Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait for an update. Life has been getting in the way, as usual. I've been trying to get together my college applications and on top of that, I've got a lot more homework than I've been expecting. Add this together with sports and clubs, and you've basically got my life right now in a nutshell. Fan fiction has moved to the bottom of my priorities list, but that doesn't mean I've completely forgotten about it. One more chapter and this story is DONE!

December 21

Common Room

You'll never guess what Katie and Alicia had up their sleeves! Phase two of their whole scheme was so clever yet so simple, I'm surprised I didn't see it coming. I was walking on my way from the bathroom, when Alicia ran down the hall and told me Katie was trying on one of my rings and had gotten her finger stuck. Apparently, Alicia had tried everything she could think of, so they needed my help. So I raced behind Alicia and in about two minutes flat, was in our dorm room. But Katie was no where to be found.

I thought it was rather fishy and felt uneasy about the entire situation.

I was demanding where she was, when all of a sudden, Katie rolled out from under the bed, GI Joe style and attacked me, along with Alicia. I was doing everything I could to break free, but the two of them together make one pretty damn strong team. They shoved me into MY OWN closet and locked the door. I didn't have my wand, so I couldn't magically break the lock.

I was going to be stuck until the two loons let me out. I had thought they had honestly hit their heads or something. I was yelling vicious threats of serious pain but the two just kept laughing like it was a God damned episode of Sex and the City.

"We'll leave you two to sort out this whole thing. We'll be back in about two hours," Alicia called.

I was just about to ask what she meant by "two" when Katie interrupted.

"Yeah, this whole "We don't like each other but occasionally snog" deal is getting rather boring," Katie declared.

My eyes widened and I felt my heart drop.

"Oy, Angie, any ideas on what they're giggling about and how to get the hell out of here?" a familiar masculine voice demanded, amused by the whole thing.

I turned to my right and was met with the face of Fred Weasley.

And that's when my entire act of deception gloriously fell apart.

Same Day

Hours Later

So, one would think that being trapped in a small closet with the love of their life would be gloriously blissful? Take a second guess. I was beyond nervous. This was quite odd, because despite the fact sometimes I found myself slightly apprehensive around Fred, I usually felt at ease after a while. Maybe it was because the closet was nearly as small as Calista Flockheart's shrinking waistline, I was freaking out. There was an adequate amount of light, though my eyes had quickly adjusted to the dark.

Fred threw me a sheepish grin.

"How the bleeding hell did they get you in here?" I demanded, showing off my best playful grin.

I adjusted in my place, being careful as to have enough space and not end up sitting on his lap. Although, that wasn't such a bad idea…

Even though the lighting was fair, I could easily detect the bright blush that clashed with his ginger locks.

"Alicia told me you were in trouble. I didn't even need to hear the full story. I just rushed up here as quick as I could. Before I knew it, Katie had rolled from under the bed and both of them were attacking me with perfume. I started sneezing like mad and before I could run away, they both forced me into your closet."

This was extremely good news. I was delighted to hear that Fred was so concerned about my welfare.

"They told me Katie had gotten her finger stuck on one of my rings, so I came up here to help. Before I knew it, both of them attacked me and shoved me in here as well."

Fred grinned, his awkwardness evaporated. Even in the weirdest situations, he just oozed confidence. Could it be possible that it made him even more attractive?

"I can't believe it," he began, slightly chuckling.

"What?" I prompted.

"That we both fell for the scheme of two giggly loons like Katie and Alicia," he finished, in genuine disbelief.

At this, we both started cracking up. I mean, really it was pretty sad. Fred Weasley, Prankster and Ultimate Player of the Century had fell victim to one of Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet's wacky plots. This was like saying that the entire world had blown to pieces and Professor Snape was just named GQ Man of the Year.

We locked eyes and that devilishly charming yet boyishly innocent grin sent my heart in overdrive. I wondered if he knew what I was thinking. I wondered if he was thinking that maybe trapped in a closet with me wasn't one of the seven deadly sins.

"Fred?"

He stopped laughing and peered at me with curious interest.

"Yes, Angie?"

I offered him a small and shy smile.

"If I had to be stuck in a closet with anyone, I'm glad it was you."

Though this was forward of me, I wasn't hesitant to say it. The way things were going lately, I didn't think it would create too much unwanted tension between us. In fact, I wanted to get the ball rolling.

For too long had I sat back in the shadows and waited for Fred to make the initiative. Being scared of venturing into shades of gray was the only thing I knew how to do properly. But I was tired of being scared. I just wanted to take the plunge, even though I knew there could be the consequence of crashing to the cold ground.

His grinned faded, his expression serious.

"I had a feeling they put us in here for a reason, you know," he flatly admitted.

