Love, War and Friendship - The Wizarding Way

Told From Ron's POV

The weeks passed by and I still refused to speak to Hermione. Harry, annoyed at me, divides his time between us. He thinks I'll get over it eventually but I don't plan to, although it's hard to keep my resolve with Hermione throwing sad smiles my way during meals. I almost break every time her sad eyes fill with tears when I ignore her greetings.

Apparently I'm disturbing the order of the house. Mom and Dad have both lectured me on how childish I'm being, Ginny and Fred keep telling me to get over myself, even Lupin took me aside to tell me how lucky I am at a time like this to have such good friends but I flipped out when he suggested I was jealous of Harry and Hermione's relationship. He must have misunderstood the fight but it had irked me none the less.

Didn't anyone understand what I was going through? I couldn't let myself become vulnerable to her. If I let down my angry guard the inevitable would happen: I would once again fall for Hermione Granger, who would crush my heart by falling for my brother or best friend.

I'd tried to once again confide in Ginny but she in turn had called me a wuss. She'd said by turning my back on Hermione I was shutting out my other friends too. I guess she was right.

Fred, who'd become Hermione's new bestest friend didn't speak much to me anymore and when he did there was an angry tone in his voice. Harry was the same, though I knew he and Hermione were closer than before. But he asked me to forgive her whenever he could work it into the conversation.

I was being harsh, true but until I was over her this was the only solution that kept me from massive amounts of heartache.

***

Told From Harry's POV

Hermione and I are going through the useless things Sirius had stored in his attic when she yet again brings up the subject of Ron in a sad, dejected voice.

"Why did you forgive me?" she asks. I pull out a rumpled letter from my pocket, pain coursing through my veins at the sight of it. I hand the envelope over, letting her read it. The words are already imprinted in my mind. It's my letter from Sirius. He had written it only weeks before he died as if he knew what was to come. He told me of my parents, how much they and I had meant to him and how lucky I was to have friends like Ron and Hermione. It was then, reading his letter in my trembling hand after finding Hermione in Fred's closet that I knew Sirius was right; my friends were keepers and I had to do everything in my power to not let them go.

"It's beautiful," whispers Hermione handing it back to me, her eyes shinning.

We fall back into silence every once in awhile stopping to show each other finds.

"Harry," she says uncertainly breaking our stillness. She's clutching what look's like a voodoo doll in her hands. "How did you know you liked Cho?"

I wince at the mention of her name. She hadn't been in any of my better moments last year. "I dunno," I reply honestly. "She gave me butterflies."

Hermione blushes but holds my gaze. "Talking to you gave me butterflies," she says softly.

"And I meant everything I said that night," I tell her. "I do think you're smart and beautiful I just -"

"Don't like me?" she interrupts tossing garbage loudly into a cardboard box. I'm not sure I know where this conversation is heading.

"It's not that," I say cautiously.

"Then what? There isn't any spark between us, no-"

"Well we've never tested that one," I grin.

"What do you mean?"

I don't reply but cross the room until I'm standing directly in front of her.

"Harry?" she asks nervously. I know I'm going to regret my next move but I can't stop myself. I almost hope that she will but as my faces draws closer to hers she simply closes her eyes and lets me lips cover hers.

The kiss is so much different than any I'd had with Cho. It was intense and fiery but at the same time sweet and tender. My hands were tangled deep in her hair pulling her closer before I realized what I was doing and pull away abruptly. Hermione stares up at me breathlessly.

"Was there -" she murmurs, pulling at the ends of her hair nervously.

"There was -" I stop, my head feels about to explode. That was not my brightest idea ever.

"Spark?" she manages to finish

There was definitely sparkage, more than I'd ever felt before I want to say but then I think of Ron. Until they patch things up there can be no spark between us. I'd have to stamp it out. Luckily Fred burst into the room before I could answer.

"Hey Hermione," he says. "My mom wants you and Ginny to help her with dinner again."

She looks back at me for a moment before running out of the attic. I know she felt it too. I want to grab her and pull her back for another kiss.

Hormones Harry, I think. It's just hormones. A kiss between friends.

Oh God, I hope so.

***

Told From Hermione's POV

When I found Mrs. Weasley she'd already made a huge cake and was now trying to make the flute, piano and accordion play together. There were streamers hung all over the dinning room, the table had been pushed back against the wall and five different meal courses were overcrowding the oven, cooking obviously by magic.

