Disclaimer: The song "Dirty Little Secret" belongs to the All American Rejects and their record label. "Something There" belongs to the writers of the song whose names I do not know and Walt Disney. The WB and Amy Sherman Palladino own a quote in this chapter, it's from Gilmore Girls with a few words tweaked to fit, but generally the same quote. All of the characters in this chapter, with the exceptions of Lauren, Reese, Reese's boyfriend, Pierre, Lara, Lena, Kristin, Liam, Pierre and Liam's parents, Pierre and Liam's maternal grandparents, Headmaster Benson, Michael, Eric's mother and Eric, belong to JK Rowling, the WB, Scholastic Publishing and Bloomsbury Publishing. Scrabble belongs to its respective board game company which I do not know the name of because I am not intelligent enough to be a scrabble player.

Pre Author's Note: There are no HBP spoilers in this chapter on the off chance that you are reading this before you read HBP. There are however minor spoilers in the author's note, hence the pre-author's note, and I just wanted to warn you so you didn't hex me.


Author's Note: As you all are well aware of, this story was written before the release of 'Half Blood Prince'. I don't think that there will be too many issues with this story from anything HBP revealed as it is rather withdrawn from the plot, but I just wanted to say that some details later may not totally line up, for instance in this story, Lavender Brown has no past with Ron, only Hermione does. All other relationships seem to line up (Harry and Ginny are a couple in this story, I believe that I mentioned this in an earlier chapter, not that that really makes a difference to this plot, so if you are against that pairing, it really has no major part to this plot). The character whose death shall not be mentioned will not have any part or impact on this story.

Special thanks to Rani Singala for pointing out Pierre's lack of accent in the story. I never meant for him to have an accent, only Marie, and after the review I realized that I hadn't properly explained why. Hopefully this chapter will explain it.

Thanks for reading this note and please read the chapter and review! I love reviews!


I'll keep you my dirty little secret

My dirty little secret

Don't tell anyone

Or you'll be just another regret

Hope that you can keep it

My dirty little secret

Who has to know?

When we live such fragile lives

It's the best way we survive

Going around a time or two

Just to waste my time with you

Tell me all that you've thrown away

Find out games you don't wanna play

You're the only one that needs to know

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

Dirty Little Secret by All American Rejects


Chapter Twelve: Dirty Little Secret

"You've lost your bloody mind if you think I would ever go out in public wearing that."

"Lav, I'm going to have to agree with Mione on this one. Ugh!" Seamus said.

"What don't you like about it?" Lavender asked, holding the dress up by the hanger.

"Where should we start?" I asked.

"The taffeta-" Seamus continued.

"-the gigantic bow on the back-"

"-the poofiness-"

"-the bubblegum colour-"

"-the sequins-"

"-did I mention the bow-"

"Fine! I get it!" Lavender hissed, but she was not really pissed off.

"Why don't we put this frustrating shopping trip on hold and go grab some lunch?" Seamus suggested.

"I am kind of hungry," Lavender agreed, thankfully, as she put the poofy sequined bubblegum bowed dress back on the wall.


"I'll bet you're glad to see me," a voice behind me said, quite perky.

"Now why would I want to see you?" I teased, turning around to find my sister in law, leaning against the counter.

Katie laughed. "Because I brought something." She said, holding up a brown bag.

"Go on, I'm listening, elaborate please." I said, shelving the new shipment of fake wands behind the counter.

"Elaborate?" Katie questioned. "My Fred, I didn't know you knew such big words. You haven't been hanging around Hermione Granger, now have you?"

I think I would have been less shocked if she told me that she was leaving George to go join a muggle rock band in Canada. She startled me so bad that I jumped back in shock and knocked the box of wands on the stool right over.

"Fred, you okay there?" Katie laughed. Great going Fred, way to act like a bloody moron. Katie and George had absolutely no clue about Hermione. Katie's not stupid though and if I kept acting like that she would suspect something. Merlin knows Katie loves playing detective and won't give up until she solves the "mystery". You should have seen her playing this game called clue. Talk about competitive. Ron figured the puzzle out before she did and she stomped off claiming she had to make tea while muttering under her breath. Of course, losing to Ron really is hard to take. I mean, come on, it's Ron.

"Just dropped some wands." I said from my spot on the floor where I was busy picking up the scattered wands.

"I can see that." She laughed handing me a few that were near her.

"Thanks," I mumbled, determined not to screw up anymore.

