Chapter Nineteen
Everyone sat in the common room in silence, waiting for Sam and the other two to return... Ginny, Ron and Harry kept sending frantic glances between each other and over to Maz... This was beginning to aggravate George he hated being the last to know things!
Meanwhile Fred hadn't noticed he was to busy being worried about Maz who had hardly said anything since he'd meet up with her and Harry run and Ginny...
What was wrong? George finally lost it...
"What the heck is going on here!?"
Everyone jumped... He directed his gaze straight at Harry, Ron and Ginny.
"What the heck are you three playing at? What's the matter with you?!"
Ginny, Harry and Ron all looked at each other and then all looked at Maz as if asking her the same question...
George and Fred both also turned to look at Maz... Maz looked back at them all.
"What?" she said trying not to look guilty or uneasy... Fortunately she was saved as a beaming Sam, Sirius and Remus entered the common room... Arms linked...
Everyone immediately cheered!
Maz ran to hug Sam and the problem with Maz was all suddenly forgotten by all but one...
Ginny hugged Sam as well before taking Maz to one side...
"When are you gonna tell Fred Maz?" Maz gulped.
"Tell him what Ginny?" Maz said trying to play it cool...
"I know what Dean was trying to do Maz... You've gotta tell him."
And as if that settled the matter Ginny walked away leaving Maz squirming with guilt...
She looked around the common room... She didn't have to... She'd be fine!
Just then she spotted Dean sitting in a chair across the common room staring at her; when he saw her looking he winked...
Maz felt sick... Maybe Ginny was right... She should tell him...
Maz struggled with the guilt swirling inside her. She couldn't decide what to do...a big part of her wanted to tell him but an equally big part told her not to.
Sam in amongst the celebrations noticed that Maz looked disturbed. Maz was so over come by her inner turmoil that she hardly acknowledged Sam when she laid a hand on Maz's shoulder
"Hey Maz are you okay?" Maz just stared at the floor. Sam went around and faced Maz, her hands now on both of her shoulders
"Maz what's up? You look troubled. Do you want to talk about it?" Maz finally looked up.
"Yeah outside maybe?" Sam nodded.
"Sure thing," Sam was going to help Maz as much as she could, she owed her and the others for all being there when she needed them most.
The two friends walked out through the portrait hole and into the corridor beyond. When Maz thought that they were far enough away from everyone she turned to face Sam.
"Something happened after you guys left..."
"Was it Dean?" Maz looked at her friend in surprise.
"Yeah how did you..."
"I saw him glaring at you in there plus I read his mind...he should really learn to keep his guard up," Maz laughed and smiled weakly. At least that's something...thought Sam.
"I just don't know whether to tell Fred or not," Sam nodded
"I want to tell him because Dean is acting like such a jerk but I don't want him flying off the handle..."
"What does your heart tell you is right?" Maz looked at Sam. She had reached her decision. Sam smiled.
"I thought so. Let's go back to the common room we have class soon," Maz followed Sam back inside...
When Maz and Sam entered Fred stood up... He walked up to Maz and smiled at her,
"I wondered where you had got to" He said Maz gave a weak smile... She looked over at Sam, who smiled at her...
'Good luck' she said through her brainwaves to Maz...
'Thanks' Maz thought softly so that Sam barely picked it up... Sam walked back over to the others... Maz gave a sigh and looked up into Fred's concerned eyes
"Um Fred can I talk to you?... Away from the others?..."
"Sure" He replied quickly and followed Maz silently out of the common room and down towards the lake...
Sam watched them from the common room window...
'Have hope Maz' She thought to herself... 'That's all you can have right now... A little bit of hope...'
Sam sighed and looked away from the window... She turned around to see Dean looking at her; he looked away when he saw her looking...
She sent him a message through her mind...
'If you hurt my friend... I'll hurt you twice as much.' She said... Dean pretended he hadn't heard but inside he new that there really would be trouble...
Outside Maz and Fred sat on the grass in silence... Finally Maz looked up at Fred and began to speak...
"Fred... Fred please promise you won't be mad..." Fred looked a little shocked but nodded anyway... Maz continued...
"Well I was out walking today and I ran into Dean again..." Maz saw Fred's fist clench... He had promised he wouldn't be mad but she new it was hard for him... She was about to continue but Fred butted in.
"Did he hurt you?" He said his eyes frantic... Maz shook her head... she saw Fred's fist unclench slightly... Maz sighed... This was all just too hard she thought...
She stood up and walked away... Fred came after her but she ignored him she just kept walking... going nowhere in particular... Just walking... Walking away...
Fred got up and ran after her his heart heavy...he should have gone with her, he should have protected her...and now he may lose her...you stupid git! Why do you always mess things up? He thought harshly to himself as he ran along the lakeshore after her...
Sam, Remus, Harry and Ginny all watched from the window as Maz got to her feet and walked away and then as Fred ran after her. Sam's face was solemn. Poor Maz, she thought, I know how you feel and its hurts like hell.
As Fred drew closer to the now crying Maz Sam got up and closed the curtains and put a gluing spell on them.
"Let's give them some privacy," Remus nodded and pulled Sam towards the couch. Ginny and Harry just stood there, their faces filled with concern.
"I hope they work it out," said Ginny
"I do too Gin. I think we all do," he then pulled her back towards the others in front of the fireplace.
Maz continued to stride along the lake bank not really knowing where she was going, her heart guiding her feet.
When she reached her favourite willow tree on the far side of the lake she collapsed at its base. She wanted it to stop hurting, she wanted the pain to go away but it was still there attacking her heart. Fred ran up to her panting his eyes streaming with tears as well.
He stood there looking down on the girl he loved in tears. He felt like his heart was about to be torn from his chest...
Maz looked up when Fred came; She could see that he to had been crying...
Why? Why was everything so messed up when it should all be so perfect!
Sam was happy. She had Sirius and Remus back with her!
Ron was still talking to Hermione and George was being his usual cheery self... Ginny and Harry were once again talking to each other and she and Fred had found each other...
Then why? Why was it all feeling so wrong! Why did Dean have to do this? Make her feel scared, make her hurt Fred like she just had, made him think he'd screwed him up, made him think she didn't love him when she did... Oh she truly did!
She began to sob harder... But she couldn't... She had to be strong... For everyone... She had to be the strong one that held them together... But right now she couldn't... She looked up at Fred and started talking...
"I'm sorry Fred," She stopped to wipe her face dry... "Its not that I don't like you, I truly do... It's just... It's just that..." Maz broke down in tears again... Fred stopped crying... 'She likes me!' He thought...
He crawled over next to her and put his arm around her shoulder... Maz cried into his shoulder...
"Why?" She said through her tears... "Why did Dean have to ruin this all when I was so happy!" Fred looked up... And then he slowly began to speak...
"Because he likes you Maz... Just like I do, he wanted you to be happy just like me, but he wanted you to be happy with him... He thought he could make you like him..." Maz sniffed and looked up at Fred...
"But you can't make someone like you..." she said softly... Fred just did...
Dean let a silent tear slid down his face... He saw it now... They were right... He couldn't make her love him... He really did want her to be happy... It seemed her happiness didn't include him... Dean turned and walked away silently, from his hiding place... No more, he vowed... No more would he cause her tears...