Men
Chapter 4

Fred fell asleep with Ani in his arms, the smell of her hair lulling him into a dream-filled sleep. The planes and the buildings did not come up once in his dreams as he hugged Ani like a small child clung to a teddy bear. Ani had fallen asleep too, almost at the same time as Fred. They had been watching the news broadcast for hours and the sun had begun its decent minutes before the two fell asleep. As their eyes began to flutter shut, the room was a bright red while the atmosphere seemed to be filled with a heavy red fog.

The door shut loudly and Fred woke up immediately. He had only been asleep for an hour but the room was completely dark except for the television that was still on. He watched as Ani stood and walked towards the door before he actually looked in the direction of the door.

A man stood there, his eyes a dull grey and his hair a similarly dull brown. He stood as tall as Ani, the comparison easy to see when she hugged him as she would a brother. His body was thin, rail thin, but he looked strong and tough. His frame was thin yet broad, making him seem even more like twigs wrapped in cloth.

Fred heard the two whisper and was not jealous. He did not feel threatened by the man, maybe it was his appearance, the way he did not seem as vivid, or the way Ani did not linger with him as she did with Fred, but he was comfortable with her hugging him.

She walked back over to Fred, the man following closely. "This is Greg," she said as she looked deep into Fred's eyes. Fred felt once more as if he could see another world in her eyes.

"Fred," he said as he held out his hand. He was not happy, no one could be happy on a day like that one, but he was kind and warm. The man took Fred's hand and Fred felt as if he was shaking ice. The man seemed so dull and cold that Fred almost felt sorry for him.

"Can I talk to you, Ani?" the man said, his voice sounding as if he were slightly angry. Fred pushed it aside assuming it was from the day's events that he seemed so mean with Ani.

The two walked into the kitchen and Fred was tempted to use an extendable ear to hear the conversation, but he did not need one.

"Who is he?" he heard Greg say obviously referring to Fred.

"Fred," Ani said and Fred was amused at her answer. It was a typical Fred and George Weasley answer, short and sweet, yet oddly funny.

"I know that," the man said his tone again angry.

Fred wanted to go and interrupt them, to stop Ani from being so insulted, but he stayed on the couch.

"What is wrong with you?" Ani asked warmly. She reminded Fred of a girl he had once dated from the Hufflepuff house; she had always been so nice and comforting, especially during their seventh year together when they both new of the danger that surrounded them.

The man let out a soft aggravated huff, "Is he going to sleep at his own place tonight?"

Ani did not want to reply, she was insulted and could not help but wonder why her friend was so angry. "I suppose if there were a single plane in the air he could," she said angrily before walking away from him.

She walked back into the living room and sat next to Fred. He wrapped his arms around her comfortingly and kissed her temple softly. Fred heard the man stomp down the hallway, probably to his own room.

"Fred, I-I feel so comfortable and safe with you," Ani said softly. Fred could tell she was trying to ask him something. "I just want you to stay over," she said.

Surely, that had not been what she wanted to ask, simple for him to stay over? Why would him sleeping on the couch be so odd at a time like this?

"Erm, yeah, I'll stay," he said with a halfhearted smile. "Your couch is comfortable anyways."

Ani looked up at him and their faces where millimeters apart. He could feel her breath on his lips that shot a shiver up his spine.

"In my room," she said even more softly and it did not sound like the seductive offers he received in the store, but an innocent request. He could see in her eyes that she just wanted to feel his warm body as she slept so she could feel safe, not to fulfill a lustful desire.

"Yeah," he said before kissing her softly, their lips tingling for seconds after they pulled away. "I should call my family," he said calmly, "so you rustle up some bedclothes and maybe some food," he was famished. It was unusual for any Weasley, especially one of the twins, to go without eating so long. "And I'll make my call in the hall," he said before kissing her nose softly.

They stood up at the same time but walked their separate ways, Fred into the deserted hallway so he could call Hermione, and Ani to find something for Fred to wear to bed.

Fred did everything Hermione had told him and he waited anxiously for her to pick up her phone.

"Hello?" she said answering the phone.

"Oy, its me," he said the usual cheer in his voice missing.

"Fred," she said as if saying his name took a large weight from her shoulders, "where are you?" she asked.

He did not know what to say. Hermione was not only Ron's girlfriend, but one of his close friends. He had never looked at her as an outsider joining the group, as he had with Katie, Fleur, and Armina, but as another sister. "New York," he said hoping she had not heard of the planes.

"Fred, I could hit you," she said as if she were angry and relieved at the same time, "the American Ministry of Magic is having a horrible time over there, attacks and deaths." She sounded sad, like Hermione would in this type of situation. She was a caring person and Fred knew she was concerned for all of the muggles and wizards alike who were in pain.

"Hermione," Fred said seriously, "keep a secret."

She had no idea what he was about to say, and it really was not a big secret. Everyone was already suspecting something strange was going on, they were just setting themselves up for a different turn of events.

"Even from George?" she asked.

"Yes," he said before pausing to continue, but Hermione filled the gap.

"Fred, you better not tell me that the rumors are true," she said oddly. What rumors? Hopefully not about the ones of why he would not date the women that came into his store. They had been started by angry and vindictive witches who were angry that they had been turned down, and they were completely wrong.

"I'm not gay," he said angrily. He hated that accusation, not that he was a bigot, but that it was a lie. Why would anyone think that he was? So what if he turned down the women that approached him in the store for his money? He was not trying to be someone he was not raised to be, and he was not raised to seduce every woman that came across his path. He had been raised to treat them with respect and dignity, and by his mother to treat them as delicate flowers, which was probably the key to the Weasley charm.

"Good, I mean, I didn't think so, but I didn't want to rule it out," Hermione said stuttering uncomfortably around the words.

"Hermione," he said almost laughing at his old friend. She had not stopped mumbling and trying to make up for her accusation, "Shut up," he said lovingly.

"Okay," she said before being totally quiet.

He almost smiled, "I'm with a woman," he said and then realized how bad his words sounded, "I mean, at her apartment," again his words came out oddly. He knew Hermione would not interpret them as Lee would so he didn't worry. "She's a muggle."

"Wow," Hermione said softly before letting Fred continue.

"I have to stay with her, because she knows I'm not from here, and there are no muggle flights, so I can't come back without her suspecting something," he said knowing Hermione would understand, she was muggle-born.

"Okay," she said accepting her common role, partner in crime, though she had always been part of a trio that never included Fred.

"Right," Fred said happily, he was glad Hermione was the one to have a phone at her house. "Send my love; make up a good story."

"Right," Hermione said, "bye, then."

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AN: You've taken the time to read... so please review!