"What's all this?" I ask confused by what looked like a great celebration.

"We're getting ready for the big dinner, dear," Mrs. Weasley tells me poking the fighting accordion and flute with her wand. "Fred's leaving tonight."

At her words I feel my insides turn to ice. Fred leaving?

"W-what?"

"You knew didn't you, dear?" she says putting a dish of cherries down on the table. "He and George are still in some sort of tizzy, seems as if all you children are in a fighting mood. George has decided to come help around home while Fred looks after the store."

I nod. I'd known this. Fred had explained to me in the beginning about the cover up they were using for the Order and the one month on, one month off thing but for some reason the news of him leaving shook me.

"Are you ok?" Ginny asks as she passes me, her arms laden with more flutes and clarinets for the band Mrs. Weasley is assembling.

"Do you think you and Harry can keep Fred occupied until dinner?" Mrs. Weasley asks.

Hearing of Fred's departure had thrown the kiss out of my thoughts but now it all came back. It wasn't my first kiss, no Viktor had kissed me before but there was something different about it and I would be lying if I said there wasn't something more to it ... but right now Harry and I kissing was the last thing we needed.

I disoriently tell Mrs. Weasley I will. My insides are still squirming around like I'm going to be sick. My heart aches once again and I feel like crying for the billionth time this month. Please don't tell me this is what I think it is.

Nearing the attic I hear Harry's and Fred's voices. I almost don't want to go back in but I hear my name and stop to listen.

"There's something going on between you and Hermione isn't there?" Fred asks and I hear a thunk as something heavy hits the ground. Way to give it away Harry, I think.

"No," he says quickly. "Nothing."

"Oh," Fred says softly. "So you wouldn't mind if ..." he doesn't finish but both Harry and I know what he's getting at.

"Actually," Harry starts and I'm sure he's going to tell Fred about the kiss. "No."

I feel a twitch in the pit of my stomach and I know what I thought earlier was true: this feeling is exactly what I think it is.

***

"You ok?" Fred asks. "You've been really quiet."

I shake my head playing with the rice pudding on my plate. Fred's goodbye dinner was going well, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves...except me. Harry and Ron were having a heated discussion about Quidditch, Charlie, Bill and Ginny were talking about some new species of dragon Charlie had discovered and Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley are dancing along to the musical playing instruments that were now behaving themselves quite well.

"What's wrong?"

"Not here," I say quietly glancing up and down the table.

"Fine," he stands up and offers me his hand. "Will you dance with me, Hermione?"

I smile and take his hand, letting him lead me out to the magically made dance floor.

"So what's-"

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" I cut him off. His arms stiffen around me.

"You knew," he answers not looking me in the eye.

"Was I not important enough for you to tell?" I ask trying to keep my voice low so Mr. and Mrs. Weasley don't overhear. "If it wasn't for this dinner you would have just left that night and I wouldn't see you again."

"I was going to tell you," he says. "I just didn't want to ... " his voice trails off.

"Why not?"

"May I cut in?"

I'm startled to see Harry taking Fred's place. I glare at Fred. We'll finish this later.

"We need to talk about," Harry lowers his voice dramatically, "the kiss."

My heart skips a beat. This was the conversation I was dreading

"Did you feel anything?"

"I - I-"

"Don't say you don't know!" Harry says his eyes flashing. "Because I know you do, I know you felt it too."

"I did. We've got sparks," I say shakily faking a smile.

"But..."

"How do you know there's a but?" I ask. He smiles at me sadly.

"Hermione, you're my best friend. I can almost read your thoughts and I know...I know what the but is," he sighs and looks over at Fred now trying to get Ginny to do a jig with him. "It's been written in your eyes since this afternoon."

"Harry you and me," I say trying to find the right words to phrase this. "You and me are special. That spark has and is always going to be there but ... maybe sparks aren't what I need at the moment or even what you need for that matter. There's so many reasons why this can't work right now including two best friends that you need more than sparks. We just can't do this to Ron right now. He'll never forgive you or me. I'm really sorry," I whisper touching his cheek gently.

Harry covers my hand with his own trying to smile. "Don't worry," he says. "Friends?" he finishes softly.

"Forever," I say entwining my hand tightly with his.

