"We could create mini fireworks. Ones you could hold in the palm of your hand?" George says excitedly. They were in the boys dormitory trying to come up with new products for their yet un-named enterprise, and Fred was trying with all his might to concentrate.

"Yeah. Could do." He replies.

"Or mini explosives? Not massive ones, just big enough to take off someone's eyebrows."

"Self-propelling custard pies?"

"I'm adding that to the list." George says and scribbles it down. "What about a yo-yo but when you play with it, it screams."

"That's ridiculous." Fred scoffs. "I love it. Add it."

George laughs as he keeps scribbling and Fred pop another fudge into his mouth as he searches his bed. "Fuck, wands downstairs. I'll be right back."

"Oh, forgot it again did you?"

"Actually, this time I did!" He comments and makes his way down from the boy's dormitory into the common room. Noticing his wand laying on sofa he picks it up and shoves it into his trouser pockets as he hears the voices coming from the portrait door.

"Look what do you want Johnson? I don't fancy Fred if that's what you're worried about. I'm guessing you like him then." He's surprised when he hears Lilith's voice and moves up to the door to see Angelina in his eyeline.

"Might do." Angelina shrugs.

"Well why don't you just ask him out instead of being insecure about it to me? I'd rather go out with Mad eye than be seen dead with Fred Weasley of all people. I don't even like the loser."

Luckily lying wasn't exactly her strong point, but still, the words slightly hurt.

"Well, he seems to like you." He hears Angelina say and Fred sighs slightly.

"Well bully for him. Look can I go? I only came up here to give Neville his stupid toad."

He takes that as his que to dart back into the common room and takes a seat on the sofa, newspaper in hand, pretending to be deep into an article when Angelina appears.

"Oh, you're here." She says as the portrait closes behind her and she catches site of Fred. "Don't suppose you mind giving this to Neville for me?" She hands him the toad and he chucks away the newspaper before accepting it, making a face at Trevor as he holds him.

"Where'd you find him?"

"Oh just in the corridor." She shrugs but she looks nervous as she takes a seat.

"You alright?" He asks and she nods gently but he's not convinced, not after what he just heard. Since the yule ball they hadn't spoken much but there was part of him that felt shitty for basically ruining the evening. Better late than never he supposed.

"I'm sorry for kind of ruining our date at the ball. I acted like a...well - "

"It's ok. but...if you do feel bad, you could make it up to me?"

"If you're going to ask for help with homework - " He jokes, slightly hoping that would be her request.

"Actually, Fred...do you...do you want to go to Hogsmeade this weekend? Just us." She says as if she already knew Fred would mention George. "Just us two."

Fred stares at her slightly stunned for a moment as she watches him, nervously waiting for an answer. Damn it, he liked Angelina...but...he wasn't sure he liked her like that. Why did she bloody have to listen to Lilith!

"Uh...I think..." God he didn't want to reject her and be an absolute dickhead. "Ok. Sure. Sounds fun."

Angelina smiles at him and he holds up the toad. "I should get this little guy back to Neville. Night."

"Night" She replies softly, and Fred sprints up the stairs and heads back to his room, closing the door behind him and pressing himself against the door.

"Got yourself a new girlfriend?" George asks and Fred looks at him in confusing until he realises he's still holding the toad in his hand.

"Sorry Trevor, forgot about you." He says and throws the toad on Jordan's bed before taking a seat of his own and huffs slightly. George is still writing, and Fred exhales louder to gain his attention.

"What now?" George sighs and his eyes raise to look at Fred.

"Angelina asked me out."

George cocks an eyebrow. "Interesting. You said?"

"Well she was like...looking at me all sad, like if I said no she was going to start crying, or yell. I don't know which would have been worse."

"I mean you did ask her to the yule ball, logic dictates that dating may follow."

Fred didn't want to admit his asking had been ever so slightly fuelled by his rejection from Lilith.

"Yeah but I thought that was like...mates. I don't like her like that. Angelina is pretty but -" He pauses as he looks at his brother, trying to think of the right words, not really sure if he wants to admit it. "I think about Lilith all the time. Not even just ...that sort of stuff" He stares at his brother as he tries to find the words, feeling whatever he says he's going to end up being mocked for it. "Holding her hand. Kissing her. Just being with her. When she smiles at me, I get this warm feeling in my chest. Hell, I even get it when she's angry at me."

