Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Eve and have a great new year. I have gotten ahead in writing, which is good, but I haven't edited a single thing :(. So I'm going to try and upload twice a week, but editing is just such a pain...that's why I don't do it very well. Anyway, it's a little slow around this point, but picks up again soon. Just hang in there for the next chapter or two and I promise it'll get better. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 15: Mood Swings

"You have gotten better." Snape said as we took a break during out last tutoring session of the term.

"Did you just compliment me?" I asked in mock shock. Clutching my hand over my heart only to add to the effect.

"You're still not good enough though." He said, ruining one of the rare moments of satisfaction. "We will probably be working on this for a few years."

This week I was ending most of my tutoring, except for Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and History of Magic. I should also be taking Arithmancy, but I think Butch, a Ravenclaw, was so sick of me not understanding the concept he just said that I was good enough and passed me. While for Snape nothing was good enough for him, I always had something to improve on.

"Try once more then we'll talk about next term." He got into his position at one side of the classroom and I stood opposite of him. Our wands were drawn and ready. "Now."

With that, I shot off a spell, but just as quickly he defended and shot back 3 more. I was now completely on the defensive, focusing on keeping myself safe and with little effort on his part, I had my back against the wall. That was where he went wrong, he got into a rhythm and I knew when he was going to cast the next one and how long I had before the new one was casted. So I ducked the first one, spun to reflect the second. That threw him off and with a final spell I was able to hit him. Snape's robes seem to engulf him as he flew back in the air and landed on the cold, stone ground with a loud thud.

Better than last time, I thought. Still needs work, but at least I won this one.

A gasped came from the entrance and I turned to see Ginny at the doorway with her hands covering her mouth. Following closely behind her was Ron, Harry, Hermione, Fred and George.

"Don't worry Ginny this is just my tutoring session." I reassured her.

"I think you're just fine, why would you need tutoring?" She asked.

"Control. Example A." I said pointing at Snape with my wand, but a small spark was sent out at the tip and hit him again. "See?"

"What's going on?" Snape asked getting up and noticing the group.

"Harry had a dream." Ron said. "A really, really bad dream."

"I'll get Dumbledore." Snape said in response and they found their places around Dumbledore's office.

George stood by Ginny and Ron stayed with Hermione and Harry, all gathering around Dumbledore's desk. Fred, however, stood off to the side. I made my way over to him. He was staring at the ground with his hands dug deep into his pockets. He looked tired and sad. I couldn't even see his face and I knew.

"Fred." I managed to mutter out shakily.

He looked up at me, his eyes welling up with tears and with no warning he threw his arms around me. I tensed as first. He was still mad at me, wasn't he? Still, I returned the hug. I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat steadily, unlike mine, which only got faster. His chest rose and fell with each shallow breath he took. I backed away in time for Dumbledore to enter. He gave me an unreadable look, the one that says a million words but you can't understand a single one of them. I wanted to scream out and asked him what he was trying to say. Instead I stood next to Fred, grabbed his hand and leaned my head on his arm. Harry told Dumbledore about his dream and I listened in on it. I was there the whole time even though I had barely talked to all of them the whole year. Eventually Fred pulled me so I was in front of him. My back pressed into him and rested his chin on the top of my head. I could feel a few warm drop of water that escaped from his eyes and fall onto my head.

We waited hours to hear about the fate of Arthur and once we did it was decided they would leave at that moment. Hermione and I took that was our cue to go as well. While she hurried off down the corridor, I took my time. I really didn't want to go back to Pansy and be grilled about what took me so long to get back.

"Auden, wait!" I heard a deep voice call my name. I turned to see it was Fred jogging down the corridor. I heard the paintings start to whisper amongst themselves, glancing between Fred and me.

"I'm sorry about your dad." I said. "I wish there is something I could do."

"We need to talk." He said calmly. However he level head only lasted for so long before it turned into anger. "How about stop being such a tease and messing with me when you have a boyfriend?"

His words made me confused. I thought he wasn't mad at me because of how close we were in Dubledore's office, but here he was screaming at me.

"Your dad is practically dead and now is the time to be mad at me?" I raised my voice back at him. "And for your information, I do not have a boyfriend."

