EDIT! I'm sorry for anyone who's been trying to read this or for those getting an email with "new chapter! YAAY!" in their emailbox for the THIRD freaking time! For some reason the chapter wasn't showing up. I reuploaded it from my computer so I guess it'll work now. Enjoy reading!

How is this for a chapter? I'm suuuuper busy at the moment: although it's the summer holidays I still have two jobs and I'm in the middle of moving houses (while my roommate - who I've been friends with for almost twenty years now and love to death on any other day - skipped out on me to go on holiday so I'm doing it almost all alone... STRESS!) I still managed to write this chapter for you guys though!

CHAPTER 10

I woke up on top of a cloud. For about a minute I stayed laying still, taking a deep breath and looking up at the ceiling of my four-poster bed. Then I sat up in one swift movement and hugged my blanket to my chest, letting out a big, happy sigh.

It had been a wonderful week. First I had gotten the wonderful news of my Ministry internship and then yesterday evening Fred (bloody) Weasley had snogged me at my own party. Right now I couldn't think of anything that could make me feel better.

I took a peak outside of my curtains to look at my alarm clock and saw that it was still very early, despite it getting quite late the night before. Everyone else still seemed to be sleeping. I swung my legs over the side of my bed and stretched my arms above my head before getting up. I got dressed quickly in my uniform, checked my bag to see if I had all my schoolbooks and necessary amount of note parchment for the day and then looked at the closed curtains of the bed next to mine.

Mathilda usually was up way before me. She must've gotten in late last night and normally I would've let her sleep (she never let herself get much of it) but I felt like I could explode from the inside, my stomach giddy with the thought of Fred's lips on my lips and his hands gliding over my dress and up my leg in the back of my head. I just had to talk to her about it.

I opened up the curtain a little, ready to climb in, but was surprised to see that Mathilda wasn't there. Was she up already? It wasn't like her to not make a terrible noise that woke up everyone in the dormitory and after the party that she had orchestrated just to get me and Fred together I would've expected her to shake me awake frantically to ask me how things went. But her bed was empty and appeared unslept, although it was hard to tell with Mathilda's bed as she never made her bed.

I hung my bag over my shoulder and went down to the common room only to be met with a surprising sight. On the couch, curled into a ball, was Mathilda, a cushion of one of the armchairs stuffed under her head, her hair in disarray and her dress hiked up just a little too much.

I dashed forward and gently shook her shoulders, pulling down her dress with my other hand, whispering her name. She woke up groggily, blinking her eyes unevenly. I saw that her lipstick was smeared over her face and her mascara had left streaks around her eyes. 'You look great.' I said jokingly and she grunted. 'Good morning to you too.' She replied, sitting up and putting her head in her hands. 'The stairs were spinning when I tried to get up to the dormitory so I gave up and decided the sofa would do.' She explained. 'How did you get up to the common room?' I asked. She shook her head. 'I can't really remember. I think Adrian helped me up.' She murmured.

We parted as she quickly went up for a shower and a change of clothes and I went to the Great Hall for breakfast. We'd talk later when she had her head back on her body.

I craned my neck to see if my ginger crush was present at the Gryffindor table but I didn't see him nor did I see his twin. However I could see none of his year mates either so I suspected they had first period off. Normally we had first period off too on Tuesdays but professor Burbage had announced a double class of Muggle Studies this week to catch up after the gap of the Easter holidays.

I was once again faced with the dilemma of how to approach the situation. The last time Fred kissed me it took over two weeks and a party in my honour to get him to kiss me again. I dreamed off over my breakfast rhubarb muffins, thinking about his warm fingers trailing along my leg, his breath tickling my collarbone as he pressed wet open-mouthed kisses to it and blue eyes which sparkled in the dark as they looked at me. I broke out of my day dream when I noticed the Great Hall was almost empty already and I quickly wrapped the rest of my muffin in a napkin and grabbed my bag as I, my face still hot and flustered, ran to my first class.

I ran into the Muggle Studies classroom just as the door was closing but just managed to squeeze myself in and the professor told me to hurry along to my desk. I quickly dumped my bag on the floor, falling into my chair in exhaustion but as I turned to my right I realized that Mathilda wasn't there. When I looked behind me I didn't see Aurora either, the spot next to Eddie Carmichael empty. Eddie leaned forward. 'Where are Rory and Mathilda?' He whispered and I shrugged my shoulders. 'They must've..-' I started to say but right at that moment the door banged open to reveal my two friends in the door opening.

They were sweating and they had their hands on their waists and stomachs to support their empty lungs in the breathing process. 'I'm so sorry professor Burbage!' Aurora managed to get out despite the breathing problem. Professor Burbage waved them along. 'I won't note it down if you two sit down quick and quietly and pay attention all class!' She said and the two girl obeyed immediately, Aurora sitting next to Eddie and Mathilda pushing past me to sit at the desk next to mine.

