Fell in Love Without You

Chapter 16: Merry Christmas

Our friends stared at us as we landed in a heap on the floor.

"You IDIOT!" I exclaimed, extracting myself from the laughing idiot and standing up. "You squashed Angelina's present!" I shrieked, picking up the now squashed box. I turned and looked at my friends. They were still staring. "Merry Christmas!" I exclaimed happily, distributing presents to my friends.

I wouldn't let myself dwell on that kiss too much because really it would only end in disappointment.

"Why was Fred up in your dorm?" Angelina asked me with a huge grin on her face.

"The idiot decided it would be a good idea to jump on me to wake me up" I replied, leaving out the slight detail that he did that at 3:30 in the morning... and the slight detail of him just kissing me. That was still sinking into my brain.

"I've always done that A.V" Fred grinned and hugged me around the waist in the middle of our group of friends. Annabelle raised an eyebrow as Angelina and Allie exchanged a look.

I wanted to say "But you've never kissed me under mistletoe before" but I didn't. Instead I shook my head and ducked out of his arms to continue to hand out the presents.

For Angelina and Alicia, I got them both gorgeous Cashmere sweaters from Italy.

"Avery these are amazing!" Allie exclaimed before jumping on me. "Where did you get these!"

"Italy... Charlie's girlfriend and I took a day trip to Italy over the summer" I smiled. "I've had them in my trunk since we got back"

For George, a box of muggle magic tricks I picked up in Rome. "There's are great A.V!" He exclaimed and hugged me.

For Lee, Belgium chocolate. "You do know my favourites, don't you darling?" he grinned when he opened it.

For Roe, I got a BIG box of Zampatti's tricks (The Italian version of Zonko's) and Italian sweets which of course she loved. "There are things in here that I've never seen before!" She exclaimed, digging through the box of stuff.

For Riley I got her the muggle designer wear which she was so obsessed with; Prada sunglasses, Gucci sweaters, Dolce & Gabbana jeans, Manolo Blahnik shoes... she loved it all. We always joked that she would run away and join the muggle fashion world one day.

I got Hermione a book of Italian Wizarding communities which she appreciated and Ginny I got an Italian Dragonhide handbag and matching gloves.

For Ron and Harry, the same book on Quidditch Teams of Europe. They loved it of course.

I got a whole heap of gifts from everyone as well, but my favourite was still the necklace I got from Fred.

Fred.

I glanced at him across the room from where I was at the window. He was sitting in our group of friends trying to figure out the muggle magic tricks, his face alight with concentration and amazement. He kissed me. Actually, kissed me... Under mistletoe so I know it doesn't count right? But what had me thinking was who put it there? He had to have done it because I don't exactly make it a habit to stick plants to my bedroom roof, I mean why would I when no boys are even meant to go into there?

But what did that mean? Did it mean he liked me? Or was it just a friendly thing?

I sighed and turned to look out of the window.

"That's a nice necklace" A voice pulled me from my thoughts. Standing next to me by the window was Annabelle, looking fantastic in Fred's hand knitted sweater from Mrs Weasley.

"It was a gift from Fred" I realised my hand was already absently playing with the lion. I felt a little smug saying that.

"How nice" I saw her eyes flash. "He gave me his hand knitted sweater" She said in a tone that was clearly a challenge.

I frowned slightly. I'm not silly enough to fall for that am I? "Allie, Ange and I all have one of them from Mrs Weasley herself..." I answered with a slight shake of my head. She smirked slightly. "and... he gave me his Quidditch Jersey the other day" I bit childishly. I couldn't help it. She was pissing me off.

Her blue eyes turned to ice and I wondered fleetingly if she could do wandless magic.

"He told me I was beautiful" She said in a cold voice.

"He told me I was amazing" I shot back.

"He promised me dinner" She folded her arms.

"He kissed me" I blurted out. Her eyes widened in shock. I wanted to kick myself for saying that. I didn't want anyone to know this, why would I tell her? "Under some mistletoe, he kissed me this morning, under some mistletoe"

"Why the hell would you have mistletoe in your room?" She wrinkled her nose.

"Obviously he put it there" I sighed.

"Like hell he did... you just set him up. Face it Avery, you know it's me he wants and you can't handle it" She rolled her eyes and flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. "You're nothing more than his best friend. Too plain, dull and boring to be noticed" She smiled meanly at me, showing all of her perfect teeth and I wondered why she hadn't been put in Slytherin. "You're not going to cry are you?" She fake-pouted. "Oh Avery, that would be super lame of you" She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Just stay away ok?"

I felt the tears in my eyes but I wouldn't let them fall. Not in front of her anyway "Excuse me" I muttered as I pushed past her. I stepped over the pieces of wrapping paper in the circle, making a bee-line for the portrait hole. I needed to be alone for a while

"Trying to run away again A.V?" A voice growled as I passed one of the couches. Two arms sprang up from nowhere and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me down onto their lap.

"Fred!" I gasped, struggling to get away from him. "Let me go!"

"No" He shook his head childishly. "You're warm and I'm cold" He rested his head on my shoulder and tightened his grip.

"So move closer to the fire" I grunted, wriggling around without much success.

"But you're comfortable as well" He chuckled. I could feel his breath on my neck and it sent a shiver down my spine. "Was that a shiver?" He asked in a low voice, right in my ear. Goosebumps slithered over my skin in a wave but I shook my head.

