Chapter 3: Dealing with the consequences

Without thinking, Angelina lifted her hands, looping them around his neck and kissing him back.

*"What on earth am I doing?"* She thought desperately, *"he's my best friend and best friends don't go around kissing each other. But it seems so right-"* After what seemed to be an eternity, Fred hesitantly pulled back.

"Angel, I-" he stammered breathlessly.

"Don't," she whispered back, putting a finger on his lips to silence him. "This shouldn't have happened, so let's just pretend it didn't OK?" Fred drew in his breath sharply, gazing at the girl in front of him.

"If that's what you want-" he sighed, resigning himself to the fact that she only wanted to be friends.

*"Of course it's not what I want!"* A voice screamed inside her head. *"I want you!"*

"There's no other way, Fred," she whispered instead, lifting her gaze off the ground. "This morning never happened, Ok? We can't tell anyone."

"Of course Angel-" he hesitated before adding. "-ina. I'll see you at breakfast I suppose."

"Yeah," she replied softly. "Bye."

"Bye-" he called after her, and, dropping his voice to a whisper, added. "Angel."

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Finally, Angelina reached the portrait of the fat lady, her head swimming with thoughts.

"Are you all right dear?" the fat lady asked anxiously. "You look rather pale-"

"I'm fine thanks," Angelina replied absent-mindedly. "Mandrakes."

"If you're sure then-" the fat lady frowned slightly, her brow furrowing in anxiety before she swung forward on her hinges to reveal the hole hidden behind her. Clambering in, she was immediately smothered by 4 pairs of arms.

"Hey!" she cried, her voice muffled.

"Where were you? We were worried sick!" Katie yelled.

"I had to go wake Fred up because he was the only person I could think of that might know where you were!" Alicia added, her voice a little softer than her fellow chaser's.

"And when came in, Ginny and I found these two in here shredding paper they were so worried about you!" Hermione said, motioning to the pile of paper next to one of the armchairs to her left.

"Guys, back off! I'm fine – really," she added seeing the dubious expressions on their faces. "I just need some fresh air."

"I'm glad you're OK, Angelina," Ginny said softly, hugging her friend close. "Hey where's Fred?" she asked, realising for the first time that he wasn't with her.

"I don't know," Angelina snapped. "How should I know?"

"It's just that- well, Katie said-" Ginny stammered, tears springing to her trademark Weasley blue eyes. Hermione jumped back a little, startled by her reaction.

"Really, Angelina, it was only a question!" she said huffily, before leading Ginny away to her dormitory, patting her on the back soothingly.

"Ginny, I didn't mean- damn!" she swore, pacing the room for a few minutes. Alicia and Katie followed her with their eyes expectantly. Suddenly, Angelina spun on her heel and headed for her own dormitory.

"Don't even think that you're going to bed without explaining where the hell you were-" Alicia frowned, stepping in front of her so she couldn't keep going.

"- Why the hell you didn't tell us where you were going-" Katie added, glaring at her.

"- And why my little sister is in tears!" Ron finished, striding down the staircase from the room he shared with Harry and the other 4th year boys. "Hermione just stormed into my room, telling me how Ginny's sobbing into her pillow. Tell me why, exactly, would you?"

"Why don't you all just leave me alone?" Angelina said, her voice deathly quiet.

"Because you're not acting like an innocent person. You left our dormitory in the early hours of the morning, didn't come back until nearly an hour and a half later and then yell at your friends for worrying about you. What the hell is going on with you, Angie? Why won't you let us in?" Alicia asked, her normally calm amber eyes flashing fire.

"Leave me alone all of you," Angelina demanded. "This has nothing to do with you!" And with that she again stormed out of the commonroom.

"Why does she keep doing that!" Katie yelled, running after her.

A/N: Wow! Thanx for all the reviews you guys! More up soon.