fear ze author's note, if you please

I AM SO SO SO SORRY TO THE THREE PEOPLE I ACTUALLY KNOW READ THIS. .. This chapter has been -long- overdue. My summer was a total writer's block session for me, and now that I had a day to myself (does the Yay For Fog Cancellations dance), I finally got this up.

Forgive mee! ;; grovels

For some reason, the numerous stores throughout Diagon Alley had decided to throw a festival. The celebration would ultimately last three days, at the least. The purpose advertised was to bring wizards and witches together for some fun and cheer, though it was more than likely to boost the economy in the area.

It had been the businesses that had came up with the idea, after all.

Gigi didn't plan on missing out on the festivities. For most of the day she had been there, running around with Paige and just having some fun. And, for the most part, it had been fun. However, some people could always have a little too much to drink, and poor Gigi hadn't thought about the possibility of having to deal with them.

Paige had gone back to the shop. She had wanted to see George, since she hadn't been there practically all day, and she was growing a bit weary of all the people. That had left Gigi on her own, and she sorely regretted not tagging along with her friend. That was just what she got for staying out past midnight in Diagon Alley's festival.

"Come on, sugar," a drunken wizard slurred, grinning like a madman. "Show me how sweet you are." Gigi blinked, raising a brow slightly. She wasn't very sweet, in her own opinion. She thought she was a bitch towards a lot of people. Of course, she had to keep in mind that this man was clearly under the influence of some form of alcoholic libation. He was certainly enough of a pest this way, though. He had been at this for at least 10 minutes, if not longer, and Gigi had continued to try to get away from him. It was only a matter of time before she had to get out of the traffic of people and had backed against a wall.

Actually it was against a front window of a shop, to be technical.

"No thank you," Gigi said for what felt like the millionth time. She swallowed nervously as the man still didn't get the point. She felt like a bug cornered and about to be squashed. She was stuck, and if the man had any of his wits about him at all, then he probably knew this. "There are plenty of other women around. Leave me alone."

"Ahh, you're just playin' hard to get," the man said. He didn't budge, and Gigi bit her lip slightly. This was ridiculous. She was scared of an intoxicated male, and she didn't really know why. She was strong enough that she could probably push him away and hide inside the shop before he knew what had happened. Yet she wouldn't do that; she didn't want to have to touch him unless she absolutely had to.

Now, Paige happened to be stuck on duty on the shop, and it was a habit of hers to watch what was going on outside when there was nothing to do behind the counter. It was no surprise her eyes strayed over there now, and they went rather wide quite quickly. There was no mistaking that head of black curls. But why would Gigi be pressed that hard against their window? It didn't make much sense to the woman, and she frowned. Hmm… Maybe I should go get George, she thought. He'd help her out. However, Paige soon had an even better idea, and grinned a bit to herself as she ran off to find Fred.

Gigi still wasn't having much luck. If anything, she was doing even worse. Her personal space was severely invaded, and she was on the verge of panicking.

"I'm serious. Leave me alone!" she said, as she tried to push back against the window even more. If she pressed much more, she was afraid she would break the glass. Given this was the wizarding world, however, the glass could've possibly been charmed. Hopefully it was. The drunk one chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"Serious, eh? A pretty thing like you ought to have a better name than that."

"It's not her name," a new voice said, "and I can't blame her for not telling you." Gigi quickly turned her eyes toward whoever was there – and grew in surprise when she saw that it was Fred. The pest quirked one of his eyebrows, and Gigi almost laughed at the absurd look on his face; it was meant to be something to the extent of 'mind your own business, kid,' though in his drunken state, it made him look rather simple instead.

"Look, kid," he grunted in annoyance. "I'm a little busy with Serious, here—"

"Not anymore you aren't." Fred didn't really know why he wanted to help Gigi. Paige had run into him before his twin, sure, and he wasn't going to just leave her out there, but… Just because he and Gigi had started to get along at Christmas didn't mean he was a friend! Sure, maybe he had missed Gigi, and maybe he had thought about sending an owl (he had told himself that it was just to bother her, for his own entertainment), but that meant nothing. It just meant he got tired of George and Paige, a lot of the time. "She doesn't need you. Get lost."

"Can't you find your own girlie? This one's mine." Poor drunkard. He still didn't get it. Fred wrinkled his nose slightly and shook his head.

"I said get lost," he repeated in a low growl, as his hands curled into fists.

"And I said to find your own girlie." Gigi glared at the man. She wasn't entirely appreciative of being talked about as if she was a thing.

"Get. Lost," Fred repeated for the third and final time, taking a step closer. His eyes had narrowed, and on close inspection, he looked absolutely livid. That was a bit surprising, to Gigi. "I'm not going to tell you again." To the man, Fred looked insane, not livid. Despite being intoxicated, he knew not to mess with people with mental problems. He shook his head some and backed away without a word. Predictably, he was chasing some other unfortunate female, in moments. Gigi, meanwhile, could've practically kissed Fred – she wouldn't, of course, but she was overjoyed to be rid of the other male. She considered hugging him, but that would've been awkward. Very. The thought that he had helped her – her, who he'd only started to be able to stand, last time she checked – get out of something she didn't want to be in, wasn't so bad. It made it easier for her to smile.

