Fred and George sat in the common room pouring over the newest prototype of their Puking Pastilles. They were so close they could taste it, but they weren't quite there yet. Lee was sitting at the table with them, with his head on the table, moping. After three months of holding hands, cuddling, and sneaking off to snog, Katie had decided that they worked better as just friends. Although pretty much everyone had seen it coming, Lee hadn't and he still wasn't ready to accept it.
Charley and Angelina climbed in through the portrait hole and walked over to the boys. Charley sat next to Lee and patted him sympathetically on the shoulder. As Angelina passed George, she swooped down and kissed him on the cheek. He smiled and returned her greeting with a real kiss.
"Hello ladies," Fred said looking up at them.
Angelina sat next to George, who absentmindedly placed a hand on her knee. She pulled out a piece of parchment and her Potions book and began writing. The others had gotten used to George and Angelina's small public displays of affection. They had been a little taken aback at first, seeing as the two hadn't given them any warning. They had just come in one night holding hands and giggling like only two people who had just begun dating could, but after a while, it seemed like they'd always been that way.
"So what are you up to?" Charley asked.
"Secrets," Fred winked.
Charley smirked at him and turned her attention to her bag, pulling out her Transfigurations book. Fred watched her as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. She was still smiling as she began to write her paper on human transfiguration. Fred knew she knew he was watching her. Being shag buddies with someone gave a person that sort of insight.
Their "one-time" had turned into two times, then three, and pretty soon they couldn't say how many times it had been. It wasn't easy being someone's shag buddy, as Fred had found out shortly after they had started. Chuck had all these rules, well only three, but they were becoming increasingly hard for Fred to follow.
Rule number one was "No one finds out", which basically meant they had to continuously come up with fresh and believable ideas to get out of things and into bed together. The second was "No cuddling", this rule also had about a million sub-rules that basically allowed for no physical contact other than, well, shagging. Fred had originally thought this one would be easy to follow, he had certainly never fancied himself the cuddling type, but soon he found himself longing to just hold her. On top of that felt a growing need to be close to her all the time. He started going out of his way to do simple things like walk beside her or sit next to her in their classes.
Then there was rule number three. If Fred had been truly honest with himself, he would've known that he would never have been able to abide by rule number three and he wouldn't have agreed to it in the first place. Rule number three was "No feelings". Fred realized that he had probably already broken that rule long before it had ever been made. Charley seemed to be having no problems with any of these rules of course, which only drove Fred crazier. He was beginning to feel like a love sick girl.
George said something to him about the pastilles, but he wasn't really paying attention. Instead he was watching Charley as she read, trying to be as subtle as possible. He didn't need any one sitting at the table to notice, least of all Chuck.
"Fred, did you hear what I said?" George asked, shaking Fred out of his trance.
"Yeah, yeah," Fred nodded, "Er….no actually."
Charley looked up meeting his gaze with a knowing smile. Fred got the distinct impression that she was teasing him. He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Fred, I need you to focus," George sighed.
"Yeah, I know," Fred replied, "I'm just trying to remember what I did with my Potions book, we have Potions next and I can't walk into that class without it."
George raised an eyebrow at his twin.
"Weren't you and Charley studying potions last night?" Lee asked.
"You know what, we were!" Fred exclaimed, "Chuck, you can probably help me find it," he said cocking his head towards the boys' dormitory.
"Yeah, I think I remember where you left it," Charley said standing.
"Oh good, we'll be right back then," said Fred, his eyes never leaving Chuck.
George, Angelina and Lee watched as the two ran up the stairs as fast as they could. George laughed and shook his head.
"I can't believe they actually think they're being secretive," he said.
"What?" Lee asked.
"Oh c'mon Lee, you haven't noticed?" Angelina asked.
Lee shook his head and shrugged.
"They've been shagging for months now," said George.
Lee jumped and looked at them disgusted.
"How do you know?" he asked, horrified.
"It's obvious isn't it?" Angelina asked, "They sneak out of class all the time, they come back from being alone looking disheveled." Angelina listed.
"Not to mention Fred can't stand being away from her for any amount of time," George finished.
Lee stared at them both for a minute shaking his head.
"Ridiculous, Fred and Charley are upstairs shagging and you two have started finishing each other's sentences!" Lee exclaimed standing. He stormed out of the portrait hole.
"I don't know where he's going; we've got Potions in thirty minute," George said.
Angelina smiled and gave him a kiss.
"Chuck, I need to talk to you," Fred said as Charley bent down to kiss him. He was laying in his bed, with Charley straddling a top him.
"Now?" she asked unbuttoning her shirt.
"Yes," He replied.
Charley continued to unbutton her shirt, ignoring him. Fred sighed as she pulled her shirt off, how was he supposed to talk to her rationally when she was in her bra? When she moved to take that off, he knew he had to stop her or else he'd be gone.
"Chuck wait," he said grabbing her hands.
She looked down at him confused.
"What's the matter Fred?" she asked cocking her head to one side.
"You're so cute," he laughed absentmindedly. She hit his chest.
"No, compliments Fred," she said glaring at him.
"New rule?"
"Yes, new rule," she nodded.
