Chapter 3

Alex had never had a more awkward car ride in her life. All she could think about was Fred and the heat she could feel pulsating off of his body. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Alex knew she had a crush on him for a while now, but never really noticed how bad until this very moment. All she wanted to do was lay her head on his shoulder and breathe in deeply. She gave him a sideways glance. Fred was trying so hard to look distracted. Alex inwardly smiled to herself. She knew he was resisting it. Alex had never really experienced the knowledge of knowing a guy liked her. She was always used to Seamus hitting on her, but that didn't count. It was just Seamus. He hit on everybody. She bit her lip, thinking deeply about this. She knew they couldn't date, and that made her frown. It was so unfair. The one time she finally likes a guy and he likes her but refuses to admit it, she can't do anything about it!

A sudden thought hit her.

Unless nobody knew about it….

She stopped her bad thoughts immediately. She couldn't do that. She couldn't parade around school as if nothing were happening, but secretly have a boyfriend.

The thought was suddenly tantalizing. Almost hot.

She looked around the car nervously, trying to fixate her attention on something outside. They were pulling into the Train Station. She sighed in relief. Alex would be able to lose him for a while on the train. What she needed was to be away from him. The thoughts would mostly stop if she weren't near him. Mostly.

Getting out of the car she spotted Harry and Ron. That's what she needed. She needed to absorb herself in her everyday routine and get back on with her life. She fell in sync with her brother and best friend.

Boarding the train, she hugged Mr. and Mrs. Weasely goodbye and followed her brother into a cozy little compartment in the middle of the train.

"Finally." Ron said as the train began to move. "I thought we would never get out of here."

Harry nodded. "I'm hungry; I probably should have eaten another waffle before we left."

Alex laughed. "Another one? You had four already!" She smiled.

"Yea well, I like waffles." Harry said defensively.

Alex brought out a notebook and a pencil to keep herself occupied for a while. She was about to start sketching when Ron grabbed the pencil from her.

He looked at it strangely.

"Oh come on Ron, I know you know what a pencil is." Alex said disbelievingly.

"Yea, but I never get to see them." He said in awe.

Alex laughed and grabbed it back. "Back off, I'm sketching."

Ron leaned over her shoulder to watch.

She stopped and looked over; her nose was almost touching his. "Ron. Personal bubble."

He smiled. "Sorry." He turned to Harry. "So who are you picking for a Quidditch Captain to live on your legacy after we leave?"

Harry shrugged. "I haven't really thought about it yet."

Alex zoned off to leave the two boys to talk about Quidditch. This was what she missed. The normalcy it all had. At least, normal to Alex.

There was a knock at the compartment door and Ginny came in. Harry got red in the face and scooted over so she could sit down.

She giggled and sat next to him. Ron looked like he could gag.

"What do you want Gin?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes.

She shrugged her pretty little shoulders. "Nothing. Just stopping by."

Alex waved to her silently and went back to sketching. She had the base of a tree starting so she thought she would just go with it.

Ginny looked to Harry. "How are you Harry?"

He stumbled on his words. "I'm…I'm fine."

Ron coughed his fake cough and looked up at her through glaring eyes.

She sighed. "I guess I'll leave now." She patted Harry on the head. "Bye Harry."

When the compartment door shut Ron looked up at him with a smirk.

"What?" Harry asked defensively, trying to keep cool.

"Oh yea cause that wasn't obvious at all." Alex said, not looking up from her drawing.

Ron laughed. "You have a thing for Ginny?"

Harry looked a little sheepish. "Um. Well, I don't know….if you-"

Ron put up a hand and shrugged. "Just don't make her cry. I'd have to kill you."

Harry laughed. "I wouldn't do that."

Ron nodded. "Yea, I know."

Alex felt nauseous. Ron was so accepting that his sister was going to be dating, and Harry was still stuck in the 50's where women had no say in anything. This was ridiculous. Why did she even care what he thought?

She looked up at him. Harry was looking down at his feet trying to carry on the Quidditch talk.

She sighed. Because he was her only family, and the thought of hurting him in any way choked her inside.

"Bollocks." She muttered silently to herself.

She stood and stretched, leaving her half finished tree on her seat. "I'll be back; I just need to walk or something. I think I'll go see where Hermione is."

"She's up in the Head Girl and Head Boy compartment." Ron said with a shallow green look on his face.

"Oh yea." Alex smiled. "I'll tell her you said hi." She teased.

Ron pushed her out the door. Alex stumbled as the door shut behind her. She stumbled, of course, onto something solid.

Steadying herself she looked up to apologize.

She sighed. "Oh it figures."

Fred laughed. "Um, hi."

"Sorry, Ron pushed me." Alex tried to explain.

He nodded. "He's been a little pushy lately."

"It's because he has a crush on Herm-"Alex began to say loudly through the door.

Ron cut her off. "I DO NOT!"

Alex laughed. "I was just about to go find her." She said, turning to Fred.

"Oh, well then I'll come back later." Fred rand a nervous hand through his hair.

Alex looked down the hall and then behind Fred. "Were you looking for me?" She asked slyly.

Fred waved his arms around. "Oh I don't know, I mean, it's just that, I could have…but you know."

Alex smiled. "Oh."

"Oh?" Fred stopped moving and put his hands in his pockets.

Alex giggled. She turned back to the compartment and heard Harry still talking. Good, she thought to herself. She was worried Harry had heard her flirting.

She grabbed Fred's hand and nodded towards the back of the train. Passing the last compartment there was a small overhang that left it in a small shadow.

"Why were you looking for me then?" Alex smiled, arms crossed. She leaned against the wall; Fred was blocking her from view with his large frame.

She continued to smile as he searched for the words.

He ran a nervous hand through his hair again. "I-I just…"

"Yes?"

Fred sighed and realized there were no words to describe what he was feeling. He grabbed Alex tightly, gently kissing her lips, taking her completely by surprise. Backed against the wall, hidden in the shadows, she kissed him back with all the passion she could.