I was itching to speak to Mathilda and I knew that Mathilda was itching to talk to me too and after half an hour my suspicion was proven right when she shoved a folded note under my nose.

'I saw you and Fred leave last night. Spill!'

I looked sideways at her and a grin escaped my lips and she squealed softly. I picked up my quill and dipped it in my ink.

'Spill what? That Fred finally kissed me again at the party? Or that Fred and I totally snogged in a secret passage way? Or perhaps that he brought me up to the common room and kissed me goodnight?'

I passed the note back and Mathilda bit her lip in excitement as she read it, grabbing my arm with her left hand, her nails digging into my skin. She put the note down and glanced up, a huge smile on her face. 'Congratulations.' She whispered with great enthusiasm.

After class we discussed, albeit a bit bashful on my part, in great detail my escapades of the night before. Aurora joined in too, after being informed by Mathilda about what had happened. 'But what now?' Aurora asked after we had giggled and gossiped for a while, all the way through Defence Against the Dark Arts. 'What do you mean "what now"?' Asked Mathilda on my behalf in return. 'Well, you know, are you going to talk to him or kiss him again, just what now?' Aurora tried to clarify.

For the first time since last night I felt a pang of worry spark up in my stomach. Aurora was of course right. What was I expecting from this? Did I think I was going to be Fred's girlfriend now? Was that a realistic hope to have even? I didn't know the answer to any of these questions and it was frustrating.

After Defence class we had our lunch break but we went up to the common room to get our text books to spent the next hour in the library. With every week passing the O.W.L.'s came closer and especially now, in the week after the Easter holidays it was becoming very real all of a sudden.

While in the common room we and our year mates were met by a surprise in the form of a notice on the common room board that informed all the fifth years that it was soon time for our career advice meetings with professor Flitwick. I looked at the schedule and saw that my turn was written down for the next day during Defence Against the Dark Arts. 'Yes! Mine is during History of Magic this Friday! What better class to skip?' Mathilda yelled out.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the meeting. I always knew I wanted to work for the ministry. But what did I want to do? How did I want to contribute? How was I supposed to know what to do with the rest of my life already?

However as requested I excused myself from professor Moody's class that Wednesday and knocked on professor Flitwick's office door. 'Come in!' I heard his squeaky voice call. I sat down in the big chair in front of his desk. 'Miss Wiggleswade, how are you doing?' he asked me and I shrugged. 'I'm not sure actually, professor.' I told him honestly. 'I'm not sure what to expect.' I added.

Professor Flitwick was very understanding. 'That's why we're having this meeting; so you can be surer.' He said with a chuckle. 'Have you had any thought on what you'd like to do after your time here at Hogwarts has ended?' He asked. I nodded. 'I always pictured myself working at the ministry.' I said. The professor nodded, looking through a couple of forms on his table. Now I took a closer look I saw that his entire desk was filled with forms and folders and pamphlets, all of them advertising certain professions with bright flashing colours and handsome looking smiling witches and wizards on the cover of them.

'Your father owns a bookshop on Diagon Alley, does he not? And your mother writes for the Daily Prophet. You don't want to do anything with that?' He asked. I shook my head. 'Not for the long run, no.' I told him. He nodded, waving his wand again, pamphlets whooshing off and onto the desk.

'Well, your grades are not going to stop you from doing anything you'd want to do and congratulations are in order; I was informed by your interning officer that you got the Ministry internship which will be great experience and also will look very good on your resumé, especially if you're interested in working for the Ministry of Magic.'

He was done sorting the pamphlets on his desk and he looked at me. 'So, what are your interests?' He asked and I was so unprepared for that question that I had to ask him to ask me again. 'My interests?' I asked. He nodded while smiling. 'Well, it's nice that you want to serve the community by working at the Ministry but the Ministry has got many departments.' He clarified. 'Oh.' I replied drily. My interests? I had no idea!

He let me think for a couple of seconds but then leaned forward, his elbows leaning on the edge of the desk, only barely reaching with his small frame. 'I see this a lot in Ravenclaws; eager to learn but in turn unfocussed in your ambitions. If I would ask you what department you'd like to work in, what's the first thing that shoots through your mind?' He poked and I blinked. My mind was completely blank. I flustered at my failing.

Professor Flitwick was quick to reassure me though. 'Don't worry so much Miss Wiggleswade, you're only fifteen. We are only here to try and focus your work for the coming two years. What is your favourite subject?' He tried to help me out and I tried to meet him but I just didn't know.

'I suppose I like Transfiguration a lot. And Potions. And Charms too. And I've always really enjoyed Ancient Runes and Arithmancy too. Oh and Astronomy is good!' I answered and the professor grinned at me. 'You're not making it easy for me.' He said and I flushed red. 'But that's fine.' He added. 'I like a challenge.'