I attempted to conceal what I was thinking.

"Have any opinions?"

He quickly ran a hand through his shaggy mop of hair, sighing as he did so. I knew exactly why they put us in there. They wanted to play matchmaker. This revelation was kind of endearing, to say the least but I had wished they'd warned me before hand. Frankly, I was just as frustrated and annoyed with all the games and close calls as everyone else. But I still was hesitating.

As much as I yearned to leap forward instead of backwards, I figured putting it off a little longer wouldn't hurt. I mean, I had two hours to say the words. I wasn't about to rush into anything too soon. Also, I knew now would be as good a time as ever to finally come clean but I was curious as to what Fred would say.

He gulped, his eyes widening though he retained his nonchalant expression.

"I have a good feeling that they're trying to play matchmaker. Crazy, isn't it? You and me…together as a couple," he stuttered.

His eyes darted to the floor and I threw him a weak smile.

I felt my heart convulse as though it'd been kicked with a steel toe shoe. First he'd sent me all those signals and pretended that he cared for me, then he went and contradicted himself? What was he playing at? But he had been fumbling with the words, as though he'd needed something to reassure himself and shake away his doubts.

"Why's that so crazy?" I whispered, unable to mask my hurt.

He nervously chuckled, then grew somber again. He placed his hand on my cheek, his thumb affectionately stroking my skin. My eyes fluttered shut for a moment, savoring his touch. He appeared to be attempting to hide his regret, as though the emotion would humor or upset me.

"You wouldn't want a guy like me as a boyfriend. You and I both know I'm horrible at it. Everyone's right, you know. I can't sustain a relationship for more than a week or two," he softly argued.

I instantly shook my head, my eyes instantly reopening. I didn't care if he was the worst boyfriend in the world. All that mattered to me was that he loved me. He could forget Valentine's Day and my birthday and every anniversary.

It was only tearing me apart by not being with him. Couldn't he see that? It killed me to see him with another girl. I knew somehow, deep down inside, he had to be feeling this longing to. His journal entry was clear evidence of this inference.

"I wouldn't care," I honestly opposed.

He let his hand limply fall away and back to his side. He was firm with his decision now, too stubborn to see my side of the story.

"Yes you would. I know you. It would break your heart. And I couldn't bear to break your heart, Angel. You deserve better than me," he fiercely responded.

I was angry now. So everything we'd shared the past few days meant nothing at all to him? When would he understand that I didn't care about anything that had happened in the past? I was intent on focusing on the future. I didn't care about his reputation or the detailed gossip. I had my own insight about him from personal experience. And my instinct said that the only stupid mistake would be to let this pass us by.

"I don't care what you think you know! You're perfect for me, Fred. Can't you see that?"

By now, my fear of making a fool out of myself had drifted away. The conversation had taken a whole new route, in which anxiety had no place, shape or form. We were arguing, but this time, it wasn't due to some silly or trivial comment.

We were on the edge of something more.

"I'd break your heart," he hoarsely predicted.

His eyes were consumed with remorse; his lips turned down into a frown.

But I didn't want to believe his prediction. The way he acted around me was different from what was filtered through the grapevine. In my eyes, his flaws made him even more perfect. In fact, I didn't care for someone that was perfect.

Christian had seemed perfect, with his perfect manners and perfect clothing. But in reality, this only was a decoy for his faults. Fred was not a perfect person. But I was willing to take my chances, anyway. I don't know exactly how to put it. Maybe because he possessed flaws, I felt more secure. I felt more secure because he wasn't trying to be someone else. In an odd yet thrilling way, there was something beautiful in all his imperfections.

"It would break my heart even more to be without you. Isn't that what love is all about, taking chances? To love at all is to be vulnerable," I firmly philosophized.

I thought I had really convinced him, until I took a good look at his face. Fred gave off the impression that he'd just been put in front of his worst fear. His face had gone completely chalky, making his freckles stand out like multiple pairs of bright red fire hydrants.

When Fred remained silent, I really realized what I had just said. I had used the word love. What the hell was I thinking? Everything had the potential to go well and now I'd opened my big mouth and screwed it all up.

"Love, eh?" he echoed, as though he'd never heard the word.

I tried to come up with some witty cover-up. But my mind had short-circuited.

"I don't know."

He shook his head.

"Ever since fourth year, I just felt that something was different between us. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I knew something had changed. And then, just a few days ago, when you started seeing that Christian prat, I realized what it was. You weren't the one that had changed, but I had."

I felt my heart start to pound in my ears, reminding me of a runaway train. He moved closer to me, our breath mingling together. I stood stiff with shock, frozen in my place, backed up against the wall of the closet.

