Saturday 30th October

Liv arrived at the viewing point of the shrieking shack, heart pounding, breathless, and feeling alive. It hadn't taken her as long as she thought it would have to run here, but of course, she still had the run back to do. She decided to rest a while, sitting under a tree to shade her eyes from the bright but weak October sun, while she drank from the water bottle she had brought with her and took in the view. However, the peace and tranquility were soon disturbed.

"Ollivander?" A loud voice brought Liv's attention to her left, where she saw a broad-shouldered redheaded boy approaching her with a grin.

"What?" she asked Fred, still a little breathless.

"That's what Liv is short for isn't it – Ollivander." As Fred spoke, he continued to walk towards Liv and eventually sat down next to her, lying back in the damp grass while she sat leaning against the tree trunk.

"Oh," said Liv. "Yeah - you got me. That's the one." She looked back towards the view, then realised something. "Why are you alone? Where's George?"

"Christ, we're twins, not conjoined twins. We can be apart, you know."

Liv gave Fred a knowing look – the twins barely left each other's side. When they were apart, there was always a reason. Fred seemed to guess this is what Liv was thinking.

"Detention," he muttered, smiling.

"What for?"

"Got caught doing something he shouldn't've been," Fred was nonchalant as he began to pick the grass around him. His fingers were pink from the cold. When Liv didn't reply, but instead continued to look at Fred knowingly, Fred smiled again. "Look, I'm not saying any more – it's his business." He paused, "Well," he looked away mischievously, "his and the girl he was in the broom cupboard with."

Liv gave a shocked laugh. They sat for a moment in comfortable silence, both enjoying the view and listening to the birds sing to one another. Liv closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the trunk.

"How come you're all the way out here?" she asked lazily, still with her eyes closed. "Hogsmeade boring you already?"

"Nah," he replied. "I wanted to find you. You've Muggle parents, right?"

"Well, me Mam is – a Muggle, that is. Dunno about Dad, never met him, but likely he is too." She lifted her head finally and turned to look at Fred. "Why?"

Rather than answer straight away, Fred paused a moment, meeting Liv's gaze, then asked, "Does it bother you?"

"Being Muggle born?" she laughed, leaning her head back again. "Not a bit."

"No - not knowing your dad."

"Oh," she kept her tone light and answered honestly. "Not really. Mam is parent enough for an army of children, I reckon. She was always honest with me that I was a product of her – let's say, liberated youth in the '70s. It's not like I ever had a father to compare to not having a father, if you get me."

Another comfortable pause fell between them, this time broken by Liv.

"You wanted to find me to figure out my parentage? You thinking of joining Slytherin or something?"

Fred shrugged. "Might be. Or – maybe I'm fishing for some help on my Muggle Studies work."

Liv rolled her eyes. "Why on earth did you take Muggle Studies? I can't imagine anything more boring."

"Mmm, it's dull as hell. But, I dunno – my dad works for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts department in the Ministry. I figured maybe there'd be something interesting in there. I mean, Muggle cars are pretty fun to drive."

Liv frowned at Fred. "You know how to drive? You're fifteen!"

Fred winked, grinning. "I'm wise beyond my years. And stop frowning, Mandrake-face."

"Good insult," Liv said sarcastically. "Mam wants me to get driving lessons when I'm seventeen. I don't see the point – I'll just learn how to apparate, but she reckons it's an "important life skill" that I might need one day."

"She's not wrong," said Fred, nodding solemnly. "Mrs Jones seems a wise woman to me – I think we'd get on like a house on fire."

"Well, you certainly won't if you call her Mrs Jones – it's Ms, but generally she prefers Gwen, anyway."

"Noted," he said seriously. "Speaking of names – is dear Gwendolin the hero that gave you a secret name that isn't Olivia or Ollivander?"

Liv laughed and shook her head. "It's honestly not that big of a deal – I don't think it's a horrible name or anything, it's just – there was a bit of teasing that happened in my primary school, and when I arrived here I was determined to not let it happen again. Tried to reinvent myself as this cool kid, you know?"

"But then you got sorted in Ravenclaw and it all went out the window anyway," Fred nodded.

She rolled her eyes. "Do you want homework help or not? Anyway – Liv is short for Olive. Gwen thought she was being symbolic by giving me a name that represented peace – you know, child of the sixties and all that."

Fred smiled while continuing to stare at Liv. His green eyes were squinting from the sun but were twinkling nonetheless. "I like it. It's old-fashioned. Suits you."

Liv – to her horror – felt herself turning pink and decided to quickly distract herself with the view once more to try and hide the blush.

"You needn't be embarrassed every time someone pays you a compliment, Jones."

Now knowing that he had noticed, Liv blushed harder, but laughed and looked at her hands. She had plucked a daisy and was fiddling with it in her lap.

"It's not like I'm particularly self-conscious or anything," she began to explain, not really knowing where the sentence was going, "I think I'm just an awkward person when attention is on me. Sorry –" she added, looking up at Fred, "I don't mean to be, like, self-effacing or anything..."

Fred snorted. "A Ravenclaw? Modest? I hadn't even considered it."

Liv blew a raspberry in shock. "That's awfully rich, coming from a Gryffindor."

Fred suddenly stood up, and after brushing grass off his jeans, held a hand out to Liv. "Walk with me back into Hogsmeade? I want to get a drink for the walk back to the castle."

Throwing the daisy aside, Liv took his hand and allowed him to help pull her up onto her feet. She immediately became self-conscious of the fact that despite the cold weather her hands were rather clammy, while his were rough and dry. God, she thought, what if this puts him off holding my hand again?

And then, as soon as she had realised what she had just thought, her stomach flipped.

Why am I hoping Fred Weasley will want to hold my hand again?

After buying a cup of tea to go each from Hogsmeade, the two began a slow and lazy walk back to the castle. It was approaching midday, and the pale sun was giving off a surprising amount of warmth for this time of year.

The conversation continued easily between Fred and Liv. They talked about Quidditch – leading onto the topic of Gryffindor's young seeker, Harry Potter – leading on to Fred recalling the story from the previous summer of rescuing the boy from his Muggle home in a flying Ford Anglia – leading Liv to marvel somewhat at him having hosted the famous Boy Who Lived in his home – and for Fred to tease her, promising he would get her an autograph.

Arriving back at the castle, Liv couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed that their walk had come to an end. She had enjoyed Fred's company and the ease with which she could chat to and laugh with him. She enjoyed finding out about his family life. She enjoyed the fact that she could make him laugh.

"So, you'll help me, then?" They had arrived back in the cool Entrance Hall.

"Huh?" Liv was snatched away from her thoughts.

"With my Muggle Studies homework. I know we're both busy with Quidditch practice but maybe we could meet in the library one Saturday morning? I imagine you'll be there anyway," he added with a wink.

"Uh - well, Fred, I'm kind of busy with my own work, you know-"

But he had already begun to saunter away towards the Great Hall. Looking back over his shoulder, he shouted, "Brilliant - cheers! See you then!" before disappearing into the lunch time crowd.