Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters.

Note: Thank you for the last comment SiobhanPhelps! You'll like this chapter, and it's a tad bit longer.

Can't Stop. Won't Stop.

I took Matt's suggestions to heart, I didn't talk to Fred that night, or the next day. Though I decided to be upbeat and cheerful. I knew it terrified my friends and they would give me my space, but I would explain at some point. I mainly did it to annoy Charity, she had no idea why I was happy and she last saw me with Matt, she could make endless scenarios about what I was doing with him. Which seemed to be a lot of nothing. We hung after classes, we sat in the back together during classes, he came to watch practices, quickly catching on and suggesting different ideas—though he never dared to tell anyone other than myself. We were becoming close, and it felt, good, no, right.

I knew it bothered Fred, I knew he was hurting, it hurt me to see him with Charity—though I really wondered how much of a relationship that was, nothing was ever official. Occasionally Charity would get snotty and tell her friends Fred was 'thinking' about it a relationship, but no further progress was ever made. Oddly, the only positive things that came from the following weeks was that George stopped giving me the cold shoulder. It was almost like he was thinking of being nice. He would occasionally nod at me in the halls or mumbled what sounded like a 'oh hello' but sometimes it sounded like a 'go to hell.' Draco seemed to take the same approach, though he himself was oddly cheerful.

"So, George asked if I wanted to get a butterbeer next trip to Hogsmade but I told him we'll see since he's been a jerk lately" she said as we sat in the back of Muggle Studies one Friday afternoon the day before Halloween. "But then Draco asked me out the next day" she quickly got out. I blinked twice, three time, had I heard that correctly?

"I didn't realize you two were on good terms again" I said feeling bad that I've been so wrapped up in my problems that I nearly forgot about hers. Then again, she seemed to be doing just fine.

"Er…don't go on your date with Draco, go back and tell George you'll get drinks with him." I said as she gave me a funny look.

"Why? He's been kind to you, he's been a cousin and that's a good start" she reminded me but I shook my head. Like George said, that wasn't enough anymore. "I miss him and, well, you know I still care about him, a lot" she said.

"Just hold off one date. We have theory, and we need to test it."

"I don't know..." Melinda said with doubt.

"Matt says he thinks Burnner linked Courtney to her and he wants to break it. Which I completely understand" I explained.

"But how? Are you sure it's just Courtney?" she asked. I snuck a look around, the Professor steadily talking, no one really minding us. Quickly I launched into story, Melinda shaking her head when I was finished. "What is her goal? She asked but I shrugged.

"To get us as confused as possible" I explained. "Or, to try and push everyone away from us so she can kill you and I" I said.

"So, have you talked to Fred? I'll talk to Draco and George, Harry, Ron and Hermione; but Matt's right, you have to talk to Fred" she insisted as the bell rang.

"I'll see you later" Melinda said.

"Hey, let me know how your progress goes" I said as she nodded, and headed off. Slowly I went along to my next class.

Later that night, after dinner I sat with Matt as we worked on our homework. Neither of us saying a word but the silence comforting and welcoming. Once or twice we'd check something but overall it was a nice peaceful evening. When he didn't think I was looking I could see he was looking at me, he looked happy, really happy, like Fred used to look.

As if hearing my thoughts I saw Fred come from the entrance. "Hi," he said sitting on the other side of me as Matt quickly packed up and went on his way. "You two are doing well" he said without any feeling behind to it.

"We're not together" I told him as he nodded. "How's Charity?" I asked as he shrugged and leaned on the table.

"Haven't spoken to her since that bad kiss" he said with a wrinkle of the nose. I almost laughed, but I wanted to hear more. "Tam…" he started picking at the end of my parchment. "I'm an ass and you have ever right to slap me" he said but I shook my head.

"I've been with your arch enemy, your best friend…I'm pretty sure I don't need to slap you" I said, my words gentle as I debated touching his arm. "If anything I—" I started say I deserved it but I knew he hated self-pity coming from my voice. "You deserve to be happy Fred" I told him, my heart heavy as I said it. "And I have no business to know what you do with who you do it with," I said as he sighed but looked in the opposite direction.