***

"Ok," I say leading Fred back onto the dance floor, glad to see Harry asking Ginny to dance.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Fred murmurs into my hair, crushing me in a tight embrace.

"Why?" I ask again. "I thought I was your friend." I pull back from him slightly so I can look into his eyes.

"You are," he tells me. "One of the best. Amazingly," he adds under his breath.

"Hey," I protest hitting him lightly in the shoulder. "I resent that."

He laughs before becoming more serious. "I know this isn't the right time to say this," Fred tells me. "And no matter what you think about this I want us to still be friends."

"Fred," I say gently. "Stop rambling."

He smiles nervously. "I didn't want to tell you because...I didn't want to make it real and by not telling you it made it go away so I'd never have to tell you..what I have to tell you." He takes a deep breath to continue but I stop him.

"Wait, Fred, I want to tell you something first."

He looks a little scared but let's me speak.

"These last couple months have been so confusing and I haven't seemed to be able to sort any of my feelings out for anybody. When everyone wasn't you were there," I say watching several different emotions pass over his face. "I won't lie and say that I don't still have mixed up feelings for Harry and Ron but today when your mom told me you were leaving I realized something. I didn't have to be so confused anymore because there was one person who I didn't have mixed feelings for."

"So who is it?" he asks. "Harry or Ron?"

"You," I laugh. "I like you. I have probably ever since the day you started calling me darlin', which," I say, "drives me crazy!"

"But that's a good thing," Fred reminds me. "Because you like being pissed off."

"I have my limits," I say warningly but I'm unable to keep the smile out of my voice. Out of the corner of my eye I see Ginny and Harry watching me. He catches my eye and winks. "But now it's your turn, my dear."

"My dear?" Fred repeats in an odd voice. "You sound like my mother."

"Oh and my darlin's so much better? But anyways go on." I smile up at him waiting for him to tell me how much he loves me.

"Hermione, I like you a lot. You're pretty and you don't let me get away with anything but...this can't go any further than a dance."

I let go of him suddenly, confused. "What do you mean?"

Fred sighs and takes me away from his families hearing range.

"I'm leaving tonight," he says. "I'm going to be away for a month and when I come back you'll be at Hogwarts. I can't be with you because it's not fair to you. I'd be cheating you out of a proper relationship."

"Do you think it's possible for me to have a "proper relationship" with Harry and Ron breathing down my back?" I snap. "Fred, please don't do this to me."

"Hermione..."

"Fred..."

"Do you really care for me that much?" he asks slowly, after thinking for several minutes.

"Yes."

"This is what you want? To be with me even if you can only see each other once or twice a month?"

I nod.

"You're sure this isn't just an easy way out of hiding from your other potential relationships?"

"Fred," I say leaning over to place a soft kiss on his forehead. "You know it's not."

"Alright then, Hermione Granger would you like to be my girlfriend?"

I smile. "I'd like nothing more."

He smiles back for a moment before speaking again. "If something does happen," he says. "With anyone, I'll understand."

"Nothing is going to happen," I reassure him, putting my arms around his neck but my words don't erase the look of doubt in his eyes.

Finally he leans down to seal our deal with a kiss. It lacks the passion Harry gave me but it was sweet and loving and I knew that I made the right decision.

***

Told From Ron's POV

The very public exchange between Fred and Hermione, though it made my blood boil was blithely accepted by everyone else including my parents. I was glad when the next morning after enduring several excruciating minutes of gushy goodbyes with Hermione he left and George returned.

An interesting fact I've discovered about George over the years is as the older twin by seven minutes, he's overly protective of his brother, meaning he isn't anymore pleased with the Hermione/Fred situation than me. It was nice to have an ally again but Hermione was not about to let George snub her like that. All week she's kept doing everything in her power to impress him, which in my opinion has only fueled George's feelings towards her. As my friend George has never had a problem with Hermione but as Fred's a girlfriend... watch out. Personally I think he's jealous because he doesn't have a one. Never has I don't think, kind of sad really when you think about it seeing as even Percy's had a girlfriend.

I wonder when Percy's going to start kissing up to our parents again ever since Fudge and the Daily Prophet have finally come to their senses and are now praising Harry left and right. Dad's mentioned that Percy has begun to acknowledge his presence but nothing more. Mom cried when he said that the damage was done and he doesn't think Percy will be coming home anytime soon. All I can say is thank God for that. As horrible as it sounds I don't miss him.

