Songbird ; Fred Weasley

Fifteen

My left arm was full of bags as I climbed the stairs.

My other hand was occupied by the pretzel I was eating. When I reached the door, I held the pretzel with my mouth so I could use my hand to knock.

Then I took another bite of the pretzel, ripping it from my mouth.

I looked around the alley, seeing a couple walk down between the buildings, swinging their interlocked hands between them.

The door in front of me opened, and I looked up at George who stared down at me.

He sighed, leaning against his doorframe. "What would you do if August was here?"

"I know he's not here." I shrugged. "He's at home with a girl in his bed."

George raised his eyebrows, and looked down at everything in my arms.

"Oh, right!" I grinned. "I've brought presents for Leia."

And George's face softened. He stepped aside and I walked in, smiling when the dog came rushing up to me.

"Hi Leia." I smiled, placing the pretzel between my teeth again so I could pet her.

I put the bags on the bar that was the surface closest to me, and then I put the pretzel down too, crouching down and pulling the small dog into my arms.

George peaked into the bags, trying to see what I had brought.

"It's toys." I told him. "I couldn't decide so I bought them all."

He looked at me and raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Sometimes I forgot you're fucking rich." He muttered, shaking his head before he walked to the hallway.

I reached up and grabbed one of the toys, playing with Leia when I heard George's voice.

"Fred. Your— I don't know what to call her— is here."

"Huh?"

"August's sister." George clarified. "You know, the girl you're crushing big time on?"

My eyebrows shot up and I felt myself blush. I couldn't see them. I was sitting behind the bar, and they were out of view from here.

But then I heard footsteps and the floorboards creaked under the weight of Fred approaching. He came into view, leaning over the bar and looking down at me.

He wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Hi."  I smiled, but my voice was quiet and weak, and I felt embarrassed because I was most definitely drooling over him right now.

"Hi." He grinned, widening his eyes for a moment, cocking his head to one side.

He looked at the bags.

"What's this?"

"Toys for Leia." I smiled. "I used it as an excuse to see her."

"And you couldn't have waited until tomorrow when we bring her over for Toby to meet?" He grinned knowingly at me, and I rolled my eyes, watching him round the bar.

"I may also have used it as an excuse to see you."

"Yeah, I thought so." He joined me on the floor, and his arm brushed against mine as he sat next to me. "She's pretty cute, isn't she?"

"Pretty cute? She's not pretty cute. She is cute." I argued, holding Leia in my arms as she tried to lick my face again and again.

"Leia!" George called, and the small pug jumped out of my arms and ran towards her owner, leaving me pouting.