Big world, small me ~Wicked series

Part 7

What do I feel for Fred?
A question that had been keeping me busy the past days. I still don't know the answer. I feel a lot for him.
Affection, care, maybe love? I asked myself again for the -I think- twentieth time today.
Fred had confessed his love for me, but do I feel the same? The truth is I don't know. I'm a young teenage girl, a whole life ahead of her. I don't have to know yet, I'll know when the time is ready for it.
But still, a small side of me says it's maybe already time..
Questions, questions, questions and no answers.

'..it's the season to be jolly. Falalalalalalalala!' Peeves voice echoed through the hallway.

It's only a week until Christmas. I don't really like Christmas. Every year I go home and we celebrate. Which means: Death Eaters comming over with their children and we have to behave. Not that anyone would say or do anything when I wouldn't behave.

I had told the boys about my past Christmas experiences, they couldn't believe anyone thought that way about Christmas. The conversation kind of went like this:
'Looking forward to Christmas break?' Fred asked while jumping in the couch next to me. George was sitting in a chair across from us and so was Lee. I shook my head. Which made them confused.

'You don't look forward to Christmas break?' George asked confused. I nodded.

'Why?' Lee asked, sounding a little bit disgusted.

'Because every year we hold a dinner at our place, all Death Eaters come. Even their children. So that means a whole night full of people staring scared at me and awkward conversations' I began. Lee shivered at the thought, now they all had disgusted looks on their faces.

'A whole night full of Malfoy' George shivered again. I laughed.

'It isn't as bad as his seems. It's how I have experienced Christmas my whole life. I don't hate it, I just don't love it' I said honest. Fred shook his head.

'No, no, no!' He began. Now it was my turn to look confused at him. But George already grinned and I knew he knew what Fred was going to say. 'I can't let you think that way of Christmas again! The horror' He exclaimed, dramatically putting an hand on his forhead. 'You're gonna come to the Burrow with us and we'll show you what Christmas really is' I smiled, but shook my head.

'That's really nice of you guys, to offer. But I don't think your parents would like it when the Riddle girl randomly shows up' I said, shrugging my shoulders. George and Fred gave each other a look and then they looked back at me.

'Okay, if we're honest with you..' George said. 'She may not like you in the beginning, because she's afraid. But after awhile she will grow on you and love you, like we do!' He said smiling at the end -funny, he only ment she, as in his mother-.

I know they all love me. In the way friends love each other. But the way Fred had told me he loved me had been different then the way George had just done.
George loved me like his best friend.
Fred loved me like more then friends.
I sighed, I don't know how I will win my father over, but I have to. The boys grinned, already knowing they had won me over.
'Than I'm going to the Burrow'

That all happened two days ago, so now it's a week from Christmas break. And I can say, this is the first time I actually look forward to it.

Right after me and the boys had the conversation I headed to message my father. I hadn't seen him since the Fred accident, so it went kind of painful. But in the end he agreed -don't know how I got him to do that- and I left happy back to Hogwarts. To bring the good news to the boys.

'I can come!' I yelled as I ran into the Gryffindor common room -I had just waited for someone to open it and had run past a few first years into the portrait-, I smiled brightly and looked around for Fred, George and Lee. -okay, especially Fred-
I saw them standing, Fred leaned against the wall and was talking to George. Lee wasn't with them, probably hitting on Alicia or something..
I ran towards the boys.
'I can come! I can come!' I screamed happily and enthusiastic, throwing my arms around Fred's neck, jumping on him. It caused him to loose his balance and to fall against the wall with me in his arms.
Fred laughed, so did George and so did I. When Fred had stabilized me again I hugged George, but not as tight or as long as I had done with Fred.