"Would things be different if we were friends?" he asked but I couldn't answer, I didn't want to be friends with him, I didn't know how. "Do you know what I did this month?" he asked when I didn't answer. "After we broke up I walked around until my feet were sore, I thought about flying but I knew I'd fall off the broom. I ignored George, we got in a fight. Charity literally cornered me the next day, told me you had a thing for Matt. I didn't believe her, but, I made myself believe it, I needed to, I needed some excuse to have when you found out I kissed her" he said as we looked at each other.

"Why are you telling me?" I asked quietly.

"Because you've grown on me and I can't yet figure out how to go about simple things. I missed pretty much all my classes except Potions. A part of me feels like an idiot. It's over, why am I even bothering to talk to you now? Why do I care still" he said though I knew this was just a conversation he probably had countless times with himself. "It's because I still care for you, and I know you still care about me. I want to try and be friends Tammie, I need a part of you in my life" he said which made my heart lift greatly. I hadn't thought I'd hear that again.

"We can try friends" I told him as he seemed to relax and sort of smile. "Nothing is going on with me and Matt" I added, again needing to clarify. "I wanted there to be, but, he won't let me. I tried to kiss him" I confessed as Fred looked at me with little surprise. "But he stopped me and walked off" I explained as Fred sort of laughed.

"He told me this whole thing has bothered him, I told him to suck a dragon's egg" he said as we both laughed. "A month" he said as I nodded. "We can only function without each other for a month" he joked as I laughed again.

"I had another vision and Matt wants to try a crazy plan, which do you wanna hear first?" I asked as we awkwardly moved a little closer to each other.

"The vision" he said. I ran through both major stories at top speed, Fred, like Melinda shaking his head when I finished. "Why does all this shit happen to you when I'm not around?" he asked, though it seemed like he was angry with himself.

"Because I'm vulnerable and make stupid decisions without you" I reminded him as he shrugged.

"I don't know, I think make worst decisions," he said though he didn't need to clarify he meant Charity. "By the way, Abby, she's going to our assistant, at the shop. Once she finishes school of course. She can visit during the summers, learn the ways of the Weasleys" he said as I smiled, my walls slowly cracking.

"She'll be happy to hear that, I think she was feeling pretty morbid about the thought of being a Perfect" I told him as I watched a few more students leave.

"Tammie" Fred started as I turned around to face him, his voice soft. "I'm…I'm sorry I said those things to you," he paused and looked down at the table. I shook my head, I wanted the apology, I did, but the more he would say the more I would want him and that didn't seem to be an option.

"You don't—"

"Let me finish" he interrupted looking back at me. "I was hurt, not like before when we were first going together. I warned you to leave me alone because I'd hurt you, but, I decided, hell, I'm already crashing and burning, why not bring my ex down with me" he explained as he shook his head, again seemingly angry with himself. "It nearly killed me to see you crying and knowing that was my fault. I care about you, I do, but, how much can I really care if I said so many nasty things. You weren't mean, you were honest and I took that the wrong way" he finished.

"You had every right to, I would've done the same" I told him but he shook his head once more.

"You dated Oliver but you were always careful not to shove it in my face, you still came back, you still felt guilty, you never said anything bad. You dated Lee, simply out of necessity, you kept me at your side. I pushed you away and I shouldn't have done that."

"What you said…the part about not knowing if we can be together again, do you still mean that?" I asked my heart pounding in my ears.

"We shouldn't talk about that" he replied which was basically an answer in my option. I felt my chest tighten as I tried to keep my breathing steady.

"So, the plan, do—do you think you'd be okay with it?" I asked trying to remain focused as I looked at him, willing myself not to touch him.

"If it means we're one step closer to taking out Burnner, yeah, I kinda think it's a good idea. Better than last time, as long as everyone is on board" he said, both of knowing he meant George. "Hey, I think we should check out that book tonight, I mean, if those creepy people from your visions said it was something you needed to see than…you know…we should go" he said. I started at him for a minute, unsure why he sounded so shy about it. But then I remembered he meant after hours, us walking around.

"Okay, meet me by the place we had our first date" I said without thinking.