George is now making fake sick noises and Fred rolls his eyes.

"Oh shut up." He groans as he lays down on his bed.

"And yet she keeps rejecting you."

"I don't know." Fred shrugs, feeling like an idiot. George is now sat on the edge of the bed, listening to Fred as he talks. "She just...lights a fire in me. Besides, If she didn't like me she wouldn't have got me out of being expelled." Fred admits, and as soon as he sees Georges eyes widen he regrets opening his fat mouth.

"She what?"

"You heard. That's all I'm bloody telling you."

George looks bewildered but he doesn't question it anymore. "So, she lights a fire in you huh?"

Fred smirks. "Abso-fucking-lutley."

"Well, what's your plan then?"

"I don't know." He sighs. "Probably fuck it up."

It was after lunch, and Fred and George had decided to go to the library to study for Transfiguration. As they sat among the stacks Fred slams his head against the table and he hears George contains the laugh. "I. Hate. Homework." He says with such disdain he's sure George almost feels sorry for him. "I mean, is there any point?"

"Mum not murdering us when we come back with all T's?"

"Honestly that seems like the better option."

George lets out a small laugh before receiving a ssh from the other side of the library, but his eyes cast past Fred and he smirks wickedly as he nudges Fred's elbow from across the table.

"Hey, the fire toasting your loins Is here." He says in a low voice and Fred looks over his shoulder to see Lilith sat in her usual spot, head down as she writes. Fred looks back to his brother and grins before standing from the table, grabbing one of his potions books and taking a seat opposite her.

"Can I help you Weasley?" She asks not looking up from her book and he smirks slightly as he opens his.

"I need help with my potions homework." He says with a forced sad sigh and she rolls her eyes.

"You can't use that an excuse every time you want to talk to me."

"Bloody can. Snape's given me the perfect alibi. I'll take what I can get." He shrugs.

"Stalker" She says silently but he sees the smile.

"I was hoping, actually, if we could spend some time together?"

"We are."

"Watching you study doesn't count, as much as I am enjoying the view."

She laughs lightly then and he looks back over to George who is watching, winking at him, and George makes another sick motion.

"You really don't like being told no do you."

"No." He chuckles but then his smile disappears and he grows cold when he realises.. "But not in…that way…I would never."

"Shut up stammering Weasley. I know." She smiles slightly at him and he smiles back at her.

"So...I was thinking – "

"Lil! Lilith!

"MS TRAVERS WILL YOU KEEP IT DOWN, THIS IS A LIBRARY!"

"SORRY MS PINCE!"

Fred rolls his eyes, of course they couldn't be alone for two sodding minutes. As Cordelia spots her she comes running over, but the minute she spots him her face drops.

"What are you doing here stalker?" She asks almost disgusted as she glares at him.

"Potions." Lilith says as if it's the most normal thing into the world and Fred shows Cordelia the potions text book with a smug smile.

"You should ask Snape for a new partner, considering what this arse hole did."

"It's just homework." Lilith says quietly but Fred can't help but smirk slightly at Cordelia. "What's wrong?" She continues. "You're meant to be in divination."

"Well I don't really want to tell you with him here."

Fred rolls his eyes. "Trust me whatever you say goes in one ear and out the other."

"I'm shocked your tiny little brain isn't able to retain information."

"What is it?" Lilith asks exasperated and Cordelia slides into the seat next to her, the excitement coming back to her face.

"I'm going to the three broomsticks with Phlegm on Saturday and you're coming with." Cordelia says in a low but enthusiastic voice.

"I can literally think of a million other things I would rather do than watch you suck face with Phlegm."

Fred laughs slightly which earns him another nasty look from the blonde.

"Well, I probably won't be the only one because Chambers is coming with."

That seems to perk Lilith's interest, much to Fred's annoyance.

"You're setting me up with Xander?" She says with a disinterest voice, but he wonders if that's only for his benefit.