It had been nearly five weeks since Hermione and mine's attempted first date. We have had several wonderful dates since then and I think it was around our third or fourth that we decided to keep things hush hush. Lavender and Seamus were the only ones who sort of knew and we hoped to keep it that way until things were really serious between us. Not that things aren't now but given her past relationships and my family we decided it was best to keep our mouths shut. It would just be better for everyone that way. Or at least that's what we thought.

"So, what's the surprise?" I asked pointing to her bag.

"Oh! Right!" Katie said, temporarily forgetting the very reason she came to the store. "I made lunch for you guys!"

"Wow, thanks," I said, peering the bag.

"We have some tuna salad sandwiches and some homemade potato salad." Katie said, quite proudly. I didn't have the courage to ask if she made the homemade potato salad, she looked so happy, but let's face it, Katie's cooking skills rank only slightly above George and mine's. And that's a bad thing.

"Yum," I said, trying to be enthusiastic.

"Where is George?" Katie asked, suddenly noticing that her husband was missing.

I pushed the door to the back room open. "Hey, George there's some whacko out here to see you!" I yelled, prompting Katie to smack me on the arm.

"Tell Ron I'll talk to him later!" He called back from somewhere deep in the store room.

Katie looked playfully livid at George's response. "No, it's the other whacko!" I yelled back, trying not to laugh.

"Percy?"

"Um, no, the other one," I answered, now laughing. Katie was tapping her foot.

"I'll be out in a minute." He grumbled, his voice traveling towards the door.

"Oh, I like this whacko," George said a second or two later, planting a kiss on Katie's cheek.

"I like you too, sweetheart." Katie said, taking his hand and pulling him towards the lunch she laid out on the counter.

"You made potato salad?" George said in a tone that clearly suggested we shouldn't eat it.

"I know it's your favorite." Katie beamed.

"It is." He mumbled through a mouthful of the potato salad she handed him. If the face he made was any indication of the taste, I would rather eat a fake wand. "Mmm, good." He told her and gave her a hug.

Ah, the things people do for love.


The three of us were sitting in the middle of our flat's living room, surrounded by stacks of magazines titled things like Wizarding World Weddings, Bewitching Brides, and The Modern Witch's Guide to Weddings.

"Remember we need to include some muggle elements into this." Seamus reminded Lavender, who was busy flipping through one of the magazines wearing a pair of accessory-not-necessity reading glasses. "My dad's family is muggle."

"I know, Seamus. I have met your father." Lavender replied, looking up for only a second.

"What kind of muggle things did you want?" I asked Seamus.

He shrugged. "I don't really know anything about muggles. I just don't want to spook the muggles."

"Toned down. Got it." I said. "We'll keep it magical-creature free."

"Magical creature free?" Lavender cried out. "You mean no unicorn drawn carriage?"

"No!" Seamus and I said in unison.

"I will not ride in a unicorn carriage." Seamus said, folding his arms across his chest.

"Lavender, you will look silly." I told her, trying to help Seamus out. The poor guy should not have to be in a frilly fairy tale wedding.

"Maybe I want to look silly." She hissed back, taking a few to seconds to realize what she said. "Wait, that came out wrong-" but she was cut off by Seamus and I laughing and her skin turning the color of the roses in the advertisement she was holding.

"It's not funny!" She squealed, still red, Seamus and I laughing harder "Well, you know what, you two party poopers should go have your own unicorn-free wedding!"

Seamus trying not to laugh anymore, just stared at her, "Lavender, did you just suggest that your best friend and I get married?"

Lavender once again just realized what she said and fumed even more. "Shut up!" She hissed but eventually broke down into a fit a giggles with the rest of us. She pretended to strangle us but it ended in one big group hug.

"Okay, there won't be any unicorns." She said, her breathing heavy from laughing.

"Thank Merlin." Seamus replied, that comment earning him a smack in the face with the sofa pillow from Lavender. "Hey!"

"You deserved it." She smirked.

"Remind me again why I'm marrying you." He teased.

"Cause you love me." She said, leaning over to kiss him.

"That's right." He said with a smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the King and Queen of Sappy Romantics" I teased.

"Shut up!" They laughed, both of them pelting me with a pillow.


"This really is good potato salad," I tried to tell Katie, but she just wouldn't listen. I knew she knew that I was lying and she knew that I knew that she knew that she was lying.

