Read My Mind

Kiss More

Ria hated that she was crying again. She looked like an idioitic little girl, losing her wits and serenity, her intelligence and maturity, or composures or anything. She was so scared that she didn't even want to hear his thoughts because she was afraid that he would not like her, or he would think and act like he likes her when in reality he just likes her as a friend or a sister.

And she was even more frightened to realize, even then, she would still like to kiss him, and to be kissed by him, to be held and touched by him.

Fred reached to wipe her tears, and said "I like you." He looked her in the eyes, but sadly realized she probably was still not believing it. While he had no trouble recognizing his feelings for her had developed so fast and so intensely just over the past few months, he knew she didn't believe in such a thing. For the longest time, she would still refer to Harry, Ron, and Hermione as her acquaintances instead of friends, because regardless of what they have been through, they have only known each other for less than a year. She has insanely high standards for friendship or any kind of relationship in general, probably for the good reasons as she sees and hears betrayals and heart-breaks every single day.

He didn't know what to do except holding her tightly against his chest, feeling her body softly leaning against him and her hands gradually walked up to lace his waist.

"Well, then. Kiss me then," She closed her still-watery eyes, and he did.

He kissed her deeply and affectionately, extracting small shivers and detecting even the slightest reaction from her. He pressed her into him even harder and sensed her hands grasping onto his back. He traced her neck, planting tiny kisses that made her breathe more shallowly and her heart-rate fasten. He brushed her hair off her shoulder, realizing her shoulder is slightly wider than he had thought. She was not particularly athletic, but she was definitely not fragile. Perhaps it's because she had to carry so much on her shoulders.

They would have kept the kiss going forever if not for Buckbeak's squeak.

Ria's eyes fluttered open and she pushed him away, putting the strap back onto her shoulder, and couldn't look him in the eyes.

Fred was slightly annoyed by Buckbeak, but also, he didn't want to do anything that would make Ria think that he was just taking advantage of their intimacy. He silently helped her with straightening the wrinkles on her cloth and reached to hold her hands again.

"I like you, just don't run away again, okay?" He reassured her and asked.

"Okay." She whispered in response.

"So why are you still upset?" George asked him.

"I'm not upset! I'm just...not sure what to do." Fred was rubbing his temple, headaches.

"Still? I thought everything is good now that you guys kissed again."

"Well...the kissing part was nice." Probably too nice, "but it's not that. I just don't know what it was, or what we are right now, and I don't want to do anything stupid that would hurt her." Fred said.

"Look at you, our Fred Weasley refusing to do something stupid. Mom would be so proud--" George stopped, as his brother was staring at him, "alright alright. Here's something from your brother, brother."

"I'm listening." Fred raised an eyebrow.

"It doesn't matter what it was, it matters what you want it to be."

Fred didn't appreciate his brother's loopy sentiment, but he had to admit, it's time for him to start thinking more--to be more considerate, more reliable, more caring to Ria, like she had always been to him.

Their time at Grimmauld 12th had soon passed. Sirius was both glad to have them in the house for Christmas, and worried about losing them soon afterwards. Harry overheard Ria talking to Sirius.

"Sirius, I know how you feel."

"Of course you do." Sirius sounded slightly angry.

Ria looked at him, "Not even you, Sirius."

"I'm sorry," Sirius apologized, "It's just, I am trapped, you know. I'm supposed to be...out there, helping. Helping him."

Harry knew he was talking about him

"Umbridge is after you. Lucius Malfoy saw you the other day, he was even suspecting me. I think I may have to do something..." Ria lowered her voice.

"Well, I'm all safe here, aren't I." Sirius opened his arm, waving as if he's afraid of nothing, or even as if he wanted something to happen.

"You don't know that! You gotta stop talking to Harry. The fireplace in Gryffindor commons is not secured. Who else do you think scoured Harry's mails? Huh?"

"Fine. But I'm giving him a two-way mirror." Sirius said.

"Fine."

When Harry finally received the two-way mirror, he decided to never use it.

As Ria had said, she decided to keep distance from them. It would be unwise to outrightly announce that she and her family are on the side of Dumbledore and Harry Potter. It would also make people suspect Dumbledore's intention of recruiting a 17-year-old and thus linking people's attention back to the special talent that ran in their family.

But still, when Harry saw Ria was friendly talking to Slytherins, or complimenting Umbridge in a flattering manner, he felt something was pulling in his stomach.