And then the most wonderful thing happened.

Fred gazed down at me, neither smiling nor frowning.

"I've waited too long to say this. I don't know why, either. It's been the easiest thing to admit to myself but the hardest thing to say."

I silently gasped. Could it be…?

Time stood still.

"Angel, I love you."

My eyes widened. I felt my knees go weak and my heart leap below into my stomach. I was positive I was dreaming. This couldn't be real, could it? This was all too good to be true. My hands began to shake, incoherent mumbles spilling out of my mouth and tumbling to the floor.

Now, I'm not too much of an overemotional girl. I rarely cry at sad movies and I didn't shed a tear when Katie made me watch 'A Walk to Remember' with her. But as the words repeated in my head, my eyes began to get watery, sharp tears pricking the corner of each eyelid. Everything I had wanted was coming true right before my eyes. In a split second, I had gone from the "Best Friend" to possibly something more.

"You really mean it?" I whispered, in total disbelief.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. He'd done it so many times before, but because of his confession, it felt brand new and in a way, special.

Throwing me a quick grin, he questioned, "Is Snape an oily git?"

I choked out a laugh, tears finding their escape route and randomly cascading down my cheeks. Leave it to Fred to start joking around at a time like this.

"Well that's an easy one. Of course."

Fred's teasing grin turned into a warm half smile. He leaned forward, leaving enough distance so our noses were grazing one another's but our lips were not connected. Something stirred inside of me and I felt myself swept away.

My twisted, strange, non-conventional and at many times, confusing sort of fairy tale had come true. My arms found their rightful place around his neck. This was right; it made sense. There was no one else like Fred. And for this reason, no one else would do.

"If you've felt this way for so long, why didn't you tell me?" I gently imposed.

"I was afraid. Stupid, I know. But I wasn't sure if you felt the same way. I didn't want to scare you off or anything. I was also afraid that I'd screw everything up. As you know, I don't have the best track record when it comes to relationships. I'm no Prince Charming," he frankly mused.

I smiled, leaning upward on my tip-topes, pressing my cheek into his and leaving my lips next to his ear.

"Don't you remember what I said before? I don't care if you're not Prince Charming. You're Fred Weasley. That's the guy I'm in love with."

When I pulled back, he was grinning from ear to ear. Except this wasn't the standard cunning grin I was usually blessed with. This was different. This was from pure and total bliss, exuding with affection. My fingers traveled up the nape of his neck and into his hair, fondly toying with it.

"I can't promise you forever, you know. I don't know what's going to happen. All I know is that when I'm with you, the rest of the world just fades away. I can only promise you that whatever goes down, I'd never trade this for anything else," he whispered, anxious as to my reaction.

I issued a simple smile.

"I knew you'd come around."

He chuckled. I finally felt complete. No more running from something inevasible. I didn't have to hide my feelings anymore and I didn't have to keep pretending I didn't care. I was truly alive. I pulled his head to mine and the kiss that he delivered sent me straight over the moon. It felt like finally coming home after a prolonged absence.

There really is nothing like falling in love for the first time. There's something so enthralling about closing your eyes and just letting go, because you don't know if the other person will be there to catch you. You're literally putting your heart on the line and the other person has total control over its fate. I was very lucky that Fred was going through the same dilemma as me. I don't think I'd be able to deal if things hadn't turned out the way they did.

We probably would have continued kissing until the next year, but Katie and Alicia opened the closet. Damn them! Actually, no, I should be thanking them for finally setting us up. If it weren't for them, I probably would still be tearing myself to pieces, wondering if I should confess to him or not. So, praise them! Haha.

They started squealing with happiness at the sight of us. Fred rolled his eyes and tried to shut the door again but I reminded him that we wouldn't be able to get out, so we followed the girls downstairs.

When we came down to the common room, George and Lee started whistling and obnoxiously applauded. A few other people started laughing and joined in. But I didn't mind that much. I couldn't stop looking at Fred, who was grinning as though he'd won a million galleons.

Fred and I stayed up talking, about everything and nothing at all. We looked back at all the times we'd misinterpreted each other's signals and laughed at our sheer stupidity. We lay in each other's arms, silently gazing into the roaring fire. Let me tell you one thing. You know it's for real when you can sit in silence with someone and have the best conversation of your life.

It was nearly one in the morning when we started to get sleepy. Hand in hand, Fred walked me to my dorm room and kissed me goodnight. His kisses never fail to leave me weak in the knees.

He says he's no Prince Charming, but I'm just fine without a Prince. Actually, I don't think I'd like one. The Prince probably wouldn't be nearly as funny as Fred is. Or interesting. Yes, I'll take my beater with ginger hair in a heartbeat.