Pumpkin Juice

Sometime in a month,

So, several important things have happened recently. None of them are radically happy, either. Let's start at the top, where Fred went off to. Later that night, as I was happily brushing my teeth, I noticed that Leesh and Trish were being incredibly quiet. Like, someone died quiet.

I come out of the loo and lounge on my bed, when I notice that their attention is on me. Great. I have to deal with even more things now. Hmpft. I bet it was about Andrew, I mean, what else had happened?

"Now Angelina, you're one-hundred percent happy with Andrew, right?"

I eagerly nod my head to Leesh's question, while Trish sinks back on her bed with a sigh. The melodramatic-ness has now lost her attention.

"Then you'll be happy to know that Fred's also dating someone!"

At these words I snorted, which was rather unfortunate since I had been sipping water and got my pretty comforter all wet. That seems rather fast for Fred to start dating — not that there's anything wrong with it! It was just, unsuspected.

"Oh God. Its not Arianna is it? Or some feather-headed Hufflepuff? Oh! Is he dating Trish? Because that would be great, and all we need is to find Lee someone!"

At this Trish snorted and then started flailing on the bed in hysterical laughter, only to stop and give me her ray-of-death look. Evidently it was not her and Fred that were dating.

"Ang, I love you, but if you ever accuse me of dating someone like Fred again, I'm going to check you into a mental hospital and personally watch you picked up and carried away by the men in white coats."

"Well, it's not that it's just—"

At this point Alicia interjected into the conversation.

"Lee does have someone; he has a new girlfriend every two weeks. I think his current one is Amanda or something. Anyway, Fred is not dating your sister either. That'd be kind of scary, he is almost 18 and she's just 15. And as a teenager, that's like dog years…"

"Shut up Alicia." Trish had thrown a pillow at her, obviously deciding she wasn't the best person to break the news. "We all know even Fred isn't that desperate. He's dating Stephanie Stevenson, that Hufflepuff who's in our Charms class."

I didn't really believe it. "The one who always messes up the spells?" I asked, unable to picture Stephanie but able to clearly see everything from sparks to flamingoes flying out of her wand.

"I know, she's even worse then you and Leesh. Anyway, that's all boring news, did you all finish your homework?"

Nice try Trish. She even looked nervously hopeful saying that. I mean really, I appreciate her trying to distract me when they obviously think it is such a big deal and I'm going to lost what little sanity was left in me. Which I sort of was. I mean, Stephanie Stevenson? That girl is just, ugh, I thought Fred had better taste. Not that I'm jealous or anything, I just wish he could've chosen someone better.

"Oh." Verbal communication. Good.

"You can't be upset Ang! You said you liked Rimmer."

"I do like Rimmer! He is my boyfriend. I have only platonic feelings for Fred, I just wish he had chosen someone who we get along with!"

Exchanging significant looks, Trish and Alicia simultaneously said good night. Some friends I have, don't even believe me when I tell them the truth. Really diary, you have to listen to me, I don't like Fred that way! I mean, I simply wished he made better choices romantically. Like…doesn't Stan Shunpike have a sister? She'd be better than Ms. Stephanie. At least I'll have an excuse to leave when that annoying pink-clad-hair-potion-using-can't-even-spell-hair-potion…girl comes to our table: I'll simply go eat lunch with Andrew. Simple as that.

Now if only I can convince my friends.

January 23rd

I'm not quite taking it all in, so I'm going to go over my day very slowly.

I woke up, and I went down for breakfast. Mass breakout of Azkaban prisoners. I am a muggle born. Death Eaters break out. I'm not pureblood. Mr. Weasley's earlier attack had brought things into perspective, but still, I've never been quite so chilled. I mean, it's hard to think they'd go after me because of my parents, when idiotic purebloods like Stephanie are prancing around in pink.

She doesn't deserve to be hunted either, I'm simply saying that these Death Eaters are loony. As is Voldemort, come to think of it. They're all loony because of him. In fact, half of them probably lie about their parentage. It's just so infuriating, knowing how the world works like that. A bunch of snobby elitists get to play with out minds, even though they deserve a mind themselves.