"Right" Fred replied not correcting me or pointing out what I said.

"Melinda is going to talk to George but I think you should too" I said.

"I will" he said as we both nodded, got up and went our separate ways.

Fred didn't mention anything about our first kiss being in the library, which was where we ended up. I was thankful for that, but I knew we were both thinking it. I may have wanted—or even imagined—I had something with Matt, but whatever it didn't compare to Fred. Natural, easy, deep, fun. Just talking to him again it felt like we hadn't thoroughly ruined our relationship. Though when I thought about that part it still hurt like hell. Why wouldn't he want me back? Was there something going on with Charity anyway? What did he have with her in the past? I wondered as we quietly went down the aisle.

"I still don't know why you made that deal with Matt, as you see I've gotten you in here unnoticed" he said as I followed him down another aisle, his wand lighting up the shelves. "Then again, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't help you get in trouble" he said realizing a second later what he said though he gave no indication he was embarrassed. I had to admit, it was the most bittersweet moment with him, knowing I couldn't have him but with the same thing giving me energy to get him back, to prove myself. Plus he was wearing my favorite maroon colored long sleeve shirt and tan jeans, the shirt was warm enough and the jeans fit him well. Not that that had anything to do with anything. I shook my head, my mind was nearly fried from this month.

"Yeah" I replied what felt like fifty minutes later. "Wait, stop here" I whispered as we stopped in an aisle. I didn't know why or how, but it definitely felt like the right aisle.

"Do you see it?" he asked as he came closer, our arms bumping. I took a deep breath in. Fred, I love you. I told him in my mind. Say it, just say it! I kept shouting but I only felt an oncoming anxiety attack. "Tammie?" he asked as I sucked in air and shook my head.

"No, it's er, not here" I told him as he nodded but didn't move. Either he knew what I was feeling or he wanted to say something himself.

"It's okay, we can try again in the morning if you like" he said gently.

"Okay" I replied. My vision was wrong? I thought but it seemed so impossible, it was the most detailed and accurate one I had had, ever. But yet the damn book was gone. "Maybe Matt already checked it out for me" I thought aloud, the only explanation I could find.

"It would make sense, especially if he had access to it" Fred agreed but I knew that was mainly to get me to relax, he knew I was panicking, he just didn't know why.

"So, what did George say?" I asked as I watched Fred use his wand effortlessly to undo the locks on the library door as we headed out and then turning back to lock it back up.

"He was completely on board until he realized he couldn't kill Matt" Fred said as I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "What neither of us can seem to understand though is why the toad face bitch—what? She is." He said pausing as I made a face at him. "Fine, fine, Professor Madison, she's pushing relatives and pulling apart relationships; it doesn't make sense" he said as I silently agreed as we headed out.

"It's what she did last time…" Fred reminded me.

"Last time her main goal was to destroy you and Melinda, why suddenly change her mind and attack all of us?" he asked.

"Like we said this plan could be the first step to finding out" I said but paused, upon hearing distant footsteps. Fred, who was obviously not paying attention bumped into me, making me jump forward again.

"Sorry…I haven't put my wand away…" he mumbled as he cleared his throat, though he didn't seem to go pink or red when I looked at him.

"Well, I'm glad that didn't sound completely inappropriate," I responded. We stared at each for a long minute before laughing. Though, again, I heard noise, awkward running footsteps. Flitch. Fred must have heard it too because he pulled me into the closest empty classroom, He sat on the closest desk trying his hardest not to laugh as I closed the door and went over to him, tripping in the process but he caught me. Finally! I said to myself as I felt my heart sped up as he held me, our breathing slow. Both our expressions saying what we already knew what was impossible to deny and even harder to stop. We may have been apart for a month and he may have been unsure if he could go back. But I knew one touch, one close encounter was all he needed, all I needed.

"Fred…" I started as I felt my hands move to his knees as I searched his face and as he pushed some fallen hair behind my ear as he stroked my cheek.

"Hush" was all he said in a hoarse voice. We stared at each other for a long second, both of holding our breath as the chemistry warmed us.

"I—" I stared as but Fred's lips were on mine.