Okay well this chapter is INTENTIONALLY TINY! I needed to fill a gap between this chapter and the next so here it is.

I have already written half of the next chapter so it should be up… very soon after this one :P

Yeah so you don't have to have any strong feelings of love towards this chapter but I hope you read it anyways.

;)

Chapter 5

The next evening all seven teenagers were huddled in the dark living room of Grimauld Place having abandoned their chores to hear what Fred had learned about their most recent visitor. Fred was relating all of the information he had heard last night tiredly from his perch on the arm of George's chair. He tried to fight down the furious blush which was creeping up his neck and the fatigue that was seeping through his body. After the conversation with his mother last night he hadn't slept again, his mind had been so full to the brim with questions that there wasn't enough room to even think of sleep.

"My Goodness!" Hermione uttered once Fred had told them all he knew. "That's terrible! I knew that her parents were killed by You-Know-Who but I didn't know about everything that happened when she was little." She shook her head sadly. "I mean, not having a single friend, being surrounded by adults and not having a proper father or mother figure. That's horrible."

"Poor girl." Ginny agreed.

Harry was stunned into silence but Ron, who sat beside him on the floor, had only one thought running through his head.

"But, what I don't get is how she hasn't killed Snape yet! He must be driving her barmy!"

"Oh for Goodness sake Ronald! You saw them last night; they obviously care a lot for each other and as opposed to you, he actually likes her because she is well mannered and clever. She is the closest thing to a daughter he has; it's possible that she is the only person he has to call family." Hermione scolded before going back to read the book that was open in her lap.

"Oh come on Hermione! Are you telling me that you believe Snape has a caring bone in his body? He's an emotionless scumbag!" Ron exclaimed but she didn't look up.

"Oh come on Ron. He didn't seem that bad last night!" George said fairly. "After all, he didn't even glare at Harry once! That wall sure got a hard time of it but all the same that must be some sort of a record, and he laughed! I mean if that doesn't prove he isn't emotionless than I don't know what does!"

"What? George, are you kidding me? You're on Hermione's side?" He sputtered.

"George's right Ron." Harry said, having come out of his silent state. Ron turned and gaped, wide eyed at his best friend.

"Harry! Have you gone bonkers?"

"No Ron, I haven't gone bonkers. It's just, Snape took Sam in. You know him; he's as stubborn as anything, if he hadn't wanted to, he wouldn't have. I mean, he must've known that it was a potentially permanent arrangement but he still took her in, and he's clearly more protective of her than is needed in his job. Oh don't look at me like that! It's true!" He exclaimed at Ron's betrayed look. "It's just – oh I don't know!" He threw up his hands in frustration.

"There is definitely a mutual respect between them." Ginny said from her seat beside the roaring fire.

"Everyone seems to respect her actually." Harry said.

"I would, if not, she'd probably blow me to smithereens!" Ron gulped.

"No she wouldn't Ronald stop being so moronic." Hermione said absentmindedly as she read.

"I swear, it's like a reflex." Ron pointed to Hermione as he spoke to Fred who had been fairly quiet after his long speech, choosing only to frown at the ground.

"Mmm." Fred replied.

"Freddie? You alright?" George prodded his twin's leg and after blinking rapidly Fred looked down at George.

"What?"

"Fred what did I tell you about letting your mind wander?" George raised an eyebrow.

"I know I know, it's too small to be outside on its own." Fred waved the comment off.

George blanched as Harry, Ginny and Ron frowned at the lack of response. Even Hermione looked up from her book in shock.

Fred looked at all of the people staring at him with a wary look.

"What?" He asked carefully.

"Are you ill?" George asked seriously. His hand went up to his twin's forehead as Fred frowned in confusion.

"Should I get Mum?" Ginny asked, already halfway out of her seat.

"What? No I'm fine! What's wrong with all of you?" Fred asked, looking around the room with a questioning look.

"Fred? How many fingers am I holding up?" Ron held four fingers up in front of his brother's eyes.

"Four!" Fred cried out. "I'm not ill!"

"Then what's wrong with you?" George asked exasperatedly.

"Nothing!"

"But you didn't argue back!" George said pitifully.

"I'm just tired okay!" Fred amended.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Yeah. No big deal though." Fred dismissed it.

"Aww, did Freddie have a bad dream?" Ron said in a babyish voice.

"Oh, shut it Ron." George spat.

Nightmares were fairly rare in Fred's case, but whenever they happened they were horrific. Fred's imagination tended to run away with itself. No nightmare was ever scary nor did they paper over disgusting details. They were petrifying and extremely graphic, George could attest to this, having shared many nightmares with his twin and knowing full well that effects that they could have.

"Fred, are you alright?" George's brown eyes were full of concern as he looked up at Fred.

"Jus' tired." Fred yawned.

"Fred." George said warningly.

"Not now Georgie. I just need to sleep see you in the morning. Good luck at the trial Harry." Fred said as he got up.

When the door closed behind him there was silence. The only thing that could be heard was the crackling of the fire.

"I think that's the most serious thing he's ever said." Harry broke the silence quietly.

"Ever." Ginny agreed.

"In his life." Ron added.

"Oh my." Hermione said, wide eyed.

George simply sat there watching the door that had just closed behind his brother. He knew that if Fred wasn't telling him something then it must've been bad.

Little did he know that Fred was lying on his bed, eyes full of despair as he thought of the girl that he could never have.

Poor Fred :(

Please review this teensy chapterlet or just wait for the next chapter which is a bit longer than the others :D

Lots of love and thank you for reading

From

Alicia

xxxx