Author's Note: SPOLIER WARNING!

I know I said in before the first scene that this was going to be a place where different characters mourned over those they lost in the war. However, I am in the process of writing a Katie Bell / Seamus Finnegan fanfic and before DH was published Fred had been thrown in as Katie's long standing "friend with benefits." Now that JKR has killed him I am in the process of writing him out of it. Since I LOVED Fred I couldn't bare to delete this scene with him in it. So I posted it here for you all to enjoy. Oh, and as the title suggests it's a little sexual in nature, but nothing detailed or obscene, just be forewarned.

DISCLAIMER: I am not JK Rowling. I do not own any Harry Potter characters, I am merely taking them out to play.

Scene Two: Friends With Benefits

Katie hesitated before knocking on his door. It was late, he was probably asleep. Did she want to wake him? Yes, she needed him. A tear slid down her cheek and she quickly knocked before she lost her nerve. She heard him moan so she quietly opened the door and stepped in. It was lighter in here than in the hall. There was faint light shinning in through the window that faced the street below with lit street lamps on it. She could tell he was lying on his stomach stretched out across his bed with one arm hanging over the side.

"Fred," she whispered as she took a hesitant step toward him, "Are you awake?" He moaned again and rolled over onto this back then again on his stomach on the other side of the bed. She took another step toward him.

He rolled back over onto his back and said in a groggy and sort of annoyed voice, "Come here if you're going to Kate."

She closed the distance between them in a moment. He lifted the covers for her and she slipped in next to him. He wrapped his strong arms around her and pressed the entire length of his body up against her. She leaned into his warmth and embrace.

"Have dinner at your parents?" He asked in that same groggy voice, only without the annoyance.

She nodded in response.

"Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head then slowly turned around in his arms so she was facing him. There was laughter in his dark brown eyes – he knew what she wanted and he wanted it to. She leaned forward and kissed him as his arms pulled her closer and he rolled her onto her back.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" He asked from above her. She noticed he was much more awake now. He was laughing at her with his eyes.

"No," she said with a smile as she leaned forward and kissed him, "no talking."

"Really?" He persisted, "because you seem upset." He reached his hand up and wiped her cheek where an earlier tear had escaped. His hand was rough and strong against her soft flesh. He was looking deep into her eyes and she couldn't look away. The earlier mirth in them was slowly leaving to be replaced by genuine concern for her. It was one of the sweetest moments she ever remembered sharing with him and one of the sexiest.

"Are you telling me you would rather talk?" She asked with a seductive smile.

He returned her gesture, his playfulness coming right back to him, "If you want to," he said as he ran his hands lightly down her sides in an almost ticklish manner.

She giggled, "Good thing I don't want to then," she reached up and ran her fingers through the hair at the base of his neck as he leaned down and kissed her.

It was several hours later when Katie gently woke from a peaceful sleep to find Fred running his fingers through her hair. He smiled when she turned her head to get a better look at him.

"Hi," he whispered to her.

"Hi," she replied through a contented sigh.

"Are you awake?"

"I am now," she said with a nod.

"Want to talk about it?" He asked, while still running his fingers through her hair.

"Not really," she sighed, "It was just like every other family dinner. My parents praised Felicia and Amy and treated me like the black sheep of the family."

"I'm sorry," said Fred. Katie smiled at him, silently thanking God that she had come to him and no one else.

"Thanks," she said in a quiet voice.

"For what?"

"For not being like everyone else and saying, 'it can't have been that bad Katie, stop exaggerating' or else, 'your parents are doing the best they can, why don't you give them some credit?'"

Fred smiled at her, "I trust your judgment," he said, "and even if you are exaggerating, which I don't think you are, it's how you feel. I'm not about to tell you your feelings are wrong."

"Thanks," she said again.

"You're welcome."

They lay in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Fred still playing with her hair, before she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Fred," she said gently. He hadn't been looking at her he had been staring up at the ceiling. Now he looked at her. "Why don't you have a proper girlfriend?"

Fred's smile left him and he frowned at her, "What?"

Katie propped herself up on her left elbow to look at him better. "You're my best friend," she said, "you're such a great guy, and I understand why we aren't dating, but I just don't get why you're still single."

He looked at her with a contemplative frown, "I just haven't found anyone yet."

"It doesn't have anything to do with this does it?" She asked.

"With what?"

She gestured between their naked bodies.

"Oh," he said with a smile, "no. It doesn't have anything to do with this."