Fred sat up and rested his back against the wall. Charley moved off of him and crossed her legs. She looked half angry half confused.
"Chuck, I'm done with rules," he said firmly.
"What are you talking about?" she asked
"I'm done with the rules. I've already broken nearly all of them," he answered.
"You're joking right? You can't possibly be serious." Charley shook her head.
"Chuck, I am completely serious. I have developed feelings for you, strong ones," he said grinning.
"You're an idiot," Charley said putting her shirt back on. She stood and walked towards the door. Fred jumped up and followed.
"You have feelings for me too Chuck," he said just as she was about to open the door.
She turned to face him, crossing her arms.
"Oh really? And what makes you think that?" she asked.
"Well, it's this thing you do after we've shagged, after we've put our clothes back on, but just before you leave. You didn't do it in the beginning, but you've started doing it lately and I know it means something," he replied.
"And what's that?" she asked, humoring him.
"You kiss me," he replied simply.
Her face turned bright red.
"I don't," she whispered shaking her head.
"Actually you do. You give me a goodbye kiss after every time," he grinned.
Charley glared at him, then turned and walked out the door, slamming it hard behind her. Fred threw on a shirt and ran after her, but by the time he had reached the common room she had already disappeared. Whether she had left through the portrait hole or gone up to the girls' dormitory he didn't know.
George sat at the table, alone now, watching his brother with raised eyebrows. Fred sat down next to him and let his head drop to the table.
"What is going on Fred?" George asked.
"Chuck and I have been shagging like mad," he mumbled.
"Other than the obvious I meant."
Fred shot up, looking at his brother in shock.
"You knew?" Fred moaned.
"Of course I knew, I'm pretty sure the whole school knew."
Fred's head once again dropped to the table, this time with more force. He groaned in agony.
"So are you going to tell me what happened?" George asked.
"We started sleeping together because it was fun and whenever one of us had a bad day it was a good way to relieve stress. But then Chuck started coming up with all these rules so that we wouldn't get attached," Fred stopped here and looked up at his brother, "But I got attached Georgie, I got real attached."
"Of course you got attached you bloody fool!" George exclaimed "I suppose you told her and that is what caused this?"
Fred nodded miserably.
"Boy Fred, you really stepped in it."
"Thanks heaps," Fred glared at his brother.
"Your big mistake here Fred, is thinking you'd be able to have sex with her without getting attached. Shagging a girl without feelings getting in the way is easy. Shagging the same girl multiple times without feelings getting involved is loads trickier. Especially when you've already had feelings for said girl."
"So you don't think telling her was a mistake then?"
"Heaven's no, it's the first honest thing you've done regarding Chuck," George replied. "Unfortunately she didn't find it as charming as you thought she would and she is angry with you. That is something you're going to have to try and fix."
"I sure do a lot of 'fixing' with Chuck," Fred sighed.
"Is she worth it?"
"Of course she's worth it," Fred said without skipping a beat.
George grinned and patted his brother on his shoulder.
"Well, then, it shouldn't be too hard for you to figure it out," George said, "Now let's go, we're go to be late to potions if we don't get a move on."
"When did you become the smart twin?" Fred asked as the two exited through the portrait hole.
"Fred," George scoffed, "I have always been the smart twin."
Charley's leg shook nervously, hitting the desk, as she waited for Fred to enter the classroom. She knew he'd have to sit next to her. She had hoped that maybe she could get Lee to take Fred's seat, but apparently Lee had decided to skive off Potions for the day. So she waited, her heart pounding, her stomach churning.
She considered what Fred had said. Had she actually been giving him goodbye kisses? The idea didn't seem as farfetched as she'd originally thought. They had been dancing around each other for months now, was it finally getting serious? Charley had been spending an awfully large amount of time with Fred and she found herself to be thoroughly enjoying it. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd begun to enjoy Fred as more than a friend though.
The real problem was, there was no way for Charley to be sure with Fred. He was so flighty, one minute Chuck was the girl of his dreams, the next he only had eyes for Alicia Spinnet, and he was always flirting with any girl from Beauxbatons that passed his way. Charley simply didn't trust him and with good reason. On top of all this was there was still Charlie. Chuck had done an awfully good job of pretending she was over him, but if she truly was she couldn't tell.
Fred came in and sat down next to her. He didn't say a word as he unpacked his things, but he did give her a few sideways glances. He opened his mouth to say something when Professor Snape swept into the classroom, looking especially annoyed.
He told them all to turn to page one-hundred and thirty of their Potions books and to get started. It was an Elixir to Induce Euphoria. Charley began working quickly, completely ignoring Fred's presence. Fred however moved closer to Charley, glancing down at her.
"Chuck, I'm sorry." He whispered.
"I bet." Charley replied, crushing a bit of Graphorn horn into powder, and then sliding it into her cauldron.
"Well, I am and I don't really know what else you'd like me to say."
Charley put down her things and turned face him. She had a hand on her hip, Fred knew she meant business.
"All I want from you is a little bit of honesty. I never know what's true and what isn't coming out of your mouth," she said.
"But I am being honest Chuck," Fred replied pleadingly, "That's the thing, I'm being completely honest."
