Hunted AIAOY 3

Chapter 9

Harry and George did not expect to be brought to the ground on their walk, but there they were in the snow next to Hermione and Ginny and Ron.

"There you are!  I wondered where you were."  Harry said, leaning on his elbows near Ron.  "Figured you'd come by eventually."

"I was before I got kidnapped by these loons."  Ron muttered, eyeing Hermione and Ginny murderously.  "I don't even know what we're doing out here!"

Hermione shushed him and Ginny silenced Ron's complaining with a look, turning back to their hidey-hole view of Fred and Rebecca across the courtyard.  

"Sneaky."  George whispered, taking the other side of Hermione.  "I feel entirely left out of all this spying."

"It's not spying!"  Hermione blushed--She knew it was.  "It's documenting."

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On the bench they had no idea they were being watched on, Fred and Rebecca had found a topic to talk about.

"Hawai'i?  You can't swim!"

"It's not like that's a requirement, Fred!"  Rebecca laughed.  "When you think about it, it's not absolutely perfect?  The sun, the warmth, the...well, I guess that's about it.  It's enough for me."

Fred shook his head.  "If I could visit anywhere in the world, it would be...Oh, I don't know."

"I'm over here spilling my darkest dreams and you 'don't know?'"  Rebecca teased.

Fred sighed, thinking it over.  She was right, he should answer back as honestly as she was.  "I'd visit Amsterdam."

Rebecca pursed her lips, trying to think.  "Where's that--Holland?"

Fred rolled his eyes.  "I guess you don't know absolutely everything.  No, it's not.  Holland is the region but the country is the Netherlands."  Rebecca's surprise was evident and he laughed, tapping his temple with his hand not currently resting on her shoulder.  "Not only pranks going on up here, love.  Mostly, but not entirely."

Rebecca leaned her head on him.  "It's not fair how much heat you put off."

Fred wondered once more in his short life if the pounding of his heart would be audible.  "S-Something like that."  They chatted a few more minutes before Harry appeared at the end of the walk.  "Better go on inside, I guess."

Rebecca sensed the disappointment at the idea in his voice and found a degree of it in her, too.  She didn't really want to leave where she was.  The wind blew particularly hard and she sighed.  "Just as the wind builds."

Madam Pomfrey had expected nothing less than a longer-than-short-walk, but she still was quite cross.  "A short walk, you said.  Out!  All of you, out!"

"Me too?"  Harry asked cheekily, looking to the door.

"Into that bed before I tie you to it!"  Madam Pomfrey nearly shouted.  These antics were hereditary, she swore as she remembered James' own difficulties with lying still.

"Didn't mean to get you into any trouble."  Rebecca said softly at Harry's shoulder as she hugged him.  "You'll be alright?"

"I think I'll be just fine."  Harry smiled.  "I can be alone for an entire day."

Rebecca nodded, kissing his cheek before stepping back into the group everyone else had formed behind them.  She had a fleeting concern about Christmas as she struggled to leave Harry for a night.  How would she leave him for a holiday?