„There you are! I have been looking for you all over!"

Alicia jerked back and whirled around.

A dark figure came striding quickly towards them.

When he moved out of the shadows and his face was enlightened by the moon George recognized the person.

And he wanted to strangle him.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" he snarled.

Malfoy regarded him coolly.

"You know, you really are annoyingly curious. Try not to be, would you?" he said lazily and turned to Alicia.

"I have news." He said, his voice growing slightly softer.

"Really?" Alicia said, her voice shaking.

"Yeah."

Malfoy looked at George.

"Would you leave us now? We have to talk … in private."

George opened his mouth to say something very nasty, but thought the better of it.

Alicia probably wanted him to leave as well.

"Right." He said coldly and without looking back he strode towards the castle.

He had nearly done it again.

He had nearly kissed Alicia again.

If only that stupid rat hadn't interfered.

George clenched his fists in anger.

It had been the second time something had come up.

And it was getting on his nerves.

Couldn't they just have a minute alone?

Didn't look like it.

"George! Where have you been?"

He looked up and saw Fred standing at the entrance.

"Uh… nothing. Just clearing my head a little."

"Right." Fred said brightly, his ears red.

"What's the matter with you?" George asked suspiciously.

"Nothing." Fred said, feigning innocence, but succeeding.

"Fred, please. You can't put anything past me and you should know that by now."

"Yeah, I should, shouldn't I?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Well…Angelina came into the room when you left, remember?"

"Oh…That's what happened. Alright, that's all I want and need to know."

"Don't be such a prude."

"I'm not. It has nothing to do with being prude. It has something to do with you being my brother and … well anyway, it's disgusting…"

"Oh, come on! I don't act like that about Alicia and you!"

"That's because you're an idiot."

"You do realize that doesn't actually make any sense?"

"Yeah…still funny, though."

"True." Fred said grinning.

At that moment Angelina turned up behind Fred and looked out at the grounds.

"George, have you seen Alicia? I've been looking for her all over, but I just can't find her." She said.

"Er… no, I haven't." George said, his stomach clenching.

"You haven't?" Fred asked, raising an eyebrow. George felt his ears grow hot.

"No. I mean, I saw her at the ball with Davies, but that was about half an hour ago."

"Damn!" Angelina muttered and vanished.

"What?" George asked uncomfortably, as Fred continued to stare at him.

"I don't believe a word. You know exactly where Alicia is, don't you?"

"Er…..no?"

"Yeah, I thought so. So why didn't you just tell Angelina where she is?"

"Well….she's busy."

"Really? With what?"

"I'm not sure."

"Sure, George…"

"I said, I'm not sure! I'm not!" George snapped.

"Okay." Fred said raising his hands in alarm.

"No need to bite my head off."

"Sorry." George mumbled and sighed in frustration.

"You alright?"

"Not really."

"D'you want to talk about it?"

"No. Thanks. I think I'll just go to bed."

"It's not even eight yet!"

"Yeah, well I'm tired now. Good night."

Without waiting for an answer, he slipped past his brother through the door and ran up the marble staircase.

He wasn't sure, how he should react the next time he saw Alicia.

He had told her how he felt about her and he was pretty sure, she felt the same way.

She had taken a step toward him and he had seen something in her eyes…

"Are you going to give me the password or do you just want to stand there?"

He had arrived at the Common Room.

"Sugar Quill." He said dispassionately and quickly climbed inside.

There were a few second and third years at the fire, clearly enjoying the empty arm chairs, which were normally occupied by the older students, who were now at the ball.

George climbed the stairs to his dormitory.

He wasn't really tired, but he didn't know what else to do with himself.

Alicia might take ages with that Malfoy boy.

What were they up to? Why wouldn't she tell him anything about it?

Sighing in frustration he changed into his pyjamas and flung himself into bed after drawing the curtains.

So many thoughts and question were flooding his brain, it was a miracle he managed to fall asleep at all.

But after nearly an hour he did.

And he dreamt about Alicia and her stormy grey eyes.

Well, that's that.

Sorry about that kiss hanging around, but not really happening…

But that's what keeps the whole thing going… ;-)