He made a small stack of pamphlets. 'I want you to look them all over and then we'll talk again in another few weeks, how does that sound?' He asked, handing the stack to me. I nodded. I liked thinking things over in peace.

He took a quick look over his folders and then picked one of them up. 'There are several options of course and I'll run you through a few quickly before I have to prepare for my next class.' He said. 'The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is very diverse and I think you'll find your place there somehow. I've always felt you're the quieter pondering type so I don't think the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes is anything for you; it requires a lot of action and quick responses.' Professor Flitwick murmured under his breath a bit as he took a quill out of his drawer and wrote a note at the top of his notebook.

'Okay, I think the Department of International Magical Cooperation might really fit you too. I feel like diplomacy might really suit you.' He continued, looking up to me again. 'Also, the Department of Mysteries is very research oriented which allows you to stay theoretical which I think you'll like as well. It's generally a very secretive department but if you have the right references, credentials and grades you will find that you can work your way in and up.' He entrusted to me. 'The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures perhaps? Care of Magical Creatures has never been your favourite, has it?' He asked and I shook my head.

'Sports neither.. Oh, excuse me, I just assumed, do you like sports?' He asked and I laughed but shook my head again. 'Mmh, how about the Department of Magical Transportation?' He wondered out loud. 'Well, it's good to keep your options open I suppose.' He said, not waiting for my answer. We heard the bell ring out in the corridor. 'Time for lunch for you and time to prepare for my next class for me!' Professor Flitwick called out. 'I do hope this was of help for you and I'll approach you for an extra meeting in a week or two, once you've looked over the pamphlets a bit more and had a chance to think it over properly.' He said.

I made sure to thank him and then hurried down for lunch where I found Mathilda and Adrian snogging at the Ravenclaw table. Terrence Higgs and Cassius Warrington sat across from them, looking bored and a bit annoyed. I slowed down a bit, unsure on where to sit but after I swallowed and mentally scolded myself, I bravely sat down next to Warrington.

'Hiya Cecilia.' He said. I felt myself getting red in the face again but I decided to keep on going. 'Hello Cassius. How are you?' I asked. He shrugged his shoulders. 'Besides being dragged around by my friend? Pretty good I suppose. I'm missing quidditch though.' He said. He leaned backwards a bit. 'Normally I get to go outside and move around a bit but this year there hasn't been much of that.' He said.

I was about to respond but Terrence Higgs beat me to it. 'I can't wait to slam down some Gryffindorks again! Next year the cup is ours!' He called out. 'Maybe, when we ditch you from our team.' Warrington replied.

They bickered back and forth and I stayed quiet. Talking with upperclassmen was a frightening thing. And I didn't even have a crush on any of these! I chewed on my bottom lip as I thought of Fred. I hadn't talked to him yet since the party. Yesterday evening we had to hurry to the library to get an essay finished that was assigned to us for today and this morning we had Care of Magical Creatures for our first class so we had to leave the Great Hall early to be on time all the way at the edge of the grounds.

'Yeah, as if you have any chance on winning a game against us.' A voice said from behind. All of us whipped around to see the Weasley twins and their friend Lee Jordan standing behind us. 'We've won plenty against you, Weasley.' Warrington spit back. Oh Merlin, I had somehow found myself in the middle of a Gryffindor-Slytherin dispute!

I don't know which of the brothers had spoken first but it was George who answered. 'Not in years sweetie.' He said mockingly. I quickly decided that this was not my scene and I swung my bag over my shoulder and made myself scarce, quickly waving at Mathilda who didn't see me or notice the situation at all, preoccupied by Adrian's tongue shoved down her throat.

I walked out of the Great Hall, head down and face burning. Did I look like a baby, walking out like that? I bit my lip. I couldn't worry like that about others anymore, I had promised myself that. I had been doing pretty well so far, but sometimes I felt myself slip back into anxiety. 'But I'm alright now.' I muttered to myself. 'I'm not worrying.' I almost screamed out when someone grabbed my forearm as I was about to walk down the corridor.

'Merlin, you must've been in deep thought; I called out for you a couple of times!' Fred said with a chuckle as I spun around to face him. 'You just surprised me.' I breathed out as I put my hand on my heart, trying to catch my breath. 'I say, Cecil, I really thought you were cool but now it turns out you're hanging out with those Slytherin lowlifes!' He said sternly. I turned red again and part of me wanted to defend myself or them even but another, far bigger part of me was gushing over the fact that he called me cool.

'My friend Mathilda is dating their friend.' I ended up saying. 'I don't care who you hang out with.' Fred said. He took a step closer. 'Oh?' I replied intelligently, suddenly finding it very hard to control my breathing.

