The air at Hogwarts became frantic and excited as the month of June began. Exams were coming up; the library became more and more crowded as students began to file in to study. Then of course there was the third and final task approaching quick. For the students and much of the staff it was basically the highlight of conversation. The Weasley twins had already begun taking bets on the champions for the final task.

The Gryffindor common room was crowded, more than usual as the students sat in groups of threes and fours quizzing each other for the exams. Fred, George, Angelina, and Lee occupied one of the tables nearest the fire. Fred was going over the stats he and George had come up with for the four champions, trying to calculate the safest champion to place their money on. Based on the stats alone, Cedric Diggory was the clear winner, but Fred had known Harry for four years now, he'd place everything he owned on that kid.

"Who's it gonna be Fred?" George asked , leaning over to analyze the chart.

"C'mon Georgie, we know both know Harry's gonna take the thing," Fred smirked.

"You two are disgusting, placing bets on a boy who's like a brother to you." Angelina said disapproving.

"We're supporting him Ange, besides, I'm sure even Dumbledore would place a bet on Harry." George grinned. He patted her knee, but she still scoffed.

"I'll bet Harry," Lee said chucking in a sickle.

"Good man!" Fred exclaimed thumping his mate on the back.

The minutes ticked by and the common room slowly cleared out as the students went up to bed. Angelina stood claiming that if she studied anymore her brain would explode. She kissed George then ascended the stairs to the girls' tower.

"You guys are really in it for the long hall aren't you?" Lee asked George with a hint of bitterness. George hadn't noticed however and he looked up from his papers with a grin.

"Oh, I plan on marrying he," George replied.

Fred looked up and gawked at his twin.

"Now, now George, let's not get hasty shall we?" he squeaked, "I mean, we have plans brother."

"Don't be silly Fred, the joke shop is my number one priority right now," George laughed.

"Does Angelina know this?" Lee asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Sure she does," said George unconvincingly, "I mean, I can't marry the girl without having a solid career first."

"That's the ticket," Fred beamed, "She can't be mad at you for that."

George nodded, satisfied with his answer, while Lee yawned next to him. Lee had a very good point, George was tired and it was late, he yawned as well.

"To bed mates," Lee stood stretching. George followed his lead, but Fred stayed put.

"Aren't you coming Fred?" George asked.

"No, you blokes go on ahead, I want to wait for Chuck," he replied, keeping his eyes down.

"Blimey Fred, you didn't start that again did you?" George asked exhasperated.

"No, trust me, shagging the girls is the last thing on my mind," said Fred, "Well, no it isn't, but it's definitely not the first."

"Well then why do you need to wait up for her?" George asked.

Charley had been given detention twice a week until the end of term for the stunt she pulled in Snape's class. It was unfair and rather harsh of him, seeing as telling the entire class her father was a death eater seemed a much more grievous offence than anything she had done. But McGonagall had felt for her and spared her, asking for Charley to serve detention helping her organize her already well organized classroom. On nights when McGonagall honestly couldn't find anything for Charley to do, she sent her to Madame Pomfry to help in the infirmary. Fred waited up for her every time.

"I dunno George, I like to be here for her," Fred sighed.

"He's gone, we've lost our Fred," said Lee shaking his head.

Fred glared up at Lee.

"Look, Fred, it's been a good two months since you last tried talking to her about you know…" said George, "your feelings. So why don't you do us all a favor and give it another go."

"I know exactly how that conversation plays out and trust me, it doesn't end well," Fred said shaking his head fervently.

"Fine, continue to follow her around like a lost puppy, wallow in self-pity, and by all means, please, please keep moaning to us about it." George replied looking quite annoyed.

"Something tells me you aren't being serious." Fred narrowed his eyes at his brother.

"Genius we have here," George exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air, "Night Fred."

He patted Fred on the shoulder, and then went up to bed with Lee following behind him.

Charley rushed back to the Gryffindor tower from her detention with Professor McGonagall. It was late and she was extremely tired. On top of that, Professor McGonagall had informed her that her last detention would be taking place during the final task with Madam Pomfrey, she might be able to catch the end, but she would miss most of it.