"Fred, you are lying." She said, waving her finger in my face. "It's written all over your face!"

"What is it spelled out freckles?" I asked, just to annoy her. Katie can get quite defensive.

"Fred, you have the same "I'm lying" face as George! Why don't you like it? George likes it! You two are twins! You should have the same tastes!" Katie said, following me out from behind the counter as I restocked the shelf of day dream potions.

"George doesn't like it either!"

"Yes he does."

"For someone who knows our "I'm lying" face you sure missed his when he ate that potato salad."

"Really? Well, if you're now the culinary genius, what's wrong with it?"

"Too much mayonnaise, too much salt, not enough potato."

"Anything else, su chef?"

"I think that covers it."

"Fine." She huffed, but of course she wasn't really mad. Katie and I had brutally honest kind of relationship. We've never lied to protect each other's feelings, so we really respected each other in that manor, but it could cause disputes at times. Okay, a lot of the time, but they were never serious.

"Where do these go?" She asked, motioning to a few of the boxes in her arms, already forgetting that she was mad about my potato salad critique. I feel so educated using words like "critique". It's the oddest of feelings.

"Punching telescopes go on the top shelf to avoid anymore accidents." I told her.

Katie scowled. "Of course, the shelf I can't reach."

Katie was George's replacement for the evening. George went to a dinner meeting with the company that publishes our catolog. I used to go with him but now he won't let me. Just because this one time I told the publisher that he had a big glop of food on his face and it turned out to be his mole, George won't let me tag along. I know, he is so overreacting.

"Ladder." I said, motioning to the ladder that was connected to shelves. It rolls back and forth between them. It is so much fun to ride when Katie or our mother isn't looking. They both yell that we are bound to hurt ourselves when really it was only that one time that Ron stepped in the way of the sliding ladder that anyone ever got hurt.

"Magic." Katie retorted, and with a wave of her wand all the products flew up onto the shelf. She always has to be different.

It was a Monday night in Hogsmeade, so it was rather dull. Our Diagon Alley branch was probably a little more busy but not by much.

"Lauren and I are going out." Katie called into the back room.

"What?"

"George, c'mon, let her go," Lauren whined when I came out of the back. Lauren is Katie's newest best friend. She is my age but she looks like she's sixteen. I swear, she could pass for a sixth, maybe even fifth year. She's about five foot even with puppy dog blue eyes and blonde hair, both of which she uses when she doesn't get her way. Watch.

"I'm not-" I started to say but she didn't let me finish.

"No one is here!" Lauren whined, flipping her hair and batting her eyes. See?

"-George" I finished.

"Oh, yay! Let's go! Mandy said she'd meet us there," Lauren said, grabbing Katie's hand.

"You can't just leave!" I said, looking at Katie.

"George, there is no one here." Lauren pointed out, already forgetting my name.

"But the store is open until nine. It's only seven thirty." I retorted.

"You can stay here by yourself for two and half hours." Lauren snapped, flipping her hair again. If you haven't noticed, Lauren is not the brightest of witches.

"That's not the point." I said.

The bell on the front door rang. Somone came in. This did not stop Lauren.

"Pretty please, George?"

"George?" Ginny said, she must have been the customer at the door.

"Look! Jenny's here! She can stay with you!" Lauren said.

"Jenny?" Ginny said, an eyebrow raised.

"C'mon, we're slow, Fred." Katie pleaded and I gave in because it really wasn't worth my sanity to say no and have to deal with her for another hour and a half.

"Uh, bye." Ginny said as Katie and Lauren plowed their way out of the store. "So, how's my favorite brother doing?" she asked, plopping her purse on the counter and then herself.

"Ah, I bet you say that to all your brothers." I teased.

"Yeah, I do." She laughed and turned around to face me. "So how's business?"

"Good. I mean it's slow right now, but hey it's a Monday night. If I wasn't here, I'd be at home doing nothing." I admitted, sitting down on the stool behind the counter.

Ginny smirked with a smirk that I swear she wiped right off Draco Malfoy's face. "You wouldn't be out with your girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?" I repeated, the second time today someone caught me off guard about Hermione. "Do you know something I don't know?"

"Fred, lose the act." Ginny said, dead serious. "I know you have a girlfriend. Who is she?"

"No one." I lied. "I don't have a girlfriend. I've been on dates, but you know me, committment ranks up there with potions reports."

