That evening, Rose thought that Fred looked much less cheerful than he usually did. He was on his own, reading a school book while he was usually trying out his products on the first years who volunteered.

"Hey, George, what's wrong with Fred today?" She asked him.

She had noticed that she hadn't crossed him once since that morning breakfast and she was worried. Was he mad at her for some reason or was he in trouble?

"What do you mean?" George asked her, knowing what she meant but wanting to see what she had noticed.

"He looks… I don't know, upset or something. Did something happen?" She asked him.

"He's a bit annoyed at something, but maybe it would cheer him up if you went to spend some time with him." George told her with a little smile, making her blush.

"What do you mean?" She asked, pretending she didn't know that everyone believed he liked her.

"I think you know what I mean." George whispered.

"Is he… Is it my fault? Did I do something?" She asked George.

"Not yet."

"It can't… It's not because I spoke with Draco Malfoy this morning, is it?" She asked.

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner." The twin she didn't crush on replied.

"But it was nothing!"

"Malfoy laughed, and you didn't look upset. It's enough for him."

"So he's jealous? But he hasn't made a move or anything! I... He never said that he wanted… I…" Rose didn't know what to say, she was blushing now.

"Lee and I have something to do, why don't you go and try to talk to him yourself?" George suggested before he left the common room, followed by Lee Jordan.

Taking a deep breath and deciding to be brave like any true Gryffindor should be, she walked toward Fred, who was reading his Defense against the Dark Arts book.

"Hey Fred, are you okay?" She asked him, sitting in front of him, on a seat that was so close that her knees almost touched his.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked her back with a smile, surprised to see her in front of him.

"You're much quieter than we're all used to. I'm worried." She smiled.

"I… It's nothing. What about you, how was your day?" he asked her, trying to change the subject and obviously happy to see her interested in him.

"Nice enough but I'm in need of some fresh air. We still have about an hour and a half before curfew, I was thinking of taking a walk outside." She told him.

"Alone?" He exclaimed.

"Everyone else seems very busy." She replied, ignoring that Hermione's only occupation was reading Hogwarts' History for the 45th time while Harry and Ron played chess.

"You shouldn't go alone, we never know what could happen." He replied, shaking his head.

"Well, if you're not too busy, you could always join me." She asked him with a smile, her heart beating faster than it usually did.

"Sure, I guess I could accompany you, if you want me to." He smiled, his book already closed.

"I would like that very much. I'm sure you'll be great company." She smiled, trying to be flirtatious.

It must have worked because she saw something in Fred's eyes and, with a bright smile, he stood up, dropped his book on the armchair and offered her his arm to guide her outside.

As they walked out of the common room, Rose could feel several pair of eyes on her and she tried not to pay attention to them all.

"Do you want to go anywhere specific?" he asked her once they were in the corridor.

"Not really. Maybe take a walk in the park?" She suggested, suddenly a lot more nervous than she had been earlier.

"Perfect." He smiled and, still holding her arm with his, he guided her there.

They walked in comfortable silence until they were in the park, once there, Fred guided her to an isolated spot where they'd be able to sit and watch over the lake, which was beautiful at this time of the day. They sat down, face to face, with a leg on each side of the stone bench.

"So, you seemed upset earlier… I… Are you sure you're okay?" She asked him.

"Of course I am, how could I not be in such wonderful company?" He asked her, making her blush.

"You… When I went to speak with Draco earlier… You know that it was just to try and be nice with their house so they didn't try anything against our cheerleading team because we didn't invite them to join, right?"

"Really? He seemed kind of interested in more when you left…" Fred replied with a little frown.

"I kind of tried to hint that if he wanted to change sides, Sirius and Dumbledore would be able to help keep his mother safe, keep him safe. Then I reminded him about him putting the poster in his common room and he laughed, wondering if I made this offer just so that I'd get my way about the poster." She explained.

"I saw the way he looked at you when you left… He was definitely considering things." Fred shook his head.

"I didn't notice and even if he did, I don't care. I don't see him that way." She shook her head.