"Are you sure?" She asked, "because we don't have to – I mean we can stop if – if you find someone else."

"I know," he said confidently, "and the same goes for you if you find someone else."

"I just," she was feeling kind of nervous saying this to him, "I don't want you to – to stop looking because you think that this is – well, that this is a permanent arrangement."

He grinned at her and let out a soft laugh, "Katie, you're great and I think the world of you, but I know this isn't permanent."

"Oh good," she said with a sigh of relief, "I was a little worried."

He chuckled softly, "Don't worry – I know we're just friends." Then he suddenly let out a loud bark of laugher that slightly startled her, "Merlin Kate, do you remember that awful four month period when we had a go of it?"

"Of course I do," she also laughed, "it was great for the first three weeks and then I thought we were going to kill each other."

"I'm glad it didn't ruin our friendship," he said sobering slightly.

"Me too," she replied with a sly grin, "because you are one hell of a shag." They both laughed.

"You're not so bad yourself," he replied, "I think that's why I held on for those three months while we fought."

"For the makeup sex?" she asked with a grin, "Oh trust me, I know."

They were silent for another comfortable moment before she asked, "So what're we going to do?"

"About what?"

"Our current predicament."

"Are we in a predicament?"

She frowned at him though there was still laughter in her eyes, "Of course we are," she said, "we know that any attempt at a romantic relationship between us would end up in smokes, but we are good friends and enjoy the sex."

He looked at her for a few seconds before opening his mouth, "I thought that's why we came up with the compromise we are currently enjoying."

"Well yes," she said, "But if either of us starts seriously dating someone else, I sincerely doubt they're going to like this arrangement."

"So we'll call it quits," he replied with a shrug.

"You think it'll be that easy?"

"Well no, not at first, but hopefully the person either of us is seeing is a better shag."

"Hopefully," she agreed with a nod, "but there aren't any guarantees."

"Kate," said Fred in all seriousness now, "if you're dating someone who isn't a better shag then me, then you should dump him."

"Why?" She asked with a confused frown.

"Because you're only supposed to get serious with someone you want to shag every day."

Katie laughed, "Who told you that?"

Fred blushed a little before muttering, "Charlie."

"And who told him?"

He looked at her flatly as though the answer was obvious and then she realized that it was – his father. She laughed again, "Well that certainly explains a lot."

"I'm serious," he replied as he snuggled deeper into his pillow and yawned.

"I'm sure you are," she said with a smile as she lay back down and nestled herself in the crook of his shoulder. "I'll remember that."

"Good," he said in a sleepy voice.

"Fred," she whispered after a minute of quiet.

"Hmm?"

"You didn't really answer my question."

"What question?" He stifled a yawn.

"Why don't you have a proper girlfriend?"

"I told you," he yawned again, "I haven't found anyone yet."

"What does that mean?" She asked, "You can't be looking very hard. You're such a great catch."

He sighed but said nothing.

"I mean, when is the last time you went on a date?"

"I had a date tonight actually," he admitted with a little defiance in his voice.

Katie propped herself up again to look at him, "How did it go?"

"You don't see her do you?"

She smiled and shook her head, "Do you always try to shag on the first date?"

"If she's willing," there was laughter in his voice.

"Maybe that's your problem," she replied, "most girls are looking for more than just a good shag."

"I don't hear you complaining."

"Yes well, I'm different aren't I?"

"I've been saying that for years Katie Bell," he laughed.

She ignored this, "I just want you to be happy," she said quite seriously.

"What makes you think I'm not?" He asked.

"Because I know you," she replied, "and I see the look in your eyes every time look at Bill and Fleur together. You want what they have."

"How do you know I just don't want her?"

"Gross Fred, she's your brother's wife."

He laughed again.

"Seriously Fred," she sighed, "why can't you admit that you want to settle down?"

"Because we're young and I am enjoying being single before I get tied down into anything serious. Come on Katie, admit you like having fun with me."

"Of course I do," she replied, "but that doesn't mean I'm not keeping my eyes open for Mr. Right."

"I'm keeping my eyes open too," he said through a stifled a yawn, "but I'm also having fun in the meantime. Come on now, it's my turn to open the shop tomorrow and George'll kill me if I'm late again."

She lay back down on his chest a little hesitantly, "Ok," she said quietly, deciding to shelf this conversation for a later date. She wasn't convinced that he was looking at all. He was a great guy, and great guys should not be single.

After a few minutes she closed her eyes and it wasn't long before the both of them were sound asleep.

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