A/N: Hello lovelies! Happy to have you back and to see some more reviews appearing :D. I am starting to get back on the writing horse, so the chapters are coming a bit more regularly. Of course Christmas is coming our way, so there will be some busy days very soon, but after that I've got just under a week off, meaning I will be able to work a little bit further ahead. Well, enough of my blabbering! Enjoy, and as always: Please leave a review!
Chapter 17
The new term had started and lessons had been going on like usual. Harry still hadn't figured out the clue that was supposed to come from the egg. Amelia was seriously doubting her gut feeling by this time. Especially when she noticed that the other contestants had started some kind of training regimen. She'd spotted Krum diving in the lake a few times, as well as him taking morning runs. Fleur had been spotted practicing her wand work in several hallways and outside the grounds. After talking to the twins, Amelia had decided to wait a few more days, before guilt tripping Cedric into telling Harry about the clue. Right now they were walking towards Hogsmeade. Their group had been growing steadily, seeing as Hermione liked hanging out with them, bringing along boy wonder and Ronniekins (who had finally seen the light and apologized to her). As they arrived in the village they enjoyed so much, the group split up. Angelina, Katie and Alicia heading off to buy some new quidditch gear, while Harry, Ron and Hermione went off to only Merlin knows where and George and Lee leaving for Zonko's with some blush-invoking words. Fred and Amelia hadn't spent all that much time alone, since their friends had found them the night of the Yule ball, so they were kind of quiet, blushing profusely as their hands found each other. They had talked about meeting with Sirius, but Amelia had decided against it. She knew the golden trio were probably visiting her dad, and frankly she was scared of her dad finding out about her and Fred. It was one thing to introduce one of the Weasley twins as your best friend, but to introduce him to your father as you boyfriend was kind of like a death wish. She knew they would have to start telling other people eventually, but now was not the right time. They had the triwizard tournament to concentrate on first. Besides, people would start noticing them holding hands and spending more time alone sooner or later. Because Amelia's thought had started wandering, Fred had a little trouble getting her attention. When he finally did manage to do just that, he asked her where she wanted to go. After thinking for a moment, she pulled him towards the three broomsticks, wanting to warm up over a nice butterbeer. When they sat down in a cozy little corner booth, Amelia half expected him to sit across from her. He surprised her when he sat down next to her, his fingers playing with hers, slowly warming them in his own. Even though she still wasn't one to show a lot of affection in public, she enjoyed the feeling of his rough hands, gotten by holding beater bats for years on end, rubbing her soft skin. As they enjoyed their butterbeers, Fred grew a little quiet, peaking Amelia's interest.
"You know, you're going to burn a hole through that glass if you keep staring at it like that." He didn't seem to hear her. "Fred?"
"Hmm?" She put her hand on his arm, pulling his attention away from the glass and putting it on her.
"Are you okay?" Her question was answered by a silent nod, as his free hand moved to strike a lock of hair from her face.
"I'm sorry. I just- I need to tell you something." An uneasy feeling crawled up on her, as he looked at her intensely. Was he breaking up with her? Did he not feel at ease with her? Thoughts flashed through her mind, fear slowly settling in. It wasn't until he softly squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek, that she calmed down a little.
"W-what is it?" Her voice creaked a little, as she sat up a little straighter.
"I want to tell you a little secret. It's about… Well it's about me and George. We've decided what we want to do with our life." The fear was replaced with relief.
"You have? What is it?" His eyes lit up at the thought of whatever it was he was about to say next.
"We want to open a joke shop." Amelia's eyes went wide.
"A joke shop?" He nodded enthusiastically. "It sounds like the two of you." Apparently these words were more than enough encouragement for Fred, seeing as he started talking enthusiastically talking about their plans for the shop. That's how they spent their afternoon, talking about the twins' plans, school and the tournament, before eventually meeting back up with their friends on their way back to the castle.
X- Harry Potter –X
A few weeks had passed without incident, while Harry and Hermione were hard at work trying to figure out how to prepare for the second task, which was in about a week and a half. It was very early on Monday morning, when Amelia woke with the sound of a giggling Katie. She groaned, not wanting to get up, and seriously contemplated staying in bed for the rest of the day. But she had to, after the stunt she and the twins had pulled the day before. McGonnagal would absolutely kill them if they missed any lessons today. But that didn't take away the fact that it was very, very early on Monday morning. She slowly opened her eyes, fighting the urge to close them as soon as they opened.
