Not A Coincidence (Fred Weasley)

Ch 20: A Christmas Gift

A flash goes off, causing Fred and I to separate.

 "What the hell?" I say, rubbing my eyes as I stand up, pulling Fred along the way.

"What are you guys up to?" Fred asks as I see a camera pointed at us.

"Oh... we've been taking pictures of your cutesy moments." Aradia says, not even thinking of what she said before she said it. The others groan.

"Like Fred chasing you about now." Erin jumps in, showing us the photo from the picture. It's really... cute actually. Fred's grin is adorable.

"Wait, what are these others?" I ask as she pulls out other photos from a small bag tied to the camera.

"Oh, these are some other ones we took when you weren't watching." Aerrow says, pointing to each one. "Like on your first date eating those bertie botts every flavoured beans-"

"Wait, you were there for that?" Fred interrupts, holding up the photo.

"Unlike you two, we've known that this would eventually happen since the beginning." Erin says knowingly, eyebrows raised.

"And we didn't want to miss a thing!" George smirks, throwing his arms over both our shoulders.

"So you guys spent your date taking photos of us?" I ask, flipping through the rest of the photos. There are so many. Fred and I walking hand in hand, some in the pub, talking, drinking, eating. And there are others! Like that time I had cream on my nose from dessert in the Great Hall and Fred's licking it off. Us having that snowball fight then rolling down the hill. The Quidditch tryouts, Fred's cheering me on... Him sleeping next to my bed in the Hospital Wing. 

This one catches me off guard. I mean... I didn't think he cared that much, we had only just started dating.

"You... stayed?" I look up at him as he watches over my shoulder.

He looks in to my eyes, wrapping his strong, warm arms around me. "I'll always stay with you, I'll be here for you no matter what." He kisses my forehead.

"Quick! The camera!" A flash goes off as we return back to the moment. I smile at him before going back to the photos. 

There's more. Fred waiting down the bottom of the stairs leading up to the girls dormitories. "What's this one?" I ask, holding it up.

"That's when you were unconscious, when you fainted during your memory loss. Fred was still waiting." Heather smiles, drawing the scene with her hands. I don't know why, she's just waving her hands around, looking off in to the distance.

"Hey!" I say, holding up the photo. "How did you take this!?" It's of Fred and I in his bed, wrapped in each others arms, snoozing.

"When you said you remembered everything, I knew you'd want to find Fred, so I had to grab the camera." George smirks.

I smack him up the back of the head. "A little privacy wouldn't hurt, you know!" I raise my brow as he rubs his head, Fred laughs.

"It is a cute photo, you have to admit at least that." Aradia mumbles, bracing herself for impact. I look at the photo again... it isn't that bad. Fred has his arms wrapped around me, my head resting in to his chest, both of us with a small peaceful smile.

"Mmm, I guess." I continue looking through the photos, they're actually really good, great photography. "So you all were in on this?"

"Yep." George smiles proudly.

"So you gave up your date.. for taking photos?" I ask Aerrow and Heather.

"Well... we never actually went on a date. It was just a cover." Heather admits.

"Really?" Fred asks, they both nod their heads.

So apparently only Fred and I went on a date. Erin, Gideon, Grace, Parker, Stacey, Lee, Aradia, George, Heather and Aerrow were all in on this together. But they did eventually go their dates, for the last hour.

"What's wrong?" Fred asks me, it's only now that I realize I've been tearing up.

"We just have such great friends." I sob. Fred pulls me in to a big bear hug. Gradually the rest join in.

"Of course we're great friends." Aradia says, giving us a squeeze.

"Aradia." We all say.

"What? I'm just stating the truth." 

"She's got a point." I sniffle. "You guys have done so much for us, I love you guys." I smile through my tears.

"We love you too." They all say.

...

11:51... 11:52... 11:54... I make my way slowly down the steps to the Common Room.

I haven't done anything! Not one single god forsaken prank! I didn't even douse his undies in itching powder.

I look up at the large clock above the fireplace. 11:57, just two more minutes and I'll be forever humiliated.

Where is Fred anyway? Is he still doing last minute details for his prank? Oh man, I hope it's not that bad! I've seen what he can do and he could totally be Prank King, but he doesn't need to know that ... and I love teasing him.

"Hey." I spin around to see Fred standing next to the couch where I'm sitting, in front of the fireplace.

"What are you... what happened to your prank?"

"Well.. the truth is I couldn't come up with any, not a single one." He admits, sitting on the arm of the couch and staring in to the fireplace. "It's like my mind wouldn't let me do it.. and I'm not sure why. Parker said it was because my subconscious doesn't want to hurt you, or even prank you."

"Wait... Grace said something similar, like I don't want to prank you because I-" I shut my mouth before I can say anything else. Fred looks over at me, confused.

"Why'd you stop?" I know, I know, why didn't you just say that you loved him? It's not as easy as that, I know it's been months since we started dating, but what if he doesn't feel the same? And I make a fool of myself.

"...No reason- do you think that Parker and Grace are right?" I quickly change the subject just as Fred starts to look at me suspiciously. Does he suspect something?

"I guess." He brushes it off. "I mean, I would never want to hurt you, but a harmless prank?"

"Fred, you and I both know that prank wars are not harmless."

"...True." He takes a deep breath. "Anyway... it's 11:59." He points to the clock above the fireplace.

I glance up at the time. "Well look at that." We silently watch the clock slowly mark down the seconds until it strikes 12.

"Merry Christmas, Chelsea." Fred stands up and holds out his hand. 

I smile and take his hand. "Merry Christmas, Fred." We stand there, in each others arms, slowly swaying. Music plays softly in the background, the room alight with the soft glow of the fireplace casting shadows on the walls. I look up in to his soft, caring eyes.

He pulls something out of his pocket. "Here, this is for you."

I open up the box, my eyes widening as I take out the object. 

"Fred, i-it's beautiful... But how..."

"Merry Christmas, Chelsea."