There was silence in the infirmary as Fred watched Evan work. She was meticulously adding small handwritten notes to the bottom of the page, not bothering to acknowledge Fred's presence in the room.
"So," Fred started, "You're angry at me."
Evan looked up at him, her expression blank, "Mmm." was all she could say, returning to her book.
Fred walked over to see what she was writing. She was making notes in what looked to him like a standard healer's book; his mother had one in their bookshelf for when her children hurt themselves. He had tilted his head in close to hers as he tried to decipher he short hand.
"Am I allowed to ask why?" Fred asked softly.
Evan suddenly became highly aware of the close proximity of Fred. He smelled nice, like what Evan remembered a candy shop in France smelling like. She swallowed a mound that had appeared in her throat just before her candy scented inhale.
"You're allowed to do whatever you want Fred," she cleared her throat, feeling it tighten again as he tilted his head closer to her book and intern, her.
"Ok then, why…" Fred started, the side of his head pressed to the side of hers, "Why is your handwriting so hard to read?" He finished loudly, grabbing the book out from in front of Evan's crossed legs and hauling it on to the pairs laps.
Evan chuckled. She moved over on the desk a little as Fred made himself comfortable on the desk next to her. He squinted at the book, shaking his head.
"I knew my handwriting was terrible, but this is insane." Fred whispered.
"You're a pratt." Evan laughed, "I can read that fine." She waved a dismissive hand in Fred's direction.
Fred laughed loudly, bumping his shoulder against hers, "Of course you can. You wrote it!"
"That's hardly the point. It's not that bad," Evan leaned her shoulder on Fred's and sighed, "You just have to squint."
They both laughed, Fred leant in to Evan, resting his head on top of hers. Then, Fred spoke.
"Go out with me?" Fred asked quietly.
"What?" Evan asked, slightly taken aback.
Evan thought she had stopped breathing. Oh, pull yourself together Evan, she thought, it's like you've never seen a boy before. It was true, Evan had her share of experiences with boys – it wasn't like she was unattractive. She had always put her studying before the other gender it was true, but she had been on a few dates now and then with a few nice boys… but that's all they were; boys.
Having fast tracked her education, Evan had always seemed more mature than the rest of her peers. She had always been interested in more mature men; Fred Weasley definitely wasn't a mature man and yet, there was something about him – something about Fred that she couldn't place.
"Oh, sorry," Fred cleared his throat, "Go out with me, please?"
Evan chuckled, "Sure… one day." She answered coyly.
It was Fred's turn to chuckle, "Oh good. I'll mark that down on my calendar." He took hold of his wand, flicked it and the words 'One day' in Fred's untidy scrawled appeared in gold in front of the two before it shook almost violently and burst outward like tiny fireworks.
Evan looked at him sceptically, "Really?"
"What?" Fred quirked his head to the side.
"Weren't you complaining about my handwriting ten minutes ago?" Evan laughed, "Yours is at least twelve times worse."
She and Fred argued for a good fifteen minutes before Madam Pomfrey came in the room.
"Honestly," she hissed at the two, coming out of one of the back offices and frowning, "Miss Hollander. I don't mind you having visitors during your shifts but I do ask that you keep it down a little so I can sleep!" Madam Pomfrey was dressed in a thick light blue nightgown and matching pair of fluffy slippers. Her hair was, almost stereotypically, up in curlers – these curlers were turning themselves slowly in her hair, no doubt enchanted to do so.
Evan was wide-eyed, "Yes Ma'am."
"Sorry Poppy!" Fred said loudly, smiling widely at her.
"I think perhaps it might be your bedtime Mister Weasley." Madam Pomfrey nodded in his direction, "I do suggest if you're going to be a regular in my infirmary, ill or not, you choose a more appropriate time."
Fred smiled again, "Sure thing. Next time I'll come around when you're awake and we can hang out?"
Madam Pomfrey seemed to smile a little, "Good night Mr Weasley, Miss Hollander."
"Good night Madam Pomfrey." Evan said as she watched the older matron leave the room.
Fred looked at Evan, who was slowly growing red in the cheeks.
"Did I embarrass you?" Fred asked, nudging her with is elbow.
"Shut it Fred." Evan said, pushing him sideways as she stood up from the desk, "Come on." She grabbed his elbow and pulled him towards the door.
"I'm going, I'm going." Fred said, shaking his elbow free. They walked to the doors to the infirmary together, Evan opening one for Fred to exit.
"Good night Fred." Evan said softly.
"Night Evan," Fred said with mischievous smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Evan asked, becoming slightly self-conscious.
Fred smiled again, leaning in to Evan and kissing her lightly on the lips before turning quickly on his heel, making his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
Evan stood for a few minutes looking at Fred's retreating back, a small tingle on her lips.
