A.J RYAN IN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 17 - Mistletoe

After getting a kiss from a sixth-year the following morning, and one from a fellow seventh-year during break, A.J started avoiding all area's glistening with mistletoe. It was at lunch when she was standing talking to Simon at the Gryffindor table that she overheard George speaking.

"Hey!" He called to Ron and Harry. "We've started a bet on how many kisses A.J gets in the next week. You guys want in?"

Simon turned to look at him, the same time A.J turned to glare at him. But Fred was leaning in too, just as actively a part of the whole conversation.

"Well, there's a stack of mistletoe around, I'd say it'd be a fair bit." Ron nodded thoughtfully.

"Hey, I thought you were interested in her, why would you want other guys snogging her?" Harry asked confused.

A.J waited for his answer; "I don't. But it's harmless fun really."

"How d'you know?" Ron asked sceptically.

Fred turned to look at her when he answered, "Because she's into me."

A.J raised her eyebrows. She flicked her wand and mistletoe appeared above her and Simon.

She pecked Simon on the lips, startling him.

She pointed above them; "Mistletoe."

"Oh right." Simon chuckled nervously.

"Come on, let's go see Professor McGonagall." A.J acted like it never happened, which eased Simon back to normal.

A.J hadn't talked to Fred in a week, but she would keep shooting him glances. At times she saw an ugly jealous expression on his face every time she allowed someone else to kiss her.

He stared at her as she sat at the Ravenclaw table with Simon. Why wasn't she talking to him like that? Why hadn't she come around yet, like he thought she would?

Fred wasn't known for his patience, so he waited until it was late at night and she was ducking out of the common room, like she often did. He followed her, grabbing her hand and walking along beside her – like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Hey." She said quietly.

"Hi." He smiled.

They walked along the seventh-floor corridor in silence, Fred glancing down at her every so often.

"So?" He prompted impatiently.

"So..." She started slowly. "You've got a few things to consider."

"Me?" Fred said shocked. "It was you that was supposed to thinking about it."

She stopped walking and turned to face him. "My relationships have a turn-a-round time of six weeks. You really want to be with me when it's doomed to end in less than two months?"

He shrugged. "Who says it'll end?"

"Because I'm me, and it's highly unlikely that I'll change."

He shrugged again.

"Whatever, I'm in." A.J smiled. Turning to continue walking along the corridor.

He smiled and grabbed her hand again, matching her pace. "Knew you'd give in. You can't resist me." He spoke matter-of-factly.

She rolled her eyes; "Yeah, that's it." She started gently swinging their hands as they walked.

"So, what do you always do out here?" Fred asked curiously.

"Walk, read, study, meet up with . . . others." A.J shot a sideways glance at him.

"Like Riley and the Slytherin?" He sneered.