Chapter 12

George walked down the hall, almost panicking slightly, trying to find Alex. He had just talked to Fred, but in the middle of the conversation he realized she still had the note! Wondering what possessed him enough to write that stupid thing, he forgot he had went into way too much detail with it.

Finally spotting her he grabbed her arm and pulled her into a dark corner.

"George?" She asked curiously.

"Well it's a good thing you can bloody tell us apart." He said with wide eyes.

Confused she cocked her head to the side. "Huh?"

He shook his head. "I need that note."

"You know?" She asked her green eyes widening in fright more than surprise.

"I won't tell anybody, but I just need that note back." George looked sheepishly down at Alex who suddenly realized the note was a fraud.

"YOU wrote it to find out who I was didn't you?" She asked, crossing her arms.

George looked around, trying to avoid her eyes.

"You know, it was quite good." She said with a smile. "But it would have been nice if you had just looked at the Marauder's map instead."

George smacked his forehead. "Why didn't I think of that?"

Alex shook her head and pulled the note from her pocket. She handed it back to him. "So you won't be telling anyone?"

He shook his head and began to walk away, turning he smiled again. "Oh and by the way, next time you leave your undies in Fred's bed do us a favor and leave them somewhere I can't find them."

Alex blushed furiously as she watched him walk away. Saddening a little she had almost hoped for a meeting with Fred tonight. She wondered when they would be able to get some more alone time. She shook her head as she saw Harry coming her way. She tried to wipe off the grim face she must have been wearing. He looked at her curiously as he came to stand in front of her.

"What's wrong? You look sad." He asked, looking around.

Alex shook her head. "Nothing, nothing…so what do you want?"

Harry frowned. "I can't say hi to you?"

Alex sighed. "Sorry, just a bit jumpy. What are you doing?"

Harry shook his head, running a hand through his hair he looked at her. "You know, I'm really sorry about the other day."

Alex nodded. "Me too."

"It's just weird, if you started dating someone here-"He stopped, trying to find the words. "I basically know everyone and I just don't want I mean I just-"

"I know you want the best for me Harry." She said with a smile. "I want the same for you."

"Yea but there's so much outside of Hogwarts, I don't want you to settle for here, I mean we've known everyone here for years now but what happens after Hogwarts? I don't want you to be stuck." He said quickly, letting it all pour out of him.

Alex finally understood. "I see." She said as simply as she could. "So no one here is good enough for me? I have to wait and explore elsewhere? Isn't that why we're teenagers Harry, so we can experiment?" Alex shifted her weight to one foot, placing her hands on her hips. She was trying her hardest not to start another fight.

Harry shook his head. "It's awkward for me to see you with someone I know."

"So I'll date a Slytherin." Alex shot back at him; her cool was slipping steadily away.

"Way to be mature Alex." He grimaced. "What I meant was-"

"Harry, I don't even think you know what you mean. It's my choice, it's my decision."

So why do you still feel the need to hide Fred?

Alex's eyes widened at the little thought that floated through her head.

Harry hadn't noticed, he was shuffling his feet, trying to find a way to make his sister understand.

"This is really important to you?" Alex finally asked.

Harry nodded. "I just want you to wait, so you have bigger options."

Alex rolled her eyes. "What if I want to be stuck Harry? What if I just want things that you may never understand?"

Harry shook his head and sighed. "I can't talk to you when you're like this." He started walking away.

Alex groaned, thoroughly frustrated. "FINE."

Harry stopped and turned around. "What?"

"I won't date anybody until after Hogwarts. Will that shut you up?" Alex mumbled, barely audible. At least in front of you. Stupid, nagging conscience, she thought bitterly.

Harry smiled a little. "I just want what's best for you." He turned and walked away, heading down the hall.

Alex shook her head softly. "What if what's best for me is right here?" She mumbled to herself.

Summer walked down the staircase just in time to see George at the bottom. She ran down to meet him.