Her eyes searched his for a moment, but she couldn't find what she was looking for, the truth. Or maybe she didn't want to find, maybe she was scared.
"Fred, you have given me absolutely no reason to trust you and every single reason I can think of not to," she said sadly.
Fred opened his mouth to say something, when Professor Snape, stopped him dead. Neither had noticed Snape come up to observe their work.
"Well, this does seem touching, but it is neither the time nor place for such things, ten points each from Gryffindor," he said with a greasy grin, "Now, let's see, Mr. Weasley go trade places with Mr. Summeby."
Fred packed up his things angrily and stormed to the back of the classroom, where the Hufflepuff Kyle Summerby was sitting. Kyle looked at Fred confused, as he listened to Fred's explanation of why Kyle had to move.
"I'm so sorry to split you from your precious Weasley," Snape said in a mocking tone, "Maybe now you'll do some actual work, not that I'd expect anything remotely decent from someone who's such a poor excuse for a student."
He began to walk away, but Charley had had enough. Today was not her day and Snape had royally ticked her off.
"Excuse me, Professor," she said loudly. Snape turned to her his eyebrows raised, "I'm sorry, Sir, but I was just wondering, do you treat all your best students as poorly as you treat me?" she asked.
"What makes you think you're one of my best students?" Snape asked seething.
"I don't think I'm one of your best students," she replied innocently, "I know I am. Potions has always been my strongest subject, I actually enjoyed it until I met you."
The room was dead silent as the students watched for Snape's reaction. Charley's heart sank as Snape's lips curled into a vicious smile.
"That's so interesting that you say that, Miss Rook," he said emphasizing her last name, "I was at school with your father and he had knack for Potions as well."
Charley looked at Snape horrified.
"Let's see, what was his name again?" Snape said stroking his chin.
"Please don't," Charley begged.
"Ah yes, Augustus Rookwood. That's it," Snape said. "I haven't heard from him in a while, what has your dear father been up to?"
"Lay off!" George shouted, but Snape ignored him.
"Silly me, he's been in Azkaban since the fall of The Dark Lord, his master," Snape's eyes gleamed with triumph.
The entire class was watching Charley now. Tears ran down her face and the only thing she could think to do was bolt out of the classroom, leaving even her books behind. George glanced back at Fred, he was fuming. Then in a heartbeat he jumped up and ran after her.
Fred glanced up and down the corridor, but Chuck was nowhere to be seen. Instinctively Fred knew exactly where she'd be. He ran out of castle and down to the lake, where sure enough, Chuck sat huddled into a little ball near the water's edge.
Fred walked slowly over to her, not wanting to scare her. She looked up at him upon hearing his footsteps and stood glaring at him.
"Go away Fred," she said tearfully.
"Chuck, wait," Fred began to take a step closer, but she just backed away.
"I don't want to shag," she shot crossing her arms.
"I'm not here for that Charley,"
"And I don't want to date you ,"
"I'm not here for that either," he said.
"Well then why are you here?" Charley shouted.
Fred slowly took another step towards her, she didn't move this time. He took another one and another until he was right in front of her. Then he reached out and pulled her into him.
"I'm here to do this," he said holding her.
She broke in his arms and began sobbing violently. He sat down with her and let her cry into him. After a few moments he moved to stroke her hair.
"I'm so sorry Chuck" he whispered.
He wanted to say things to make her feel better; to reassure her that none of her true friends would think differently of her. But it wasn't what she needed at the moment. What she needed was to cry and so Fred would let her do just that.
Fred held her for what seemed like hours, his heart broke for her. But finally she lifted her head and wiped her eyes.
"I don't think I have any tears left," she said with a halfhearted laugh.
Fred smiled sadly and kissed her forehead.
"I can't believe he did that to you," he said after a moment.
"I can't talk about that right now Fred, I just…I can't even think about," Charley shook her head as tears began to form in her eyes again.
"I'm sorry," Fred said pulling her into him again. "You know, things were so much easier last summer back at the Burrow, before all of this."
"You mean back when you hated my guts?" Charley asked. Fred could hear the smile in her voice.
"Yeah, back then. I think I'll go back to hating you," Fred teased.
"Don't you dare Fred Weasley," Charley demanded.
"Alright, alright," Fred sighed playfully.
Charley sat up and smiled at him, his heart skipped a beat.
"I've got an idea," she said.
"What is your idea?"
"Let's try the whole, friend thing. You know, no shagging, no kissing, no flirting. Just friends, like me and George or you and…" Charley thought for a moment, "Lee," she said finally.
"Are you implying I can only be friends with males?" Fred asked.
"I'm implying that all of the girls you happen to be friends with, you can also be linked to romantically," Charley smirked.
"Fair observation," Fred said.
Fred looked down at Chuck. She shivered as a gust of wind blew past them. He thought about summer and the year and how much Charley had gone through in such a short amount of time. He would not allow himself to be the cause of anymore of Chuck's pain. There was only one option. Fred wrapped an arm around Chuck's shoulder.
"Friends it is," he said pulling her close to him.
"Thanks Fred," she smiled and dropped her head to his shoulder.