The Weasleys were by far the most interesting people I had ever met. Each of them was quite different from the others- even Fred and George. It was with them and Ginny that I spent most of my time. Since I was rooming with Ginny we would stay up late and talk. She was very easy to get along with and I found that by the third day we were very fast friends. During these late night conversations I would tell her about my life in Italy- about Gwen, Constantine, and Claudius, also of Lina and Angelo. I also conveyed to her how my long relationship with Septimus ended completely because of his vile behavior. In turn she told me how it was for her growing up with only boys, but that she resented this in no way because she was very close to her brothers. She very reluctantly told me about her crush on my brother and how she didn't really know how to carry on with it. It seemed his heroism in the Chamber of Secrets had been the big ice breaker between them, allowing her to be at ease around him. But still, she hadn't the courage to act on her feelings.
"Well, I don't really know my brother as of yet. But when I do I'll know how best to advise you," I said as we sat on the floor listening to my muggle records spinning on the record player I bewitched during my third year at school. Ginny was currently fascinated by the musical stylings of the band Led Zeppelin.
"I know. I mean, it's not like I don't think about it. And it's not like Hermione hasn't tried but she's not that type of girl, you know? Ooh! What's this one called? The guitar is fantastic!" exclaimed Ginny at the current rift.
"It's called 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You'. So when is Hermione getting here anyway?" I asked, flipping through Witch Weekly.
"She should be here tomorrow. She's anxious to meet you, thinks you'll be good for Harry" She said looking through some more records, "Are these blokes any good? The Beatles?"
I smiled, "Yeah. I reckon they're pretty good."
"So…Fred seems pretty smitten with you." Said Ginny with a smug look.
"Subtle, Gin." I said trying to hide what I suspected was a blush from the warmth on my cheeks.
"I'm just saying. I mean I know it hasn't been long since you and your ex. But I've never seen Fred like this with a girl. I mean, he's charming when he wants to be, but you have my oh-so-confident brother practically tripping over himself," She said raising a brow. And it was true. Fred grew less and less like the confident Weasley I had literally bumped into on my first day. It started with subtleties. A trip here, a slip there. But then it escalated into him accidentally pouring milk on my lap when I asked him to pass the pitcher. And the worst by far, from what Ginny continued to explain was when Fred missed the bludger completely and took a hit to the chest, "And Fred simply doesn't do that. I know my brother and he is a damn fine beater. But the second you walked out the back door his eyes were more focused on you than the masochistic ball."
"I don't know, Gin. I mean, yeah, I couldn't help but notice that your brother is rather attractive. And I'm not going to deny that I don't reciprocate any attraction. I'd just like to see where it goes. I'm in no hurry." I replied changing the record from Zeppelin's Mothership to the Beatles' Please Please Me.
"They are pretty good," said Ginny after the first verse of "I Saw Her Standing There", "Let's just leave it on while we sleep. It's getting late and Hermione will be here punctually early anyway."
Sure enough, when Ginny and I walked downstairs at about nine for breakfast, a lovely looking girl with slightly untamed bushy brown hair was sitting at the table stroking a ginger, odd looking cat.
"Girls, look who's just arrived!" said Mrs. Weasley enthusiastically. She turned smiling at Ginny, then looked a little anxious as she took me in.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger, Harry's friend. You must be Catherine then." She said extending a hand. I looked at it, but rather than take it enveloped her in a hug.
"From all I've heard you've done for my brother I think this calls for more than a handshake." I said beaming as I released her. She smiled back cheerfully, a little awkwardly at first but cheerful. Sometimes I couldn't help but come off strongly.
"If you don't mind me saying, you really do look like your mum. Harry's got an album and I've seen some pictures. It's really uncanny." She said politely.
"Yeah, I get that a lot when I come across people who knew her. My godfather Remus remarks on it every time he sees me." I said walking over and sitting at the table.
"Remus? As in Remus Lupin? You know Professor Lupin?" asked Ginny confused as she and Hermione sat down as well.
"Well yeah. I mean he's only one of my parent's best friends. He still keeps in contact with my dad's cousin Gwen. That's who I've lived with all these years," I said taking a bite from a raspberry muffin, "Honestly, if it weren't for Remus' consistent urging to Dumbledore I think it might've taken years for me to see Harry."
"Ginny, come help me get the chickens back in the pen!" called Mrs. Weasley.
"But, mum, I'm talking." Complained Ginny.
"Oh come on. Some exercise will be good for you if you want to make it on the Quidditch team." Said Mrs. Weasley ushering Ginny out of the door. Once the door was closed Hermione looked around, I assumed making sure nobody was in earshot.
"And what of Sirius Black?" asked Hermione.
"Mass murderer Sirius Black? I don't know much about him. Why do you ask?" I questioned at the sudden change in topic.
