This gif is Fred most of the chapter btw...

Fred's POV

The moment I kissed her, everything was right in the world.

We both needed it, in different ways. I think she needed someone- I needed her. I tell myself we were both drunk, and that it was a mistake. I'll admit, this is partially to conserve my pride. But I know that I was barely buzzing from the alcohol, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

So why do I avoid her for three days?

The morning after it happened, it takes me a few moments after I wake up to truly grasp what happened. I kissed her. She kissed me back. And then I didn't look at her for the rest of the night. I wish I could justify myself in a way that would excuse my actions, but I have no idea. Being completely honest, I'm just afraid that she'll tell me that she was drunk and that it was a mistake. On top of that...

...if I see her, I'll want to kiss her again. And if I wanted to before, I sure as hell do now.

George comes to me soon and asks me why I'm avoiding her, and I explain it to him. He knew we kissed, but after I explain why I can't see her he understands the situation. "I'd like you to know, Fred, that I think this is a bloody awful idea," he says, shaking his head at me. "this isn't going to help at all. But I know how stubborn you are, and only doing this will make you see how shit it is. So if she asks, I'll tell her I don't know where you are."

**

"Can you explain to me why my sister is sulking around the school looking for you?" Lee demands, dropping his books on the common room table with a little more force than necessary.

I try to feign nonchalance and I furrow my brows, forcing myself to make eye contact with him instead of avoiding it like I do when I'm lying. "I didn't know she was looking for me," I tell him.

He says nothing and crosses his arms, raising one eyebrow. After a few moments, he leans forward and puts his hands on the table. "Look, it doesn't matter if you two kissed or something happened in that closet... I know something did happen, though, and I know Vee won't tell me about it. What I don't know though is why you're avoiding her, and why she looks like she hasn't slept in three days. So you better talk to her, or I will find you."

Lee speaks in such a way that for once he actually sounds menacing, and I nod silently. He grins, picks up his books, and leaves me sitting there, stunned.

I'm glad I had a free period in my last class of the day, because when everyone comes streaming in from the other classes, I manage to realize that Vee will be here soon and dart upstairs. I read for about half an hour (although I don't really pay attention to the words) and then I cautiously come back down to the common room. Vee must already be in her dorm. When I sit down on the sofa, I can't think straight.

Why am I so attracted to Vee after mere weeks of knowing her? Why am I avoiding her? These two questions run around in my head for a while, and my thoughts are cut off abruptly when I hear someone mumble the passcode outside the door. I look up when I hear footsteps, and holy shit, it's Venus bloody Jordan. Her black ringlets bounce when she walks, and when she sees me trying to slip upstairs without her noticing she storms over. "Fred Weasley!" she says sharply, and her use of my full name makes me stop in my tracks. I even slide a little into the arm of the sofa. "You listen to me. Quite frankly, I'm not completely sure why you're avoiding me, and I will track you down again and we will talk about that, but there are more important things right now. Where is Harry?"

I'm more than a little taken aback by her response, and it takes me a long time to formulate a coherent reply. "u-uh, last I saw him, he was walking with Professor Lupin- the bridge, I think." I stop for a few moments, and then I fill the silence with a feeble apology. "Look, I'm sorry-"

"As much as I want to listen to your apology for being a dick, I really don't have time right now." She pauses, and her voice softens. "Meet me here at midnight, okay?" and then her tiny hand is brushing my shoulder- just for a moment, but I still stiffen at her touch. Before I know it, she's disappeared through the door to the common room, leaving only the scent of vanilla and cinnamon behind her.

**

I spend the rest of the evening thinking, unable to do anything except stare at the ceiling from my bed and mumble a few words to George, explaining the situation. I also tell George quickly about Lee's instructions to talk to Venus, and George sighs loudly. "You're listening to Lee Jordan instead of me? When I gave you the exact same advice?" George throws his hands up in the air in exasperation. "The nerve," he says as he leaves the room, but his slight grin assures me that he's joking.

I don't go to dinner, either; I'm not that hungry, so instead I go to the kitchens where I find Nimmy.

"Fred! Nimmy has missed you!" she exclaims, darting forward to bow her head quickly before wrapping my legs in a tight hug. She almost comes up to my waist, and she has to tilt her head all the way back to look at me properly.

Grinning, I pat her back a little. "I missed you too, Nimmy. I'm here because I wanted to catch up with you... and also, I'm a little hungry."

Nimmy leaps up and runs over to a small cupboard, opening it up and rummaging around for a moment before emerging with a large pile of food. She teeters precariously over to me and then puts it down on a barrel, jumping up onto a stool so she can see properly. "turkey sandwiches, chicken strips, tikka masala," she lists, pointing at the various delicacies with a long finger.

I see a small package peeking out from underneath the other things, and I point to it. "What's that one?"