'I had fun with you at your party the other day.' He said, taking another step forward and lowering his voice a bit. I instinctively took a step back. 'That's nice.' I answered. I could just strangle myself. Why were my comments or answers never any good.

'It was nice indeed.' Fred said, not getting derailed by my lameness. 'It would be even nicer if we could pick up where we left off.' He added. He took another step closer and I took another one backwards, hitting the wall. My face was red as a tomato. He smiled a devilish smile and I suddenly realized (previously being distracted by his wonderfully blue eyes) that he had put one hand on my waist and the other beside my head, against the wall, his face close.

'Don't you think so?' He inquired in a seductive tone. He didn't wait for my answer.

His lips were as soft as I remembered them being. He pushed me up against the wall and my hands lay flat on the stone on either side of my body, taking in the sensation. As I gasped for air he took the opportunity to slip his tongue in. I kissed him back, my mind working overtime. A thousand questions popped up in my head but I couldn't get any of the answers now. But I could enjoy this in the meantime, couldn't I?

We were awoken all too quickly by the sound of the bell, signalling that the next class was starting soon. He pulled back, grunting and licking his lips. 'Professor Sprout will have my head if I'm late again.' He told me with a moan. I could feel that my face was a fiery red but a grin broke out without my consent. 'It's alright, we'll talk later.' I said breathlessly. 'Talk you say..' He murmured, leaning in again to press another kiss against my lips.

It costed me all my self-discipline to push him off me. 'You have Herbology..' I said softly. 'Herbology?' He asked surprised. 'You said professor Sprout would have your head?' I supplied. 'Oh, no, I've got detention with her.' He clarified. I couldn't help but laugh. 'Of course you do.' I said. 'You're getting awfully mouthy, aren't you?' He smirked at me. 'I know better uses for that mouth.' He added and he leaned down once again.

'Dear brother!' Someone called and Fred pulled back with another groan. 'I'll be right with you Georgie!' He called out with a high pitch. 'Sprout will have your head if you're late again!' George Weasley just yelled. Fred looked down at me. 'You heard my mum.' He said and I let out a snort. He stole a last kiss before he darted towards the greenhouses.

I looked after him, clutching the strap of my bag and letting out a sigh. I still didn't have any answers. Did he like me? Were we a couple now or something? We couldn't be right? This all just seemed like a weird rosy dream and simply too good to be true. 'What are you thinking so hard about?' I heard Aurora's voice ask and I looked around to find her standing next to me.

'Fred kissed me again.' I said. Aurora shrieked. 'How did it happen?' She hissed urgently, pulling me out of the way of the streams of students that had started flowing out of the Great Hall towards their classes, by the sleeve of my robes.

'He followed after me and he said he enjoyed kissing me and I suppose he said something about wanting to try it again or something and then he just kissed me.' I said, feeling dazed. 'Hey, I'll see you two airheads after Divination, yeah?' Mathilda said as she walked past us but Aurora grabbed the back of her bag and pulled her back. 'By Circe, what is it!?' Mathilda cried out, cursing as she righted her robes again. 'Fred Weasley and Cecilia snogged again.' Said Aurora.

Mathilda's previously disdained face quickly cleared up. 'What happened!' She shrieked. I hastily told her about what happened. 'Bloody Divination, I really need to go, but we'll talk about this later!' Mathilda said after her due cheers of excitement. 'We'll see you in Muggle Studies.' I confirmed as Aurora and I sped off to Studies of Ancient Runes.

After Ancient Runes it was straight to Muggle Studies but there was no time to talk there as we were silenced all lesson by a particularly difficult essay we had to write on government structures in the muggle world. We were assigned a structure and I was pleased to have gotten the "democracy" one as it seemed to be the one that was most popular in the muggle world so it probably had the most information available on it and was hopefully therefore the easiest. I had too many other homework assignments already and not to mention all the extra-curricular worries, a particular ginger one coming to mind immediately.

After Muggle Studies it was time for Herbology though and all of us were back together again and had plenty of time to discuss all and everything while we were repotting professor Sprout's Florus Rosae, big pink plants that could be boiled down to an oil that was used in potion making; especially for love potions.

Cho and Marietta had joined us in our gossips as well (Mathilda giving Cho a dirty look and Cho looking a bit smug under that look). 'Now only you still need a boyfriend Yetty!' Cho said, elbowing her friend and although it was meant as a joke, Marietta's face visibly soured.

I quickly jumped in. 'Well, Fred and I haven't talked about it at all yet actually, so..' I started to say but Cho interrupted. 'Don't be such a downer! You two snogged multiple times in the course of a couple of days, what else could be next?' She asked. I sincerely hoped she was right.

Did this deserve a review? I hope so! I can really use them in this very turbulent and stressful period of my life (lol) (but really though XD)