"Kates? Why did you wake me up on this ungodly hour?" She heard Katie laugh softly, as to avoid waking their classmates.
"It was a special request from someone." Amelia frowned at Katie, curiosity getting the better of her and finally getting out of bed.
"And who has the great honor to get killed by little old me?" She asked in a sweet but deadly tone. Katie provided no answer, just skipping out of the room, a grouchy Amelia following. The annoyed feeling disappeared when she spotted her boyfriends standing on the bottom of the stairs, holding a box full of her favorite chocolate in his hands.
"Happy Valentine's day." She couldn't help but smile at his proud grin, jumping off the bottom step and into his arms, careful not to crush the chocolates.
"You're so sweet! You know you didn't have to!" He kissed her soundly on the lips.
"I know. I just figured you wouldn't say no to a box of your favorites and this face." His words were followed by Fred's attempt to puppy dog eyes, making Amelia laugh. They headed off to breakfast, when Katie started making comments about how she got nauseous because of their cuteness.
X- Harry Potter –X
The classes that day seemed to drag on, each minute feeling like it lasted an hour. Amelia sat fidgeting in her chair, willing the muggle clock on the wall to tick faster as professor Burbage dragged on and on about muggle transportation. She was anxious to get out of the classroom and into the kitchens, hoping to find Dobby, who she was planning to ask for some help. She had not expected Fred to do anything for her that valentine's day, so she had to come up with something in the mere span of a few hours. And she did, it just took the help of her favorite house elf. She just hoped Hermione wouldn't catch her on the way to the kitchens, knowing the fourth year would be able to drone on and on about rights and what not, cutting into the time Amelia had to prepare. That was why she almost tripped over her own feet, while leaving the classroom in a haste. It took all of ten seconds after entering the kitchen, before Dobby appeared, bowing deep enough for his long nose to touch the ground.
"Hello miss Amelia." Amelia grinned down on the elf, noticing the poorly knitted scarf he was wearing, which was definitely a creation of none other than Hermione Granger.
"Hiya Dobby. I'm sorry to just barge in here, but I was wondering if you could help me with something."
"Anything for you, miss."
"Just call me Lia, Dobby. We're friends, remember?" The elf looked up at her with his big, round eyes. "Listen, I want to surprise Fred with the cake Mrs Weasley always makes over the summer. I have the recipe in my bookbag and about an hour to make it. Could you help me make it?" It didn't take long for the cake to be in the oven, while Amelia and Dobby sat down at one of the large tables, enjoying a nice cup of tea.
X- Harry Potter –X
"Where are you taking me?" Fred asked with a grin, as he was being pulled down the hall by Amelia. The latter not really answering him, instead just keep pulling him with her, until they reached the alcove they had spent the night of the Yule ball at. Dobby had helped her decorate it a little bit, while also put a disillusionment charm around it, so they wouldn't be bugged by any students. When they stepped through the barrier of the charm, Fred started laughing softly, before pulling Amelia close and pressing a kiss on the top of her head. "You did this?"
"Well yeah, with a little help. I originally wanted to replicate the tree house, but there was just no way of doing that."
"The tree house?" He smiled at her. "I figured we wouldn't really count the kiss at the tree house." She noticed the tips of his ears turning a bit pink and grinned at him.
"Of course we'll count that. It was our first kiss, wasn't it? Despite of my reaction." He shook his head, before pulling her against him and pressing his lips to hers.
"You, Amelia, are full of crazy surprises. And I love each and every one of them." He didn't seem to realize the words were coming out, until they hung in the air between them. Amelia was slowly blinking at him, not sure if she heard it right. It wasn't until he started stammering, that she was absolutely sure he'd said them.
"Do you? Love me, I mean?" She asked him, getting straight to the point. It took him a few seconds to compose himself, before he was certain of the words he wanted to say.
"I do. I think I have been in love with you for quite a while." His ears were quite red at this point. Despite his apparent embarrassment, he did not look at the floor, instead keeping his eyes trained on hers.
"Well, that's good, I guess. Considering that I love you too." At her words, his grin came back, full force. All in all, it was a great day. One that neither of them would soon forget.