It was a horrid, rainy day, a very English way to start the new school year.

We sat at the breakfast table filling up before the long train ride, while we discussed what had happened at the World Cup.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had gotten split up from Harry, as he had been trampled. They had searched the campground for an hour, looking for Harry.

"When I woke up, everyone was gone. The fires had died out, and I was just hoping everyone had gotten back safely." Harry admitted, "But when I sat up, there was someone walking there the debris, I didn't see who, but he said something, and the whatever, Dark Mark I guess, appeared in the sky. He had started coming towards me, but then Ron and Hermione started calling my name, and found me."

The Dark Mark had shaken everyone up. Percy's boss thought it had been the trio that conjured it. It was the mark of Voldemort, and it had everyone in the wizarding world on edge. "Well, I'm just glad Arthur was there when they found you. Or else you three would probably be in Azkaban." Molly sighed.

"Shame, you could've had your first kiss with a dementor Ron." George teased.

That was when I noticed the piece of parchment being passed back and forth between the twins. I tried not to smile, recognizing it as a new order form for their business. Molly had made them destroy everything after the Dudley incident, but the twins were ruthless. Fred noticed me eyeing the paper and quickly placed it in my lap. I looked down and tried to read it, but was caught red handed. "Fred! George! That better not be a new order form for 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' in Louise's hand!" She warned, a stern expression on her face.

"Of course not, mum!" Fred started, a pained look on his face, "Now, if the Hogwarts Express crashes today, and George and I died, how would you feel to know that the last thing we ever heard from you was an unfounded accusation?"

Everyone laughed, including, surprisingly, Mrs. Weasley.

She checked the time once we'd settled a bit. "Heavens, it's nearly time to leave! Go check you're all packed, properly!" She added, with a pointed look at Fred and George.

I quickly finished my food, then headed upstairs to double check once again, that I had everything. I heard Fred and George thundering up the stairs behind me, they followed me into Ginny's room where I had been staying. "Can't believe you almost got us caught like that, Lou, would've had to start all over again!" George exclaimed, clutching his chest.

"I almost got you caught? Why the bloody hell would you have that at the breakfast table?!" I laughed, shoving George lightly.

"Well WE weren't the ones who were seen with it in our hands, we had it long before you got to the table. So technically, it's all your fault." Fred replied, George nodded in agreement.

"Good point Freddie, but, my name isn't included on the order form. In fact, I think I recall the name being 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes', if I'm not mistaken?" I said, "Which, by the way, is a name I quite like. I'm assuming George came up with it?"

Fred's jaw dropped in shock, while George began to howl with laughter. "I will have you know, I came up with that name, Louise! And you're right! It is a damn good name, and George could never think of it!" Fred sputtered, his cheeks slightly red.

I had been joking, but I could tell it had slightly hit a nerve. "I'm only joking, Fred. I didn't have a clue who came up with it. It's a lovely name." I smiled and patted his arm, "Now listen to your lovely mother and make sure you're packed! Last thing you want is a care package from her with your little heart patterned underpants dropped on your breakfast for the whole house table to see."

George smiled a wicked grin. "Louise, how the hell would you know the pattern on Fred's underwear?"

Fred and I both turned beet red at the insinuation. "Go make sure you're packed!" I exclaimed, shoving them both from the room.

George laughed, elbowing Fred suggestively as I slammed the door. "Damn Weasley." I muttered, as I turned to do one last check of my trunk.

*****

I shoved through the hustle and bustle of King's Cross Station with the Weasley's, Hermione, and Harry. The small hoots of our owls drawing more than a few odd looks. "Hurry!" Mrs. Weasley hissed, "You lot are gonna miss the train!"

We finally reached the familiar wall between platforms nine and ten. Harry, Ron, and Hermione went first. Followed by Ginny, Molly, and Arthur, then me, Fred, and George. Bill and Charlie had accompanied us to the station, and came through last to make sure the barrier didn't close on us the way it had on Ron and Harry in their second year.

I huge smile split open across my face as the high pitched scream of a train whistle met my ears. I looked at the gleaming scarlet steam engine in front of me, and my heart swelled with joy. I was finally going home.

I followed Fred and George as we went to find an open compartment. Fred spotted one halfway down the train. We threw our luggage in before going back to the platform to say goodbye to the rest of the Weasley family.

