy laughed in response, "Care to tell me what happened with the art boy then?" She asked.
I felt Fred stiffen beside me, and his hand gripped the seat. He leaned forward and went to stare from the window. Roxy hadn't heard anything from our little reunion, the shift in the air between us. I could see Fred clench his jaw as he forced his focus outside.
I shrugged, "I've said it once and I'll say it again, he's just a friend. We think it'll be better," I was careful with my words.
"Boring," Juniper yawned, "Tell her the really good part like where he said the kiss was good," She slipped out.
I didn't tell any of the guys about my kiss with James, I didn't plan to. It was a stupid thing that I did out of pure spontaneity. I definitely wasn't planning to tell them now that Fred had been so touchy lately. I started to think I only kissed James because he wasn't Fred.
"Kiss?" Fred bellowed beside me, sitting up in his seat, "You kissed James?"
Glancing over my shoulder, Fred looked annoyed but what for. He'd probably kissed tons of girls by now and never told me. Especially without me around for three months. He wasn't allowed to be jealous.
"She's kidding," I lied, fighting the blush trying to break through,
"If we're all just friends here, there's no harm in talking about a little kiss," Juniper teased.
I knew what she was doing, I stared at her narrowing my eyes, Roxy sensed the tension building, cleared her throat loudly.
"Hey Mags, why don't you and Fred go grab some cauldron cakes, on me?" Roxy handed me a handful of galleons forcing me to my feet from beside her.
I wasn't sure if I was completely ready for a moment alone with Fred, I was a terrible liar. He'd be able to catch me in a second. I stuffed the galleons in my coat pocket, leading the way out of the compartment. I'd just gotten a moment where I felt like I might not be the only one feeling something. Maybe I was just being delusional keeping secrets from my best friend.
I didn't understand why Juniper had been acting so rotten either. I never told a single person about her and Lee after I found them. Now she was spilling my secrets without a second thought. I had to figure out the best way to fix this before it got worse.
"Can I just say real fast that James and I kissed?" I broke the silence pausing Fred from walking further.
"I know," He sighed, "You're not a good li—" He began.
I pressed my finger to his lip shushing, "I'm not finished, James and I kissed but we've both decided to just stay friends. We both agreed maturely that it wasn't right," I finished dropping my hand, "It was a mistake we both agreed,"
"When?" Fred asked, but it came out much quieter than Fred usually was. His eyes were trained between our shoes.
"Christmas Eve, a lot was going on and I didn't know how to really bring it up or if I even needed to. I don't know what has to be shared with friends. You know, you and George are kind of the first real friends I've made," I replied, Fred's collar was messed up on his shirt. "This is still kind of new to me like I'm sure it is for you, relationships and liking people,"
I reached up and adjusted it without thinking, his pinkie caught mine as it came back down. Locking our fingers together. I stared up at Fred, he had looked like such a boy before they'd gone away to Egypt and now I was looking back at a different person.
"We better get those cauldron cakes before Rox gets too annoyed with June and Lee. Since I'm sure George is no help," I tugged on Fred's hand, dragging him along the train to the trolley lady towards the front of our train car.
••••••
Meanwhile:
Magnolia and Fred had been gone for quite a while, leaving their friends to their scheme.
"Why'd you do that, you idiot?" Roxy thumped Juniper's forehead.
The curly-haired girl groaned, kicking at Roxy's stretched-out leg, "I don't know, I guess I thought someone should've said it. Besides you were the one who brought James up in the first place," Juniper argued.
George and Lee sat back silently, "Yes! To give her the entryway to say she doesn't even like James!" Roxy stood from her seat, "It's bloody obvious she likes Fred, the plan is to make that happen!" She blurts.
Lee sat up ready for his jumping in point, "Fre-" But George stopped him before he could continue, as Roxy stared Juniper down.
"You know more about those two than you're telling me," She squinted her eyes down at Juniper.
Juniper shrugged defensively, she was well aware of the kiss on the cheek but kept her mouth shut for once, she'd already made Magnolia upset once. After all, Maggie thought Juniper had been asleep.
"Now," George whispered, signaling Lee to jump in.
"Fred might kinda like her too," Lee mumbled.