"Oh, so, he's just a fuck buddy. That's so much better." Fred said, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"Is that why you're so mad at me? Because I made a new friends. Key word there, friend." I said. He could be so stupid.

"No, it's because you're a Slytherin and a selfish bitch." He yelled.

"Why am I such a terrible person then Fred?" I tried to imagine my words being knife and tried I to hurt him as much as he was hurting me, but I don't think that would be possible.

"You've been ignoring us, all of us. You never try to even say hi, the only time we see you is during tutoring sessions and even then you wont look at us."

"Have you ever thought that it was because I didn't want to tell you that Draco and Zach made a bet to see if Zach could do me before Halloween? And that was what Pansy was telling me the night George found me beaten up and tied to the tree. Maybe it's because my roommates hate me for no reason and tell me everyday I should just leave because no one wants me here. And for the fact you hate me because I'm in Slytherin house and I can't do anything about it, and I just want to go home right now." I shouted at him. I was losing it. Every thought I seemed to have just came pouring out of my mouth along with the tears that were running out my eyes. "And maybe I'm not the one who is doing the ignoring. When did you try and talk to me? Huh?"

"You were just a bet?" Fred asked, his anger suddenly dropping.

"That was a lie from Pansy to make me completely alone and it worked, but now everything is fine." I reassured him. I cursed salty drops of water that show weakness. He was mad then concerned for my well-being? Who does he think he is? "Well, almost everything."

"I didn't know." Fred said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"I was just embarrassed, I didn't want to tell anyone that the only reason someone might have wanted to be friends with me we because of a bet. It was wrong, but it still hurt." I said wiping away the tears that clung to my cheeks. "So Fred what can I do to make you not hate me anymore? I can't stand not being able to talk to you."

He stood there silently and just shook his head. "Nothing." He started tucking his hands into his pockets. "I'm just mad that I thought I knew you and now you're in this house that's evil and it's hard to see you the same."

"But I am the same." I said, stepping towards him. "I'm just wearing green."

"But it's hard for me." Fred said. "I don't think you get it."

"No, I don't, but I think you just need to spend a little time with me and realize I'm the same or maybe even a little better." I replied.

He didn't say anything, but instead enveloped me in his arms. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Weight lifted off my shoulders and I focused on enjoying the few seconds when if felt like all was right in the world. Then it hit me in the stomach, he was about to leave and his dad was on the brink of death. The thought made me sick. I swallowed the lump that made it hard to breath and tried to form words with my dry mouth.

"I was going to invite you to my house this Christmas, but because of what happened with your dad and all, I guess now's not the right time." I said. "But you have to promise me you'll at least write."

"It'll be nice if you come back for a little while, dad loves you, he couldn't stop talking about you." Fred said taking sudden interest in his feet.

"He'll be fine, I know it." I pulled him into another hug. "I'm just glad we're okay."

"Yeah, me too." He released me and wiped away a few tears. "How manly of me."

I laughed. "Goodnight Fred and I'll see you soon." I stood on my toes and kissed him on the cheek. "You have to write me."

When I made it back to the commons I couldn't sleep even though it felt as if a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I decided to spend my sleepless hours writing a letter to Molly.

Dear Molly,

I am sorry I haven't written you in such a long time. This year did not start out well; I had trouble adjusting to life in Slytherin house. It's been hard, but I'm starting to feel a lot better about it. I'm sorry to hear about Arthur, but I'm sure he will make a quick recovery. And I would love to come visit you over break, but I'm not sure when or if it would be appropriate given you situation. I was talking to Fred and he said maybe if I came the last few days before term that it would be okay. I was going to invite you and your family along with Harry and Hermione's family over to our house for Christmas and a few days after, but I think it might be better right now if we go with Fred's plan. I can't believe I just said that!

Thank you for showing so much concern, everything is better now. I got all the wrinkles sorted out. I truly can't wait to be with you again because I had such a great time before the school year. As for Hagrid, I haven't been able to speak to him outside of class, but I'll be sure to talk to him before I go. Halloween night was a big misunderstanding between me and a friend. I was just embarrassed about what was said. How are you doing? Any exciting stories? And Sir Benedict Cumberbatch the Second (also know as Benny or the Benster, even Benstinator) thanks you for calling him cute (he's the owl).

Love,

Auden