"No" I said stubbornly.

He chuckled. "Liar" His hot breath on my ear was doing strange things to my stomach but I started to relax against him.

I think Annabelle's wrong... I think Annabelle's wrong... a voice in my head chanted over and over. I couldn't help but smile to myself at this point. I knew Annabelle was watching us from across the room so I swivelled on Fred's lap until my legs were on the couch as well and I was able to look at him.

"What are you doing, Fred?" I asked with a sigh.

"Nothing" He shrugged with a smiled. His blue eyes studied my face and I could feel a blush creep over my cheeks. "Do you really like your necklace?"

"Of course" I nodded and bought my hand up to it. "It's gorgeous... I've never gotten jewellery before" I admitted.

"Well I'm glad I could buy it for you first" He smiled. His eyes were doing funny things to my brain and I couldn't say anything else. "Avery, I should have asked you to the dance" He said softly. "I shouldn't have said yes to Annabelle... I should have just asked you and then we would have never had fought"

"Don't worry about it" I shrugged and looked at my hands. "Things happen and we're friends now anyway"

"Yeah. Friends..." he muttered in a tone I couldn't place. My eyebrows knitted and I looked up again.

"What?" I asked.

He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted as I was hit in forehead with something small and hard. "Ouch!" I exclaimed, my hand going to my head. Whatever hit me fell into my lap and I frowned at it.

"Oh I'm so sorry Avery! I didn't mean to hit you" Annabelle's voice chimed from the couch across from where I was sitting on Fred's lap. I looked up and saw her smiling at me. "That was in the mail for you" She continued to smile. It was a mean smile, like she knew she'd interrupted something important.

I narrowed my eyes and felt like chucking it back and hitting her in the nose. But, as always, I did the good thing and looked at the package in my lap. My name was in elegant script across the top and I raised an eyebrow. Mum and Dad had sent their packages last night and they'd arrived with the house elves... I wasn't expecting anything from anyone... except...

"Roger!" I exclaimed with a light laugh as I realised.

Dear A.V.

Merry Christmas! I hope you like your present. How's your Christmas been so far? No dramas of the bitchy kind I hope? Mine has been ok. My nephew is adorable, looks just like his gorgeous uncle haha (lucky kid). I've had a quiet holiday with family, but I got an interesting letter from Eva yesterday... I don't know what to make of it... I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts to show you so you can help!

Anyway, hope everything's going well. See you in a bit

Love Roge.

"Love Roge? Is this guy gay or just an idiot?" Fred scoffed as he read over my shoulder. "And what does he mean 'bitchy kind'?" He asked.

I frowned and folded the letter up. "None of your business" I tapped his nose with the parchment. "And Roger happens to be a good friend who is not gay or an idiot" I sighed and looked down at the box on my knees. "Although I didn't expect..." I gasped as I opened the lid of the box.

"Well fuck" Was all Fred said.

Inside was a bracelet made of gold threads, so delicate they looked like they would break. The closest thing I can think of that would describe them would be spider-web thread; Thousands of spider-web threads in a band. It was gorgeous, amazing, beautiful... and looked incredibly expensive. A small card fell out from behind the cushioning.

This was for Eva but she doesn't deserve it. Merry Christmas Avery – Roger.

"Oh wow" I whispered, tracing the delicate threads. "This is..."

"Pathetic" Fred burst out with a barking laugh. "Obviously he's trying to get into your pants I mean, what guy gives a girl jewellery and doesn't... want... anything..." He trailed off when he saw the incredulous look on my face.

"You gave me a necklace" I reminded him.

"Who says I don't want to get into your pants" He squeezed my hips and winked. My cheeks reddened and I slapped his arm lightly.

"Roger doesn't... he bought it for Eva and he's right... she doesn't deserve it" I shook my head.

"Doesn't mean you need it" Fred grumbled. I smirked at him.

"Jealous are we?" I asked lightly.

He rested his head on my shoulder. "Yes. Yes I am" He huffed. The butterflies in my stomach went wild.

"Now Fred, remember what happened last time you were jealous" I bit my lip.

"Trust me love, that's not happening again" He blinked up at me with big puppy dog eyes.

"So what was the package?" The single most annoying voice chirped from beside us. I wanted to turn and smack her in the face.

"A gift from Roger" I replied, looking away from Fred to her. I smiled smugly at her and handed the bracelet box over.

"Wow Avery, maybe you should go for him... you might actually have a chance with Roger" She said with a fake smile as she examined the bracelet.

"But I don't like Roger" I smiled back innocently. Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly in shock. She obviously hadn't been expecting a challenge.

Fred raised an eyebrow and looked from me to Annabelle and back again. I could tell he knew there was tension between us, he just didn't know what to say.

"Well isn't that a shame" Annabelle hissed back. I just shrugged and placed my arm around Fred's shoulders, playing with his hair.

"Not really" I sounded cocky.

She threw me one more glare and stood up, walking back over to where she had been by the window.

"What was going on there?" Fred asked in a quiet voice.

I looked at him and blinked innocently. "Why Fred, whatever do you mean?" I smiled as sweet as I could. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The less he knew the better

Plea's Note:

I'm in a good mood so here's another one :) Hope you like it. At the moment, I'm charging through, trying to get my base copy of A.V's story finished and done so I can start on Roe's... Roe's will be fun to write :)

Anyway, review as always.

xo

Plea