Reality Bites Harry Potter

Operation: Lovesick

FRED'S POV

Watching Shayla dart around on Valentine's was the best and worst experience of my life. She was beautiful, sweet, charming and honestly dating Shay wasn't a chore, it was an experience. I was still in shock sometimes that such a ray of sunshine would choose to be seen with me. She is the type of girl that eyes always seem to follow and she knows everyone by first name alone. The downside to dating an enigma like Shay Harper is that she has absolutely no free time. Between Gingerpuff meetings and studies and matchmaking duties and even more social expectations I'm lucky to get an hour a day. And sure, I could talk to her at meetings but have you ever tried talking to the manager of a company in the middle of a business meeting? It doesn't work and usually you just piss off the boss. Which is why I had to find a way to beat her at her own game. I decide to talk to Theo, knowing if anyone can help me it's him. "I need help" I say and he looks up from his potions essay. "You? Need help from me? What can I possibly know that you don't?" he asks and I laugh nervously. "How to hold a Harper's attention" I say and he rolls his eyes. "Just make it seem like an emergency and you've got them" he says and I sigh. "I don't want to lie to her, I want her to willingly take time out of her schedule to spend a day together" I say and he thinks. "Shay is dramatic, that means if you want her attention you have to go big. Lots of flowers or expensive shit, or something super thoughtful. Make her forget the rest of the world exists for just a few hours and trust me, she'll be all over you again. Last year she thought the sun shined out of your ass so really it shouldn't be too hard" he says and I blush. "I still can't believe I was so stupid last year, last year was prime Shay attention hours" I mumble, thinking. I suddenly get an idea. "How good are you at handwriting?" I ask and he sighs. "I guess I'm ok but how long is this going to take? I have a potions essay due tomorrow" Theo says and I sigh."If I write it tonight can you rewrite it for me tomorrow?" I ask and he nods. I rush off to my dorms and start working immediately.

SHAY'S POV 2 DAYS LATER

I wake up to another chaotic day at Hogwarts. I loved my friends and knew everything I was involved in was my own fault but honestly I wanted a day to just relax. I make it to breakfast and am surprised when an envelope lands in my lap. I open it and can't help but smile. Shayla, you're a ray of sunshine to which no one can compete. You have quidditch skills that no one can beat. I know you're busy, I can relate. But can I please take you on a date. Love, Fred. I look around and see Fred sitting at the Gryffindor table. I get up, going over and hugging him from behind. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you" I say softly and he smiles. "It's ok, I forgive you. How does Saturday sound?" he asks and I smile. "I'm all yours all day" I say, kissing him quickly before heading back to finish my breakfast. Pansy is the first to approach me. "You need a date outfit" she says and I roll my eyes. "Seriously, Shay. You put so much time and energy into making the perfect dates for us, you need to accept some help. Because your closet is severely lacking" I sigh, nodding. "I will come by tonight" I say softly and she squeals, running off. The rest of the week goes similarly, first with Hannah giving me cherry earrings and then surprisingly Draco cornered me in the dungeons when I was leaving potions to give me a cute gray bunny backpack purse. Luna sees me squinting one day in the courtyard and gives me a pair of sunglasses "They look really good on you. Fred would appreciate them" she says and I blush before heading off to my dorms to shower. My date was tomorrow and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. I wanted things to go perfect, if only to make up for how busy I'd been lately. I finish my shower and go to bed, surprisingly falling asleep fast. I wake up the next morning to Susan gently shaking me. "You need to get up so I can start on your hair" she says and I groan. "Remind me again why I can't just put it in a ponytail?" I ask and she sighs. "Because Fred deserves the same level of perfect Shay that the rest of us get on date days. Do yourself a favor before you lose him" she says and I frown. "Rude" I mumble but I sit up and let her get started. I get dressed and am really surprised how well everything goes together. For a bunch of random gifts my friends really knew how to coordinate. I head out of my common room and smile when I see Fred. "Hi" I say, going over to kiss him. "Is that Luna's glasses?" he asks and I frown. "She gave them to me. I can go put them back though, it doesn't matter" I say, turning around. He grabs my hand and pulls me back. "I didn't say I didn't like them. I just asked a question" he says, looking me over. "You look amazing. Not that you don't normally" he says, blushing and I laugh. "Thanks. So what's the game plan for the day?" I ask and he smiles. "Hogsmeade date. Even got McGonagall's permission. This date is perfectly legal" he teases and I roll my eyes. "Where's your sense of adventure. Sneaking out makes everything more fun" I tease and he shakes his head. "Not when you want to have a romantic date it doesn't" he says and I can't help but think of Draco and Harry and how secretive their relationship was. I was determined to eventually help them both come out. "I lost you didn't I? Is romantic too much?" he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. "No, it's not too much I'm sorry. Got momentarily distracted but I promise it won't happen again" I say, holding his hand as we leave the school and head to Hogsmeade. We go to The Three Broomsticks first, finding a table and ordering some food. I try to think of topics to talk about but awkwardness ultimately wins out because I can't think around Fred. "You look really cute when you're thinking. I just wish I knew what had your mind so busy" Fred says and I smile apologetically. "I'm trying to think of things to talk about. Living in a school together where I'm taking all the same classes you took last year it doesn't leave much room for interesting topics" I say and he nods. "I get that. It's why I wanted to get you away from the school and the others for a bit honestly. I wanted us to have some time together, whether we talk or not it's nice" he says and I nod. "I still feel bad" I mumble and he shakes his head. "You shouldn't. In a house with as many kids as ours you learn quick not to get jealous, you just get creative" he jokes and I roll my eyes. We finis our food before going and walking around for a bit. "Do you want ice cream?" he asks, stopping in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. I nod, taking his hand and heading inside. "Can we get cookies and cream with gummy bears in it?" I ask and he gives me an odd look. "Have you ever tried it? Don't knock it til you try it." I say and he nods. "We need a double scoop, one cookies and cream and one English toffee with gummy bears and chocolate chips" he orders and the waiter nods, ringing us up and passing it over. "That looks so yummy" I say, starting to take a bite. I try the English toffee first and make a face. "You have odd taste" I say and he rolls his eyes. "Says the girl who eats gummies in her ice cream" he says. I raise a brow. "Taste it and tell me I'm wrong" I say and he sighs, taking a bite. "Ok... you were right, this is better than mine" he mumbles and I laugh, smirking. "Told you so" I tease. We eat our ice cream and then hold hands as we head back to the school. I kiss him before he takes me back to the dorms. "Thank you for tonight, I'm sorry I've been so distracted lately" I say and he shrugs. "It's ok, it's the price of dating the head of the Gingerpuffs. You took what should have been a small club and made it an elite social hierarchy in the school, that doesn't come easy, especially when you're 12. I know how to get your attention when I need to" he jokes. I laugh, heading into the dorms and go to bed with a smile on my face. I couldn't believe I was lucky enough to date Fred Weasley.