The best way to work off stress is of course, Quidditch. So I called an early morningpractice, hoping to work off the uneasiness I felt growing. Only, most of the team appeared uneasy. Fred, George and Lee were in the stands, and they seemed anxious too, especially George, but I learned that was for a different reason.

So practice ends and I change out of my gear. When we leave the changing room Alicia runs up to George. No big deal, right? Only she wanted to walk with me afterwards, and Fred is also standing around. Waiting.

So, despite my total nonchalance to his dating Steph, we really haven't maintained a proper conversation since he found I was dating Rimmer. There was a lot of shuffling of the feet, and a few glances. I start to drift farther away, and Fred appears to be drifting with me. I think us talking went like this:

"So, how's Andrew?"

"Great. Hows Steph?"

"Great."

Awkward pause.

"So, Quidditch."

"Yeah."

What followed was the most normal conversation we'd had in a long time, probably because it was about Quidditch. It was nice for the time that it lasted, but awkwardness reared its ugly head again when Fred said the 'S' word. The subject was quickly dropped with more shuffling and glancing.

Only then, my supposed savior Alicia came and motioned for me and Fred to follow her. She appeared to be flustered and upset, and I was most curious, as was Fred.

"Oh Ang, Fred, it's…it's George, he broke up with me."

"Oh no," I gave her a quick hug as Fred patted her on the shoulder.

"I don't really want to be alone, d'you guys mind staying with me for the rest of the day?"

It was like hearing a prison sentence. More awkwardness, and an upset Leesh to top it all off. Of course, I couldn't refuse, she did just get dumped after all. I should have kicked Fred out, but did I? No. If I had mystical powers like divination and saw what was to come, I might've said no.

So, finally I get to what's most likely the climax of the day. Alicia pauses, during our 27th lap around the lake, and says the strangest thing to me.

"Do you think I should give him back the bracelet he gave me for Christmas?"

I froze. "He gave you a bracelet for Christmas?"

Fred, who had been chatting with and distracting Alicia until now had suddenly become quiet and quit his humming at my question.

"Yep. It's a vanishing bracelet, so you sometimes can't see it when I wear it. I mean, it was a nice romantic gesture at the time, as well as quite funny, but now that we aren't an item, I'm not sure if it be appropriate."

And the wheels in my mind began to turn. George gave Alicia bracelet as a romantic gesture, which means Fred was trying to do the same to me! Why else would he have given me the bracelet? Why else would he have shut up and turned red? Oh God, he hadn't know I was with Rimmer, and he'd fancied me! Hell, he may still fancy me…

"Fred, what do you think? I mean, it was a sweet gift, and obviously one of the only romantic things he ever came up with, and he won't know when I wear it…what do you think I should do? You are his twin; you've got to help me!"

Alicia was walking in front of us, so she obviously didn't see the two humiliated faces behind her. Fred, apparently, has some touch of a poet in him.

"I think that you should keep it, even if one of the parties does not share affections and admirations, they would wish the other half to keep their token."

I started coughing, hard, like, really hard, the meaning of the words surprisingly enough affecting my lungs most drastically at the time. I was having a fit. Alicia was shell-shocked by Fred's words, and obviously concerned by my coughing. A few minutes later I was recovering my sudden fit whilst heavily leaning on Alicia. I couldn't bear to be in as close proximity with Fred.

Now Alicia, she's no genius, but she is smart enough to see a bracelet on my wrist, and know that I never cough, only sneeze. I think her next words went something like this.

"Thanks for helping Fred, I know I've kept you here long. If you want to leave, you can. Besides, I really just want to talk to Ang right now."

The boy couldn't have been happier. I mean, he just got out of an extremely awkward social situation. I mean, Leesh knows. And I know. And Fred knows that I know. Plus Leesh knows that I know that he knows that I know, and knows what it is that he and I know and know that she knows. So, none of this can have looked very good to Fred.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Alicia yanked on my wrist and saw my color changing bracelet.