"Hey." She said breathlessly, stopping next to him.

He smiled. "Hi. How are you?"

Summer smiled. "Good, I'm glad to have a studying partner." She silently damned herself for being such a nerd.

George laughed. "I'm not so good at studying, but I'm glad I have the company."

Summer blushed. "Well good. I have to get going, I'm afraid I'll be late for class."

George smiled back. "I can't wait."

Summer jumped on the balls of her feet, smiling brightly. "Good. Then I'll see you later."

George grinned as she walked away. She looked over her shoulder and George could have fell over in awe. She was beautiful with her blonde hair cascading over her shoulder like that. Completely happy, he bounced down the hallway. He saw Harry and stopped him.

"Glorious day isn't it?" He said happily.

Harry looked at him strangely. "Are you alright?"

"Perfect. You talk to Alex?"

Harry nodded. "She promised she wouldn't date until after Hogwarts. It's my only request. I just want her to keep her options open you know?"

George's face fell. "Why?"

Harry shook his head with a smile. "You know how many people find their 'true love' in school? Only to have it blow up in their faces? She just needs time. You know Alex, she's just a girl. She should spread her wings a little. Not settle for the guy in school. You know?"

George went a little pale. What would Fred say? He was really starting to fall for her….

He nodded slowly. "Well I'll see you later." George said in a faraway voice. He left Harry standing there, confused, as George headed for Transfigurations, hoping Fred was already there.

Alex rested her chin on her book in front of her, watching McGonagall write on the board. It was all she could do to stay awake. She glanced to her left and saw Fred and George whispering to

each other two tables over. She was sitting next to Ron, who was in the middle of her and Harry for once. Usually they stuck her in the middle to copy off her notes. Today, only Harry was actually paying attention.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked curiously.

Harry and Alex shrugged.

"I haven't seen her all day actually." Harry muttered.

Fred caught her eye and she looked away quickly, blushing, knowing he was still looking at her. She could feel his eyes burning a hole in her head. She glanced over again and smiled. She was caught off guard as she saw the look on his face. He wasn't mad, per say, but she could tell something wasn't right.

"Alex?" Professor McGonagall called.

Alex looked up quickly. "Hmm?"

"Would you mind?" She said, holding a piece of chalk.

"Mind what?" She asked, confused.

The class laughed.

"Would you mind paying attention? Now who can draw the chart on the board? Someone who knows where we are, perhaps?"

Alex blushed furiously as she felt Harry and Ron stare at her. She looked over as Neville awkwardly raised his hand and stood up to go to the front of the class.

Usually her head was level and she knew how to pay attention, today was different. There was so much on her mind, all she wanted to do was crawl into Fred's arms and fade away.

She looked over at Harry. He was scribbling down notes like no tomorrow. Ron, however, was staring at her.

"Are you alright?" He whispered.

Alex nodded. "I'm just not all here today."

Ron nodded. "Well, we have Potions next; you won't get away with that for long."

Alex smiled and rubbed at her temples with her fingertips. "I don't feel so well, I think I'll go to Madame Pomphrey first."

Ron nodded and went back to copying off of Harry's paper. She looked over to Fred again. He was talking to George again. Hopefully he would take her lead and see her leaving for the Hospital Wing after class. She bore through the class, thinking of a good excuse to leave Harry behind. Finally the bell rang.

As they walked out of the class she could feel Fred behind her, almost too close for comfort.

"I'll see you later, I don't feel well. Tell Snape I'm in the Hospital wing." She said to Harry, quickly taking off before he could question her.

She rounded the corner and stopped, pressing her back against the wall. Alex felt a bad vibe run up her spine as she peeked around the wall to make sure the group was gone. She didn't see Fred. Eyes downcast she turned around and began walking down the hall.

Suddenly an arm grabbed her and gently pushed her back against the wall, hiding them from view. She looked up at Fred as he grabbed her hands in his. "We need to talk." He whispered.