"You look nice."

"So do you! I like your sweater. It's looks really comfortable."

"Thanks. Our mum made them. She makes a bunch of them every year."
The group was already making their way to Hogsmeade, and Fred and George were walking on either side of Rook as they tread the familiar path. Fred tried not to dwell on the fact that their time together was limited and to just enjoy it.

"She used to put an 'F' and 'G' on them, but she stopped because we kept switching," Fred joined in with a smirk.

"I don't see why that would be an issue. After all, 'fool' and 'goon' apply to both of you."

"Excuse you? I think you need a big 'R' on your coat. 'R' for 'rude', that is."

The time seemed to pass too quickly. They arrived at Zonko's in what seemed like a heartbeat, and Fred and George had only managed to show Rook half of their favorite Zonko's products when Spencer walked in.

"Oh, hey Spence—er, Stefan!" Rook greeted him. "Put 'er there!"

Rook had offered her hand to Spencer as he approached her. He gave her a confused look, but took it anyway. Rook's hand clamped his tightly and began to vibrate uncontrollably.

"What the—?"

Rook stepped away, laughing. The fake, vibrating hand remained clamped on Spencer's hand. Fred and George were both laughing as well, particularly at the irritated expression on Spencer's face.

"How—do—I—get—this—off?" Spencer spoke through clenched teeth as he tried to shake the false hand off of his.

Rook grabbed the wrist of the fake hand and it became still and unclamped. He looked thoroughly miffed and Rook wore a guiltily amused expression.

"Yeah, it's very funny," Spencer groused sarcastically as the twins continued to laugh. "Very highbrow stuff."

"You get it, don't you?" Rook explained. "'Cause you said I had an odd handshake when we met!"

"Ah…"

"Come on, Spence!" said Fred, giving him a good-natured wallop on the back. "You're not a cantankerous, crotchety old man yet!"

"You could stand to have a bit of fun."

"I expect I'd be having plenty of fun were it not for one or two complications," Spencer spoke pointedly. "Rosemary, do you mind if we walk over to Tomes and Scrolls? This place is very crowded."

"Ooh, Tomes and Scrolls, you say?" said Fred.

"Sounds like a wild time!"

"Well, then, you enjoy yourself, Rook!"

"Don't do anything we wouldn't do!"

"And stay away from books about drugs!"

Rook giggled and waved goodbye to Fred and George before leaving with Spencer. She cast a last fretful look back at them through the window of the shop, and then she was out of sight.

"So what's that you put on his back?" George asked.

Fred held up a package that simply read "Can you smell something?" George took it, examining it more closely.

"They're just little stickers?" he commented. "Makes for easy application. Wonder how long it'll be before he figures it out?"

"What's going on? Has Rook left already?"

Angelina had joined Fred and George, carrying her purchases on one arm. George stuff the package in his pocket and looked around the shop. "Yeah, she's gone off with Spencer. Where are the others?"

"They moved on to the Shrieking Shack a while ago. It's just us three now. Do you fancy a butterbeer?"

"Absolutely."

Angelina, Fred and George made their way to The Three Broomsticks together. They had a good time chatting and showing each other their purchases. Fred walked to the bar to get them a second round, but when he returned, only Angelina sat waiting for him.

"Where's George?" he asked blankly.

"He went to meet up with the others."

"You mean I got him this for nothing? That wanker! Seems like he's always disappearing these days."

"Actually… I asked him to."

"To what?"

"To, er… to 'disappear'."

"Why?"

Angelina's expression was a mixture of embarrassment and exasperation. "Are you serious?" she asked. "Why do you think, Fred?"

Fred set the drinks down before sitting beside Angelina. She wanted to be alone with him. She wanted to talk to him about something private.

"Don't tell me…" he spoke solemnly. "You've been diagnosed with terminal spattergroit?"

"You really can turn anything into a joke, can't you?"

"And yet McGonagall remains unimpressed. She just yells that I was supposed to turn the hedgehog into a pin cushion."

"That lesson was a fiasco," recalled Angelina with a fond smile. "I thought we'd never catch them all, and McGonagall was furious…"

"I really thought she was going to turn George and me into hedgehogs."