"Is there anyone that you see that way?" he asked her and, deciding to play a little with him, she told him:

"Kind of. I… I think Neville has been very nice to me and… I really like him." She replied as seriously as she could and, when she saw his face, she knew that he believed her and couldn't hold her laugh.

"You got me!" He ended up saying with an amused smile, once he understood that she had lied to see his reaction.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself." She smiled.

"I guess I deserved that…" he nodded.

"I think that you already know my answer to your question though. It's not like I tried to hide it." She whispered, blushing and suddenly feeling very insecure, she looked down.

A few seconds later, she felt Fred's hand on her cheek. He caressed it tenderly before lifting her head so that she could look at him. He was a bit closer to her than before and his eyes had a spark she couldn't quite identify but liked seeing there.

"Am I right to hope that you feel the same way about me as I do about you?" He asked her softly.

"I think so, but to be sure, you should tell me how you feel." She replied with a smile.

"I really do like you, Rose. I have since the first time I saw you, when you appeared in Dumbledore's office and ran in your brother's arms. Every moment in your company since then has only increased my feelings for you. I love that you stand up for yourself, and the people you care about. I love that you manage to be smart, beautiful, fun and kind. I love it when you smile and I hate it when other boys speak with you or make you smile." He told her, sincerely and very seriously.

"You think I'm beautiful?" She asked him.

"Of course I do. How could I not? As far as I'm concerned, you're the prettiest in this school." He smiled.

"I… I like you a lot too. I immediately felt strongly for you. I can't explain it, I can't explain why I feel this way for you and not for your brother, I just do. And I hated earlier when I thought that you looked down because of me." She replied.

"Well, I'm feeling much happier now." He smiled, moving even closer to her so that they were now touching.

"What now?" She asked with a small blush.

"Now? I'd really like it if everyone knew we were together, that you're my girlfriend. But before it happens, you'd have to agree to be my girlfriend." He smiled.

"That's something I could be interested in." She smiled, moving her head a little closer to his.

"Really?" He asked her as he moved his head closer to her.

"Really." She nodded.

Her lips were now barely an inch from his, waiting for him to make the first move.

"Be my girlfriend, Rose." He whispered before he gave her a first tender kiss on her lips.

It wasn't a deep or passionate kiss, just a simple kiss to seal his plea and give her a taste of what was to come between them.

"I'd love to." She nodded with a bright smile before he placed his hand on her neck and pulled her in another kiss.

This second kiss was deeper and more passionate, though it didn't grow too heated.

"Why did you wait so long?" She asked him after half an hour of making out.

"I wanted to wait until you had time to settle in this new life, and new school, but barely a week after class started, we heard a sixth year guy saying how hot you were and how he'd like to ask you out. I didn't think, I just acted and hexed him. George told me that if I waited too long, someone else might win you over and I started to grow jealous of anyone you spoke with that wasn't a girl, Harry, Ron or George." He replied honestly, keeping his arms around her waist as he spoke.

"Neville told me about your little talk to him." She confessed.

"He did?" Fred was surprised.

"He's nice. I think he was trying to help you out." She smiled.

"That's nice of him. Don't worry, I wasn't threatening to him." He reassured her.

"I know." She smiled.

"My initial plan was good though, romantic. I'm sure you would have loved it." Fred confessed.

"What was it?" She asked him.

"I don't think I'll tell you now. I might reuse it later, update it, you know… I'd like to keep the surprise complete." He told her with a wink.

"Alright, as you wish." She smiled.

"It's getting cold, we should head back inside. I wouldn't want you to get sick or anything." He told her and she nodded.

Fred stood up first and held out his hand to Rose, who took it. However, he didn't seem to think that it was enough because they had barely walked a few steps that he placed his arm around her waist, keeping her even closer to him.

They took the long way to Gryffindor tower, stopping in a few secret passages to make out some more without being seen by anyone.

"So, will you still get out of your way to cross me between classes or did you only do that because you wanted to make sure nobody else charmed me away?" She asked him once they stopped kissing.

"I think you'll still see me often between classes." He replied with a big smile, not even trying to hide the fact that he had been doing this on purpose.

I hope you liked it.

Those of you who wanted Fred with Rose should be happy, right?

Review please?

Lorelei Candice Black