Don't fall in love with me- Fred weasley

7

"Love?" I whisper, the question sounding significantly more snappy than I anticipated. I'd pulled Fred straight to my dorm, causing loud whoops and teasing from our friends, when we had arrived back in the dorms.

George had either not noticed the word or had chosen to ignore it, but, my thoughts have been spiralling ever since Fred said it so casually.

"I'm literally meeting the parents-" he shrugs, his calm tone making me feel even more on edge. Making a weird feeling in my gut. It's fake. It's fake. It's fake.

"-you know my parents!" I snap

"What's so wrong? Can't a fake boyfriend love a fake girlfriend?" He questions airily. Dropping onto my bed and sprawling out on it, he looks comfy as he settles into the pillows.

"I don't know. I didn't think we would- you know- say it,"

"Emily Lily Lupin Black, I love you, I have loved you since first year. I've told you I love you many times before and I'll do it many times again," he states. He's unreadable in that moment. There's something so serious about his tone, a look in his eyes that I've never seen. He's uncharacteristically straight faced. Seeming utterly invested in our conversation.

It's weird. Like both of us can sense an immediate tension in the air. Neither of us sure what to say. Of course, as best friends, we love each other and we have said it before. This should be no different and yet there's something in the air.

"Fred, why are you looking at me weird?"

"You're my best friend Emily. Course I love you. I'm looking at you weird cause I always thought you were smart and I'm just now realising how utterly dense you are," it's a joke. A distraction and by the look in his eyes it's not entirely true. I let it slide though. Settling next to him on my bed and allowing him to grab my hand in his as I lay next to him.

"Don't ask me for any help with your homework for the next month then. If I'm so dense," I tease back. He laughs lightly.

The silence that falls between us isn't awkward. It's tentative though. Neither of us are quite sure where we stand in this moment. Lost in our own thoughts. Privately digesting the moment that just passed between us.

"Did you find it weird? Me saying I love you I mean. You never found it weird before," he asks quietly. I don't think I have ever seen him so nervous, yet his hand in mine stays planted there. Thumb stroking the back of my hand absentmindedly.

"I don't know. I just wasn't expecting it is all. Course I love you and I know you love me. We just haven't- yknow- said it since this whole thing started and it was unexpected," he turns his head to look at me as we lay still. I feel his eyes on me as I speak but stay focused on our hands, staring at where is large hand meets my smaller one.

"This doesn't change anything though. The whole fake dating thing. You're my best friend and when it's all over you'll still be my best friend. I'm always going to love you Em," he speaks gently. My heart breaks in my chest. You'll still be my best friend. All I will ever be.

"I'll always love you too Freddie," I reply. My voice is quiet but I'm glad it doesn't wave or crack. He lifts our hands up, pressing a kiss to the back of mine before dropping them back to the mattress, before turning his head once more to stare at the ceiling.

**

"So, have you guys? Yknow?" Katie questions. Waggling her eyebrows from her bed.

"Please no details if you have. I don't want to ever think of Fred like that," Alice groans, faking a gag that makes us all laugh.

We are supposed to be packing for the holidays but all three of us have been easily distracted.

"No. No we haven't," I inform them.

"Why not? He's hot, you're hot. He's obsessed with you and you are obsessed with him. Might as well do the deed," Alice rambles happily. Being in our fifth year a lot of couples were starting to sleep together now a load of us are 16.

"We are 15 and only been together for like just over a month," I remind. Alice shrugs whilst Katie assures it's good to wait until we are both completely ready. In all honesty I had always pictured my first time being with Fred but it was a very unlikely scenario.

"Is he gonna sleep in your room when he stays at yours?" Katie questions.

"They both usually stay in my room when they visit. I stay in with Ginny when I'm at the burrow. My dad's will probably put them in the guest room now though," I shrug. Moving to place the laundry I had been folding into my open trunk

"I hate to admit it but you two are an adorable couple. I mean inter-friend-group relationships are always messy and you may end up screwing the dynamics. But, all is forgiven cause the way he looks at you is the cutest thing ever," Alice babbles, a bright smile on her face. I feel my cheeks blush.

"She's so right. And when he holds door for you and carries your bag," Katie adds

"Yeah, who knew our little Freddie was such a gentleman?" Angelina's voice sounds from the door frame.

A weird vibe had settled between me and my closest girlfriend. I had asked Fred why he thought fake dating one of her close friends was a good idea one time, if he really wanted to get with her and he'd just laughed it off. I can't imagine the confusion she must be feeling, that he had been so obviously pursuing her and then suddenly had a girlfriend. I often wonder is he still flirts with her when I'm not there.

You can cut the tension with a knife. Alice and Katie never bring up Fred and I around Angelina, understandably, and it's the first time she's walked in on the rest of us discussing the relationship.

I let out an awkward laugh at her comment, Alice and Katie following suit and in a moment I praise the high heavens for Hermione comes bounding into our dorm, dragging me with her as she rambles about her unfair grade in Charms and demands I read her essay and see if I agree with the grade she's been given.