Sorry sorry sorry! I know its been a LONG time since I last posted--this was another chapter that wasn't meant to be, and then I had writers block and I was always at work and when I finally wrote it I hated it at first and re-did it and blah lol. But here it is, chapter twelve!

Before I start I want to do something I haven't done before but think I should since I've been lax about it lately; I'm gonna respond to reviews right here (and if I already responded to your review, here's another one for ya!). Shall we begin?

Queen-of-Darkness101: I'm glad you liked the last chapter and sorry I didn't update as quick as I planned to lol

cascade88 and remuslives23: You both know my reviews since I talk to you so often so I'll just give ya'll a shout out and tell you guys thanks for everything!

PunkRock-Remedy: I'm glad you like how I portray the twins, and I will try to keep up the "awesomeness" lol. Thanks!

katiee80: Glad you love it! Here's the update!

Lakis: So happy you love the story! And yes, I love Evey too (also not in the les way, lol)--I've gotten very close to her as I've been writing and for where this story is going that love is going to be tested (a little tease for ya, but no more hints!)

Hippy flowerchild: So happy you enjoyed the story, hope you like this chappie!

butherecomesthefall: Crush? What crush? I see no crush (shifty eyes)

And now for my anonymous reviewers:

Frankie's Chains: So glad you like the story, here is some more!

alisonrocks08: As for Evey's new look, some things will stay and some will go. No, Fabien is not George's official middle name (as in JKR never said it was) but in all the stories I've written about the twins (and there are a lot lol) George is always George Fabian and Fred is always Fred Gideon, a little tribute to their fallen uncles.

Thank you everyone for your reviews! So now, since I have successfully hidden Evey (who I'm sure would love to read this chapter) we can begin.

Standard A/N: Everything you see that you recognize is JKR's, everything else is mine. Also, I use a direct quote from the book in this chapter (something that will be coming a frequent occurrence in chapters to come) and have appropriately cited it at the end.

Enjoy!

Later that same night, Fred sat in his bed--the curtains pulled shut and his wand illuminating the small space--waiting for his roommates to fall asleep. Everyone was excited over Dumbledore's announcement that a Triwizard Tournament would be held at Hogwarts later in the year but the excitement had been tinged with anger with the revelation that anyone under seventeen was not eligible to enter. He and George had complained loudly and continuously to anyone within hearing range ('We're seventeen in April, why can't we have a shot?'), but they had both concocted a plan and with that, their anger had faded somewhat. Now that he allowed his mind to wander, he remembered that he'd wanted to talk to his brother about his odd behaviour on the train today and was now waiting to have the discussion in private.

As the three friends had sat on the train earlier that day, the boys regaling Evey with their elaborated adventure at the World Cup, Fred couldn't help but notice the dazed look and silly grin on his twin's face. George had been unusually touchy-feely with her; the twins had never been shy when it came to hugs or hand-holding with their female friend, but there had never been an undercurrent of something else, something a bit more intense like there had been today. George had almost clung to her slightly desperately, as if he was afraid she'd disappear but there had been a gentleness, a tenderness that definitely spoke of more than friendly feelings.

When Evey left the compartment to change into her uniform, Fred planned to ask George if he was alright; but his brother had immediately launched into a one-sided conversation about how happy he was that Evey was alright as they changed into their own robes. As they finished knotting their ties, the door slid open and Evey re-entered the carriage. Even Fred had to admit he couldn't recall the bland school uniform looking so good on anyone before and, when he glanced over at his twin, saw that George was openly and unashamedly gaping at the girl. Before Evey could notice George was practically drooling over her, Fred subtly yet strongly elbowed his twin in the ribs, successfully wiping the goofy expression off his face.

That sealed it--he'd talk to George tonight.

Now, when he heard Kenny stop tossing in his bed and Lee's loud snores started to shake the windows, he snuck out of his bed and into his brother's. Closing the curtains behind him, he put a silencing spell around the bed, then looked down at George who was splayed out on his stomach, his blanket tangled in his legs as he snored softly.

'George,' he whispered, poking his brother in the ribs. When he didn't move, he poked him again.

'George, get up.'

George snorted and shifted in his sleep but still did not awake.

Fred heaved an exasperated sigh, shaking his brother. 'George, wake up! Bagman's here to give us our winnings.'

George swatted at his brother as if he were an annoying fly but his eyes remained firmly closed.

'Zonko signed over the deed to his shop to us.'

Soft snoring was the only reply as George turned onto his back.

Fred tried once more. 'Is that Evey in a swimsuit?'

'Where?!' George practically shouted as he sprang up, his head colliding with Fred's.