"He gave it to you?"

Sigh. "Yes."

"And, based on that conversation and his facial expression he fancies you."

"Possibly. Probably." Sigh again. "Yes, looks like it, and we've messed up everything between us."

"Oh this is wonderful!"

I then looked at Alicia like she was slightly insane. Well, mostly insane actually. I mean, I go and date someone, Fred does the same, she finds out he fancies me, while I am denying my hidden feelings for him from even this diary out of denial…and she thinks it's wonderful?

"How exactly is this wonderful?"

"Well, now you can tell Fred you fancy him to and you two can date!"

"Andrew Rimmer and Stephanie Stevenson might pose a small objection to that plan. As might Fred, in his current state of romantic blonde bliss, and oh, me! I am by no means going to leave one great guy for Fred, Leesh."

"Oh."

She looked crestfallen for about a minute, before suddenly beaming at me and announcing she was telling Trish. I rolled my eyes and walked towards the castle. She obviously wasn't that upset over George anymore.

After quickly talking to Andrew, who is doing fine and is oblivious to all this, I headed upstairs to confide in you.

I wish that Fred would have confessed some other time when we both weren't in relationships. I'm flattered, but I can't do a thing about it and it will only elevate the level of awkwardness we are already suffering from.

This is worse then the problems I was facing with Umbridge, at least she only makes me feel one emotion: blind hatred.

Authors' Note; Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, it was very revealing, and I thought it was fun to write. And fun to edit, especially in a deathly silent algebra class after a test. Especially when I find a phrase like "The wheels in my hind clicked." Thanks for telling them that. I was in a fit of silent giggles. A lot more dialogue then I normally have, so it isn't the greatest. Nah, ya did well. Still, it was fun, and its important. Pivotal, I'm so proud of my bracelet plot point. I can't wait to see this from Fred's POV. MwaaHAA! …neither can I.

The correct answer to the challenge was C, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I loved that line myself, good book too. Not bad, but not spectacular. Like Oliver Twist, which also has similarly hilarious lines. Thanks to all who participated! This chapter is dedicated to the winners: Angelface04 and Moonbugg! Also, Moonbugg was our ONE HUNDREDTH REVIEWER! (this time around…anyone remember who it was in the original before the Deletion?)

Angelface04: Well, first off I wanted to thank you for the wonderfully long review, it made me absolutely ecstatic to receive it. Truly, we were both online at the time and Tev was thrilled with the length as she emailed it to me. I am extremely happy we surprised you with Steph, who appears to rather like her pink trainers. Excessively, but we haven't even gotten into the fluffy pink scarf…Although, she might become so obsessed with Fred she changes them to a reddish orange to match his hair, you never know what kind of characters we will produce. Nor do we…

You are CORRECT! Congratulations, keep an eye out for Base. Base shallith be BRILLIANT. Being the first review we received, I was loving her character since the first sentence, imagining her in the context I'll be writing her in. I won't even comment on how you designed her, since I wouldn't want to ruin it when she finally does appear. And I hope you look up the word tawny, I also thought it was talking about a shade of brown. It is.

Now, as for co-writing, its unfortunate you didn't want me to hog the answer. Or me. Darn.

Basically, Proma was already my beta reader, so she knew my style and was used to working with me, --and being ridiculously free with editing-- I thought she was great, so I suggested we co-write a story about Fred and Angelina. I had the basic idea, but we have awesome continusious IM conversations (to this day our plot is still be altered ever so slightly but brilliantly) and brainstorm a lot of spiffy ideas. So spiffy; we've got loads of word document pages full of our brainstorming sessions, and we've even had to construct timelines to keep all our mad ideas straight. Since we have boundaries (I write Ang, she does Fred) we don't step on each others toes. At least not so much that it really hurts. Luckily we also generally agree about the direction of the story, and when all else fails, I give in and follow the fluffy route. Yeah, there's a lot of compromising though. I may want something one way, Tev'll want it another, then we combine and come up with an even spiffier way to do it and co-writing earns its name.

