Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 29 - Snowfall

Now that Fred and I aren't messing around, I discover I have a lot more free time.  And a lot more stress.  I hadn't realized how destressing hooking up with Fred had been, but not that it's over, I'm noticing the difference.  I now spend the entirety of both free periods in the library studying and doing homework.  It's amazing how much homework Umbridge assigns for how little we're learning.

Valentines day fast approaches and it seem like everyone is frantic to find a special someone before then.  I personally am staying out of all of that.  NEWTS are a few months away and I need minimum distractions.  Quidditch is a bit miserable in the cold winter weather, but it's better than being cooped up in the castle all day.  It forces me to abandon the book regularly and get some exercise.

Fred, despite what he had told me before, is now dating a Gryffindor sixth year.  I think her name is Emile, but I'm not sure.  He doesn't like to talk about her to me.  I wouldn't mind though, but I think it makes him uncomfortable.  George on the other hand has been hanging around more and more.  I guess now that Fred is busy with his girlfriend, George needs somewhere else to be. 

The night before Valentines Day, it snows.  The castle's inhabitants awake to a half a meter of fluffy white gloriousness covering the school grounds.  The younger students are pumped, making plans to play outside after classes.  Meanwhile all of the older students and busy snogging their loves or sulking over their loneliness.

At breakfast, McGonagall makes an announcement.  Any outside classes will be move indoors due to the snow.  All of my classes are indoors today anyway, so I don't worry about it.  Mia on the other hand is stoked.

"Thank goodness I don't have to freeze my butt off again today.  Hagrid doesn't seem to realize that us smaller people get cold easily.  Especially those of us not wrapped in fur."  She grabs another scone off the tray in front of her.  "Do you have a date for today?"

"Nope.  Just plan on studying.  What about you?"  I casually ask, taking a bite of my ham.

"Uh huh."  She shoves the scone into her mouth, not making eye contact.

"With Draaaaco?"  I smirk, teasing her.

"Shut it.  And yes."  She flushes bright pink.

"You guys are cute."  I take a sip of my coffee.

"Really?"  Her eyes widen.  "You think so?"

"Yeah.  As long as you're happy, I'm happy for you."  I smile at her, earning a back cracking hug.

"Thank you for understanding!"

***

The day seems to drag on more than usual.  Probably due to the lovebirds around every corner.  It's a bit nauseating.  Especially when coming across the third and fourth years.

"It's awful isn't it?"  George falls in step beside me after classes end.

"Yep."  I maneuver around a pair of fourth years, staring into each other's eyes.

"At least you didn't stumble upon your baby sister snogging her boyfriend.  I'll never be able burn that from my memory"  He shudders, cringing at the memory.  I chuckle, glad for once I'm an only child.  

"That'll scar you for life."  I agree.  We make it to the end of the hall, stopping in front of a giant window.  A bunch of the little kids are tumbling through the snow, laughing loudly.  I'm surprised that Umbridge hasn't expelled them for it yet.

"Look at them.  Makes you wish you were a first year again, huh?"  George looks sad as he watches them.

"Come on."  Grinning, I grab his hand, pulling him to the nearest door.  Sure we weren't dressed for the weather, but this couldn't wait.

"What are you doing?"  He asks as I drag him outside.

"Having fun like a first year."  I scoop up some nose with my bare hands, doing my best to ignore the pain from the cold.  "You better run."

"You wouldn't."  He narrows his eye as I draw my arm back.

"I would."  I let it fly, hitting him square in the chest.  As soon as it lands, I take off running.  "Try and hit me, bet you can't!"

"Hazel!"  He laughs, quickly grabbing some snow and giving chase.  "You're done for!"

I pause briefly to make another snowball, tossing it behind me.

"Missed!"  He jeers, throwing his own.  It explodes against my shoulder, spraying my cheeks with snow.

"Ah!"  I frantically start throwing snow at him, not even bothering to make it into proper balls anymore.  Unfazed by my poor attempts, he charges my, dumping an armful of snow on my head.  

"George!"  I'm gasping, the cold snow, freezing me instantly.  I look down on my soaked uniform, determined for revenge.  "Oh, you better run Weasley!"  

Forgetting the snow, I chase him.  He runs away laughing, easily outrunning me with his long legs.  However, in his haste, he slips and tumbles down into the fluffy powder.  I take the opportunity to jump on top of him and start shoveling to snow on top of him, covering him as much as I can.

"Alright!  Alright!  You win!"  He cries, trying to block the onslaught with his hands.  Satisfied, I stop my attack.  Brushing the snow off of his chest, he sits up.  Suddenly I am hyper aware of our position.  I'm practically sitting in his lap now, our faces inches apart.  He reaches up and hand and gently brushes some ice from my hair.  I get lost in his brown eyes as he stares directly into mine.  I feel myself drawn in by them, unconsciously moving closer.

A startling cold projectile hits me in the face, spraying George as well.  Gasping, we both scramble to our feet, whatever trance we were under, broken.  A grinning first year takes off, cackling like a madman.  At this point we are both soaked and freezing.

"As much as I want to get that kid back, I think we should head inside before my fingers develop frostbite."  I hold up my numb fingers, barely able to wiggle them.

"Come on, Hazel."  He takes one of my cold hands in his and helps me back to the castle.  I nearly fall a couple of times from the deep snow, but he steadies me.  We enter the hallway once more and I expect him to let go of my hand but he doesn't.  Instead, he scoops up my books which I had abandoned earlier and starts walking me to the library.

"You know me so well," I laugh, trailing a half step behind.  "I got to get those NEWTs."

"I'm thinking of skipping them, actually."  He says casually, causing me to stop.  He keeps going and nearly pulls me over.

"You're going to skip the NEWTs?" 

"Considering."  He just shrugs.  "I don't need them to open the shop, so it just feels like a waste of my time."

"Then why are you still here?"  I bite my lip, hoping he'll stay for the rest of the school year at least.

"Business is good here, and we don't get the shop until June.  Crazy enough, Umbridge has actually increased sales."

"Oh, that's good."  Relief fills me, followed by confusion.  Why am I so relieved that he's staying?  I would be able to visit his shop anytime after graduation anyways.

"Why, you worried you'd miss me too much?"  Smirking, he tugs me closer to him.

"Shut it.  That's not it at all."  I roll my eyes and brush past him, dragging him to the library.  "I just don't want to have to find a new potions partner this late in the year."

"Sure, that's the reason."  He nods, pretending to believe me.  To be fair, I'm not sure I believe myself.  "Let's go work on that essay for Snape, favorite potions partner."

"Favorite?  I better not tell Fred you said that."

"It'll be our little secret."

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