"Not really, no. Phlegm told me that Xander wanted to invite you so that's exactly what I'm doing." She says it with such excitement it's almost like Christmas had come early.

"I thought he was seeing Snyde anyway."

"He was but apparently they broke up after the yule ball."

"Sucks to be her, he's such a hunk." Fred scoffs. Both Cordelia and Lilith glare at him even if he does see a smirk on Lilith's face. Xander Chambers was a Beater on the quidditch team, Dark, tall, stupid flippy hair. Fred had managed to aim a bludger perfectly at his face once. Even now the memory brought a smile to his face.

"Well I can't." Lilith finally answers. "I have to study."

Fred tries to hide the smile as he keeps pretending to read.

"Lilith don't be so boring! Come on it's just one little date. You're my best friend I never ask you to do anything. Come on Lilith even Weasley has a sodding date this weekend."

Fred clenches his jaw as he raises his head, noticing the slight disappointed look on Lilith's face. "How'd you know that?" He finally asks, knowing denying it would be worse.

"Heard Johnson talking about it in the girls bathroom. So, what did you slip into Johnson's drink to make her actually interested in you?"

"Probably the same thing you slipped into Phlegm's, although if I was dating you, I'd probably poison myself."

"Does anyone have some poison I can have?" Lilith asks as she looks between the two of them, clearly sick of the bickering.

"Come on Lil please. You've been in such a foul mood since the Yule ball because of certain people – " Cordelia says as she gives the stink eye to Fred but he keeps his mouth shut. "And now you're not dating Ambrose. Xander is a complete hottie and he's on the quidditch team."

"I don't even like Quidditch."

"No one likes Quidditch, but you know, status." She shrugs. "He's totally into you."

"I don't know... maybe." Lilith finally says even if it is less than wholehearted.

Fred feels pathetic and was now wondering if he had never said yes to Angelina if Lilith would even be considering it, but he can't help but feel the angry and jealousy bubble inside of him, and then he said something he would immediately regret.

"I heard his uncle's in Azkaban too, so you'll have loads to talk about. Could start a death eaters society." It came out of Fred's mouth before his dumb brain could stop him, and he sees the hurt on Lilith's face as squeezes her quill tightly in her hand, as if she wishes it was his neck. Even Cordelia looks slightly mortified.

"Yeah I suppose we will." Lilith snaps at him from across the table as she slams her book shut, standing from her seat and marching away. Cordelia glares daggers at him before standing from her seat as well.

"You're such an arse hole Weasley."

Fred wants to go after Lilith but instead he forces himself to stay seated and drops his head down on the table. "What the fuck is wrong with me." He groans as George takes a seat.

"That was smooth. Very impressive. I'll have to take notes next time….that was truly…"

"Pathetic." Fred grunts.

"Depressing."

"Just a total train wreck." He says as he hits his head against the table again. He was actually starting to get used to the pain by this point.

"Really mean, actually." George says with a tone of disappointment and Fred finally raises his head, rubbing his now sore brow, to see his twin looking at him with complete and utter judgement. "I mean….I know people joke about it but…she looked really upset."

Fred couldn't have felt worse if he tried. He knew how much she hated the fact people thought that about her, and he couldn't believe he had been stupid enough to even say that. He hadn't even meant it.

"What do I do?"

"I don't know. Do you have a time tuner by any chance?"

Fred had agreed to meet Angelina outside Honeydukes at three that Saturday, so he walked down with George and Lee in the snow to head to Zonkos beforehand. George hadn't mentioned the incident in library, but that hadn't stopped Fred thinking about it, and he wasn't surprised when she had gone back to ignoring him in every lesson, but even more annoying was Cordelia had taken to glaring daggers at him every chance she had.

Fine, if she was going to go on a date with Chambers then why shouldn't he go out with Angelina? Besides, she was the one that had bloody encouraged it!

But he wasn't thinking about that today. He was just going to get his date with Angelina over with, and if he saw Lilith on her date, then he was planning on throwing himself into the black lake.

"Maybe I could set off a dungbomb in the three broomsticks, kill the romance a bit?" Lee asks as he walks over from the till with his purchase and the three of them walk out of the store.

