For my birthday, I would like to give you a new chapter. Anyway, I've been editing the next chapters like crazy and I can't wait to get them to you. Please forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes you see in this chapter because I'm rushing right now. Thanks for reading and I hope you had a wonderful Monday. :)

BTW- Did I fool you with the tittle of the last chapter "Him or me?" Did you think she was going to have to choose between Fred and Zach? I tried, but I guess not. Oh well.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 22: Day 1

At breakfast the next morning, my dad made a not so popular announcement; we weren't allowed to pack anything for the 3-day scavenger hunt. Instead, we got a pre-packed backpack. Before we could change into clothes that were more comfortable, we were rushed out to the cars. Fred dragged me to a white truck, which was closets to the exit, while Ginny and Hermione took the red truck, and George, Ron, and Harry took the black truck. All were shining from being recently cleaned.

"When we are handed our clue run to the other side and get in before you even open it. That way we can be sure to get out first." Fred whispered in my ear.

I nodded. I rested my hand against my thigh to stop its shaking. I was never good in situations under pressure. I was sweating too. I could already tell that this was not going to be a fun 3 days. Fred grabbed my hand and gave it a small squeeze. I looked up to him and he was giving me a reassuring smile. While my heart swelled, my brain could only think about the fact that my hand was clammy and he was touching it.

It hadn't rained for a day or two now, so the dirt was drying up, but the air still whipped around us with forced. The chill that nipped at my cheeks and nose, leaving them a bright shade of red, made me start praying that our backpack had blankets or extra jackets to keep us warm. The only thing that was preventing me from running back inside was Fred's warmth. I just wanted to bring him closer.

"Since Auden has an advantage, she and Fred will be leaving 5 minutes behind everyone else." My dad announced.

"So much for the plan." Fred said. While he remained calm, my nerves only grew. Fred, unfortunately, noticed. "Calm down. It's not the end of the world if we don't win."

"I'm just a little nervous." I said. "I want to win so badly."

"I understand, but if we don't, I promise I have a great surprise for you." He said. "I didn't forget your Christmas gift, I couldn't find the right time to give it."

I didn't even remember Fred not giving me a present. I didn't really remember much from yesterday except all the commotion among the Ginny's gift. Well that, and my talk with Fred and my embarrassing sob session on a hypothetical death situation. Still, it was nice to be with him, it was like a present in itself.

"And being graced with my presence last night, although I'm quite a treat, was not my gift." He smiled.

"You stole my joke." I pouted.

"I can read minds." Fred tapped his head.

I didn't even realize that the clues had been handed out to the other two teams, but the trucks roared to life and raced out of the driveway. My dad checked his watch and our 5-minute wait began. I knew how waits like this worked; it would feel like forever and it got you worked up to the point you couldn't perform your best.

"Fred?" Molly called running out of the house. "Oh good, you're still here."

Fred ran up to his mom and talked to her for a little bit. She seemed to be a little frazzled at first, but after Fred said a few things she calmed down. I don't know what he said exactly or what their conversation was about, but at one point they froze and looked at me. I gave them a weak smile and small wave in return, then they immediately returned to talking. When he jogged back, I was more curious than ever.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"Nothing important, she wanted me to make sure I'd look out for Ginny and Hermione." Fred said.

"She doesn't know about the box right?" I asked. If she did, I don't know how I would talk to, let alone look at Molly ever again.

"Of course not, Ron is the only one who might say anything and that's cause he's a git." Fred said, glancing towards me. Don't worry about it, I'll make sure he stays quiet."

I smiled at Fred's threat. I knew he wouldn't do anything worse then put a spider in Ron's bed, still, it would get the message across. My dad handed me our envelope before I could ask any more questions about their conversation. I slide my finger under the opening of the envelope. The piece of paper fit perfectly in the envelope with out being folded.

Make your way to Brick House Winery to receive your first task.

"You know how to drive a car right?" I shouted as I ran to the other side of the truck.

"Yeah. I took muggle studies for two years." Fred said peeling out of the driveway. "Which way do we go?"

"Left." I answered buckling in.

"Everyone else went right. Are you sure?"

"I know the shortcut, they are taking the tourists route. We're gonna go local."

Fred followed my directions and turned left into the empty road. We would get there in about 15 minutes, around the same time as the others. Since I had nothing else to do, I reached through the back window and grabbed the backpack. There was a first aid kit, a rain jacket, a few granola bars, two tooth brushes, travel sized toothpaste, two deodorants, flashlights, a map, and a cell phone that could only call my dad or 911.

"Anything helpful?" He asked.

"Yeah, but we're living in these clothes for three days." I said.

"Thank goodness I wore three shirts."

Dirt flew up into the air as we entered the bare parking lot for Brick House Winery. My heart started to pound, I felt like it would rip out my chest. Fred laid his hand over mine and gave me a small smile.

"Calm down, we're the first ones here."

"Or the last."

We parked near the entrance and jumped out of the car. There was no way we had beaten everyone. Fred found a box with about 6 envelopes.

"You're dad's smart." Fred told me as he took out one. "He put more envelopes then necessary so we don't know where we stand."

"I just hope it's not in last." I commented over the ripping paper.

He read over the paper first, then recited it out loud, "For the first leg, you will need to help make wine. Once you successfully run through all the steps, you will be given your next clue."

Before he was finished, I was dragging him along behind me. We raced through the vines with the fresh breeze whipping by our ears. Fred was tugging on my hand so I looked back and saw he was falling behind. That wasn't all though, he also had this weird look in his eyes I couldn't label. I yanked he arm forward and his face changed, now holding a goofy smile.

It turned out we were first. As we were driving back to the winery in the truck holding crates we saw the other two teams running out to pick the grapes. The rest was simple. We smashed the grapes then bottled and labeled 20 cases of wine. When we were done we ran back to the car and made our way to the next stop. There was no way we could lose.