It had reached the ears of basically the entire school that Charley Rook was actually Charley Rookwood and that he father was in fact locked up in Azkaban for being a death eater. To most, including her friends it didn't mean much, due in large part to how close she was with the Weasley's and Harry. There were still those kids who gave Chuck funny looks or whispered as she walked by, but her friends had really stepped it up to help Chuck ignore it all.

Charley crawled in through the portrait hole to a very empty common room. She smiled as she spotted Fred sprawled out across one of the sofas, fast asleep. Fred had been there for Chuck, probably more than any of the others. He sat with her in the back of Potions keeping her smiling, he walked with her from class to class talking louder when people began to whisper, and he was always there waiting for her after her detentions. This whole, "just friends" thing was working out beautifully.

She walked over to the sofa and bent down, he looked so peaceful, Charley almost didn't want to wake him. She lifted her hand and gently brushed his hair back. He opened his eyes and grinned.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she smiled.

He sat up and stretched, as Charley flopped on the sofa next to him. She lay down putting her head on his legs.

"How was Minnie this evening?" Fred asked winding his hand into Chuck's hair.

"As she always is, hard on the outside, soft on the inside," Charley replied rubbing her eyes, "She let me study a bit though, that was nice."

"Good woman she is," Fred yawned.

"Oh, she did serve me some pretty disappointing news." Charley said sitting up.

Fred, who had started falling asleep, opened his eyes abruptly.

"What is it?" he asked shaking his head.

"Let's go to bed Fred." Charley said with a laugh.

"No, I will not move until you tell me about this horrible news." Fred replied sternly.

"Alright," Charley smirked, "My last detention is the night of the Third Task with Madam Pomfrey."

"Bollocks," Fred breathed.

"I know, but McGonagall reckons I'll be able to see at least the end."

"Well, it'll give me a chance to work on those pesky Puking Pastilles," said Fred.

Charley looked up at him confused.

"What are you going on about?" she asked.

"I figure the common room will be empty, what with everyone down watching the task, I figure it'll be a perfect chance for me to get through an experiment or two." Fred replied simply.

"Fred Weasley, I would never ask you to wait for me, I know you're just as excited to watch as everyone else," said Charley, baffled by her friend's behavior.

"I know you'd never ask, but I'm not going have you walk out there alone," Fred grinned.

"I'm perfectly capable of walking places alone Weasley," Charley shot, looking resentful.

"Never said you weren't, but I'm going to bet you'd rather have company," Fred shrugged.

"I would rather have company, but I am not allowing you to miss this on my account," Charley replied.

"Okay then how about this, I don't want to go without you because it won't be any fun unless you're there?" Fred asked, "Is that selfish enough for you?"

"Well, I hardly believe that," Charley snickered.

"You are so impossible!" Fred exclaimed, "I'm going to bed, good night."

"I'll see you tomorrow Fred," Charley winked as Fred stood.

"Impossible!" Fred muttered again shaking his head.

Charley laughed as he disappeared up to the boys' tower.

George sat with his family, Harry, Hermione, and Chuck, the morning of the third task. His mum and Bill had all come to watch and support Harry and they were all sitting at the Gryffindor table eating lunch. They were all chatting and laughing, except for Chuck, who had fallen asleep on Fred's shoulder. The previous night had been her penultimate detention, and from what Fred told George McGonagall had kept her out extremely late.

"Someone's sleepy," Bill said with a grin jerking his head toward Chuck.

Fred nuzzled his cheek against her head waking her up. Bill raised an eyebrow at George, Fred did not nuzzle. George shook his head an shrugged in response.

"Charley dear, are you alright? You seem quite tired?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine, I'm so sorry for falling asleep," she said shaking her head, still in a daze.

"Are we not good enough company for you?" Bill teased.

"Well, I am delighted to be in the company of nearly everyone at this table," Charley smirked, "You however I could have done without."

"Ooh, cold," Bill laughed, "So why are you using my brother as a pillow."

"I was in detention last night," she replied taking a turkey sandwich from the platter in front of her.

Mrs. Weasley shook her head disappointedly.

"Keep out of trouble Charley," she said in a matronly tone.