"That's bull and you know I know it." Ginny said, spinning a fake wand between her fingers.

"I don't have a girlfriend," I repeated.


"Wanna see some magic, Mione?" Eric asked, holding a wand in his hand.

"Eric! You are underage!" I said, trying to take the wand from him.

"Silly goose, it's fake," He laughed, pleased that he surprised me before it turned into a rubber chicken.

"That was a good one." I said, catching my breath. He scared me, that's all I needed was the Ministry coming because I let my babysitting charge perform magic.

"I know." He laughed again. "Mummy bought it for me today. Michael's got one too."

"Really?" I repeated, making a mental to watch out for that one.

"Yup. We went to Diagon Alley for lunch and then to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes." He said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "That's a mouthful you know."

"Really?" I said, pulling plates out of the cabinet.

"Yup. Michael can't say it three times fast." Eric was proud of that, I assumed that meant he could.

I hadn't babysat the boys in nearly a month since their mother started to work from home. It really was quite all right with me, I enjoyed the spare time since my mornings were quite busy with the tv show now. But today, their mother had come overn asking if I'd mind watching the boys for a few hours, she really needed to get out for a bit and didn't have the heart to say no.

"Eat your pasta," I said, setting the plate down in front of him. "Michael dinner!"

"Doesn't this look like skinny flobberworms?" Eric asked, holding up a strand of spaghetti.


"So, how's Harry?" I asked, trying to shift Ginny's focus.

"Harry's fine, Fred." Ginny said of her husband. "He was fine yesterday when you played quidditch with him and the guys, remember?"

"Oh, yeah," I said, honestly forgetting about that.

Ginny laughed. "You know, it's amazing you are able to tie your shoes."

"I know a spell." I teased and she smiled.

"So, who's the girl?" She repeated.

"You want to know the truth?" I said, leaning closer.

"Yeah." She said, leaning closer, elbows on my countertop, and for a split second I thought she was Lavender Brown, lover of all things gossip.

"Too bad," I whispered and turned to walk away.


"Oh, my god," I said, collapsing on the sofa as soon as I came home. Babysitting is tiring, very tiring. Between the flobberworm/spaghetti debate, Michael's wand that turns into a flower that squirts stinksap, a hidden canary cream in Michael's pudding cup and then Eric running around the house screaming because he was covered in stinksap because Michael pointed the wand at him after Eric turned him into a canary, I was dead tired. I don't know how their mother does it twenty-four seven.

"Lavender?" I called down the hall towards our bedrooms. "Lav?"

There taped to my bedroom door was a note in Lavender's big, bubbly handwriting.

Mione, my Maid of Honor

Seamus and I are mailing our wedding invitations! I know, crazy, right?

After that, we're placing the orders for the flowers! Clear your schedule

for next Tuesday for the bridesmaid dress fittings.Skyler and Ginny

said that day was good but if it isn't for you, I'll change it.

Fred stopped by earlier. He and Katie are working at the store tonight. He

said he'll owl tomorrow or something

Love ya!

I was kind of glad that Lavender wasn't home. Don't get me wrong, she's my best friend, one of the sisters I never had, but I am kinda of bored with this wedding stuff. I know, it's the most important day of her life, but does she need to discuss it every waking minute of the day? I mean, she has changed her wedding dress color eleven times. ELEVEN! First it was pink then pale pink then bubblegum pink then red then yellow then a bunch of colors I don't remember then finally, as of this morning it is dark purple. But by Tuesday it could change seven more times and an additional thirteen times before the actual wedding. I just want a conversation that doesn't involve taffeta or cake toppers or flower girl dresses or seating arrangements.


"That was funny," Ginny said, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration.

"Thank you." I said, straightening the exploding cauldron display. George would be so happy, I had gotten quite a lot accomplished while trying to avoid Ginny's questions.

"Well, I give up." She said, watching me.

"Good."

"Fred! Why won't you tell your own sister who you are dating?"

"We want to keep it quiet."

"So there IS someone!"

"Shut up."

"I knew it!"

"Could you just drop it 'kay?"

"Fine. I have somewhere to go anyway."

"Where?"

"Tell me who and I'll tell you where."

"Uh, let me think about it...no!"

"Fine! I'll meet her at Mum's party next week. You'll have to bring her!"


"Coming!" I shouted at the knock at the door but waited a few more seconds before actually getting off my behind and answering it.

"Oh, this better be good..." I muttered as I stepped out into the hallway, pulling my apartment door shut behind me.