Harry and Hermione are busy sending owls for the Order. I watch them for awhile, perching on the edge of the couch pretending to be engrossed in my Quidditch magazine. I notice there's something weird going on with them. Every time their hands accidentally touch as they reach for a roll of parchment they jump apart like they've been struck by lightening. Harry's face is flushed and I swear I can hear him mutter something that sounds distinctly like, "just hormones" under his breath every couple minutes. This is proving to be quite amusing...I smirk.

The doorbell rings shrilly through Grimmauld Place and the raging shrieks begin as someone races into the hall to welcome whoever was there. It better not be Fred coming back, I think darkly but when no one appears in the sitting room I figure it was someone from the Order and go back to my observing game but now that the owls have all been sent off they've become rather boring, sitting there discussing handy hexes and jinxes to teach the students when we go back to Hogwarts.

I'm just thinking about how we need some new entertainment here when a short, lithe figure enters the sitting room. She smiles at us. I choke back a whistle. Wow....all thoughts of Hermione are swept from my mind. The girl looks vaguely familiar with her wide, violet eyes. You know if you darkened her hair by a few shades and took away her tan she could almost be -

"Lavender Brown?"

"Hey Ron, Harry, Hermione!" Lavender exclaims breathing heavily as she dumps three carry all bags and finishes dragging her massive trunk into the room.

"My parents joined the Order," Lavender tells us excitedly. "They didn't do anything last time so they suppose they should do something this time round. So are all your parents in this? Oh...sorry Harry, I forgot! Oh this is just so cool! Who's house is this anyways?"

I stare at her wondering how she gets time to breath while Harry tells her it's his. Lavender's violet eyes turn to me. "Wow, I can't imagine owning a house right now. It's so great of you to let us use it!

"But do we have to do work or anything or can we do whatever we like?" Lavender looks around wildly. "This place is so big. Wow, that's a Muggle phone right? Can I use it?"

I laugh at her warm enthusiasm. Lavender seems to be just the distraction I need.

***

Told From Hermione's POV

Just great, finally when I think Ron might be starting for forgive me a little (he didn't glare at me at all today!) Lavender has to show up. I like Lavender, sure..well not when she's hanging around Parvati being all twinky, or trailing after Professor Trelawney but the point is she just comes bursting in here and gives Ron an excuse to ignore me. The moment she came in, talking a mile a minute, Ron started smiling like an idiot and took her to "get settled" in her new room. They haven't reappeared since. The last time I checked my watch they'd been missing for forty five minutes. Harry however kept giving me annoyed glances every time I checked so I stopped. I'm not sure if that's what's bothering him though.

I just received owls from both Viktor (about my decision between Harry and Ron..he sometimes takes awhile to reply) and Fred. Fred's owl was short and sweet, saying how his trip to Diagon Alley had been and how well the store was doing. In a post script he added he missed me already, reading this sent my stomach into a flip. Since Harry recognized Fred's owl I left the letter lying out on the coffee table in case he wanted to look at it. He hasn't. In fact, I kind of think he's avoiding going near it.

Things seem to be slightly awkward between us today. I'm not sure if it's because of the kiss or what happened at dinner last night but I wish it would go away. I hate it when Harry feels uncomfortable around me. He gets all stiff and formal, only speaking to me in the polite voice he normally uses on adult wizards he doesn't know.

If he stops speaking to me again I'll go mad. I need him. He's my best friend. Without his sweet kindness that most teenage boys lack my world would crumble. Harry keeps me from becoming a walking book from studying too much. He keeps me, me.

"Harry," I say bending down on my hands and knees to be level with him. He's sorting through a box of old treasures we'd found yesterday in the attic...the attic. No don't think of it, I tell myself. I know that right now Fred is better for me than Harry but I can't help myself from thinking back on our kiss, his hands pulling at my hair, his tongue using a ferociousness that I had never known Harry to have.

I shake my head, trying to clear away the image but my face is still gleaming red at the memory.

"Harry are you upset with me?" I ask. When he doesn't look at me I lightly lay a hand on his shoulder. He jumps to a standing position, shaking me off him. I stay kneeling, scared by the anger on his face.

"I think about other things besides you!" he shouts. "Not every damn thing is about you!"

Harry scoops up the box, leaving the room just as Ron and Lavender are entering. Ron looks from me and Harry with a stunned expression on his face while Lavender smiles at me brightly.