"Maybe I should just let you and Harry talk about that." She said reaching for a muffin. Before I could press her on the subject there was a loud bang upstairs followed by a wail. A moment later the twins came running down the stairs, Fred sitting next to me, George across from him sitting next to Hermione.
"We've been here the whole time." Muttered George as he dug into a muffin casually. Fred gave me a goofy grin, which I reciprocated adding a giggle. Charging down the stairs was Percy, his face, hair, and clothes sprayed in ink.
"I know you did it!" he hissed, "I know you did it and when I tell mum-"
"Tell mum what Perce? That you had a little mishap and stained ink all over yourself?"
"That doesn't seem too professional coming from a ministry employee, does it Fred?"
"Nope. I'd think not, George." The twins grinned evilly once Percy had stormed out of the kitchen.
"Honestly, do you have to be so hard on him?" scrutinized Hermione.
"What do you think?" grinned George. Hermione let out a dramatic sigh and stood up, much to her cat's displeasure.
"I'm going up to see Ronald. It was nice meeting you, Catherine. I'm sure we'll be getting to know each other rather well as we'll both be sleeping in Ginny's room."
"Or you can sleep in my room and get to know me better." Teased Fred in a flirty tone. I giggled as Hermione walked up the stairs.
"So, what's on the agenda for today?" I directed at either twin.
"Well, we could chase the chickens like mum and Ginny." Joked George.
"Or catch up on our reading." Added Fred.
"How about help Percy with his paperwork." I interjected. They exchanged matching grins.
"I like this one, George." Said Fred putting his arm around me.
"Oh believe me, dear brother, I've noticed." Laughed George as Fred blushed, taking back his arm. Regrettably.
"I feel like going swimming." I said wistfully as I finished my muffin. The twins' ears perked up.
"Well, in that case-"
"-you have ten minutes-"
"-to throw on a swimsuit-"
"-and meet us outside." Said the twins running upstairs. I ran to tell Ginny we were going swimming before running upstairs to change. I dug through my trunk until I found my navy blue two piece. I grabbed a towel and made it downstairs in under eight minutes.
"Punctual, too. I think she passes our trial period." Teased George. Ginny merely gave him an exasperated look before walking out of the kitchen with her towel.
"I see she's a little short with you." I said as he shifted his footing.
"Well, I made an unnecessary comment. I used her puffskein as a bludger when we were younger. Wasn't the best idea to bring it up," he ran out the door, "Oi! Ginny! Wait up!"
Fred walked downstairs a second later wearing red swim shorts…and only that. I felt the self control evaporate from my body as I failed to stop my eyes from roaming over his chest. As Fred was rather lanky, his beater's build was stretched and very nice. The baggy long sleeved shirts he usually wore did not do his abs or biceps justice. When I finally regained composure and looked at his face, I noticed his eyes were doing what mine had just a second ago. I gave a slight cough and brought his attention back to my face.
"Oh…umm…is it just us then?" he asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"I don't know about Ron or Hermione, but George and Ginny just headed out." I replied as awkward.
"Shall we carry on then?" he said motioning towards the door.
"Let's." I said, thankful for not standing in the awkward kitchen.
"Have fun! Be home around sundown." Called Mrs. Weasley as we walked out of the back yard.
"So what's the deal with Ron and Hermione?" I asked Fred, breaking the silence.
"Who knows? I don't think they know themselves." He said chuckling.
"Yeah, Ginny made it sound like there was something there." I replied as we came to a slightly steep hill.
"This is when I would kill to be seventeen. Magic beats Muggling." Said Fred as we climbed our way up.
"True. As much as I like some muggle inventions, I wouldn't trade being a witch for the world." I said as we were near the middle ground.
"That's why you and dad get on so well. Their whole world positively fascinates him." He replied.
"Well, from a young age, I can remember wanting to do muggle activities. I don't know. Maybe it's the muggle side of me. Can we stop for a sec? I'm a little out of shape. Haven't done any training in months." I said stopping to catch my breath. Before I could protest or compute what was happening, Fred hoisted me onto his back and continued onward.
"You were saying?" he said waking me up from my state of confusion.
"Oh. Well right. You see, muggles have this tradition to dress in costumes on Halloween, go door to door, and ask for candy. My parents used to take me. We couldn't anymore though, when we went into hiding. And then the night…well the night they passed, it was Halloween. I never cared much for it after that." I said resting my head on his shoulder. I felt a small shudder from under me as I did, but kept it there anyway.
"That must be hard. I mean, I know it frustrates Harry sometimes. He gets a little down on himself for not remembering stuff like that. But I figured it'd be harder to remember." He replied as we were almost at the top.
"That's why I'm glad he can't remember. You're lucky you know." I commented as I subtly took in his smell. Gunpowder, sweets, and the wood from a broomstick.
"Really? How's that? Did my bank account impress you?" he teased.
"You have a loving and entirely complete family. That's something a lot of people take for granted." I replied.