"I needed to talk to you."

"Well, I'm not listening."

"Mione, you have to understand-"

"Um, no I don't."

"Mione, please-"

"Come here." I said, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him in the stairwell that led to the roof

"My, you've had a change of heart." Pierre smirked and leaned in to kiss me.

"Merlin, no!" I said, pushing him away. "I just didn't want my nosy neighbor watching!"

"Oh." he said, actually looking embarrassed.

I walked away from him and up the stairs to the roof.

"Can we talk?" He asked, following me up.

"I'm not really in a talking mood." I snapped, taking the box that was in his hand and using it as a doorstopper.

"Then you listen and I'll talk."

I didn't answer due to the fact that I was trying to resist the urge to punch him and he took this as a yes.

"I'm sorry."

"You know, that almost sounded genuine."

"Well, I'm glad to see those acting classes were worth the money." He teased. I glared. "Okay, too early to joke. Got it."

"Why are you here?" I asked, turning around to look at him.

"I wanted to apologize." He said, really, truly looking sorry. "Not because I want anything. Just because you deserve it."

"Thank you."

"I never meant to hurt you." He continued. "Everything would have been different if I'd met you first."

"Everything?" I asked, skeptical of this.

"Mione, my feelings for you were genuine. I swear." Pierre said, looking at me and then turning to look over the edge of the building. "The only thing I lied about was Marie."

"That was a pretty big thing."

"I just came here to say that I'm sorry. For treating you the way I did. I am so so sorry. It's all my fault. I don't know what's wrong with me. You were the most amazing girlfriend in the world. You made me so happy. I really loved you, please believe that. I am truly sorry that I hurt you and I'm going to miss you so much. I just don't want you to hate me." Pierre said, looking quite upset.

"Maybe you shouldn't be such a jerk if you don't want people to hate you."

"I got you something." He said as if he suddenly remembered it. He picked the box he brought off the ground and handed it to me.

"What is it?" I asked and he opened it. A music box.

There's something sweet

"You said you loved this song." He remembered handing it to me. "I went to this muggle town on the shore and I knew it was for you."

And almost kind

"Pierre, you shouldn't have." I said, still entranced by the box.

But he was mean and he was coarse

"It's not a try and buy you back thing. It's an I'm sorry thing. I knew you'd like it more than forgive me flowers."

And unrefined

"I love this song. They played it during my favorite part of the movie." I said, thinking about the movie.

And now he's dear and so unsure

"I remember. When Belle and the Beast are in the library reading the book by the fire."

I wonder why I didn't see it there before

"I can't accept this." I said, pushing the box back in his hands.

"Take it." He said, handing it right back.

"I have a boyfriend." I blurted out, not quite sure why. I mean I wasn't sure Fred was even my boyfriend. I wasn't sure I even wanted to call him my boyfriend.

"I figured." He answered.

"You figured?"

"Okay, actually, Marie told me." Pierre confessed, sitting on the ledge of the building.

"You are still talking with Marie?" I asked, cautiously sitting next to him. I've never liked being near the edge. One movement and I would fall, unable to recover.

Pierre nodded. "Well long enough for her to tell me that she was married. Oliver Wood." He told me, not knowing that I had interviewed Marie on television several weeks earlier. "She told me to leave you alone, give you time before apologizing."

I just sat there unsure of what to say, instead of talking I just smoothed my hair down with my fingers, which was quite pointless as it was windy.

"I just want you to know that Marie and I weren't getting married even if you weren't in the picture." Pierre said. "I didn't want you to feel responsible for that."

"I don't." I answered bluntly, even though I didn't truly believe what I was saying. "I blame you."

"Well, that's one thing we agree on." Pierre laughed. "It's just that Marie and I weren't right and we both knew it whether or not we said it to each other."

"Then why did you propose if you knew you weren't right for each other?" I asked, no longer worrying about the edge.

"I didn't." Pierre admitted, looking at me. "She did. She basically came up to me one day in college and said 'where is this relationship going?'. We had been dating for a few years at that point and the next level would be marriage. I asked what she meant, I was like 'what do you want a ring?' and she took that as tomorrow we are going to a jeweler and buying a ring. So I did. I did love her. I just don't think we were right for each other."

"So you decided to go through with the marriage and have someone else on the side?" I asked, knowing it was harsh and crude.

