Chapter 11 :

Disclaimer: I still do not own Harry Potter! The wonderful J.K. Rowling does! I only own my OCs!

I think I felt my heart skip a beat,
I'm standing here and I can hardly breathe, you got me,
You got me.

-Colbie Caillat

The next few weeks flew by before any of the fifth years could notice. Nora had been released by Madam Pomfrey after a week and was studying more than ever seeing as their practice examinations were coming up in next week. On a Saturday afternoon, Nora was studying alone in the library. Her table was full of thick volumes that were stacked into two high towers on either side of her. She was twirling her quill while reading intently her transfiguration homework when someone cleared their throat.

"Are you waiting for someone?" Cedric asked gesturing towards the empty chair.

"Not that I know of." She said with a smile as she moved the piles of books to the floor. "Sit, join me in this madness."

"What are you studying?" He chuckled.

"Transfiguration, charms, arithmancy and divination." She sighed as she passed her hand through her hair and put down her book. "What about you?"

"Arithmancy and potions. But it's no use I'm bloody rubbish at it." He laughed.

"What's your definition of 'bloody rubbish?'? You only got an E?" She teased.

"No that would be yours." He retorted with a smirk. "And I actually got a P."

"Well then I'll make you a deal. I'll help you with your potions if you agree to help me with arithmancy." Nora said.

"Since when do you need help in arithmancy?" He asked pulling out his books.

"Since I lost my brilliant study partner." She laughed. "You know I'm rubbish with numbers."

"I feel very important right now." He joked as she rolled her eyes light-heartedly.

"You are. Kind of."

"So how about you finish transfiguration and we'll do arithmancy after? We can do potions tomorrow."

"Sure." She answered with a smile. "I'm almost done with this." She added waving the book.

"It's fine. Not that I mind but why aren't you with your friends?" He asked gesturing to a table not too far from them.

"I didn't see them actually."Nora said shrugging her shoulders. "And you're an acceptable study partner." She grinned

"What happened to brilliant?" He said laughing.

"It wore off." She answered as they got to work.

"Is Nora sitting with Diggory?" George asked to no one in particular trying to find an excuse to stop studying.

Nataleigh, Aveline, Lucy and Lee all turned around to see what George was talking about before staring at Fred, waiting for a reaction.

"Why are you all staring at me?" Fred questioned.

"Well doesn't it bother you?" Nataleigh asked with a devious smile.

"I have a girlfriend." Fred answered coldly as he looked down at his book.

"Sorry mate but there wasn't an answer there." Lee stated with a grin.

"Nora and Cedric are just friends." Aveline said as she went back to scribbling notes on her parchment.

"Since when?" Lucy asked intrigued.

"A while." She answered dismissively.

"Why am I always the last to know these things? And they're really just friends?" She questioned.

"Because you tend to make a big deal out of these things and yes they're just friends."

Nataleigh snorted."Like that's even possible."

"What do you mean?" George asked eyeing her curiously.

"Cedric wanted to get back with her." Nataleigh said.

"What?" Fred asked finally looking up from his book.

"Now I have your attention." She teased. "And don't worry Freddie she said no." She added with a grin as Fred blushed a dark shade of red.

"Why would she say no?" Lucy asked.

"Well I'm hoping that it's because she's finally noticed that our dear Freddie is in love with her but I don't know." Nataleigh teased.

"I have a girlfriend" Fred repeated.

"That doesn't mean a thing Fred. And haven't you noticed the fact that your girlfriend truly hates Nora." George asked patting his brother's shoulder condescendingly.

"She doesn't hate her." Fred said rolling his eyes.

"Oh she does." Aveline said. "And Nora said no because she's confused." She added never looking up from her essay.

"What?" The entire table shouted as a few people glared at them.

"About Fred?" Nataleigh whispered. "Why don't I know this?"

"Because you're worst than Lucy and not exactly about Fred." She answered.

"I am right here you know." Fred said rolling his eyes.

"We know Freddie. It even makes it more fun." Nataleigh said nudging him.

"What is she confused about then?" Lucy asked.

"She said that things were complicated and she needed time to figure things out. Can we go back to studying now?" Aveline asked impatiently.

"Yes please." Fred sighed.

"Absolutely not!" Nataleigh and Lucy said as George and Lee laughed.

"So it doesn't bother you at all that Nora is laughing over there with Diggory?" George asked.

Fred went silent for a moment and even Aveline looked up from her paper.

"Bother would be a strong word." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Ha! So you do admit you like her?" Nataleigh asked.

"That's not what I said."

"You don't have to say it, it's quite obvious to everyone." Aveline said.

"Aren't you supposed to be studying?" Nataleigh teased. "And everyone except my clueless twin. Have you ever thought about just telling her?"

"I don't know what you mean." Fred said as his face had turned as red as his hair.

"This is getting really old Fred! Just admit it, you like Nora. It's not so hard." George said.