Nimmy grins. "I knew Fred would choose this one, but Nimmy wanted to give him other options." She pulls it carefully out of the pile and hands it to me. As soon as I see it I break out into a wide grin.

"Nimmy," I say slowly, "did you make me macaroni and cheese? And are those- HOTDOGS?!"

The other house-elfs turn to look at me when my voice rises, but I ignore them. This meal is easily one of my favourite things in the world. Nimmy nods happily, pleased to have pleased me. "I also have pie for you."

I wrap Nimmy up in tight hug, lifting her up off the barrel and spinning her around before putting her carefully back down. She stumbles a little, blushing, and she looks down at the ground as she picks up my food and hands it to me, grabbing cutlery from a table and putting it on top. "You're a gift, Nimmy, seriously. I don't know what I'd do without you."

As I leave after another fluttery hug from Nimmy, I spot Leonardo watching me carefully as he tosses some vegetables in a pan. I grin as I go, knowing full well of Leonardo's feelings for Nimmy- and her obliviousness to this fact. Merlin's beard, why won't they just get together already?

**

As soon as the door to the kitchens shut, it opens again and I come face-to-face with Julian Bainsbridge. He stops right before crashing into me, and we both move out of the way to let a few other Hufflepuffs come past.

I must admit, I'm a little nervous around Julian. I never really talked to him before Vee came, and I know that he knows what happened between Vee and I- he's been shooting me glares every chance he gets. I'm surprised when his features don't harden into a look of hate or disgust, and he doesn't knee me in the crotch either. It's a little sad that I'm surprised, to be honest.

I'm even more surprised when he smiles a little. "Weasley," he greets.

"Bainsbridge," I reply, doing that guy thing where you're friendly but not really. The tension in the air is thick.

"I trust you'll be talking to Venus soon?" he says, cocking his head to one side ever so lightly. Now I see what this is. A threat, but one I don't take offense to. I've been a dick recently.

I nod, and he must see in my eyes that I'm sincere, because he smiles a little wider now and brushes past me, heading down the staircase. I start to head back to the tower, and I feel a little lighter now.

GUESS WHO WROTE THIS LAST THURSDAY AND FORGOT TO POST IT!!!! THIS BITCH, THAT'S WHO. Also, I know I say this every chapter but this is really short. 1.5k words. I'm so sorry!!!

1) I hope you all enjoyed Fred's POV for a change. I wanted to make a short little filler chapter before the chat at midnight tonight, mainly because I wanted you all to see a little into Fred's mind and stuff. Plus, you only ever really see Vee's interactions with people, I wanted you all to see Fred's too.

2) There are so many characters in this story it's unreal. And yes, I know we haven't seen that much of Julian/ Allie/ Angelina/ Remus the last few chapters, and I'm working on putting more of that stuff in. 

3) Why must I make my stories so complex????? Seriously. Why.

4) I forgot to say last chapter, but it was my birthday, like, two weeks ago. October 12th. I'm now fourteen years old. It's not really a big deal, but I like birthdays, soo...

5) That moment when you struggle to do work because you sit in class pondering your existence and generally having an existential crisis because fuck SAME

6) I'm cramping so bad rn (#justgirlythings) literally fuck me gently with a chainsaw

7) my friend got a hickey over the weekend and I had to help her cover it up today and honestly it's so much fun though. she has tan skin so it shows up dark but not like a red/ purple kinda thing and I'm jealous because this girl gave me a hickey one time and it was like dark purple for like a week #thanksjenna but yeah I know the guy who gave my friend this hickey and honestly??? I didn't expect that level of expertise for a guy who looks like a pre-pubescent elvis presley. It's like, shaped like Florida, and it's fucking huge. A++

8) I'm working on the next chapter. Things are gonna speed up soon, I promise.

9) I think I like writing Author's Notes the most.

10) I started watching Stranger Things finally (I can't rlly watch it bc of all the flashing lights n stuff because I'm sensitive to that shit and it gives me a headache) but I love it so much

11) WE'RE DOING HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL FOR THE PLAY AND I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO CONVINCE THE DIRECTOR TO DO A TROY/ GABE OR WHATEVER LIKE A SAME SEX COUPLE OR ACTUALLY CAST A POC FOR ONCE LIKE JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, LISA!!!!!! HSM IS THE WHITEST, MOST HETERO-NORMATIVE MUSICAL EVER WRITTEN AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM NICE JOB LISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry for getting so aggressive in these notes...

SONG: I literally got out of bed to post this when I realized and there's not any music on right now, but I'm gonna recommend... Valley Girls by Blackbear. It's lit and it has this bit that like every fandom uses in edits of people making out and tbh??? it's a lovely song to makeout to. Just a suggestion. just like... don't listen to the lyrics. and body roll to the bit. Listen to it. You'll know the bit.

-Em

**

10.24.2016