"Are you and Harry dating?" she asks in a perky tone. She's so happy it's irritating. I pick up my letters and brush past them as I do hearing Ron mutter, "What'd you say that for? I told you she's going out with Fred."

"But -"

I don't wait to listen to Lavender's protests. For the last five years I've been spending my nights sleeping in the same dorm as her and I know about her insistence that I should date Harry. Whenever I tell her I don't want to she just giggles. Wonder what she'd say if I told her I'd like to go out with Seamus Finnigan...that is if Lavender still has a thing for him.

I want to scream or throw something like Ron does whenever he's angry. This house as big as it is, is really not big enough for all of its inhabitants. I can't wait until we're back at Hogwarts again.

***

Told From Harry's POV

I was starting to get worried: my scar had been aching all day. I hadn't had a vision or anything but I know this means Voldemort's very happy or equally mad.

I want to tell somebody about my fears but if I tell Hermione she'll get upset and insist I go to Dumbledore, Ron will either be skeptical about it or panic that Voldemort's hiding in Grimmauld Place.

I'm about to lay down, holding a pillow over my ears when I hear a mad crashing, followed by angry voices downstairs. I can barely make out what they're saying.

"Muggle hunt...death eaters...stop...no killings yet."

Oh no...Ever since the Daily Prophet had admitted Voldemort was back the Order had been worried about there being attacks on Muggles.

I grabbed my wand (Fudge had sent me an owl weeks ago to say that as Voldemort was after me I was allowed to use a limited quantity of magic over vacation) and raced downstairs towards the sound of the voices.

"I'm coming!" I shout at Lupin, Mad Eye, Mr. Weasley and George.

"Harry," Mr. Weasley sighs. "I promised Dumbledore I'd keep you safe. .. This isn't - you're not of age nor in the Order, this isn't your fight."

"The hell it isn't," I insist angrily, calling, "Accio Firebolt!" to my broom. It flies easily into my hand. "This has been my fight since the day I was born."

I see Mr. Weasley and George exchange an uneasy look. Mad Eye looks pleased.

"He's right you know, Arthur," Lupin says giving me a kind smile. "He has as much right to fight as we do."

I feel a flash of gratitude towards my former professor.

"You promise you will try to stay out of the way?" Mr. Weasley asks me. He looks extremely stressed. "You get the Muggles out of there and let us take care of the Death Eaters."

"But -"

"No," Mr. Weasley cuts me off. "You leave them to us. We can't risk you being hurt."

I nod. I desperately want to hurt the Death Eaters but if this is the only way I can come along then it'll have to do.

"You won't need the broom," Mad Eye tells me, taking it from me. With a snap of his fingers it's whizzing back up the stairs to my room. "We're Apparating."

"I can't -"

"Take my hand," instructs Lupin. "I'm going to take you."

One by one with a loud CRACK each Mad Eye, George and Mr. Weasley all Apparate.

"Ready?" Lupin asks.

"Yes." I clutch his hand tightly, trying to push my nerves back down into my stomach.

CRACK!

I feel as if I'm floating in water. It's quite an unpleasant feeling and then we're there, right outside the Leaky Cauldron.

I blink a several of times in horror, taking in the sight. It's like a war scene out here. There's only three Death Eaters, all of which are cackling like mad men, spinning howling Muggles around in the air. By the sound of their screams it's obvious they're being tortured. It makes me sick.

Muggles everywhere are screaming and running, creating a mob.

"Alright Harry, here's what we're going to do. Listen carefully," there's enough urgency in Lupin's voice to make me snap back to attention. "I will counteract the Death Eaters spells and the Muggles will fall to the ground. I need you to fly them to safety with a spell, think you can handle that? I'm going to help the children first."

I nod and creep quietly behind him as we edge closer. George and Mr. Weasley are doing the same as us while Mad Eye is going after the black cloaked figures by himself, his wand hand outstretched dangerously.

Many more CRACKs echo through the streets as Ministry wizards appear out of nowhere. I bet they're here to start performing memory charms on the Muggles here.

"Harry!" Lupin hisses in my ear. I haven't been paying close enough attention. A small boy with untidy black hair is falling fast through the sky.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" I scream, pointing my wand at him, guiding him to safety. I land him lightly in the bushes two feet in front of me where he promptly hides, his hand over his ears in fear.

