because i liked a boy • fred weasley

Chapter 34 - Sunday, January 26th

The door slams shut behind Nathan as he walks into our dorm room. Talia had told him to come early today to inform us about what happened after Talia and I fled the party.

"Can I just say, I've never seen my girlfriend throw a punch before and I am more than impressed by it," Nathan jokes as he removes his shoes and jumps into bed with Talia.

The two of us have been debriefing what went on, both bundled snug in our beds. My hand aches from punching Angelina, and my eye throbs from being punched. Talia came out scot-free.

"I've never hit anyone in my life," Talia reveals, surprising no one. "But I couldn't just let Alicia leave with that stupid smug look on her face."

I crack a smile, "Guess I should've seen it coming, huh?"

"Probably," Nathan shrugs, "Either way, they both deserved it. They can't just torment you and get away with it."

"So what's our punishment? Have you heard?" I ask, knowing that those two rats would throw us under the bus.

"Dumbledore apparently was going to take 50 points from both houses and give you girls a week of detention, but I guess because Alicia hit you, he settled just for the points," Nathan explains.

"'S fine with me," Talia looks at me, "We never win the house cup anyway."

I nod in agreement while examining my bruised hand. "Do you think the twins have anything that will make the bruising go away? I don't want this nasty mark on my face."

"Maybe? I can ask when I go back to my room," Nathan answers, sitting up as he talks. "I'm gonna get some breakfast, anyone coming?"

Talia sits up as well. "Yeah, actually. I wanna see if they show their faces."

I chuckle, "I'm good, bring me back a muffin if there's any left."

Talia throws me a thumbs up and the pair leave together once Talia straightens up her appearance. I bask in the silence and pick up my DADA homework that I have to turn in tomorrow.

Three knocks come from the other side of the door as I am writing my last sentence.

"Come in," I call out. Thank Merlin I changed into my lounge-wear and cared about my personal hygiene today because in walks Fred Weasley. I straighten up against my pillow and watch as he comes in and closes the door behind him.

He smiles sheepishly at me as he walks over and sits on the end of my bed. The backpack that hangs over his right shoulder is placed at his feet. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Swollen and purple, but otherwise fine," I make a joke of my own pain.

In response, he reaches into his bag and takes something out; he holds up a light green cloth, "It's cooling. Like an ice pack, but not as cold and not hard as a rock."

I reach over and take it from him, my hand immediately feeling cold to the touch. "Thank you, Fred."

He gives a small nod. Fred stands up and moves two feet towards me until he's standing right next to me. He sits down facing me, so close that our hips are touching.

"You saw her at the party, right? That's why you came over to us?" Fred questions.

I don't say a word, just nod.

"The other night when she came to my room, the same thing happened. We were having a conversation, and she tried to kiss me. Except that time she did kiss me. That's what I was trying to say in the tower, but it came out all wrong," Fred explains at a mile a minute.

"I can see that now," I put my hand on his knee, "But why did I have to find that out from Alicia?"

His fingers brush against mine, "Because I'm an idiot? I knew nothing good would come from you hearing that, so I didn't want to tell you. But then you found out and it made everything worse. I promise when I say this, El, I am so utterly over Angelina it's not even funny."

I study his face, finding his sincerity endearing. Instead of telling him what's on my mind, I show him. My hand lifts off of his knee and goes to his cheek. As if he has read my mind, his head leans closer to mine until our lips brush.

The kiss isn't anything crazy. It lasts a few seconds and then we pull away.

With only centimeters separating us, Fred asks, "Do you want to have a picnic?"

"With what food?" I ask him.

Fred smiles, taking his lip between his teeth. He moves away from me and picks up his backpack, "I came prepared."

"Oh, presumptuous, huh?" I smirk. "What if I kicked you out? Or was downstairs when you came to my room?"

"I would have gone back to my room and ate every single item alone while wallowing in my own pity," Fred winks. He removes an item from his backpack and looks around. "On the bed or on the floor?"

I shoo him off of the bed, "I'll make my bed, hold on."

I straighten up my bed and lay the picnic blanket that he had given me across the bottom of it. I look over and see Fred staring at me, so I gesture to the now prepared area, "Good now."

We sit down facing each other with the food spread out in between us. We snack and talk about events that have occurred since we last spoke, updating each other on classes and house drama.

Fred takes one of the bottles of butterbeer and struggles with the top. Once he gets it off, his drink spills on the blanket, but because he made the blanket spill-proof, it falls right onto my carpet below.

I laugh and grab my wand from my bedside table. I flick it and cast, "Tergeo."

The liquid on the carpet dissipates and we continue chatting as we once were. As the food dwindles and the minutes pass, I decide it's time to address the elephant in the room.

"This doesn't mean we're dating," I clarify. I know he more than likely didn't assume we were, but to make myself clear, I need to get this out in the open. "It doesn't matter how long it's taken us to get to this point. I can't ignore the struggle it's been and just jump into a relationship with you just because we're on good terms again."

Fred reaches over and takes my hand in his. "I know, darling."

I smile, glad we're on the same page.

"Don't worry," Fred clears his throat. "I'll make sure we're on good terms for at least a week before I ask you out again."

I chuckle and roll my eyes, knowing how dramatic a week can be for us.