Chapter Nine
Walks Down Memory Lane
A couple of weeks had passed since Fred had last said a word to Oliver. They had generally tried avoiding each other in the halls but were unable to do so during Quidditch practices.
One day at the end of practice, Oliver pulled him aside, ending the silent war between them.
"Fred, I need," Oliver stopped, "*we* need to talk to you."
Fred just stared at him. Who was this *we* of which he was speaking of? "Umm. . .alright" he said unsure of what would happen.
Oliver lead him near a stand and there Fred saw Harry. "Here he is," said Oliver, pulling Fred closer so that the three of them were forming a circle.
Fred stood there waiting for one of them to say something.
"Look," said Harry, breaking the silence, "You do know that Olie and I are a couple right?"
Fred gaped, '*Olie*' he thought. "Yeah, yeah sure."
"Well, it looks like you aren't comfortable with that fact, and if you can't accept the fact that we love each other," Oliver squirmed as Harry said this, "Then I don't think I. . .*we* want to be friends with you."
"Umm Harry," began Oliver nervously, "I didn't say I didn't want to be friends-"
Harry cut him off, "No Oliver, you know I'm right."
Oliver just stood there, head down, looking at his shoes.
"Look Potter, Oliver is a big boy, I'm pretty sure he can talk for himself."
Harry glared at him, "Yeah well he told me himself he thought you didn't like the fact that we were a couple. Look Fred, I'm not saying I don't understand how you must feel, because I do. It's just that. . .well. . .we are happy together and that's all that matters. And if you can't accept your friend's happiness then I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore."
Fred gaped, "Look, I never said I wasn't happy for you two!" He shifted his position. "I'm happy for you two" he managed to say.
This seemed to satisfy Harry as he said, "Good, then we'll see you at dinner. Come on Olie."
Oliver looked over at Harry, then at Fred, lingering a moment on Fred's gaze.
"Olie," insisted Harry.
"I'm coming," replied Oliver as he left, glancing back at Fred and smiling at him weakly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fred had no clue what had happened. On his whole walk from the field to the common room all Fred could do was go over the conversation that had taken place. And he couldn't get over the fact that Harry called Oliver *Olie*. 'God that sounds so stupid' he thought. He entered the common room and took a seat in a cozy looking arm chair in front of the fire. It was beginning to get cold and Fred knew this meant even more quidditch practices.
As he lay there, falling asleep in front of the fire, he heard a door open, then close. Fred opened his eyes. He had thought he was alone but he was wrong. He figured it must be a friendless first year, since the walking was so silent. He closed his once more and returned to his efforts of trying to fall asleep. In fact, he was so busy doing this that he didn't notice the tall figure standing over him until it tapped him on the arm.
Fred opened his eyes. "Oli-"
But Oliver had cut him off by putting his hand over Fred's mouth. "Shh," he said, "I don't want anyone to hear us. Once he was sure Fred wasn't going to say anything, Oliver uncovered his mouth.
"What do you want," said Fred, recovering from the shock.
"I think we need to talk."
"What is there to say? I'm pretty sure your Harry-poo cleared everything up *Olie*" replied Fred in a mocking tone of voice.
Oliver blushed. "Yeah. . .about that. . ."
Seeing Oliver's face seemed funny to Fred; in a sick, twisted sort of way. He laughed, "You look hilarious."
Oliver let out a laugh too, "Do I?"
Fred imitated his face and they both burst out laughing. Oliver kneeled down in front of Fred and looked him in the eye. "Listen," he began, "I'm sorry. For. . .everything. I have been such a moron to you. I should have explained things better. I should have talked to you more."
Fred shook his head, "No, it's nothing. I was a moron too so don't come down on yourself so hard."
Oliver looked him in the eye once more and Fred got chills. 'Why does that happen to me?' he thought. Oliver placed his hand on Fred's knee, making Fred get more chills.
"Listen, I want you to know that I appreciate all you've done for me. You're probably one of the few, if not the only, one who would have put up with all of this without telling anyone.