There was a lull in conversation and Fred noticed Angelina was ripping up a napkin in her lap nervously. He had a good enough idea of what she wanted to say to help her out, but he said nothing.

"Fred, I was wondering if—"

"I thought you liked George," Fred blurted before he could stop himself.

Angelina stared, mouth slightly agape. "Er… What?"

"Sorry, I er… I thought you were about to ask me out."

Angelina continued to stare. Just then, Fred caught sight of Spencer as he walked into the Three Broomsticks. Rook walked in after him, and their eyes met. Rook grinned and waved at Fred. He waved back without thinking.

"You can tell me if you fancy her."

Fred's attention snapped backed to Angelina sitting next to him. She looked annoyed.

"I don't," said Fred firmly.

Angelina looked over at Rook with an inscrutable expression. "I can't help being jealous," she said evenly before looking back at Fred. "She got close to you and George so easily. We've been teammates for two years and housemates for four, yet I feel as though she knows you better than I do."

"Gelly, there's really not a lot to know," Fred spoke uncomfortably. "George and I were never exactly mysterious."

"I guess you're right," Angelina spoke, staring into her mug. "And… I am asking you out."

Fred noticed he was clutching his mug rather tightly. He released it and flexed his fingers as he allowed Angelina's words to sink in. He resisted the urge to look over at Rook again.

He had been hard on Rook for not rejecting Spencer outright. Now that he was the one being asked out, Fred had no idea what to say. He felt as though there was a time when he would have been thrilled at the prospect of dating Angelina Johnson. She was a good-looking, multitalented witch with a great sense of humor. Really, there was no reason they shouldn't be together.

Almost no reason...

"I like you, Gelly," Fred spoke at last. "I really do, but… I guess I'm just worried about-about the team, you know? I'm afraid that if we start dating, I'd do something to mess it up and things would get awkward. Winning the cup this year, it's really important to Wood, and I just wouldn't want our, er, personal relationship to interfere with that in any way."

Angelina sighed and took a swig of her butterbeer. "Fair enough. I'm not going to beg you. I just thought I might still have a chance."

Fred had rarely felt worse than he did in that moment. Angelina acted nonchalant, but Fred could detect the faint traces of hurt in her voice as she spoke. She excused herself and Fred sat alone, feeling miserable. Part of him wished he had just gone along with it. When would a girl like Angelina Johnson ask him out again? Though he truthfully believed that he would somehow muck up his relationship with her if they dated, Fred wasn't really worried about it affecting her performance on the Quidditch pitch. She was better than that. He knew there was some other reason he couldn't bring himself to simply say "yes", and she probably knew that as well…

Laughter rang out in the crowded, noisy pub, and Fred immediately recognized it as Rook's. He easily spotted her sitting next to Spencer in a corner. They seemed to be in a group now, and she looked like she was genuinely enjoying herself.

At least she's having a good time, he thought bitterly as he stood and made to leave. Shortly after stepping outside, George came running up to him, looking somewhat winded.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Don't you know?"

"Angelina asked you out?" said George.

"She did, yeah…"

"She didn't look too happy when I saw her a moment ago…"

"I don't imagine she did," said Fred, staring at the ground. "I sort of rejected her."

Fred waited for George to ask him why, knowing George wouldn't let him get away with the Quidditch excuse, but George did not ask.

"Let's go over to Honeydukes," George spoke, tactfully switching gears. "Ron and Hermione wanted help deciding what to bring back to Harry."

"Yeah, all right…"

The twins spent the remainder of their time in Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione. When Fred tried not to think about Angelina, his mind kept drifting back to Rook and Spencer laughing together. By the time they were finally on their way back to the castle, Fred was in a foul mood, made worse by the dementors guarding the entrance to the Hogwarts grounds.

Well, things could be worse, he told himself as Ron and Hermione left to meet up with Harry before the Halloween feast. You could be the only third year not allowed to go to Hogsmeade.

If there was one thing Harry Potter was always good for, it was putting things into perspective.