Roxy's attention turned away, "Go, on," She urged him to continue as she sat back down, "But go quick, it only takes so long for cauldron cakes,"
"Clearly there was already the obvious but I think he actually knows he likes her now," He explains, "Not that we have these deep feelings talks or anything, we're men after all," Lee adds with a puff of his chest.
Roxy rolls her eyes, "I'm gonna go with the same assumptions for Maggie, aside from your deluded comment,"
"Not that I want to get into their little thing, but it could be a little fun to see how some added tension helps them, I could probably do some-" Juniper pondered aloud.
"No!" Roxy and George chorused at the same time.
"That'd be a disaster in every possible account, it's bad enough you two are all cuddled up now," Roxy scoffed, "They gotta do this alone, no blood on our hands,"
"I'd place a wager on it though," George mumbled sitting back against the seat, "I'd put five galleons down that it will take them until at least next year to do anything," He spoke up, "Fred's got a whole plan in motion here,"
"No way, he's got a plan. Besides, it seems Maggie's the type to kiss quite quickly with her crushes," Roxy argued, one thing Roxy and George had in common was their taste for competition. "She'll have kissed him by New Year,"
"Even with June's little slip about her kiss with the art kid, you think she'll make the first move?" George challenged.
"I'm sure of it," Roxy confirmed confidently.
Since Roxy joined the Hufflepuff quidditch team, the pair went back and forth with their competitive banter. On occasion the group found it blending off the field as well. This bet was just adding fuel to the fire.
"Want to put your money where your mouth is?" George offered his hand to shake on their deal.
"You're on, Weasley," Roxy smirked, shaking the younger twin's hand.
Magnolia's POV:
"Kinda odd that it's been so cold already," I mumbled, trying to awkwardly make conversation as Fred and I walked back to the others.
Fred peeked through the window of another compartment, "Yeah, who knows, the weather can be weird," He shrugged.
Our reunion felt like one giant leap forward, and Juniper's spill was now shoving me three steps back. I had to get my head screwed on. I couldn't fall behind again and I couldn't get wrapped up in the chaos. The little flutters in my stomach had to be squashed. I had to take what June had done as a favor, maybe she was saving me from the trouble of breaking my own heart and ruining a friendship in the process.
Roxy and George sank back into their seats when I opened the door.
Juniper looked at me apologetically, "I'm sorry," She mumbled as I passed.
"It's fine, it's whatever now," I shrugged.
I hesitated sitting down. I wanted the window seat but I settled for the center seat again. Glancing out through the window I noticed the view, the sky grew dull and grey like a storm was rolling in.
While the train felt like it was slowing down. Fred sat down beside me, staring out the window, the edges of the glass looked like it was freezing, a layer of frost chilling the car. His hand lifted feeling against the ice. I was glad I wasn't as close now.
I let out a deep breath, that was now visible in the quickly chilling compartment. The goosebumps returned, covering every inch of my skin, my teeth chattered together from the cold.
"What's going on?" I shivered.
Fred slinked his arm around my shoulder, although I wanted to pull away, the warmth of his body made me stay. All my sweaters and thicker coats were all packed in my trunk not ready for the early winter. This was beyond unusual.
"Haven't got a clue," June shrugged as she tried to peer down the aisle outside. She tugged her coat around herself tighter.
I glanced through the window again as a pair of cloaked shadows flew past the window. I felt my stomach drop. The shadows were gone as quick as they came before the train picked back up on track with a slow pull.
I let my head rest back onto Fred's shoulder, still cold from the sporadic drop in temperature. The train thawed again. He held me closer, doing what he could to help warm me up, taking off one of his layers to give me.
A/N: I've been so obsessed with these last two chapters, I couldn't help myself and had to put it up early. I hope you've liked the double update this week! Maggie and Fred are going through it. I can't wait for y'all to see what's coming next ;)
I was doing a shit job of keeping this whole crush thing in check. It wasn't going to be as easy for me to avoid Fred as it had been James or Cedric. Even being in the same house I avoided Cedric amazingly. But there was this pull to Fred that made it even harder. I felt like I was just filling empty time when I didn't talk to Fred. There was some invisible string tugging on me, telling me that I couldn't let go of Fred.