A Weasley Twin

21.

It had been a couple of weeks since the final trial and everybody was packing to go home for the summer. The students were excited for the break but there was still a mournful atmosphere surrounding the castle. No one had really spoken about Cedric's death, no one knew what to say or how to comprehend it. 

I was lying on Ginny's bed waiting for her to finish packing, trust her to leave it to the last minute, and there was a soft knock on the door.

"Can you get that?" Ginny asked, cramming her unfolded clothes into her suitcase.

I stumbled out of her bed and moved to open the door. My heart dropped slightly, seeing Fred's beaming smile. I hadn't spoken to him since the third trial, I didn't want to have to face him, I didn't want my feelings for him confirmed, but just like that they were.

"Granger! Long time no see," he winked. "Nearly ready, Gin?" He sauntered past me and dropped down onto Ginny's bed exactly where I had been sitting.

"Any room left in your bag?" Ginny looked up at him hopefully.

"Unfortunately not, me and Georgie have big things planned," he smirked and then turned to me and patted the spot next to him on the bed. "You don't have to just stand there, Granger, promise I won't bite," he chuckled to himself.

"Stop being a creep and check on Ron? You know he takes longer than I do," Ginny said, throwing a sweet at him.

"Cheers. See you later," he paraded out of the room.

"He's acting... different," I uttered.

"You've been avoiding him for weeks, can't blame him for acting up," Ginny shrugged.

"I haven't been avoiding him," I argued.

"What so leaving the room every time he comes near you doesn't count as avoiding him?" She sounded irritated. "Hermione, I love you but he's my brother and at the end of the day, as long as he's not being a complete twat, I'm always gonna be on his side because I have to be."

She was right and she knew it. I knew it. I'd completely been avoiding him, I didn't want the guilt of liking him. It didn't seem natural, yet it was, I felt drawn to him for some reason.

The train journey home was nice. Students were making plans for the summer, some were discussing how quickly the year had gone by, others were acting as if nothing was changing, after all we would be back next year. Harry was laughing and chatting with Ron, I was glad he didn't seem to be thinking of what awaited him at home.

As students began flooding off the train I felt a tug on my arm. 

"I know it's been a tough year," Fred began, "I know I haven't remotely helped, but I really like you, Granger."

My cheeks burned red, "Fred-" I murmured.

"No, you don't need to say anything," he smiled, "I like you, I don't need you to say it back, just don't forget about all of this over the summer, yeah?" He looked hopeful.

"Fred Weasley," I grinned, "I couldn't forget about you if I tried."

He winked as he made his way past me and off the train. Typical, but I was still standing silently smiling to myself.