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"Shut up Carrot-Top."

"Shut up Carrot-Top," he mocked me in a high pitched voice that was nothing like mine.

I narrowed my eyes at Fred. Slapping his head, I muttered something along the lines of "what an idiot."

I had been friends with the twins ever since our first years. It had been a long and merry six years now. However, Godric would be surprised at how many times Fred and I get into arguments. They don't even have to be something logical. Sometimes we just fight over whose handwriting is better.

Just to make it clear, its mine.

"Ow!" He exclaimed while rubbing the back of his head, "You're stronger than I thought."

I smirked in satifaction.

"Godric at least let us eat in peace," George said with his mouth full of stew, "Go get a room."

"HEY!" We both yelled back in annoyance.

Did I like Fred? Maybe. Was I Gryffindor enough to risk it? No.

So we hung around like friends, constantly ignoring the awkward tension that sometimes built up.

"Why don't you go along to snog Sia?" I smile mischieviously and put another chicken piece in my mouth.

"Yeah, I'm sure the Hufflepuff table won't mind a visitor," Fred continued leaving George red with embarassment. Luckily, that was enough to stop his talking for the entire dinnertime.

***
Fred pov

Potions. Aka the worst subject to exist. I walk inside the class –actually more like groan and complain all the way while George drags me to my seat. For some reason he didn't mind the subject much.

Oh wait. I knew the reason. We shared it with the Hufflepuffs.

I fingergun at Sia who noticed us walk in. She rolls her eyes and continues to talk with her friends. Meanwhile, I get a painful pinch from George as we sit on one of the last benches.

"So when are you going to ask Rhea to the yule ball?" George pipes up casually.

I give him one of my best what-the-heck faces. "Uh never? I don't like her in that way." That might have been a straight out lie. But it's not like I ever had a chance with her. I heard that she's got a thing for one of the Slytherins.

"Tell that to the googoo eyes you keep making at each other. Every. Single. Day."

"There's no-" I say all ready to tell my brother that there was absolutely nothing between her and I.

However Lee interrupted me as he sat down at the table behind us, "Sorry Freddie-boy but I heard Eric Macnair already asked her out."

That bloody Slytherin.

"Asked her out meaning they're dating?! Or just for the yule ball? She'd tell us if they were dating right?" I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks as my hands slowly formed fists. I couldn't fake being casual if my life depended on it.

Lee shrugged while George muttered, "And two seconds ago, you said you weren't even interested."

"What? 'Course I'm not. Just looking out for her," I turn back to the board which seemed to be taunting me with its blackness.

***
Yule ball.. It was finally here.

Turns out Eric Macnair and Rhea weren't dating afterall. Just going to be each others "dates" to the ball. Yet it didn't stop my hands from curling into fists whenever she hung around with him.

I decided that I'd go alone. That way I'll be able to flirt with as many girls as I wanted. I mean thats what I had told her. I couldn't help but notice how her face fell a bit when I said that. Godric, she didn't have to feel pity for me.

After little Harry and the rest of the champions had finished dancing (George or I would have been there too if it hadn't been for some grey beards and whatnot), I went over to the drinks section.

Sipping some pink lemonade mixed with butterbeer, I noticed Rhea laughing with her friends. She looked absolutely stunning. A lavender dress hugged her petite body and was cut just below her knees. She hadn't worn any jewellery which wasn't surprising considering her tomboyishness. When the crowd parted, I glanced at her sports quidditch sneakers which clashed completely with her dress. Again, classic Rhea.

My staring was interrupted by a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Sia giving me a sympathetic smile, "Are you done checking her out?"

"Uhm- I'm Fred, if you want to talk to George, he's over ther-"

"Shush I know. He sent me here to do something of your sad love life."

Right.

I'd forgotten that George had somehow developed the courage to ask Sia to the ball. I glanced back at Rhea. A slow song had started. That Macnair was dancing ever so greatly with my girl.

"Come on now." Sia said as she put out her hand for me to hold.

"No! I won't do that to my brother!" I exclaimed knowing well what George would do to me if I danced with his girlfriend.

"Calm down. I don't want this as much as you do but consider it like dancing with a sister. Just follow my lead."

Well what choice did I have? It was either this or glaring at the back of Macnair's head the entire night.

We walked together to the dance floor and started dancing. Rhea caught my eye and I smiled sheepishly at her. She didn't return it though and continued dancing.

In mids of spinning and sidestepping, I kept glancing at the couple to make sure Mr.IAmSoPerfect didnt try to pull any moves. Rhea's face seem to have lost a bit of its colour and I couldn't understand why.

After a few moments I started having fun with Sia myself. I twirled her around laughing. I looked back for Rhea but she was nowhere to be found and Macnair was dancing with some Ravenclaw instead. Bloody git.

Where the hell had she gone? Was she okay?

"Go," Sia whispered, "she went outside."

I ran from the great hall creasing my dress robes tremendously but in all honesty, it didn't seem to matter at the moment.

I saw her at sitting on a rock near the lake. The wind was extremely chilly. Worrying she'd get a cold, I ran towards her. Startled by my not-so-quiet footsteps, she stood up and turned.

"Oh, hey Fred!" She said happily, a emotion that did not match her face even though her plastered smile tried to say otherwise. She shivered as she rubbed her arms together trying to maintain as much warmth as possible in the cold night.

"You're freezing, Pannings!" I exclaimed intentionally using her last name; something I noticed I usually did when I was furious at her.

I quickly removed my blazor and draped it on her shoulders earning me a half -actually genuine- smile from her.

"What's wrong?" I said my eyebrows furrowed. I used my finger to lift her chin gently so she looked right at me, "Did that idiot of a guy ditch you?"

Surprisingly, she rolled her eyes. Slapping my arm away she scoffed, "If you are talking about Eric then no. But if you're talking about yourself then, yes."

"Huh?"

"Oh really, Weasley?" Rhea questioned her hands in the pockets of my blazor that looked so good on her.

She tapped her foot impatiently and started telling me off, "Yule ball. The dance where guys are supposed to develop the courage to ask the girls. Or vice versa, ofcourse. I had waited for days for you to say something. Anything, even. Then I realized I might as well do it myself. And you consider yourself the better Gryffindor. But then on the way Eric asked me-"

I swear to God she had never looked prettier . I knew she was ranting off about me but the way her crystal blue eyes lit up. And the way a single strand of brown hair had fallen out of her braid crown. And the way her cheeks were such a pretty pink due to the cold..

"And I was like I might as well say yes to a guy who wants to go with me and actually you know, asks?But then later I saw you dancing with Jones. Mind you, I have no idea how George allowed it. But I couldn't bare it so I came her-"

Bloody hell. If she kept talking I swear I'll go crazy. I gently tucked the strand behind her ear. She stopped talking at my touch and gave me an odd look that practically screamed 'are you crazy or something?'. And honestly maybe I was. The moonlight made her face glow and I simply couldnt resist myself.

I hesistantly pressed my lips against hers. They tasted like strawberries.. After a peck I moved away quickly, wondering if I had done a mistake. I searched her face for some kind of sign. She seemed taken aback but soon she pulled my tie kissed me again with much more passion. My right hand cupped her face delicately and her hands were interlocked around my neck. The kiss was much longer than I expected it to be but I didn't mind. I had waited six years to do this.

Until-

"Oye Fred! Rhea! Stop snogging an' get in. You're gonna freeze to death!"

Way to ruin a moment, Georgie.