"Do you really want to go there George?" Fred said sending a cold glare to his twin.

"Fine!" George said shrugging his shoulders and turning to Aveline. "Ava I like you. A lot." He said before turning to his brother as Aveline blushed a light shade of pink and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Does that mean it's your turn?" He asked with a grin as everyone at the table laughed.

"You lot are crazy." He said shaking his head.

"Maybe so. But you're the one who's been in love with the same girl for five years and now that she's finally single you're not doing anything about it." Nataleigh said grinning.

"I'm dating Angelina..." He said impatiently.

"So you've said." Lucy laughed.

"But you still spend your time moping around Nora hoping she'll eventually notice you." Nataleigh said harshly.

"Drop it Nat." George warned sensing Fred's anger and knowing very well that Nataleigh was an expert at pissing his brother off.

"We just want you two to be happy...And together." Nataleigh continued with a grin ignoring George's comment. "What's the worst that could happen?"

"She could say no." Lee said shrugging his shoulders.

"I've had enough." Fred said icily as he gathered his things and stormed out.

"You always have to push him too far." Aveline said shaking her head as most people had turned towards them to see what was going on including Nora who sent them a quizzical look.

George pointed to Nataleigh and Nora rolled her eyes as she whispered something to Cedric before getting up and heading towards her friends' table.

"What did she do this time?" Nora asked George sending a glare to her sister.

"Let's just say she pushed an issue of Fred's too far." He answered.

"Why am I not surprised?" She said shaking her head hopelessly. "Is anyone going after him?"

"Well he'll pretty much kill any one of us right now so no." Aveline answered guiltily.

"You were all in on it?" Nora asked.

"Kind of." Lee said looking down at his book.

"Nataleigh just magnified it ten times." George said.

"Why am I always the one taking all the blame? It's his bloody issue!" Nataleigh said defensively.

"Because you have a tendency to piss people off!" Nora whispered harshly.

"Sorry we can't all be perfect little control freaks like you Nora!" Nataleigh said icily.

"At least some of us have common sense." She retorted bitterly. "I'll put my things back in the common room and I'll go find him. See you all later." She said not glancing at Nataleigh as she went back to her table to gather her things.

"What's going on?" Cedric asked as Nora came back seeming furious.

"Nataleigh's a child." Nora said shaking her head hopelessly. "She's got into it with Fred. Do you mind if we finish this tomorrow?"

"Not at all. We were almost done anyway." He said with a smile as they gathered their respective books.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" She asked as she picked up a pile of books.

"I wouldn't miss it." He said with a smile.

Nora dropped all of her books on her bed before changing her ballet flats for black knee-high leather boots and putting on a navy trench coat. She grabbed her Gryffindor scarf and wrapped it around her neck as she made her way down the stairs and headed out the portrait hole. As she went out the front door, a cold December breeze hit her freckled face.

'Bloody winter.' She thought as she made her way towards the lake. As she got closer, she saw a familiar redhead sitting by a willow tree and throwing pebbles in the water. She smiled to herself thinking about the many times she'd found him here.

"I knew I'd find you here." She said.

"Well I'm not exactly difficult to figure out." He said without looking at her.

"Having fun?" She questioned as she sat down next to him.

"Oh yeah, loads." He said sarcastically as he stared at the water.

"What happened?" She asked as she pulled her knees towards herself.

"I overreacted. It was stupid."

"I heard it was Nat's fault. What did she say?" She asked looking at him.

"It's not important." He sighed.

"Was it about Angelina?"

"No. Not really. Do you think she hates you?" He asked as he threw a few more rocks in the water.

"Probably. But she's my sister she'll get over it." Nora said shrugging her shoulders.

"I meant Angelina." Fred chuckled.

"Oh...Well hate is a strong word." Nora said looking down at her feet.

"What word would you use then?"

"I don't know. I don't think she's my biggest fan. Let's leave it at that. Why?" She questioned.

"Just something George said." He answered.

"Then it's probably rubbish." She teased. "Are things going well with Angelina?" She asked trying to figure out what was bothering him.

"Yeah. I guess." He said without much emotion.

"Oh." Nora answered feeling a slight bit disappointed by his answer. "So what's the problem? The only times you go quiet like this are when something is really bothering you."

"Well...it's just that I'm not sure about a lot of things." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Don't worry, I'm quite confused about everything right now as well." She chuckled and shivered as a cold wind hit them.

"I heard." He whispered.

"What was that?" She asked turning to him.

"Oh nothing." He said as he kept rubbing the back of his neck.

"Are you sure?" She questioned as she shivered again.

"Yeah. I just thinking about a lot of things."

"Well that's a nice change." She teased. "What about?"

"The future mostly. What's going to happen with our lives." He said shrugging his shoulders.

"Well we've got some time to figure things out." She answered with a smile.

"Not that much. Do you still want to become a lawyer?" He asked trying to make light of the subject.