"No. I never planned on that. I just met you and followed my heart not my principles. I never cheated on her before despite what she says. We broke up for a few months our sophmore year and I saw someone else for a few dates during that time. Marie considered that cheating because when we got back together she referred to that time as a "hiatus" not us broken up. We'd been engaged for nearly three years after that. After she sort of proposed we set the date for the wedding, way in the future, as if we figured it would never come. Well, it kept getting closer and we didn't do anything. We never even made plans other than the place, there wasn't going to be any guests, like it never seemed official. We both always knew it was not going to happen. We love each other, we still care about each other, I talked to her yesterday. I mean, if she was honestly really into this wedding, do you think she could have gotten married two days later?"

"Then why not break it off?" I snapped, fingering the music box.

"I had plans to." Pierre said, taking my hand. "Then I met you."

"And you decided 'what the hell, I'll stay engaged?' "

"No. Then I didn't want to be the one to break it off." He said softly.

"What?" I asked, turning to look him in the eyes.

"I wanted her to dump me. I didn't want her to have to say that I dumped her because I met someone else. I didn't want to hurt her. I figured she'd break it off before you found out. I planned on telling you that I was engaged and about her. I just didn't want her to have to say that I met someone else already. I didn't want to be the dumper." He practically whispered.

"I can understand that." I admitted.

"It just didn't work out like I planned."


"No, I don't." I told Ginny. "Mum doesn't know that I have a girlfriend."

"She will." Ginny said, her eyes twinkling.

"That's not fair!" I cried. "Is this to get back at me for telling Mum you were dating Michael Corner?"

"Maybe, that and I'm curious to see who you're hiding."


"So how's your brother doing?" I asked, now sitting Indian style on the wide brick edge of the building, Pierre sitting directly across from me.

"Liam is good. He's actually got a girlfriend. She went to Hogwarts, you might know her."

"I might, if you tell me her name." I laughed.

"Good point. It's a Madrigal, Madrigal, um Evans?" He said, struggling to think. "She was a, it started with an S."

"Slytherin?" I suggested.

"That's it!"

"She must not be in my class. I don't know her."

"Well, she's younger than you and Liam." Pierre said, trying to calculate the age in his head.

"Okay, where did you go to school exactly?" I asked, realizing that I never truly knew but clearly Pierre did not go to Hogwarts.

"Beauxbatons."

"Okay, so you are French, yet no accent? What gives, Gregory?"

Pierre smiled. "I'm a muggle military brat. I have lived in seven countries throughout my life. When I was little I actually lived in Canada. My mother is French Canadian, my father is Irish. She attended Hogwarts because my grandparents were bitter rivals of Headmaster Benson, the headmaster of the Canadian University of Wizardy, so they refused to send her there, and she met my father right after she graduated, she moved to Ireland for a short time before she planned on moving back home to Canada. She fell in love and stayed in Ireland with my father. They married and he was transferred overseas, they gave him a choice between a base in Canada and a base in Colombia, my mother asked him to go to Canada, she wanted family. Then I was born, we lived in Canada until I was about six, so I grew up speaking French and English, thus no accent, at least no French accent. The Canadian stuck around for a bit though. We were in France when it was time for me to go to school, so I went to Beauxbatons. Liam went there too, just because I was going there, even though by that time we lived in Bern."

"Switzerland?" I said.

"Yup. Very cold there." He laughed. "Anyway, we never really had one set culture, but our heritage was refelected in our names. Pierre is French, like my mother's side. Liam is Irish, like my father's side. You do however get some pretty interesting looks when people ask our names. Pierre and Liam don't really fit together origin wise."

"No, they don't." I agreed.

"This is nice." He said.

"What?" I asked, resting my head on my knees.

"This. Us. Talking. Without any objects flying at my head." He laughed.

"We're not buddy-buddy." I said.

"I know." He answered, like he truly did understand. Maybe he was different.

"You want to go down and get some coffee?" I asked. "It's getting kind of cold out here. And dark."

"Yeah, sure."

"Um, Pierre?" I said, slowly feeling my anger boil. "Did you move the box that was holding the door open?"

"And you were just starting to tolerate me too...damn!"


"Hello?" I called into her apartment around ten or so that after Ginny finally left the store and I was able to clean up.

"Hello? I come bearing great take-out food and scrabble, your favorite!" I called down the hall towards their bedrooms.

"Fred?" A familiar voice called back. It was not Lavender's or Mione's, Uh, oh, not good.