"Best stop hanging out with this lot," Bill laughed indicating to his twin brothers.

"She didn't actually do anything wrong, Mum," George said ignoring Bill.

"Yeah, Snape sort of attacked her for making a statement that actually had loads of truth behind it," Fred added.

"All the same, it's probably best to try and stay on his good side," said Mrs. Weasley seriously.

Charley nodded and looked down at her plate. She felt like a child who had just been reprimanded by a most beloved parent.

"We better be headed off to class," George said standing and kissing his mother on the cheek, "See you later Mum, Bill."

"Yeah, we've got a Transfigurations exam next," Fred sighed. He also walked over to kiss Mrs. Weasley's cheek.

"Alright, good luck on your exam!" Mrs. Weasley called as Fred, Charley and George left the Great Hall.

"Bollocks," Fred exclaimed as the trio walked to Transfigurations, "I've forgotten my wand in the Great Hall."

"George, how on earth did you manage to forget your wand?" Charley giggled.

"Dunno, I thought it was in my pocket, I'll catch up with you guys," he said turning and running back to the Great Hall.

When he was out of site, George whipped out Fred's wand and twirled it in his fingers.

"George, why would you do that?" Charley exclaimed, torn between amused and disapproving. "What if he's late? McGonagall will murder him."

"Ah, he won't be late, once he realizes he didn't leave it there, he'll know exactly who has it," George shrugged, "Besides, I need to talk to you."

"Well alright then, what is it?" Charley asked.

"I've just been noticing some things and I wanted to know what your opinion was on them," George began.

"Okay," Chuck nodded.

"Well, I know you and Fred are friends, but he's been acting quite strange. Almost like he has feelings for you," George continued.

"That's ridiculous. I mean, yeah, he thought he did, but he's Fred. He gets ideas like that in his head, but he came around," Charley rambled.

"Yeah, but the thing is, he waits up for you after your detentions, and he's just very, oh I dunno, sweet when it comes to you," George said.

Since the night that Fred had admitted to George and Lee that his feelings for Chuck had not subsided, George had been watching the pair closely. First he wanted to see if his brother's feelings were genuine. Once, last week, Charley left her Astronomy homework in the common room, and Fred insisted on going back to get it despite her protests. That alone convinced George of Fred's true sentiments. The next thing George was watching for was to see if Charley knew. She didn't. Although he wasn't sure how, he figured she had just deluded herself into thinking she and Fred were nothing more than friends. The last thing George was looking for was Chuck's feelings for Fred, and by the way she smiled whenever he looked at her, snuggled up next to him in the common room during late nights of studying, and had her fingers in his hair any time Fred lay down next to her, George knew Fred's feelings were not unrequited.

His plan to confront Chuck had been shot down by Angelina. She suggested a subtler approach, as Chuck was quite obviously afraid of relationships and not very trusting. Angelina thought a better way to go was to put all the ideas in Chuck's head and let her come to her own conclusions, which was exactly what George had decided to do.

"See what I'm saying Chuck?" George pressed.

"Fred's a sweet guy, he's my friend," Charley shrugged.

"Lee and I are both sweet and we're also you friends, neither of us wait around for you to get back from detention. We also don't go back to the Gryffindor tower to grab your homework," said George. He paused for a moment, "Although, I would run back to get Angelina's homework."

He eyed her carefully, watching as she ran his words through her mind.

"Son of a-" she whispered angrily, "I can't believe that arse is still conviced he has feelings for me!"

"Well, there's one more thing to consider before you go ripping his head off," George said quickly.

"What?" she snapped.

"Er, well, I'm your friend and Lee is your friend but you never really, you know, cuddle with us in the common room. And you certainly don't smile whenever either of us looks your way."

"I don't smile whenever Fred looks my way," Charley said shaking her head.

"Well you do, but that's really beside the point," said George.

Just then Fred came jogging down the hall. He stopped at the two of them clutching his side, winded. He grinned at George.

"You are a sneaky one George," he gasped between breaths, "And it's on, now hand over my wand."

George smirked and handed Fred his wand. Charley was still fuming.