"Thanks," she said. He's grown his hair out a little since Christmas… I like it… Funny how Gigi could be reluctant to look away from Fred, wasn't it?

"No problem," the Weasley said, as he ran one of his hands back through his hair (that Gigi liked so much, but he wasn't really aware of that). "You're all right, then?" He already knew that she was, but it couldn't hurt to make sure. A surge of relief caused him to pause; what was that for? Was it because he had just helped Gigi? No, that couldn't possibly be right. There was just no way for that to be it.

"Yeah, I'm fine," the witch assured with a small nod. Nervousness remained on her face, though, as her eyes flickered through the remaining crowd of loud people. There had to be more people in there that had had one too many, and Gigi knew that. Fred wouldn't follow her around and save her again, and she wasn't about to ask him to do that. Fred figured out her nerves on his own, however.

"Paige's shift is over fairly soon," he mused. "I suppose I can put up with you until she's done behind the counter…" He grinned lightly while Gigi rolled her eyes – a smirk was on her face, though. That was a good sign, was it not?

"I'm special. First you save me and now you're putting up with me." Fred laughed softly and opened the door to the shop, letting Gigi go inside first. She saw Paige at the counter, talking to her Pygmy Puff (whose name was Boo), and not really paying attention to anything. Typical Paige, Gigi thought to herself as she shook her head slightly. Fred blinked, noticing Gigi's look and actions, and tried to follow her gaze.

"Oi, Paige! I didn't think part of the job was to play with the Puffs," he noted. Paige jumped slightly, startled by the sudden voice, and gained a look that tried to pass off 'I don't know what you're talking about.' It didn't last too long, though; once she noticed Gigi, she grinned.

"I see you're not up against the window anymore," she observed. Gigi blinked, clearing her throat quietly, and looked at the floor. So that's how it had all happened. Paige had seen and had fetched Fred. Not Fred doing it on his own accord… Oh bother. "Don't worry. You didn't smudge the glass." Paige smiled when she saw that her comment had snapped Gigi out of the short spell of slight embarrassment. "I'll be done in an hour or so. Mogget's tired of George, last time I checked, so if you'd rather go see my cat than hang around with Fred, go right ahead." Fred rolled his eyes, while Paige's smile changed into a smirk, and Gigi grinned.

"So I have to choose?" she queried. Gigi figured she might as well be nice and enjoy herself while she was there, so she had shoved aside her status with Fred. For the time being, she would get along with all three Weasleys.

"Well, no, you don't have to," Paige replied, a smug little smirk right at home on her face. "Of course, it might raise suspicions that you actually do get along with Fred…" Gigi didn't answer – she stuck her tongue out at Paige, instead, before smirking – and turned to Fred.

"Still think you can put up with me?"

Fred blinked and watched her head for the stairs that led up to the flat, smiled lightly and shook his head a bit, and followed after her – taking care to ignore Paige's amusement.

Both of them lost track of time, once they had gotten involved in conversation. George had gone downstairs to keep Paige company, and that left Gigi and Fred alone – unless you were to count Paige's cat, who was more interested in the wall than the two remaining humans. That was fine with the two, who really weren't all that interested in the cat, either.

Sadly, conversation couldn't last forever, and sleep was a necessity, whether it was appreciated or not. Gigi had been up long enough, according to her body, and when combined with an overly-comfortable couch… Tiredness was winning this battle. Gigi didn't really care when she shifted on the couch and leaned against Fred. He was there, and she was tired. Why not lean on him? If he had a problem with it, then surely he would say so, and Gigi would, of course, move. A highly simple solution, was it not? Gigi was expecting him to try to move away, or something else against it.

Fred, however, didn't fulfill her expectations. Since when had the Weasley twins ever done what was expected of them, anyway? He looked down at her, and almost smiled. It didn't feel so bad, having a girl's head on his shoulder like that – even if it was Gigi. He knew she was tired; she could barely keep her eyes open anymore. In fact, upon further investigation into that, Fred found she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. Though she shifted slightly, nuzzling his shoulder without realizing it, Gigi was asleep.

She looks kind of pretty like that, when she's all… calm… Fred smiled as he watched the woman beside him. She really wasn't as bad as he had always thought she was. She was actually nice, and Fred liked her. Not in a romantic way. Fred didn't want to make himself sick by so much as thinking that he might like Gigi that way. You didn't get to know your previous nemesis then start to fancy them. It didn't work like that. Be that as it may, it didn't stop Fred from letting his head rest against Gigi's as he shut his eyes, nor did it keep his arm from slipping around her shoulders. Maybe Gigi wouldn't flip out if she woke up first. It was possible, wasn't it? Indeed it was.

It was also possible that Paige wouldn't poke fun at either of the two if she found them cuddled up together like that, though it could certainly be debated how low the possibility was for that one.