"Ginny?"

"Fred?"

"What are you doing here?" We asked in unison.

"I'm here to see Hermione. Bridesmaids meeting." Ginny said. "Fred, are you here to see Hermione?"

"No..." I said, desperately searching my mind for a reason that she would believe. "I followed you here?"

"And you brought me take-out and scrabble too?"

"Exactly."

"Nice try."


"You watched me use that box to hold the door open and then you moved it?" I hissed.

"To give it to you!" As if that made it any better.

"We are stuck up here!"

"Relax, we'll just apparate off."

"You can't! They have barriers so intruders can't break in!"

"Yet the front door opens with alohomora?"

"Don't ask me to explain the security system! I didn't design it!"

"Funny, I would have thought you corrected it by now!"

"Well, obviously I didn't!"

"That was a terrible comeback!"

"Well, I'm stuck on a roof with my annoying ex-boyfriend who got us in this mess in the first place and you want me to sit here and come up with witty comebacks? I'm sorry, this situation isn't exaclty condusive to that!"


"Okay, fine you caught me." I lied.

Ginny beamed. "Are you dating Hermione?"

"No!" I yelped, a little too quickly. "I'm dating...Lavender?"

"Lavender, the one who's engaged to Seamus Finnegan?" Ginny pointed out. Oops, forgot about him.

"Well, yeah, but she's going to take care of that." I said, now fully aware that I was way over my head. I wasn't sure who was going to kill me first, Ginny for lying, Seamus for saying that I was dating his fiancee, Lavender for saying that she was cheating on her fiancee, or Hermione for all of the above and denying that I was dating her. I didn't know who yet, but I was pretty confident that I was going down. Like six feet under.

"You know, I probably would have believed you because I've seen Lavender flirt, but you said you brought over scrabble to play." Ginny pointed out. "I don't think Lavender can even spell scrabble."

I remained silent in fear of incriminating myself more than I already had.

"So that leaves our champion speller, the brainiac of the bunch, the resident genius, Hermione Granger."

"Would you believe we're just friends?" I asked.

"I would except it looks like you actually took the time to make sure your clothes matched and weren't wrinkled, so I saying that you definitely aren't just friends."

"You should be a detective."

"I am. I'm Ginny Potter, auror by day, super detective by night."

"Ah, well that explains everything."


"How are we going to get down?"

"Jump?" Pierre suggested, glancing over the edge.

"Fine, you go first, if you land on your feet after six stories then I'll go."

"Hey, you asked for a way to get down. That's a way."

"How about way that won't result in us being carried away on a strecher?"

"Now what's the fun in that?"

"Oh, I wouldn't mind you on a stretcher, it's me I'm worried about." I snapped.

"Self preservation that's the key."

"Would you just shut up?"


"Where is Hermione?" I asked Ginny.

"If I knew would I be sitting here with you?"

"Good point."

"So is it serious?"

"What?"

"Your relationship, moron."

"It's getting there."

"How serious?"

"I don't have any other girlfriends."

"Merlin! It is serious!"

"Yeah, I guess."

"You guess? Fred you were the king of casual dating."

"No, I am not."

"Fred at one point in time, you dated all of the girls that worked in the Diagon Alley branch of your store."

"Now that's not true. I didn't date Reese."

"Her boyfriend worked with her! She doesn't count. You did however date Verity, Lara, Kristin, and Lena."

"Not all at the same time. I broke up with Verity before I dated Lena."

"You were with Verity and Lena when you dated Lara!"

"Really?"

"Ask Verity! Oh wait, you can't, she quit!"

"Not because of me!"

"Yes!"

"She quit because of Kristin!"

"She quit because of you kissing Kristin!"


"Just jump!"

"I can't!"

"Mione, it's like a three foot gap!"

"I could fall!"

"You could also land!"

"Just jump!"

"If I die, I will come back and haunt you."

"I would be honored that you spent the rest of your eternity shadowing me."

I snarled but jumped across the gap between the buildings, Pierre was right, I landed. I almost wanted to fall just to prove him wrong. But I wanted to be in one piece more than I wanted to prove him wrong and so I landed.

"See?"

"Shut up, Pierre."

"Will do." He said, leading me towards the fire escape of the other building.


"I have got to go." Ginny said, picking her purse up off the sofa. "I told Harry I'd be home ten minutes ago. I have another five minutes to show up before he calls in the whole auror department to look for me."