"You're not alone, you know. I mean, your family loves you. And you have your new friends, and Harry…and me." He added softly.
"Thanks, Fred. It's nice. Having people who care." I replied with a smile.
"Well, loneliness doesn't sit well on a pretty face like yours. Anyways, we're here." He announced as we made it to the top of the hill. He set me down gently as I slid down his back. The "lake" looked like what had once been a pond, but was expanded and expanded as the Weasley kids grew older and taller- much like the Burrow. George and Ginny were already swimming and splashing at each other as Fred and I approached.
"Ah, just in time. Ginny and I wanted to play chicken." Said George pushing back his mop of wet ginger hair.
"I'm game." I said walking over to the small makeshift dock.
"I thought you'd say that." Said Fred before his tall frame of 5' 11" slammed into my 5' 5" body, sending us both into the water. I heard Fred's booming laughter in the water before we broke through to the surface and it became clearer.
"That's it! Boys versus girls!" I yelled as I swam after Fred in an attempt to dunk him under water. It was arranged so that George and Ginny were on the bottom while Fred and I were on top trying to knock each other over. It was his beater's build against my chaser's physique.
"Let's see what you've got, Potter." Teased Fred as he hoisted himself onto George's shoulders. The two of them stacked like that were much much taller than I knew Ginny and I would be.
"More than you can handle, Weasley," I replied haughtily as Ginny supported me on her shoulders, "You alright, Gin?"
"I will be once we've knocked their blocks off." She replied confidently. It started off as Fred mostly hovering over me with our hands up over my head. We were wet and touching and I hoped for his sake George didn't feel Fred's excitement behind his neck. It wasn't until Ginny complained about literally bumping heads with George that Fred straightened out. Now it was getting close. I would sway to the left and almost fall over, then lunge back and almost send Fred over. This happened over and over until I tightened my hold on Ginny slightly and lunged Fred over to the right, sending him and George falling over. Falling back into the water after victory felt spectacular. Especially whence sending the boy I was crushing on into the water. Yes, crushing. Slightly. With their sense of humor, the twins recovered from the loss. The rest of the morning and afternoon went on with multiple competitions, splash fights, and wrestling matches. Bit by bit it seemed that Fred and I paired off, not that I was complaining. It seemed that Ginny and George had orchestrated it. Especially when Ginny claimed to see an owl overhead carrying a package she was expecting and George went with her to "escort his baby sister and keep her out of malice and harm's way". At this point it was sunset as Fred and I sat on the dock leaning on each other slightly. Minute by minute, as we conversed about everything from Quidditch to our deeply personal thoughts and lives, I felt us growing closer and much of the awkwardness melting away.
"We're going to do it. Hopefully as soon as we get out of Hogwarts. We just need a sponsor or something. But our hearts are set on it, and it's not like we're not prepared to work for it." Fred was saying about opening a joke shop with George. His eyes lit up just at the idea of doing what he most loved- making people laugh.
"I honestly think that would be brilliant. I can't exactly see you working a nine to five ministry job or something like that." I replied enthusiastically.
"I should hope not. What exactly do you want to do?" he asked as he splashed his feet in the water.
"An auror," I said without hesitation, "After what happened to me and Harry I vowed to do all I could so that some little girl someday wouldn't have to lose their parents."
"That's really brave of you, you know?" he said softly.
"I don't see it that way." I said shaking my head.
"Anything as selfless as that…that's brave. What if you get hurt though?" he asked sounding concerned.
"I could ask you the same thing. I hear explosions going off in your room every ten minutes." I teased poking him in his chest. His perfectly sculpted chest.
"You shouldn't worry about that." He smiled shaking his head. The idea of Fred actually getting hurt entered my mind. I took in the sight of this light hearted, good natured boy of sixteen, who I could actually come to care for a great deal, and the thought of him getting hurt scared me.
"What if I want to worry?" I ask softly, looking up into his chocolate brown eyes. We moved closer together as the Sun gave a few last impressive flickers across the sky, illuminating the thrill and sincerity in both our faces. Fred's face grew closer, but before he reached my lips, I brought my fingers up to his softly.
"What is it?" he asked taking my hand in his.
"Fred, I like you. I mean I really really like you. But we've known each other four days. I just got out of a very long, very suffocating relationship. And I'd like to have a short breather, you know? I'd like Harry to get used to me before getting used to us. Is that alright with you?" I look up at his face expectantly. He was still close to me, and I could see the disappointment in his face.
"So you do like me the way I like you?" asked Fred with a goofy grin on his face. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Is that all you took from that?" I asked.
"Well, I was looking for a silver lining." He added honestly.
"Yes, I like you. But let's see some fireworks before we jump into this." I said pulling my feet out of the water.
"Then, my lady, I shall have to make you fireworks," he said getting up, "Is it alright though if I hold your hand?"
"I'd be insulted if you didn't."