Fred took a deep sigh. All this tension was making him uncomfortable in the lower area. Finally, when he knew he couldn't take it anymore, he got up and stretched. All this time, Oliver was watching him. Fred figured it was in appreciation. He looked up and both of them looked at each other, as if in search for words.
Suddenly Oliver took a step forward, then another, and another, until they were merely inches apart. Fred looked up at him, since Oliver was taller than he was by six inches. Then, Oliver leaned over, closer to Fred's face. Fred, taking the hint, prepared himself for a long, powerful kiss.
"I'm glad you understand," whispered Oliver in Fred's ear. Then he turned around and left the common room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two nights later, Fred couldn't stop thinking about that moment. He felt so stupid for thinking that Oliver, who was in *love* with Harry, would kiss *him*. Finally, realizing that falling asleep was impossible, he got up, put on his shoes and his cloak, and made his way out to the grounds.
Once he was outside, he walked to the Quidditch field as a soft snow began to fall. He stood in the middle of the field and looked up at the sky, as if he were waiting for something. The snow began to fall more quickly now. He stretched out his arms and spun around twice before falling to the ground and staying there, feeling the soft snow land on his face.
He was brought back to reality when he heard a soft chuckle coming from one of the stands. He looked up. No one was visible. He looked again and there, in the third stand, was a figure, staring at him. Fred was alarmed.
"Who's there" he demanded, standing up.
"Calm down Tinker Bell, it's me" said a deep, familiar voice.
"Oliver?" gasped Fred. Once again, he ran into Oliver.
"No, you're mother. Of course Oliver!"
Fred made his way to the stand, up the stairs, and onto the platform where he saw Oliver sitting on a bench.
He walked over to him and sat down next to him.
"What are you doing up?" asked Oliver, staring off into the distance.
"Couldn't sleep," he replied, "thought I'd take a walk."
They sat there in silence, the two of them, watching the snow fall on this beautiful night.
Finally, Oliver cleared his throat. "So. . .wanna talk?"
Fred laughed, "No let's just sit here and let our lips freeze shut."
Oliver laughed too then said, "Remember you're first Quidditch game?"
Fred stopped laughing. "Vaguely. . ." he lied.
"I remember like it was yesterday. You took off fine, flying around like a pro. Then you saw Katie Bell and distracted yourself. I remember you were trying to show off, doing one of those moves you invented for your play, and fell of your broom. You were in the hospital wing for a week."
"Yeah and then once I got out you got sent in" replied F red, blushing, although it was barely visible in the night. Besides, the cold was making his cheeks blush to begin with.
"Yeah" replied Oliver, laughing.
They talked about the past for what seemed like an hour, then time crept into their minds.
"Oh shit. . ." began Fred slowly, not wanting to bring this wonderful night to an end.
"What?" asked Oliver, thinking the same.
"The time. It's so late! We better get going," he replied, getting up and stretching
Oliver followed, without saying a word. Once they arrived inside the castle, they made their way to the common room.
They had reached the steps when suddenly Oliver, who was in front, tripped. As if it were a reflex, Fred ran in front and tried to catch Oliver's fall. Unfortunately, since Oliver was much more built, he managed to take Fred down with him.
"Oh shit!" screamed Fred when he landed on his back.
"Oh-my-God" managed Oliver through laughs. "I'm so sorry!"
Fred burst out laughing too, "Yeah. . .me too."
Once they had composed themselves, they were aware of the position they were in. The fact that their faces were so close that they could feel each other's breath wasn't helping any either. Oliver got closer to him. This time, Fred was sure a kiss was coming. As they both leaned in, Fred was aware of what he was doing. Something in the back of his mind was telling him to walk away, while his heart was telling him to give in the moment. Oliver had cupped Fred's face in between his hands and was about to kiss him when Fred turned away, leaving Oliver to kiss his cheek.
"I can't. . ." he said.
"I understand," said Oliver, getting up.
Fred watched as Oliver went through the door and disappeared. Then, once he was sure Oliver was up in his bed, he entered and made his way to his bed.
