Disclaimer: The HP characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing them for this fic. Reviews make me happy, but please be gentle. This is my first HP fanfic.

A.N.: Hey guys, here's chapter 4. I'm not sure about how much I like the beginning of this chapter. Let me know what you think. Thanks to sparkling-steffie, Writer By Nature, and x.A swim In The Moonlight.x for reviewing. I'm happy to announce that this story has received over 200 hits!!!!


This one's for Fred


11:55 found Lottie sitting down at the Red Lion Pub, a busy muggle eatery near St. James' Place. Hardly anyone from the magical world visited this place, which made it an ideal location when the duo needed to chat without intrusion. The two friends frequented the place so often during Hermione's lunch hour that it was not necessary for them to read the menu.

Hermione walked in a few minutes later to see Lottie sitting by the pub's window in a small booth wearing a large pair of sunglasses, her head cradled in her hands.

"Where are David and the kids, Mrs. Beckham" Hermione asked as she slid into her side of the booth.

Charlotte stuck her tongue out at Ron's significant other

"Whoa, that's really mature," Hermione said with an eye roll before someone came by to take their order. Hermione had her usual, vegetarian shepherds pie and iced tea.

"… and I'll have a bacon buttie, with chips and a pint of Newcastle"

Both Hermione and the waiter (who often served them) stared at Lottie in surprise. It was a well known fact that Lottie never drank during the day, and she preferred a light, healthy lunch.

The waiter had checked to see if he had gotten the order right three times before leaving to get the drinks.

"You're not planning on wearing those ridiculous things for the next hour are you?"

Lottie shook her head and slipped them off, and Hermione nearly gasped at the sight. Her light green eyes were puffy and red, with dark circles under them. Hermione then finally took in her dear friend's tousled appearance. Lottie's long hair was wrapped into a careless bun. She was wearing an old pair of trainers, an old Chuddley Canons t-shirt that Fred had lent her years ago, and tracksuit bottoms.

She looked so unlike her self.

"Tell me everything…"

By the time their order had arrived Lottie had explained the whole ordeal with Hermione. She had confessed how she had already finished the assignment, and her decision to lie to Fred, and how guilty she felt for arguing with him.

Hermione played with her food a bit, debating whether she should tell Lottie of how Fred was fairing. Deciding that it was important information she decided that it was her best course of action she inhaled deeply and patted the sullen girl's hand.

"Fred wasn't doing so well either"

Charlotte looked up worriedly, "what happened?"

Hermione frowned as she remembered the brooding entrepreneur downing shot, after shot of fire whiskey.

"He didn't say a word to anyone after you left. He just stood at the window until we left for the club. When we got there he went to straight to the bar. A few slags that recognized him tried to chat him up, and he snapped at them"

Lottie nodded, "Yes, he can be a bit of a rude drunk when something is bothering him"

"We hadn't realized how much he had to drink, because we had been dancing for most of the night," Hermione said guiltily, "Well, George and Ron had to take him home later that night

"When Ron got back he said that Fred kept demanding to see you and complaining that it would've been fun if you had come"

Charlotte rubbed her face in frustration. She once again wished that yesterday had never happened. It was an undeniable truth that her actions had ruined everyone's night.

"I'm sorry for sullying the evening"

"Are you going to tell him?" Hermione asked before eating a bit of her shepherd's pie

Lottie took a large gulp of her ale before saying, "I should probably let him cool down a bit"

"How long is a bit?"

Shrugging Lottie said, "A week or two"

Hermione couldn't suppress the need to roll her eyes. It was no wonder that Charlotte and Fred were best friends. They were both extremely stubborn.

"I think you should tell him before he finds out on his own"

"I don't know if I can…" Lottie sighed.

The two sat their quietly, before Hermione changed the topic. The duo spent the rest of the lunch hour eating their meal and chatting amicably.

(Sunday at the Burrow)

Molly Weasley was rushing through the burrow in a frenzy. She had invited her children and their significant others over for brunch that morning. It was a difficult task considering the number of children she and Arthur had. Her daughter and daughters in law (future and present) were trying to help out as much as they could, but it was a bit frustrating when anytime they did something Molly would soon follow and adjust whatever it was they were doing.

The food was ready, and being kept warm by a charm. Most of her children were there, the only ones missing were Ron, Fred, and Harry and Lottie, whom she regarded as her surrogate children. Molly was a bit worried, she had been trying to reach Lottie by floo the past couple days, but it looked like her flew was disconnected. She turned to look at Hermione.

"Hermione dear, have you seen Lottie recently?"

Hermione nodded, "I saw her the day before yesterday when we went out to lunch. Is something a matter?"

"I've tried to floo her home for the past few days, but it seems that her floo is disconnected"

Hermione bit her lip, she felt a bit worried.

Molly shook her head, "it's no problem Mione," the jovial woman said as she ushered Hermione to the sitting room.

'I'll just have Fred pop on over to fetch her' Molly thought

It was at this precise moment that Fred Weasley stumbled out of the fireplace, covered in a thin layer of soot.

Molly pointed her wad at him, and said sqrugify before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning mum. I'm sorry I'm so late"

Molly waved her hand at him, "It's alright. I actually need you to go get Lottie. I haven't been able to contact her about today"

Fred looked at the ground, "You should send George over. She and I had a bit of a spat the other day. Something about my not being considerate of her work schedule"

Molly shook her head, "the poor dear has probably been working night and day. She probably hasn't had a decent meal in weeks! You bring her here, and apologize while you're at it"

Fred resisted the urge to roll his eyes, before turning back towards the fire place and grabbing a pinch of floo powder

"No", Molly said before he had the chance to say anything, "her floo is disconnected"

Fred nodded before speaking the words "Newt's Tavern", the name of a wizarding pub near Lottie's home.

(a while later)

Fred shivered from the cool Pittenweem air.

'Why did she choose to live all the way in Fife,' Fred thought as he knocked on the door.

After a few minutes he let himself in and walked into the parlor, which was surprisingly tidy.

'Strange', Fred thought as he surveyed the room, 'this house is usually a nightmare when she's working on a project'

Deciding that she probably was working in the study, he went up two flights of stairs to the attic.

He didn't find her there either, what he found instead was a neat study. Not so much as a book was opened.

Fred found himself growing rather agitated as he went downstairs. He stopped at the first floor and peeked into her room and the bathroom, which were both empty. He finally went back to the ground floor, through the parlor and dinning room and into the kitchen.

There he found her walking around the kitchen as she read the Daily Prophet; a bowl of cereal was levitated at her side and followed her every step. She looked very comfortable in a pair of cream colored booties, grey leggings, and a knit sweater dress. Fred shook his head. It was beyond obvious that she had lied to him.

She still hadn't noticed him, so he snatched the paper from her hands. Lottie shrieked and jumped to her side, knocking over her cereal bowl.

"Fred, what on Earth do you think your doing?"

Fred felt his ears turning red, "Mum asked me to come get you. She wants you to come over for breakfast, since you've been working yourself so hard. She would have asked you over herself had your floo not been disconnected"

Lottie smacked herself on the forehead, "Oh, I forgot to reconnect it after the chimney sweep left"

Fred shrugged

"The Ministry probably would have done it for you if they were 'more considerate of your work schedule,'" Fred spat out acidly

Lottie looked at her feet, "I'm sorry Fred. I-"

"Let's go, everyones waiting for us at the burrow," Fred said interrupting her. He walked back to the front door. Lottie hung her head in shame before, accio-ing her coat. Fred, was already out the front gate by the time she locked the front door.


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