Darling, I Love You • FRED WEASLEY

13

After spending a night in the Great Hall everyone went back to their respective house. I bumped into Fred making us stumble and muttered an apology. Thankfully, it was a Sunday today so we still got to sleep in.

"Not today, Eli," Fred muttered, softly grabbing onto my arm, "do you even remember what day it is?"

Because of how sleepy I was I didn't have the voice to answer him so I just stared.

"It's your birthday, silly," George chuckled, rubbing his eyes.

"Oh."

I went to turn around but the twins took a hold of me, "we need to celebrate."

I groaned, "just let me sleep in a few more hours."

They shook their head at me, still, in our pajamas, they each took a hold of my hand, dragging me to merlin knows where. I closed my eyes as the twins lead the way and opened them when we stopped. We were in the kitchens.

"Dobby!" Fred grinned, "it's that time of the year!"

"Yes, Dobby has already prepared a cake for Ms. Macmillan!"

He snapped his finger and over at the table popped a three-tier cake. Chocolate coated strawberries as a design and in the middle, it says, 'Hap e birdday!!!'. Thanking Dobby, I sat down and took a slice.

"We've got a little something for you," Fred sniveled, "It's not much..." 

"You guys didn't have to."

"Anything for you, Eli," George smiled.

Fred got a little box out of his pocket and handed it to me, the packaging barely staying on because of how messy they wrapped it. I excitedly opened it and saw a small, gold, heart-shaped locket.

"Put your finger in it."

I did as I was told and it opened. It showed three sections. The first one was the twins, Lee, and I on the Gryffindor Tower's roof, it took the moment Fred, George, and I were laughing, Lee's face was barely seen, he must've been the one holding the camera.

The second section, the middle, showed our 3rd-year when we won the House cup. I was in between Fred and George my arms on each of their shoulders with their arms wrapped around my waist, my feet barely touching the ground.

In the third section, it was only Fred and me. He had his arm around my waist as I hugged him. It was their first visit to France.

I softly caressed the moving photos and felt tears in my eyes. The Weasleys is just an average family, barely getting any money on them so I'd always wave off their apologies when they couldn't give me presents on my birthdays.

"Thank you so much," I sniffed, giving them hugs.

"Glad you liked it-"

"Yeah, we would've made you swallow it whole if you didn't." George joked.

"Screw you, Weasley," I laughed.

Once we'd eaten breakfast and half of the cake we stayed and joked for a while, enjoying the company of the elves. They would offer to give us more food every few minutes and would give us a heartbreaking look when we decline.

Next, we went to look for Peeve the poltergeist. The twins promised they'd let me go once we've accomplished our birthday pranks, a little pact we made as a way of celebrating. With the help of Peeves, we were able to sneak into the potions classroom and steal a few ingredients, replacing them with fake ones. I feel sorry for whoever gets a hold of those.

• • •

Still, in our pajamas, the twins refused to go back to the common room and demanded I spend the whole day with just the three of us. That's how we ended up at the black lake. George went back to get a few things to keep us entertained so I was left with Fred.

Even though they promised.

"Happy Birthday," He muttered.

I looked at him to see that he was holding another poorly wrapped box with a bow on top. I looked at him in awe, "Fred..."

"Come on, I saved money on this," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. His hand holding the box faltered a bit.

I took the box from him and carefully unwrapped it. Inside was a muggle pen with a butterfly charm hanging off it. I took the charm and noticed something written on it.

'I lie with my face staring at the ceiling

Recently, I don't know what I'm feeling

I remember your brown colored eyes

From then on, I never got rid of the butterflies.'

"I made that poem a few years ago, 2nd-year I think?" he recalled, "d-do you like it?"

I sat staring at the best thing I have ever gotten in my entire life. I couldn't find the words to say so instead, I hugged him. Hiding my face in the crook of his neck. He chuckled and did the same. His other hand went to my hair, softly combing it.

"I love it," I whispered in his ear, "and I-"

"So no hug for me?" George interjected.

I shut my eyes in frustration. The moment I was about to confess my feelings his twins decides to interrupt us.

"No."

George pouted and sneered, "K, whatever, not like I need it."

"Aww Geowgie want a hug fwom me?" I mocked.

"Since it's your birthday, I'll let it slide." He replied, turning his head away in a dramatic way. I laughed and playfully nudged him on the shoulder. He brought out my sketchbook, a few pencils, and a notebook.

"You draw while we think of joke products," grinned.

"I have a few ideas for the shop," I said.

I looked through my sketchbook and stopped where it says 'joke shop ideas' and showed them a few drawings, some describing them.

"mini poppers, their candies. Once you put it in your mouth fireworks will start exploding on your tongue, tiny ones though," I explained, "then this is the triple b."

"Why triple b?" They asked at the same time.

"Bubble Balloon Heads, it's a type of sweet that would enlarge your head like that muggle hot air balloons."

The twins looked impressed especially when they saw the drawings, "this is amazing, Eli!"

I bowed dramatically and let them have a look through the other products, asking questions if necessary. Whilst the twins discussed their joke shop I looked around, pausing momentarily. I scrunched my eyebrows and stifled a laugh as I see a familiar dog by the trees.

It was the black shaggy dog I saw on the platform and it was dragging its butt on the ground.