A.J RYAN IN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 15 - Quidditch Match

The first Quidditch match was that Saturday, so at dinner on Friday night Fred was talking to Harry about Ron's keeper performance.

"You know, he still might make me and George proud. We might seriously consider admitting he's related to us. It's something we've been trying to deny for four years." Fred assured.

A.J turned and surveyed him. Fred met her expression evenly until she looked away first.

Later that night, when she went to leave the common room, Fred ran up to her. He grabbed her arm just before she reached the portrait hole.

"Hey, how's it going?" He asked her.

She tensed, answering him wearingly; "I'm good, and you?"

He smiled in a friendly manner, and politely ignored her weariness. They actually held a civilised conversation for a few minutes, in which he sensed she had relaxed. When inspiration struck, he went with it. Pulling two folded pieces of parchment from his back pocket, he flattened them against his leg to unwrinkle them before turning to stand by her side to show them to her.

To the few remaining in the common room, it looked like they were comparing notes on homework.

A.J's eyes scanned the first page; it was set out like a Potion's recipe.

"See if you look at this one;" Fred pointed mid-way down the ingredients list; "It's just not quite right."

"May I?" A.J reached for the parchment.

Fred nodded, handing them to her. He stood close to her, reading over her shoulder as she remained quiet for a few moments. When she flipped the page, he looked up at her face. Merlin she's beautiful, he thought to himself.

"Hmm." She mumbled, and his eyes darted to her mouth. She pulled her wand and as she tapped the parchment, she said; "Try reducing the quantity of them;" As Fred looked a line appeared through the Two drops and One-and-a-half drops appeared beside it. She tapped the page again; "Add more of this." The same happened again, with the new quantity appearing beside the crossed-out amount.

She looked up at him, "Why Sprigs?"

Fred shrugged. "It's a favourite of ours in a few similar products we've worked on.

She pursed her lips and again Fred's attention was drawn to her mouth.

She tapped her wand again, and the quantity was reduced. "Less in this." She smiled and handed it back to him.

She excused herself, and as the portrait hole opened, he called after her; "Thanks."

She turned back and nodded to the parchment in his hands. "That's sensational magic, Fred."

He beamed at her. When the portrait hole had shut behind her, he gave a little cheer. They'd had a whole conversation, one where she'd talked back, and hadn't involved her treating him like an immature child.

He went and sat back with George. "Success." He said confidently. George high-fived him.

Riley was sitting at the Gryffindor table with his arm around A.J at breakfast talking quietly in her ear.

The table full of students in red and gold, in support of the match today.

"So, your ex-boyfriends a Slytherin, where does your loyalty lie today?" He teased her.

She titled her head in thought. "With the ex, I think."

She laughed as Riley playfully poked her all up her left side.

"As if, the prats are wearing those stupid badges." She said more seriously.

The Slytherin's were covered in silver and green hats and scarfs, and most of them had a silver badge shaped like a crown. They read the words Weasley is Our King.