When they returned to the Gryffindor common room, George spotted Angelina Johnson from across the room and went to catch up with her. Fred followed after, spotting Katie Bell along the way. He waved to her and motioned for her to join them. Fred wasn't going to let a little uncertainty ruin his first day back.

He gave Katie a warm hug as she approached them and then took a seat on the arm of the chair Angelina sat on.

"Good summer, Ang?" he asked pleasantly.

She smiled and gave him a nod. Fred felt a little better with as the sight of her smile. Angelina was always able to cheer him up and remembering that made him feel worse about ending their relationship over the summer.

A moment later, the common room got eerily quiet. Fred turned around to see Harry entering the room and noticed everyone staring at him.

'Poor bloke…" he heard George mumble. Fred watched silently as Harry made his way towards the staircase. Before walking up them, he turned around and spoke to Seamus and Dean, two Gryffindors in their fifth year.

"Dean, Seamus," Harry said. "Good holiday?"

"Alright," Dean told him shortly. "Better than Seamus' anyway."

Fred heard everyone's breathing as the room fell to a dead silence. Harry paused and waited as Seamus got to his feet and approached him.

"Me mum didn't want me to come back this year," Seamus said hotly in his thick accent.

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"Let me see. Because of you."

Seamus took another step towards Harry and Fred turned to George who nodded at him. They knew they might have to intervene to stop a fight.

"The Daily Prophet's been saying a lot of things about you and Dumbledore," Seamus told Harry.

"What, your mum believes them?" Harry asked with a scoff.

"Well, nobody was there the night Cedric died," Seamus retorted.

George began to slowly stand up, waiting for the moment when Seamus would attack Harry. Fred prepared himself.

"I guess you should read the Prophet then, like your stupid mother."

"DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT MY MOTHER," Seamus yelled, taking a lung at Harry.

Fred and George bolted out of their seats as people gasped at Seamus' advance on Harry. Fred quickly grabbed Seamus by the arms and George ran over to grab onto Harry who struggled against him.

"I'll have a go at anyone who calls me a liar," Harry snarled at Seamus.

"What's going on?"

Ron jogged in, Hermione close behind him and they stopped themselves in between Seamus and Harry. Seamus pulled hard against Fred's grip but was unsuccessful.

Hermione frowned at Seamus and then looked at Fred. He lost his focus for a moment but caught onto Seamus before he could go anywhere.

"He's mad is what's going on," Seamus told Ron harshly. "Do you believe the rubbish he's come out with about You-Know-Who?"

"Yeah, I do," Ron told him shortly. He stared down Seamus as he continued to struggle against Fred's hold. "Has anyone else got a problem with Harry?" Ron asked the room.

It was silent. George released Harry who stomped up the stairs with Ron behind him. Fred let go of Seamus who shoved him away. Fred adjusted his wrinkled sleeves and looked around the room, which was now filled with a low chatter.

"Thank you, boys" said Hermione from behind Fred and George. They turned around and faced her. She looked upset but relaxed. "The last thing Harry needed was a fight."

"Well, we like our house colors but we didn't need blood all over the carpet," George smirked.

"Or worse, on our uniforms," Fred added. "It would take attention away from our handsome faces."

Hermione gave them a small smile before walking over to Ginny in the corner of the room.

Fred felt the emptiness return to his stomach, but a smirk was painted on his face. He turned to his brother who was giving his a curious stare.

Fred raised his eyebrows at his brother, who was not fooled. He saw Fred's expression and chuckled before returning to Katie and Angelina.

Fred walked towards the stairs with his hands in his pockets, biting his lip. What was he going to do?

Fred sighed as he walked up the staircase to his room.

How could he ignore how he felt?

He couldn't keep it up and he knew it. Fred flung himself onto his four-poster bed and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. He puffed out his cheeks and let out a long breath.

"Stop breathing like that, you look like a bloody puffer-fish."

George's voice startled Fred, making him roll off of his bed, landing hard on the ground with a thump. George laughed loudly as Fred got up, rubbing his hip that had taken most of the fall.

"Blimey, George. Be more intrusive…" grumbled Fred. He got back on his bed and laid down, his shoulders leaning against the headboard.

"Blimey, Fred. Be more grumpy," George said, mocking his brother. "What is your problem today?"

"It's nothing. Just feeling a bit peaky," Fred lied. He felt bad, lying to George, but he didn't want to talk about things at that time.

"You think I'm stupid, Fred?" George asked him plainly.

Fred looked at his brother appoligetically and lowered his head.

"I suppose you've already figured it out then?" Fred asked him.

George nodded with a small grin on his face. Fred returned it and looked at his brother for help.

"It's not as terrible a situation as it seems, mate," George assured him. "I mean, yeah, Ron never shuts up about her but I've never once heard her talk about him."

"I couldn't do that to Ron," Fred explained, sighing again. "But maybe if I give this time, it will pass."

"I wouldn't hold your breath, Freddie. I mean, Hermione…she's a great girl."

Fred groaned at his brother.

"This is just not what I need," Fred told George.

"Well you can't ignore love," George told him. Fred gave him a look of utter confusion and George laughed loudly.

"That was the sappiest thing I think I've ever heard…" Fred muttered, letting out a soft chuckle.

George winked before making his way out of the room.

"Now, I've got my own lady to swoon. Katie is looking especially fine tonight."

Fred laughed and watched George bound down the stairs and out of sight.