Walks Down Memory Lane
A couple of weeks had passed since Fred had last said a word to Oliver. They had generally tried avoiding each other in the halls but were unable to do so during Quidditch practices.
One day at the end of practice, Oliver pulled him aside, ending the silent war between them.
"Fred, I need," Oliver stopped, "*we* need to talk to you."
Fred just stared at him. Who was this *we* of which he was speaking of? "Umm. . .alright" he said unsure of what would happen.
Oliver lead him near a stand and there Fred saw Harry. "Here he is," said Oliver, pulling Fred closer so that the three of them were forming a circle.
Fred stood there waiting for one of them to say something.
"Look," said Harry, breaking the silence, "You do know that Olie and I are a couple right?"
Fred gaped, '*Olie*' he thought. "Yeah, yeah sure."
"Well, it looks like you aren't comfortable with that fact, and if you can't accept the fact that we love each other," Oliver squirmed as Harry said this, "Then I don't think I. . .*we* want to be friends with you."
"Umm Harry," began Oliver nervously, "I didn't say I didn't want to be friends-"
Harry cut him off, "No Oliver, you know I'm right."
Oliver just stood there, head down, looking at his shoes.
"Look Potter, Oliver is a big boy, I'm pretty sure he can talk for himself."
Harry glared at him, "Yeah well he told me himself he thought you didn't like the fact that we were a couple. Look Fred, I'm not saying I don't understand how you must feel, because I do. It's just that. . .well. . .we are happy together and that's all that matters. And if you can't accept your friend's happiness then I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore."
Fred gaped, "Look, I never said I wasn't happy for you two!" He shifted his position. "I'm happy for you two" he managed to say.
This seemed to satisfy Harry as he said, "Good, then we'll see you at dinner. Come on Olie."
Oliver looked over at Harry, then at Fred, lingering a moment on Fred's gaze.
"Olie," insisted Harry.
"I'm coming," replied Oliver as he left, glancing back at Fred and smiling at him weakly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fred had no clue what had happened. On his whole walk from the field to the common room all Fred could do was go over the conversation that had taken place. And he couldn't get over the fact that Harry called Oliver *Olie*. 'God that sounds so stupid' he thought. He entered the common room and took a seat in a cozy looking arm chair in front of the fire. It was beginning to get cold and Fred knew this meant even more quidditch practices.
As he lay there, falling asleep in front of the fire, he heard a door open, then close. Fred opened his eyes. He had thought he was alone but he was wrong. He figured it must be a friendless first year, since the walking was so silent. He closed his once more and returned to his efforts of trying to fall asleep. In fact, he was so busy doing this that he didn't notice the tall figure standing over him until it tapped him on the arm.
Fred opened his eyes. "Oli-"
But Oliver had cut him off by putting his hand over Fred's mouth. "Shh," he said, "I don't want anyone to hear us. Once he was sure Fred wasn't going to say anything, Oliver uncovered his mouth.
"What do you want," said Fred, recovering from the shock.
"I think we need to talk."
"What is there to say? I'm pretty sure your Harry-poo cleared everything up *Olie*" replied Fred in a mocking tone of voice.
Oliver blushed. "Yeah. . .about that. . ."
Seeing Oliver's face seemed funny to Fred; in a sick, twisted sort of way. He laughed, "You look hilarious."
Oliver let out a laugh too, "Do I?"
Fred imitated his face and they both burst out laughing. Oliver kneeled down in front of Fred and looked him in the eye. "Listen," he began, "I'm sorry. For. . .everything. I have been such a moron to you. I should have explained things better. I should have talked to you more."
Fred shook his head, "No, it's nothing. I was a moron too so don't come down on yourself so hard."
Oliver looked him in the eye once more and Fred got chills. 'Why does that happen to me?' he thought. Oliver placed his hand on Fred's knee, making Fred get more chills.
"Listen, I want you to know that I appreciate all you've done for me. You're probably one of the few, if not the only, one who would have put up with all of this without telling anyone.