'OW! What'd ya do that for?'

'Me? You're the one that jumped up like someone sent a stinging hex to your bollocks!'

George simply glared at his twin as he rubbed his forehead, his back against his headboard and his legs crossed.

'Do you know how long I've been trying to wake you…?'

'Why were you trying to wake me?'

'…Almost five minutes!' Fred exclaimed, ignoring George's interruption.

George shushed his twin, 'Will you be quiet?!'

'Oh since when do we care? Besides, I silenced the bed.'

'Ok, but why?'

Fred sighed, running a hand through his shaggy ginger hair as he mimicked his brother's position at the other end of the bed, 'Because I need to talk to you about something important.'

'The Tournament? Because I'm still thinking an Aging potion will--'

'No, this isn't about the Tournament.'

George furrowed his brow in confusion, 'What's more important than the Tournament?'

'Evey.'

Fred noticed that with that one softly spoken word, George seemed to stiffen.

'Oh,' George said, trying to sound casual but failing to deceive his twin, 'what about our dear Evelyn?'

'You've been acting weird around her.'

George scoffed but did not meet his brother's eye. 'Weird how?'

'Well, you didn't stop touching her from the time we met up on the train to when we said good night in the common room.'

George paused momentarily before answering, 'Well, I just missed her is all--and I was worried about her all summer.'

'That's another thing,' Fred immediately jumped in, ignoring his brother's blatant attempt to skirt the issue. 'You were really worried about her… overly worried. I mean, don't get me wrong, I was concerned about her too, but I wasn't as...moody as you.'

'I wasn't moody!'

'You sulked the entire summer!'

'I did not sulk!'

'George,' Fred said, the seriousness in his voice unmistakable. 'We don't hide anything from each other. Tell me what's going on. Please.'

George sighed, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning his head in his hands. He was silent for a full minute before he looked up at his twin to respond.

'I really don't know, to be honest,' he confessed.

'Well, what do you know?' Fred asked.

'I know that I was really scared this summer,' George began. 'I know that I care about what happens to Evey. I know that I could not stop touching her, no matter how hard I tried.'

'What about when you saw her in her uniform? You practically flooded the compartment with drool...'

'I couldn't help it,' George said, obviously becoming frustrated. 'She just looked so...so...amazing. I didn't know whether to cover her up so no one else could see, or...or...'

'Kiss her?' Fred suggested cheekily, a sly grin on his face.

'What?! K-Kiss her? Oh no. No, no, no, no...' George trailed off as he noticed the unbelieving look on Fred's face.

He sighed heavily and lowered his eyes. 'Yes,' he confessed quietly. 'I don't know why or where it came from but all I wanted to do when I saw her in her uniform--hell, since we realized it was her in the first place--was kiss her.'

'Do you fancy her?' Fred asked bluntly.

'I don't really know. I mean, it's Evey for Merlin's sake! I can't...I can't fancy her. Bloody hell, we've known her for years--she's our best friend, like another sister!' George paused, taking a shuddering breath. 'But...'

'You fancy her, don't you?'

'Merlin help me, I do.'

After George's confession, the twins spent an hour discussing what George should do, ultimately deciding that, for now, he wouldn't do anything.

'You can't just walk up to her and start snogging her, can you? You know Evey, she won't appreciate that,' Fred argued. 'Remember when that bloke from Ravenclaw tried that with her fourth year?'

'Idiot thought he was being spontaneous and romantic,' George said, starting to laugh at the memory.

'Yea, instead he just wound up in the hospital wing with a broken nose, two black eyes, and a painful looking limp.'

The two boys laughed uproariously, recalling the incident. They had been at lunch, Evey and the other girls just walking in from a quick stop at the loo. Suddenly, Peter Wright got up from the Ravenclaw table, strode up to Evey, and kissed her right on the lips. It lasted all of three seconds before he was a crying heap on the floor and Evey was storming out the doors muttering curses under her breath.

Deciding he didn't want to suffer the same fate as poor Peter (who still couldn't come near Evey without flinching), George decided to play it cool for the time being and just let fate decide on the right moment for him to reveal his burgeoning feelings for his best friend.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling, USA version, chapter 12, pg 189

And there you have it, chapter 12! A little different from previous chapters but I felt it was important to see what Fred and George were up to. I hope you liked it, and I hope I didn't go too OOC with the twins. As an apology for posting sooo late, I allow you all to ask a question about anything in the story and I will answer to the best of my ability whilst trying to avoid spoilers. But, in order to do that, you have to review. I look forward to your reviews and questions! Until next time :-)