The soft creaks of the old wooden floors seemed to calm her as much as it alarmed her. The room where she sat in had once been hers as much as his. She did love him, especially now after what had happened. Now more than ever. But she knew that if she could, she would love Fred too. Maybe even more than what she had loved him. Finding out just terrified her. She couldn't do it.
Fred didn't knock. And she didn't have to rise up her head to know it was him. Slowly, she stopped rocking herself and pressed her cheek against her knee, staring at the dirty wall next to her, avoiding his gaze. He didn't move from where he stood, though. He didn't dare.
The heated argument they all had not so long ago was still palpable. She could feel the anger coming from him, the confusion that everyone pondered onto, the fear that they all shared. Including her. Especially her.

''I...'' He slowly started. His voice hoarse from all the shouting, from holding back so many sobs and instead letting out words he did not mean. She knew he hadn't meant anything he said. But the words still cut deeper into her already opened wounds. She didn't move or even let him know she was listening. But they both knew she was. ''I don't know you at all''

''You never did'' she said in a low whisper. Fred took a deep breath and his fists slowly relaxed, allowing him to sit down in the rocking chair close to where she sat on the floor. He leaned over to the edge, his eyes unable to stare at her rigid figure.

''Do you think I ever will?'' He managed to say in a whisper without his voice breaking. Fred felt his inside twist a bit further when she didn't answer right away. He had forgotten for a moment that it was she who had lied, not him. He was the victim here, not her. He didn't have to be gentle, she had to. She wasn't the one hurt, he was. He had been lied to for longer than he could recall. But for how long? He had every right to know the truth. Emmeline lifted her head slightly, only to press her chin against her knees and stare blankly to the unmade bed.

''I never hated you,'' she started saying, slowly. Gulping down every bit of dignity she had left at the moment, she spoke clearer. ''During our first year, you and George would slip a potion into my drink every once in a while. Every chance either three of us got we'd bump into each other's shoulders just to annoy the other, I enjoyed stepping on your shoes and messing George's hair just because I found it entertaining when he'd try to mess it all over again as if it would make any difference. Those mini duels we'd hold every other Friday after our Double Potions right outside of Snape's office. And all those times we'd repeatedly remind each other how much we disliked on another-''

She paused herself, realizing the corners of her lips started lifting absent-mindedly. Fred still couldn't bring himself to look at her, but he listened even though he stared down at the old rug she was sitting in, finding the velvet details suddenly fascinating. ''Do you remember that day at the train? When we all first met?'' She waited for him to nod even though she didn't look up either. ''When you thought I had purposely insulted Charlie right in front of your noses... I spent the rest of the ride with him and Tonks''

''You never told me that''

''I'm telling you now''

''What's the difference? If you never bothered to do it before, why now?'' He said, firm and somewhat irritated.

Emmeline grinned weakly but still didn't look up to him. ''If you so want to know the truth of it all, I might as well start by telling you everything you want to know''

''Everything?''

''And anything''