A.J RYAN IN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 34 - Fred's Dormitory

It had been six weeks since I last saw Sirius, so Friday after Herbology I went to Grimmauld Place, but not before Fred found me heading to one of the passageways to Hogsmeade.

He smirked; "I knew you must be leaving the castle."

"It's not that often." I smiled.

"When are you coming back?"

"By dinner time."

"Any chance you'll tell me where you're going?"

I shook my head.

"Fine, but you have to spend some time with me tonight." Fred sighed.

"I'd love to." I pecked his cheek and continued walking.

I was not over the fact that Sirius was going to die, but I thought I should spend extra time with him while I had the chance. There was time to grieve after it happened. We had a great afternoon going to a cafe for a late lunch and to a muggle movie theatre. I told him I would see him again in two weeks, he beamed, accepting the excuse that I was bored.

I marched into the seventh-year boy's dormitory.

"What are you doing in here?" Lee said quietly from his bed. He was sitting up, fully dressed with his Defence Against the Dark Arts book.

I looked at the other beds where the twins were still asleep. I went and sat on Lee's bed.

"I come to see if by some miracle, Fred-" I pointed to one of the beds in question. He nodded, confirming the bed on the opposite side was his, leaving George in the middle. "-had taken notes in charms class yesterday?"

"Doubt it." Lee scoffed.

"Why do they get to sleep in?" I growled.

"No classes this morning." He stared at them enviously.

"So, you're clearly not hung up over the breakup with you two then?"

"It's for the best." I shrugged.

"Don't think Fred's takin' it that well." He said rather reprovingly.

I looked at him with a sad smile before raising my eyebrows in a question.

He shook his head, clearly not going to spill anymore.

Later that night I crept quietly into Fred's bed. He stirred and lifted his head in alarm until I spoke;

"Hey. So, I couldn't stop thinking last night how I wanted to sleep beside you..."

He chuckled; "So your little visit here this morning?" He asked as he pulled me into his arms.

"Was to make sure I didn't get into the wrong bed tonight."

"Sneaky." He said with a hint of pride.

He stirred as I went to leave the following morning at six. "So what'd you get me for my birthday?"

"I'll show you later." I winked.

I left his dorm room, and a rather miserable Fred behind.

"What you get me for my birthday?" He asked again that afternoon. It was fifth period and I had it free.

"Not very patient, are we?" I smiled.

"No." He said with a straight face.

I took him to my office on the seventh floor.

"I didn't know this was here." He looked around. "It's not on the Marauders' Map. So how do you get past that portrait?" He turned to me.

"A password."