"You two are the thickest people I have ever met!" she exclaimed turning on her heel and storming off to class.

"Consider what I said!" George called after her.

He received a rude hand gesture in return and chuckled. Fred glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.

"What did you say to her?" he asked suspicious, "Why is she mad at me?"

"C'mon Fred, or we'll be late," was George's only response.

Fred paced the empty common room, wringing his hands together nervously. The entire school was out watching the third task, but he was up in the Gryffindor tower waiting for Chuck. He knew she'd stop there first before heading out to the transformed Quidditch pitch, she'd have to grab her scarf, it had gotten cold. George had told Fred about his conversation with Chuck earlier, much to Fred's horror. George had also told him that he thought Fred actually had a chance if he played it right.

He turned sharply as the portrait hole opened and Charley stumbled through. She stopped dead, staring at him with wide eyes.

"You actually waited," she said softly after a moment.

"Well, I told you I would," he grinned, "Not to mention I wanted to," he added quickly.

"Fred, we have to stop this," she said sadly.

"Stop what? You want me to stop my feelings for you?" he asked.

"Yeah actually," she replied, "We're friends, that's how it should be."

"See that doesn't really work for me," Fred said moving towards her, "Because I don't know how to be just friends with you."

"Fred, c'mon, I'm serious," Charley sighed crossing her arms.

"Charley I am too," said Fred, "All I want is for you to be happy and I've been trying so hard, but it is killing me."

"Don't be so dramatic," Charley murmured.

"Merlin's beard Chuck, you are so difficult!" Fred said running a hand through his hair.

"Fred, you said we could just be friends, you said you were okay with that," Charley said angrily.

"I know what I said," Fred shot, "Charley, I can't do it though. I can't."

"What is it? Do you miss the shagging? Because we can go back to that," Charley suggested.

Fred laughed in disbelief.

"I won't lie to you, I do miss it, but it isn't what I want," Fred replied.

He slipped his hand under her chin and lifted her head. Her eyes found his and he smiled.

"Charley, what I want is to kiss you all the time, whenever I please. I want to walk down the corridors holding your hand, I want make you laugh, and I want to bloody cuddle with you, and I don't cuddle," he said seriously, "And believe me Chuck, if I thought that you honestly and truly wanted something different, I would shut my mouth right now and friends we'd stay," he finished.

Charley shook her head, tears slid down her face and she wiped them away quickly.

"I'm scared," she whispered "What if you change your mind?"

"What if you change yours?" he shrugged, "Look Chuck, we can play the "what if" game for the rest of our lives, you're just going to have to trust that I won't change my mind."

"But how can I possibly trust you?" she asked.

"Charley you can't, that's what trust is," he replied gently.

She stared at him, terrified for a few solid moments. He was right, of course, about everything he had said. She nodded silently and let her hand find his.

"Alright Fred," she smiled apprehensively, "alright."

Fred beamed and pulled her lips to his.

As they walked down to the Quidditch pitch together, hand in hand, Charley was sure she couldn't be happier. She was also sure that nothing could ruin this moment. She was wrong. The scene at the Quidditch pitch was horrifying. There were screams and cries as people frantically fled down from the stands and onto the field.
Charley and Fred rushed forward, trying to make sense of what was going on. George, Angelina, and Lee all made their way towards them looking grim. Angelina's face was wet with tears, George held her close to him murmuring softly to her.

"George, what is going on?" Fred asked confused.

"Where's Harry? Is he alright?" Charley asked quickly.

"Harry's fine, its Cedric," George replied looking stunned, "Cedric is dead."

Charley gasped.

"What? How?" Fred asked shaking his head in disbelief.

George looked at Charley now, his eyes full of concern, then he looked back up at his brother.

"You-Know-Who, Harry said he's back," George replied.

It was as though someone had punched Charley in the stomach. She held onto Fred as everything became blurry. If he was back, then it was only a matter of time. She couldn't bear to think about it and yet she could think of nothing else.

"Charley?"

Fred's voice was the last thing she heard, then everything went black.

Okay, that's it for Book Four, moving onto Book Five next! :) Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, I love getting them. Thank you to all of you out there reading this, I really truly appreciate it! :D