The Mysterious M; Thanks, but you're wrong. Way to be blunt, Tev. Sorry, I just read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and I thought that the first few pages were brilliant. But, I think you got lots of input on Rimmer, so I wouldn't be too put out. Yes, we do love him oh-so.

CrazyMonkey; Thanks for reviewing! Glad you thought it was unexpected. Mwahaa.

Dark Hermit Kaelin; I don't think Arianna reads fanfiction either, and your the only person I know in real life who I gave my penname to. Same here; I only gave mine to one person, but she's been too busy to read lately. Pity. Correction, I just gave Arianna my fictionpress name. But I made her promise not to comment at all.

But really, you weren't really my friend when I did it. No offense. You should of guessed! Really, what was there to lose? I know I've complained about Tom Sawyer a few times, that gave you two options and you already crossed off the other one. Shame. Truly. I complained about Tom Sawyer too, possibly because of its glaring lack of something important like…a plot.

Silver Pensive; Glad you are enjoying it! And thanks for continuing to review!

Funny CIde; Sorry, but you guessed wrong so your little addition won't make the cut. More bluntness from Tev. Well, I am a very blunt person. But the character was great! Thanks for reviewing!

Nikki; That character sounds a lot like yourself in chapter two. Hmmm…perhaps you were combining new character and yourself? You got it wrong though, sorry. Thanks for reviewing! Dittoooo.

Moonbugg- SHE'S BACK! Throws confetti Good thing too, I was about to email you and nag. Nagging is fun though. You're going to have to use author alerts if this is what happens when you don't. Or story alerts, that way you won't know if I update anything else. Yes, GO TEV'S LINES! I love it when people cheer for me. Like that one starbucks commercial. I'm never going to understand how easily people can just go back and reread our story. It makes me cringe. Chapter One, ick. We just go back and check facts, but other than that we've never reread at all. No, and I never really want to. We just…can't. Unless this is just me being weird and Tev actually does reread? Nope, only the first paragraph of chapter one, and then I had to stop. But I don't think…

Yes, Gr--. Enjoyed writing that over; I figured Fred would go to write Grimmauld Place every time but then it wouldn't show up. Although I was a tad confused reading it the first time, I'm a bit slow. Yes, they were probably in pajamas, I think I meant Fred to grab a dressing gown or a pair of socks or…something. Maybe a nice hat? I always thought blue would be a good color for him. You decide. Yes, poor George, losing his girl now. Though I would like to point out, at one time he had the affections of Angelina and Alicia. So you can't really complain about Fred getting all the female attention. Well, actually, he's getting rid of her. Change getting to got.

You wish your family would behave as Angelina's? Um, yea. Wow. Then, maybe me and Proma's friends should move to your house. Ah, I did say Fred, didn't I? I always do that. No idea why. I can't count how many times I've had to delete the word 'Fred' and write in 'George', though. I wasn't even aware of this problem. It's sad, really.

You were right in your guess for the contest, but you didn't give a character entry! Meanie. It's all right if you don't want to, though; we've got a pretty good one and you added to Andrew Rimmer as well in the beginning. You are just a winner! However, if you feel the burning need to describe a random character you can, but know that we'll be combining it precariously with Angelface04's eccentric character Base. So you might want to read her review. Glad you're back! Really glad.

Esendrian Thore- Wow, nice name. Yes, I am a HUGE and madly obsessed Harry Potter fan. Potterhead, really. It gives me the largest audience, and isn't bad. Thanks for the review! Thank you very much!

Nixie- Glad you're loving it! Keep reviewing! Thanks!

ShanniC- This isn't really a review response, but we saw ourselves in your C2 and would love a little review0like feedback! Thanks for putting us in your C2, though! Feels special. Extra special. Although I don't know if your still reading this, maybe we should e-mail you.