"Fred could show up covered in troll dung it probably wouldn't put her off." George chuckles as he picks up a wad of snow and shapes it into a ball when he sees Ron up ahead. "Unlike Lestrange who runs a mile when he even breathes near her."

"Fuck off." Fred moans as he trudges through the snow, he wasn't exactly in the mood for their teasing. As he walks past Maestro's staring at the instruments in the window he's completely distracted when he sees Lilith by the counter, talking to the shop owner. Ever urge he has is telling him to stay outside and just head over to Honeydukes, and even George is tugging on his arm.

"She hates you. Move on!"

But Fred, stubborn as ever, finds himself already entering the shop, brushing the snow off his coat and hat. For a moment she does look at him but goes back to talking to the shop keeper while Fred moves around, looking at the instruments, plucking the strings.

"I'm going to have to restring the whole thing. What have you been doing?"

"Playing." Lilith says quietly, looking over when Fred's strums at a guitar.

"Well, give me a few minutes and I'll be right back out."

The old wizards disappeared behind a curtain and Fred picks up the guitar and places it around his neck, strumming it rather badly to gain her attention but she's still pretending he doesn't exist.

Then he starts to sing.

"IT"S BEEN SEVEN HOURS AND FIFTEEN DAYS, SINCE YOU TOOK YOUR LOVE AWAY!"

Her eyes widen and she finally forces herself to look over to him. "What are you doing?"

"Singing?" He shrugs. "Reckon I could be the next Myron Wagtail?"

"What are you singing?"

"I don't know, I could hear it coming from the girls dormitory the other day. I've had it stuck in my head for days. I think it's a muggle thing."

"Well can you stop?" She asks rather agitated.

"Will you stop being mad at me?"

She glares at him so he takes that as his sign to continue and he strums it again.

"I GO OUT EVERYNIGHT AND SLEEP ALL DAY. SINCE YOU TOOK YOUR LOVE AWAY!"

If there was one thing Fred was not good at, it was singing.

"Weasley will you shut up please!"

"Well?"

"Well what? You expect me to stop being mad at you because you're trying to be cute?"

"I think it comes naturally to be honest." He clears his throat and strums again.

"SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE – "

This time she walks over and grabs the guitar from him, snagging his neck as she tugs it off him and he immediately stops singing.

"Stop and just go away!" She angrily snaps at him as she places the guitar back on the stand and head back over to the counter. But Fred remains still as he watches her, clenches his jaw as he attempts to choose his words carefully.

"Lil – "

"Don't call me that Weasley. Look just go on your date with Johnson and leave me alone."

Fred sighs as he looks around the shop trying to decide which instrument to annoy her with next. And then he thinks to himself that maybe he should just try not being an obnoxious ass.

"I didn't mean it." Fred says quietly and he sees her roll her eyes. "What I said was stupid and I wasn't thinking." It's honest at least, but he knows it doesn't really excuse it.

"That makes it perfectly alright then."

"You're right. It doesn't"

Fred sees the hard look on her face soften slightly but she still doesn't look at him.

"I forgot you played the Violin. I remember seeing you play in the orchestra."

"So?"

"Are you any good?"

"Better than you."

As the wizard popped up from behind the curtain and looks between the two of them neither say another word as he puts the violin back into its case. "Two sickles."

Lilith slams the money down before storming out and Fred waves at the shop keeper before swiftly following.

"Lil come on!"

"What do you want Weasley?" She says as she turns to face him. "Aren't you supposed to be on a date with Johnson right now?"

"Yeah after you bloody told her to ask me out."

She looks slightly mortified at his words, but she seems to keep her composure.

"Well, you didn't have to say yes did you."

"I suppose going out with Chambers is perfectly fine then." Fred retaliates and unexpectedly she laughs and shakes her head.

"I'm not actually. He's on a double date with Cordelia, Phlegm and Lionett because now she isn't talking to me because I told her no, and I am going back to the castle to practice for the orchestra. So have fun on your date."

As she turns and heads back to the castle Fred watches for a moment as the desire to go after her burns in him, but against his better judgement he turns and heads to Honeydukes.