Chapter Six
George stared at me. "Come on, Fred. Just spill it. I promise I won't tell Ronny."
I sighed. The moment of truth had come. If I didn't tell George now, he'd keep on bothering me until I told him. And he's my twin. He keeps all my secrets. In a way, it's like telling a secret to yourself, as we're so similar. He's my best friend. If I can't tell him, who can I tell?
"Fine," I lifted my head from where it had been, looking into my lap. I stood up and started to pace the dormitory.
"You gonna spit it out then?" George said.
"It's hard for me to say, George. Understand that." He nodded at me, acknowledging my trouble.
"In your own time then, mate," he looked at me directly, straight in the eye. It gave me the boost I needed. I took a deep breath.
"Hey, do you know where Hermione is?" The door had opened and my brother was stood there. I couldn't bear to look Ron in the eye. George glanced at me, and then said "Uh, I don't know, Ronnykins. Maybe the library?" but obviously that was the first place Ron would have looked.
"Good point!"
Obviously not, then.
"I've just looked round the common room, and Parvati said she wasn't in their dormitory."
"Alrighty," George said. Ron looked at me.
"Feeling alright? You haven't said anything since I've been here, Fred," Ron looked at me inquisitively.
"Oh, uh… stomach ache. Think the house-elves didn't cook the eggs properly, might have food poisoning or something. A stomach bug, probably."
"Right. I had an egg for breakfast too, but I feel fine."
George suddenly took charge. "Yeah, well maybe it was a bad one in the dozen, you don't know, half a chick or something; you'd better get looking for Hermione, Ronny, I expect it's urgent, whatever it is." He said this all very quickly while bundling Ron out of the door and slamming it shut in his face.
He sighed. "Thank Merlin we've gotten that spotty-faced oik out of our way. Now, my dear brother, I do believe you have something to tell me." He looked through me, almost like x-ray vision. "You know you can trust me, Fred. We're like one person; we've always been there for each other. I'm your best friend and you're mine. I promise on my freckled face that I will not tell anyone. ANYONE."
I took a deep breath and told George everything.
How I've liked her for ages.
How pissed off I was when he decided to announce it to her.
How we walked around the school at night on that very same day, despite her interrupting my study time.
How she asked me if I liked her or not.
How I lied to her about it.
How she told me she loved me before asking me if I liked her for the second time.
How I replied by putting my hands round her neck and kissing her.
How we agreed in that deserted classroom that we'd keep our rendezvous' secret.
How we'd sneak a kiss in the corridors at lunchtime.
How much I hated Ron's protective act over Hermione.
How we made love for the first time.
How uncomfortable I felt at the breakfast table.
And now how frightened I was now that someone knew.
"Let me get this straight," George said, rubbing his forehead in concentration. "You and Hermione are together?"
"No," I replied, looking into my palms as if searching for an answer. "She's with Ron, but I'm her bit on the side. That's what she said to me before-"
George cut me off. "Before you both lost your virginities."
I looked at his shirt. "Exactly."
"So, what are you going to do, Fred."
An unwelcome silence hung in the air. I shrugged by means of an answer.
"Do you love her?"
I nodded.
"Do you want her to be yours?"
I looked into George's eyes. "Of course."
He looked at me, eyes twinkling with excitement.
"She said she loves you. Get her before Ron does. Make her yours."
And before you could say Expecto Patronads, I was out of that dormitory and through that portrait hole like a shot.
I'm so sorry for leaving this for so long. I have my first exam in six weeks (drama, if you're interested), and I have many after-school classes to help my grades, as well as homework, socialising and being with my Benji (seven months since our first kiss today, I'm so excited). Grande.Vanilla.Skim.Latte, I haven't given up, as this chapter proves; I think it's nearing the end now. I don't know how long it'll be before the next instalment, but I do have a few ideas floating around, and I hate to blow my own trumpet, but they are good ones.
Importantly, thank you for the 53 readers who have put this story on their alert lists. I'm pleased it has such good reviews and many hits (over 13,000 to be exact). I'll try not to disappoint you all, the next chapter should be in a few weeks time, hopefully, if not I'm afraid you'll be in for a wait.
Love to all readers and thank you for all the support,
Lulu.
xxxx