Fred took a deep sigh. All this tension was making him uncomfortable in the lower area. Finally, when he knew he couldn't take it anymore, he got up and stretched. All this time, Oliver was watching him. Fred figured it was in appreciation. He looked up and both of them looked at each other, as if in search for words.
Suddenly Oliver took a step forward, then another, and another, until they were merely inches apart. Fred looked up at him, since Oliver was taller than he was by six inches. Then, Oliver leaned over, closer to Fred's face. Fred, taking the hint, prepared himself for a long, powerful kiss.
"I'm glad you understand," whispered Oliver in Fred's ear. Then he turned around and left the common room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two nights later, Fred couldn't stop thinking about that moment. He felt so stupid for thinking that Oliver, who was in *love* with Harry, would kiss *him*. Finally, realizing that falling asleep was impossible, he got up, put on his shoes and his cloak, and made his way out to the grounds.
Once he was outside, he walked to the Quidditch field as a soft snow began to fall. He stood in the middle of the field and looked up at the sky, as if he were waiting for something. The snow began to fall more quickly now. He stretched out his arms and spun around twice before falling to the ground and staying there, feeling the soft snow land on his face.
He was brought back to reality when he heard a soft chuckle coming from one of the stands. He looked up. No one was visible. He looked again and there, in the third stand, was a figure, staring at him. Fred was alarmed.
"Who's there" he demanded, standing up.
"Calm down Tinker Bell, it's me" said a deep, familiar voice.
"Oliver?" gasped Fred. Once again, he ran into Oliver.
"No, you're mother. Of course Oliver!"
Fred made his way to the stand, up the stairs, and onto the platform where he saw Oliver sitting on a bench.
He walked over to him and sat down next to him.
"What are you doing up?" asked Oliver, staring off into the distance.
"Couldn't sleep," he replied, "thought I'd take a walk."
They sat there in silence, the two of them, watching the snow fall on this beautiful night.
Finally, Oliver cleared his throat. "So. . .wanna talk?"
Fred laughed, "No let's just sit here and let our lips freeze shut."
Oliver laughed too then said, "Remember you're first Quidditch game?"
Fred stopped laughing. "Vaguely. . ." he lied.
"I remember like it was yesterday. You took off fine, flying around like a pro. Then you saw Katie Bell and distracted yourself. I remember you were trying to show off, doing one of those moves you invented for your play, and fell of your broom. You were in the hospital wing for a week."
"Yeah and then once I got out you got sent in" replied F red, blushing, although it was barely visible in the night. Besides, the cold was making his cheeks blush to begin with.
"Yeah" replied Oliver, laughing.
They talked about the past for what seemed like an hour, then time crept into their minds.
"Oh shit. . ." began Fred slowly, not wanting to bring this wonderful night to an end.
"What?" asked Oliver, thinking the same.
"The time. It's so late! We better get going," he replied, getting up and stretching
Oliver followed, without saying a word. Once they arrived inside the castle, they made their way to the common room.
They had reached the steps when suddenly Oliver, who was in front, tripped. As if it were a reflex, Fred ran in front and tried to catch Oliver's fall. Unfortunately, since Oliver was much more built, he managed to take Fred down with him.
"Oh shit!" screamed Fred when he landed on his back.
"Oh-my-God" managed Oliver through laughs. "I'm so sorry!"
Fred burst out laughing too, "Yeah. . .me too."
Once they had composed themselves, they were aware of the position they were in. The fact that their faces were so close that they could feel each other's breath wasn't helping any either. Oliver got closer to him. This time, Fred was sure a kiss was coming. As they both leaned in, Fred was aware of what he was doing. Something in the back of his mind was telling him to walk away, while his heart was telling him to give in the moment. Oliver had cupped Fred's face in between his hands and was about to kiss him when Fred turned away, leaving Oliver to kiss his cheek.
"I can't. . ." he said.
"I understand," said Oliver, getting up.
Fred watched as Oliver went through the door and disappeared. Then, once he was sure Oliver was up in his bed, he entered and made his way to his bed.