Mrs. Weasley grabbed me in a tight hug before her other kids. "Have a good year, dear! Sounds like there's going to be some excitement at Hogwarts this year!" She said with a wink.

"Yeah, I might be seeing you all sooner than you think." Charlie said, grabbing Ginny in a hug.

"Why? Tell us!" Fred said keenly.

"You'll find out soon enough. Just don't tell Percy I mentioned anything, it's 'classified information' after all." Charlie said, mocking Percy's snooty tone.

It earned him a slight slap on the arm from Molly. "Yeah, I sort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year." Bill added, staring wistfully at the train.

"Why?" George practically pleaded.

"You're going to have an interesting year." Bill laughed, "Might have to take some time off to come watch a bit of it."

"A bit of what?" Ron demanded, Fred looked like he was ready to hex the answer out of Bill.

But before that could happen, the train whistle blew sharply, signalling a last call. Mrs. Weasley began shoving us towards the doors. "Thank you for everything, Mrs. Weasley!" I said as I climbed aboard the train.

"Yeah, thanks for everything!" Hermione and Harry echoed.

"Oh it was my pleasure dears," Mrs. Weasley said warmly. "I'd invite you to stay for Christmas, but I expect you'll want to stay at the castle."

"Mum!" Fred and George yelled, "Why?" George said as Fred exclaimed, "Tell us!"

"I'm sure Dumbledore will let you know at the feast tonight! It's going to be quite exciting! Though I'm glad they've changed the rules..."

"What rules?" Me, Harry, Ron, Fred, and George said together.

"You'll know soon enough. Now, behave, won't you? Won't you? Fred? George?"

The train began to move, but Fred didn't give up. "Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!" Fred bellowed, "What rules are they changing?"

But Mrs. Weasley only smiled and waved. Her, Bill, and Charlie disapparated before the train even rounded the corner. Fred muttered under his breath as we shoved our way to our compartment. "Bloody brothers won't even tell me. I'd tell them! Honestly George, it's ridiculous I tell you."

George huffed in agreement as he flopped onto his seat, him and Fred looked miserable. I took the time to put my trunk on the racks above our heads, having just thrown it in earlier. But the twins left there's as a tripping hazard, too annoyed to care.

Fred ranted for the next five minutes straight. Repeating the unfairness of it all, and 'we're family dammit.' I was a little peeved too, I really wanted to know what was happening. I was sure we would've been able to coax it out of Charlie if we had had five minutes alone with him. But Mrs. Weasley would've smelt something suspicious and told us off immediately. So we had to sit, unknowing, for what felt like the longest train ride in the world.

Lee Jordan, a fellow Gryffindor and prankster joined us after the first half hour of the ride. Fred and George filled him in on the mysterious event with all the knowledge they had. And we sat together for the rest of the train ride trying to guess what it could be. Fred and George wanted to wager a bet, but hadn't collected their winnings from their previous gamble. So we settled on bragging rights.

Finally we stopped in Hogsmeade station. The pouring rain as unwelcoming as ever. I was looking forward to the warmth of the Great Hall. We made our way out of the train, and hurried to an open horseless carriage. Fred got in first, and extended a hand out to help me in, "M'lady," he said with a super posh mocking accent.

I giggled as I took the seat beside him, George and Lee clambered in behind me. "Oh, you're not gonna give me a hand?" George sneered jokingly.

"Nah, you've got cooties!" Fred exclaimed, making us all laugh.

When the door slammed shut Fred shook his long hair out like a dog, splashing me in the face. "Fred!" I exclaimed, wiping the droplets out of my eyes.

He laughed, smiling at me. "Aw no, did I make you all wet?"

My body went cold at his words. How could such an innocent sentence, make my heart lurch?

Fred laughed again as he launched back into conversation with Lee and George. But I stayed quiet, choosing instead to really look at the red headed boy beside me. I had known him forever, and I don't know if it really was those 'teenage urges' Molly was so worried about, but suddenly I was seeing Fred in a whole new light.

The soft curve of his chin, the way his nose crinkled up when he laughed, the constellations I could draw from the freckles that dotted his face, the way he shook his damp hair out of his eyes, the way he turned to look at me, and make sure I was laughing too. Every time his warm brown eyes met mine, my heart soared.

That was the moment it hit me, and my body went numb.

I had a crush on Fred Weasley.

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