Chapter 13

Harry looked behind him as George sidled up next to him.

"Hello Harry." He said with a big smile.

"You know, I haven't seen Fred very much in the past month." Harry said, eyeing George suspiciously.

"Oh well, you know he's really dedicated to the shop. Making sure it's still running smoothly and all." George tried to stay calm and keep Harry's attention off going after Alex.

"Maybe I should go with her." Harry said, almost to himself.

"Oh no, Alex will be fine, she can find the hospital wing on her own." George said, waving it off. "Look um, I have to ask you something. You know Summer? What kind of flower does she like?"

"Uh, I don't really-"

"Better yet! What's her favorite color?" George had to keep going; it was a distraction after all.

"Um-"

"Flavor? Food? Smell? Anything at all?" George looked behind him.

Harry shook his head. "I don't know! I don't know her that well you'd have to ask Alex." He slowed his walking down so everyone could walk ahead. "I'm going to make sure Alex is alright, I'll ask her while I'm up there." Harry added, a little frustrated.

George balked. "Wait!"

Harry turned around.

George fumbled with his shirt a little. "Um, never mind…just um…you know." George waved at him awkwardly.

Harry shook his head, confused and walked off after his sister. Everyone in this bloody school was just weird, he concluded.

Alex pulled him into an empty room and sighed. "What are you talking about?"

"George told me you talked to Harry." Fred shuffled his feet a little, looking at the floor.

"And?"

He looked up. "You told him that you weren't-"

Alex stopped him. "Yea, but we can still-"

Fred shook his head, causing her to stop.

"What?" She asked.

"What Harry said was right." Fred mumbled, looking at the floor still.

Alex laughed, "What? Are you serious? Of course he isn't. What did George tell you?"

Fred shrugged. "Everything. How Harry asked you to wait so you can have bigger options. So you aren't stuck. He's right. You deserve more than a school fling. You have potential to do great things, and I wouldn't be helping you so…."

Alex stared at him with wide eyes. "Fred you can't possibly be serious. You think what he said worked on me? Of course I wouldn't want to wait; I want to be with you." She walked up to him and gently put her hand under his chin, forcing him to look down at her. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Fred sighed and looked deeply into her eyes. "I don't want to hide you anymore, I don't want this to be a problem but it will be, especially after what you and Harry talked about today. It'll be better that way." There was pain in his eyes. Alex backed away, completely flabbergasted.

"So that's how it is then? You're just going to give up as soon as someone whispers in your ear. I thought you had more faith in us than that." Alex fumed. Her body tingled with rejection. She felt as if he had just ripped her heart out.

"Alex-"Fred looked at her sadly. "It really will be for the better. Now you won't be fighting with Harry and-"

"That's what you keep telling yourself? It'll be better because Harry and I won't be fighting?" Alex shook her head. "You know what the problem with that is?"

Fred couldn't say anything; he stared at her mournfully, seeing the hurt in her eyes.

"I won't have you. That's the problem with that." Alex said as a tear escaped. She had held it back for so long but couldn't anymore. She was so sick with hurt she quickly walked past Fred in a hurry and out the door.

Furiously she headed for the Gryffindor Common room, grief stricken, tears falling wildly. She gasped for air as her crying became heavier. She stopped herself and backed against a wall. Sliding down until she sat on the floor, she put her head on her knees and cried as hard as she could.

"No Mr. Potter she hasn't been here." Madame Pomphrey said looking at him.

Confused he walked out of the Hospital wing and headed for the Common room. Why would she fake being sick? He smiled ruefully; it was potions she was skipping. He shook his head as he rounded the corner. He stopped suddenly when he saw Alex sitting against a wall crying her heart out. Awkwardly he walked over to her and sat down, putting an arm over her shoulder.

"Um, are you ok?" He asked.

"NO I'm not bloody ok." She wailed.

"Can I help?" He pushed a strand of hair out of her face.

She leaned her head to the side and looked daggers at him. "How could you help? It's your fault." She shook her head and stood up. Alex didn't even look back as she whispered the password to the portrait and walked into the common room.

Harry stared after her long after she had gone. He was so confused it hurt.

Alex walked past a group of third year girls, accidently pushing one out of the way.

"Hey!" She screeched.

Alex turned around and glared. "Sod off."

The girl crossed her arms as Alex turned to walk away. She shook her head and went back to whispering to her friends.

Alex dragged her feet up to her room. Collapsing on her bed, she hadn't noticed Ginny sitting on her bed, reading a book.

"Alex?" She asked, seeing the tears streaking down Alex's face.

Alex pulled her pillow over her head and mumbled incoherently.

"It doesn't look like you're alright." Ginny answered, understanding the mumbling.

Alex peeked out of the pillow and sadly looked at her friend. "I don't know what to do."

Ginny put the book down and swung her legs over the bed. "It's Harry isn't it? Still being a prat is he?"

Alex nodded. "Yes and no."

Ginny leaned forward. "If you need me to sock him, I'll do it." She said with a smile.

Alex sat up and sighed, wiping off the tears. Ginny handed her a tissue, Alex took it gratefully and blew her nose.

"Now. What's going on?"

Fred walked into the Great Hall to see Lunch had already started. He tried to wipe off the look on his face as he sat down next to George.

"How was Potions?" He asked more glumly than he thought.

"What's with you?" George asked, casually looking behind his shoulder to see Summer. He smiled and looked back at Fred.

Fred looked around the table. Only Ron was there. "Where's Harry?"

"Why can't you answer one question when it's asked?" George asked, frustrated.

Fred smiled. "Sorry. I just had a little run in with trouble."

"Is that why you're looking for Harry?" Ron asked, butting into the conversation.

George looked at him. "He didn't-"

Fred cut him off. "No."

Ron was thoroughly confused now. "I don't get it."

"You never will." The twins chorused together.

Ron shook his head. "Fine. I'll leave." He got up and walked away.

Fred leaned in. "I broke it off with Alex."

George's eyes went wide. "What in bloody hell were you thinking when you did that?"

Fred shook his head. "She promised Harry. I can't make her lie for me anymore."

George stood up and nudged Fred's shoulder. "You're not right in the head."

Fred put his forehead in his hands. What was going to happen now?

He didn't want to break it off with her, but he had to. Didn't he? He shook his head as he confused himself further. This was not going well.