"I don't think so." She sighed. "I think I wanted my father to be proud of me more than I wanted it for myself. I'm thinking about healing." She said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"You'd be good at it." He said as she put an arm around her.

"And your joke shop will be brilliant." Nora smiled.

"It would be wouldn't it?" He asked with a grin.

"Of course! I'll be your biggest fan. Except for maybe your wife." She teased.

"My wife?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"You're quite a catch! You'll find some great girl! I'd probably marry you myself if you would cut your hair a wee bit." She teased.

Fred couldn't help but smile. "So you'd be a world renowned healer married to a little joke shop owner?" He laughed.

"Why not?" She laughed shrugging her shoulders. "The kids would probably be mental but we'd just make your mum deal with them."

"Mental would probably be an understatement." He smiled. "Do you want kids?"

"Someday, yes. And a lot of them!" She laughed. "About six or seven. You?"

"Of course! An army of them. But I could settle for six of seven." He teased as he absentmindedly played with her hair.

Nora smiled as she envisioned what their life could be like. They'd have redheaded kids running around, with maybe a blond in the mix, their life would be chaotic but they would be happy and more importantly, they would have each other.

"Nora?" Fred asked pulling her from her daydreaming.

"Yeah?" She replied feeling startled.

"You seemed off." He said.

"Oh. It's nothing I was just out of it." She said with a nervous chuckle.

"Don't worry it happens to the best of us." He teased.

"Does it really?" Nora asked with a grin as she looked up at his soft chocolate brown eyes. For a moment they did not say a word, they simply looked at each other in silent. Nora forgot about the cold and the fact that they were outside in December because his gaze made her feel warm and adored. She felt a blush creep up her cheeks and at that moment she was aware of a tingling feeling, one she had never envisioned having towards her best friend nor had she ever suspected him having towards her.

"Oh crap." Nora said as she shot up.

"What's wrong?" Fred asked confused.

"N..Nothing." She stuttered. "I..I've just got to go." She said bolting towards the castle as he called after her.

As Nora entered the castle she kept a rapid pace and climbed the stair two at a time.

'This cannot be happening.' She thought as she shook her head. She was used to being in control of every situation but this was one of the rare times she was truly astonished and it was a feeling that scared her immensely.

She finally entered the common room and passed by her group of friends who were sitting by the fire. She tapped Aveline's shoulder and gestured for her to meet her in the dorms.

"What's your problem?" Nataleigh yelled after her as Nora went up the stairs.

She kept pacing in circles while running her hands franticly through her hair. Thoughts seem to be rushing by at warp speed and her breathing seemed to get faster by the second.

"What's going on?" Aveline asked with a worried expression as she sat on her bed.

Nora stopped for a moment trying to find the right words but she could not seem to form a sentence. She went back to pacing while shaking her head hopelessly.

"Nora, what happened? You're kind of freaking me out." Aveline said seeing her friend panic.

"I.." She tried to say but she just shook her head. She couldn't seem to grasp the concept fully yet. She kept pacing rapidly through the dorm trying to find a rational way of explaining what was going on.

"This cannot...cannot be happening." She said franticly.

"Nora! Stop pacing and breathe." Aveline said authoritatively.

Nora took a few deep breaths before taking a seat next to her friend.

"Now tell me what happened?" She asked seeing a look of discomfort and anxiety in her friend's eyes.

Nora inhaled and exhaled slowly as her friend soothingly rubbed her shoulder.

"It isn't Angelina is it?" Nora said. It was very clear to Aveline that it was a statement and not a question.

A/N: Sorry for cutting it here, but I had to :) I hope you enjoyed the chapter even with Nora's little panic attack :P Don't worry she'll get over it eventually! I'll upload the next chapter this week. Probably Thursday. I hope you're all still enjoying the story because I really love writing it! If you have a minute please review, it really means a lot and it makes me very happy :) Also, I have pictures of what the characters look like on my profile so tell me what you think of them. Thanks to everyone who's read the story, reviewed, put on alert and favorited, I really appreciate it! And I noticed I tend to ramble...A LOT in these a/n so sorry about that! Anyways, I love you all! Xoxo.

To Fat Old Sun: Thank you! They'll get together soon enough I promise! :)

To PeetaLuver98: Thank you! I hope you keep enjoying the story!

To BookKailei: Thanks! They'll be some more fluff coming up! And many other things :P

To KellyLupin: Thank you so much! As for the names some of them are from my family and some I've heard at random moments in life and I liked them a lot! And I'm not writing from personal experience at all! My best friend is pretty much a copy of Erik so that would not have happened. And my boyfriend and I pretty much hated each other and fought constantly for a year at work before we actually ended up together. Our fights will probably go down in our Er's history :P I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

P.S. OVER 40 000 WORDS! And over 10 reviews! I really appreciate it! I love you all! Xoxo