Disclaimer:  If I owned Harry's world then I wouldn't be worrying about university payments, would I?!  You think I do this worrying for fun!  Cuz' it really isn't that much of a blast.  It's all JK's.  Though now I guess I own this parallel universe because OftP proved me so wrong.  I cannot believe that [insert character's name here] died!  I was so upset and surprised.  I loved that character.

Author's Note:  Here's the next instalment of my story.  Hope you enjoy.  A little short I know but the next one will be up shortly.

Chapter Eleven- Asking

            Evelyn had been so preoccupied with start her band that week, that she totally forgot about the Hogsmeade weekend until Dumbledore reminded them all on Friday.

            Evelyn was frantic.  They were going to Hogsmeade the next day and she still hadn't asked Fred.  She had told Hermione she would two weeks ago, and she'd completely forgotten about it.  She spent the entire History of Magic class sending notes to Hermione.

            What if he already has a date?

            Evelyn, I'm trying to take notes here.  Just ask him.

            What if he already has plans?

            Professor Binns is lecturing.  Just ask him.

            What if he doesn't want to go with me?

             This material could be on the exam.  Just ask him.

            What if he doesn't want to go at all?

            Evelyn, this information is important.  Focus!

            Hermione thought Evelyn was being quite ridiculous, as her friend obviously had Fred wrapped around her little finger.

            Finally, after class Hermione said, "Evelyn, just ask him.  What's the worst that could happen?"

            "He could say no," Evelyn answered.

            "So then you'll just come with us.  Ron and Harry wouldn't even have to know."

            "But, what if he laughs at me?  Or what if he thinks I'm weird because of the Divination thing?"

            Hermione bit he lip and looked around the library to make sure no one was listening.  She didn't really know how to deal with this topic.  They had never discussed the incident and Hermione wasn't too at home in Divination.

            "He won't laugh at you, Evelyn," she said.  "And he doesn't think you're weird.  Besides, since when do you care what people think of you?  You never did before."

            "Hermione," Evelyn whispered fiercely, "This is Fred we're talking about.  Of course I care what he thinks of me.  I like him, alright.  And I want him to like me.  I mean he's gorgeous.  Not to mention funny and smart and fun and caring and sensitive and nice and-"

            "Alright, alright.  I get it.  He's great," Hermione interrupted.  "Can we please get back to work?  Harry and Ron will be bored with chess upstairs soon and I want to have this done by then."

            "Hermione, I need you to help me with my problem."

            "What problem, Evelyn?" Hermione asked, putting down her textbook and her quill.  She looked at Evelyn seriously and continued, "Either you ask him or you don't.  Either he says yes or he doesn't.  I don't see how I can solve this problem for you.  You've just got to do what you think is right."

            Hermione turned back to her homework and Evelyn writhed inside.  She knew she wanted to ask Fred but she didn't want to get rejected.  She appreciated the irony that Hermione was in the same situation and Evelyn had given the same advice, which she was now reluctant to follow.  Of course, the irony was little consolation.

            Harry and Ron came down shortly after Hermione had finished her assignment.  They had, in fact, grown bored of wizard's chess and the two boys had come looking for their female counterparts.  Eventually, Ron and Hermione began to bicker, as was the custom for those two.  Evelyn, being in no mood to ignore them or play peacemaker, gathered up her things to leave.  Even facing Fred might not be as bad as this, she thought.  As she bent down for her book bag, Hermione whispered good luck.  She felt slightly encouraged.

            She had only gotten a few feet away from the table when she bumped into someone coming around a bookshelf.  All the books she had in her hands fell to the floor.  She got on her knees to pick them up and started to apologize.

            "I'm so sorry.  I wasn't looking where I was going.  I-"

            She stopped speaking as a hand held out one of her books.  She looked up and found that the hand belonged to Fred Weasley, who was also on his knees picking up her books.

            "Fred, I-" she began but he interrupted her.

            "It's my fault, Evelyn.  I'm sorry for bumping into you.  I was actually in a hurry and I wasn't paying attention."

            "Oh, I'm sorry.  If you're in a hurry, I can pick theses up myself."

            "Actually, I was looking for you," he said slowly.

            "You were?  I…um…why?" she asked.

            "I want to, er, ask you something."

            "I have a question for you too, Fred.  You go first though," she said.

            "Well, er, I was, er, wondering if, er, you wanted to…wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?" Fred stuttered.

            Evelyn started to laugh.  That was the same question she'd wanted to ask him.  Fred, however, took it the wrong way.

            "I'm serious.  If you don't want to go you needn't laugh."

            "Oh Fred.  That's not it at all," she said, trying to calm herself.  "It's just funny you would ask me that when I was just going to ask you the same thing.  I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you tomorrow."

            Fred's half-frown was replaced by a wide smile.

            "Meet me in the common room at ten tomorrow then?"

            "Okay," she said and gave him a smile.

            "Great."  He smiled back and handed her the rest of her books.  She went back to sit with her friends and Fred left the library.  Evelyn was now perfectly able to tune out Ron and Hermione's squabbling by picturing her date with Fred, and if there had been a mind reader in the halls they would have heard YES!  YES! YES! Being repeated in a very excited Fred Weasley's mind.

PS: Review please!