"I'll tell Hermione you were here." I promised.

"And Fred?"

"Yes?"

"Just think about what I said."


"Well, thank you for the music box." I said, as we stood out in front of my apartment building.

"No problem." He said, running his hand through his hair. "Keep in touch, Mione."

"I will." I promised.

"Lunch on the thirteenth?"

"Definitely."

"Good." He kissed me on the cheek and apparated away.

What a weird night. I certainly couldn't tell Fred about Pierre or about our lunch plans or about the music. It would have to remain a secret. My little secret. I feel dirty keeping secrets. This would be the biggest dirty little secret ever.


"Mione!" I said, when she finally walked into the apartment.

"Fred! What are you doing here?" She asked, holding something in her hand.

"I brought dinner about three hours ago." I told her. "Where were you? Had some desperate need to buy a music box?"

"Um, yeah." She answered, definitely seeming a little out of it.

"Mione?"

"Yes, Fred?"

"We have a problem."

"Fred we can reheat the food."

"No, actually it's about Ginny."

"Merlin! Why didn't you say something? Is she hurt? She isn't hurt is she? Did it happen on the job? Does she need soup?"

"No, she's fine and why would she need soup?"

"You always give people soup when they feel bad."

"When they're sick not when they're injured!"

"So she's injured?"

"NO! Would you let me talk?"

"Don't snap at me!"

"All you do is snap at me!"

"That's different."

"How?"

"You say stupid things."

"Hello? Your soup comment wasn't the brightest thing ever said!"

"I was panicked!"

"Excuses..."

"Fred..."

"She knows!"

"Knows what?"

"About us!"

"Shut up!"

"Excuse me?"

"Not shut up, it's just an expression, I picked it up from Lavender."

"Well that explains it."

"What are we going to do?"


FINALLY! I FINISHED THIS CHAPTER! You don't understand this was the chapter from hell. It's still not very good, but this is the fourth chapter twelve I've written and quite frankly I just want to move foward in the plot. Trying to find a song for this chapter was murder too, nothing fit well. Anyways, the next chapter should be way better.

Special thanks to:

Sandiwandi: Thank you! I enjoyed writing the parts with Mrs. Finnegan. I think I'm going to give her a bigger part, against my original idea, just because she was so much fun.

Artyfarty: I will write that e-mail right after I post this! Thanks again!

Thamker: Yes, they are. Thanks for reviewing!

Dolface546: Thank you very much!

Smile88: Sorry it took so long and sorry that when I finally updated it was a pitiful chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

Padfootedmoony: I think I kind of skipped over the interview. I might reference it later though. This chapter actually takes place several weeks after the last chapter. I'm really bad about sticking to a constant pace. I swear I will, but it never happens. The Weasleys reactions will definitely appear within the next few chapters, if not the next one, haven't quite decided yet how to pace that chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

Spikesdreamer: Yes, I feel bad for her too. The only saving grace for Seamus is that Mrs. Finnegan actually does like Lavender, it's Hermione she has issues with. Thanks for reading!

Abel Frye: Thank you!

Hi: Thanks!

SilverGlitterSprite: My, Mrs. Finnegan sure is a popular one. Thanks for the review!

Killrgcriotgirl: Thanks for reading!

Degrassichick: You got to meet Jesse McCartney? Lucky duck! I am so jealous. He is even cuter in person? I wish I was there! Thanks for the review!

Cateyes-120: Thank you! I'm really worried that Fred is a little out of character, he becoming a little too lovey dovey. I'll have to work on that. Thanks for the review!

Sao & Anni: Thank you! I would so appreciate if you guys read that story! You guys are awesome reviewers!

Rema: Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Rini Singala: Hope this explains the accent! I never wanted him to have an accent, his character wasn't actually French, I hadn't realized that I never pointed that out until you said something, so thank you! I had to re-write a whole part of this chapter to explain his lack of accent!

Brittany: Thank you! What do you mean by links? Links to my favorite websites, links to other fanfiction, links to my other stories, links to myspace, links to facebook? I'm not quite sure what you meant. Just clarify and I'll be glad to give you the links if I have them! Thanks for reading!

Close2MiiHeart: Thanks for the review!


Thank you again! Please, please, please review! And if you have any time you'd like to spend reading fanfiction, I'd really love some reviews for my other stories. I love reviews!

Love ya!

Preppy In Pink