You Can't Hurry Love

17| Love is Time

It's been strange between Alice and FP for the last couple of days. Their best friends are aware of their decision to not pursue anything romantically with each other, and it has not been easy.

"How's Alice doing?" Fred asks Hermione.

Hermione curls up closer to him in bed. "I know as much as you do. She's heartbroken, Freddie. I tried to warn you about this."

"I was afraid of that, too, but we can't just keep them apart forever. They would have had to face each other eventually and talk things over."

"How's FP?"

"I'm not too sure. He's a master of hiding how he feels. It's an accomplishment that I even get him to talk to me. He tells me what he's comfortable sharing; I'm not going to pressure him into stepping away from that comfortable zone."

"I get that, but what are we supposed to do? Those two care for each other, but always push each other away."

"Nothing, we can't meddle."

"Nothing?"

"Yes, nothing. They need to figure this out on their own. We may have intervened a little too much already."

"Will you at least talk to him and I talk to Alice?"

"About what?"

"I don't know, whatever we can get out of them."

"We shouldn't meddle."

"We're not meddling, we're just giving them a little push to figure this out."

"That's meddling."

"Just do it, please. They're going to be uncomfortable with each other at the wedding at this rate."

"Fine, I'll go talk to him, but if this gets messy you're taking the fall this time."

"No, I'm not." She cheekily smiles.

"I took the fall last time."

"Yes, because that was your idea and that idea led us to this."

"That's not true."

"Just go talk to him," She gives him a kiss. "I've got Alice."

"You're lucky I love you."

"I know."

+++

Fred knocks on FP's front door and greets him when he opens up. "Can I come in?"

FP steps aside to let him in. Fred leads himself to the living room.

"What's up?"

"Not much," Fred shrugs. "I thought I'd swing by and just talk."

"Last time you said that you dropped me off at rehab." FP arches an eyebrow. "You don't plan on taking me back, do you? There's no alcohol here."

"No, I trust that you're doing well. I only want to know how you're doing emotionally. You know, with Alice and all."

"I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about."

"So you're telling me you don't think about her?" Fred finds that hard to believe.

"Only as Charles's mother, nothing more."

"Really?"

"Where's this coming from?"

"I'm just asking," Fred holds his hands up defensively. "I believe you have feelings for her and for some reason you just decided to not even try."

"My love life is none of your concern." FP rolls his eyes.