It gets a bit random near the end I will admit and I prefer the next two after this (yes 5 chapters because I have deemed it so!) but this is good near the beginning... I think. Speaking of thinking... Let me know what you think! Thanks again to MissyKate for reviewing and to everyone who reads and doesn't review! Even though I would prefer reviews... but not reviewing is fine too... So long as people enjoy! And wow this turned out longer than expected hmmm...

George looked rather dumbfounded, understandable when you think only seconds ago I called him an arse for no obvious reason…

Well it was obvious to me. I thought, no, in fact I knew I'd told him I started hyperventilating whenever I was left in the dark.

I lunged at him and with shaky hands pulled him into a hug. I was angry, yes, angry at the fact that he obviously knew this passage would be as black as charcoal and yet still led me here, knowing of my achluophobia. I still, however, needed to know that there was a still another human being in here with me and right now George was that human being. Pain in the arse, or not.

"Did I just miss something?" I looked up at him, thankfully that wasn't too far, the twins had a good couple of inches on me but I still reached up to their noses. "First you call me an arse and now you're hugging me…"

"No, I'd say you got it in one boy genius…" I said, sniffling slightly, still refusing to unthread my arms from his middle. I looked out towards the bleak, black tunnel past the light emanating from the tip of George's wand and a tremble ran down my spine and through my body. I felt my body go rigid and cold and I pressed my eyes against George's shoulder trying to block out the irrational alarm bells going off in my brain telling me plunging into the thing I fear most was a terrible plan.

George must have finally got the idea because the hand that had snaked itself protectively around my waist (wait, when had it gotten there?) reached up as he smacked himself on his forehead.

"Merlin, I'm sorry Rachel!"

"It's okay…" I could hear him groan as he could hear the pain in my voice. Not only at being terrified but slightly upset that he'd forgotten.

"No, no it's not. It's just…" he sighed, it was actually quite comforting considering I was pressed against his body by the arm that was draped across my shoulders (hang on, since when…?) and it was giving me something to focus on. "…well…it kind of just slipped my mind…I mean…it's not like we're stuck in dark places often together now is it?"

It must have been the light because I swear I saw him flush a little pink, he quickly looked away. Light. It suddenly occurred to me that his wand hand had been extended this whole time and was probably beginning to ache.

I pushed away from him, shrugging his arm from my shoulders; he looked from what I could tell, a little hurt until he saw me reach for my own wand under my red and gold robes.

"Lumos." A yellow light glowed freely from my own stripy wand and revealed further down the passage. George took the opportunity to switch his wand into his other hand and shook the arm that had been extended.

"Thanks, wondered when you were going to notice."

"No problem, smartarse."

He chuckled slightly, before taking my hand in his.

"You alright now?"

"Fine, thanks," I was repeatedly thanking Merlin that the light was so dim he couldn't see my flushed face (and this time it was defiantly not from running).

We set off down the freakishly dark tunnel, hand in hand, which oddly enough made my hysteria dissipate (it wasn't like he could make my fears disappear or anything...)

"Where are we going?" I asked turning to face him.

"You'll have to wait and see won't you?" He sent me a cheeky grin and flicked his head, the vibrant red strands of hair moving to once again show his warm, brown eyes. I ran my magenta nails across my forehead tucking any rebellious pieces of honey gold from my grass coloured eyes. The plait my hair had previously been secured in was now in shambles. I wasn't particularly concerned considering it had been for practicality rather than prettiness.

Soon I could see a light at the end of the tunnel (yes, I know...how corny...) it was dim but just enough.

"Nox." Both George and I said simultaneously. The lights from our wands flickered out and we both pocketed them once more. The smell drifting from the room was delicious. I breathed in long, deep and slow, taking in every little particle.

"Hmmm~"

"Like what you smell?"

"Yeah, I hadn't realised how hungry I was." He released my hand (not to my disappointment...no not at all...) and pushed the door open gently. It was the kitchens, ah I was in heaven...

A small house elf wondered up to us and glanced up at George;

"Using the passageway again Master Weasley?" she shook her head and sent him a reprimanding look, so far I was doing quite well at quenching my desire to laugh. "And who are you running from this time, Mistress McGonagall, Master Lupin, Mistress Burbage," she placed her hands on her hips looking rather Molly-ish, Merlin this was classic; famous prankster George Weasley getting his arse handed to him by a house elf, if this kept up... "Or Master Snape, perhaps?"

That was it. I died. I broke out into fits of laughter, I couldn't stop, I knew I was turning purple but I really didn't care. This was too much. I didn't even noticed as the crumpled up piece of parchment from earlier fell from my pocket as I doubled over. George, however, snapped out of his irritated glare long enough to grab it and make off with it before I'd noticed.

By the time I had noticed...

"GEORGE!" I yelled out as I sprinted after him, the remainder of my plait shooting out as my hair flew widly in all directions. "George! Give that back!" I had to get that back. I knew he'd been curious but I'd thought he'd dropped it, for Merlin's sake! It didn't take me long to match his speed; we were both on the Quidditch team, him a beater, me a chaser.

So being lighter and faster on my feet, I caught up with him, with ease. I grabbed his robe sleeve and jerked him back. He didn't fight me and by the look he had on his face I could tell he'd already read it.

Shit.