"I'm imaging this," I hear him whisper. "It isn't real."

Close up I can see he's about eight years old. The little boy looks up at me, hopeful for someone to help. He reminds me immensely of me.

"What's your name?" I ask the little boy quietly in what I hope is a kind voice.

"D-d-david," he sobs shuddering horribly. I feel sorry for him but thankful that soon this disaster would be wiped from his memory forever.

"Listen David," I say. "I know you probably don't want to believe in any of this right now, but its real. Despite what other people may tell you there is such a thing as magic and ...," I struggle to think of what to call Voldemort's men, "evil villains."

David chokes back a racking sob as he listens to me.

"But there are also real heroes that can fight them. Lots of heroes. And I'd like to think I'm one of them. Remember that."

The boy reaches over and grabs my hand, squeezing it so tight I think he'll break a bone but I don't pull away, instead I just sit with him until a Ministry wizard zips him away.

"Come on, Harry," Lupin calls to me. "Its time to go."

I kick a pebble away from me. "I was pathetic," I tell him. "I made you guys take me with you and then I didn't do anything."

"You were not pathetic," Lupin tells me in a stern voice. "You saved a life, which is more than many wizards twice your age can say. It doesn't matter if you did as much as I or anyone else. You saved somebody from a horrible fate."

"You would have saved him anyway," I mutter still looking at the ground.

"Maybe," he admits. "But would I have stayed to make sure he was alright? .. No."

He points across the alley way to something. It's David, skipping happily along with the street, holding hands with a beautiful woman.

I'm silent, glad he no longer remembers the events of moments ago. He stops and I swear he's looking at me and smiling. But that can't be it. He wouldn't remember who I was after the Ministry was finished with him. He waves at me as his mother pulls him into a store.

"Some memories," Lupin tells me. "Some memories are far too strong for any wizard to change. I don't know what he remembers, Harry, but whatever you said to him must have been pretty special."

***

Told From Hermione's POV

I don't think I've ever been as proud of anyone as I am of Harry. To me he's never been anything less than a hero, but now he's proven it to everyone. Mrs. Weasley though, is a lot less than pleased. She looked mad enough to kill her husband when Lupin brought Harry back and she grasped what was going on.

"You were ruddy brilliant!" Ron whoops as Harry finishes telling his story once again. Lavender claps her hands in agreement. I beam shyly at him as I put in my own congratulations. I can tell by the way his smile extends to his eyes causing them to twinkle that his hostility towards me is now in the past.

"I wasn't that great," Harry protests, his natural modesty kicking in.

Ron shakes his head in a mix disbelief and amusement while Lavender pipes up, "But you were Harry! How would you have felt if that had been your child?"

"Depends who the mother was, I guess," Harry says laughing at the idea of himself with a child.

"Well Hermione of course!" she exclaims looking at us both with a grin. I feel a coldness creep into the room like a ghost and wrap itself around me. Harry looks the same.

"Excuse me," I mutter under my breath needing to get out of there.

In my haste to get to Ginny's (I feel as if we haven't spoken in forever!) room I kick a small tin out in front of me. A huge snake jumps out. I scream before I realize its only a rubber fake.

George laughs from behind me. "It's some Muggle prank I picked up. Fred and I are going to make magic ones, enchant the snakes to hiss realistically. Be careful," he tells me leaning over to pick it up. He waves the snake in my face. "I plan on testing it on you."

I glare at him. "What's with the sudden dislike?" I cry. "What have I done?"

"Well," says George. "For starters I've wondered for awhile now how is it you got every underage wizard in this house to fall for you in one month. I mean," he looks me over. "You're decent and intelligent but I don't see what's the big attraction. Perhaps you had outside help."

"Excuse me?" I ask furious that he would even imply such a thing.

"I'm sure a smart witch such as yourself would be aware of the many love spells, charms and potions out there," he continues in a low voice. I have to hold the legs of my jeans tightly to keep myself from slapping him across the face.

"First of all," I say my voice now just as low but there was no mistaking the rage in my tone. "I did not use magic, second I would gladly have none of them like me and third Fred is not underage!"

George just laughs at my indignation. "I'm watching you, Granger," he tells me in a voice that reminds me of the sneering manner of Draco Malfoy. He walks slowly away from me and I have the childish impulse to stick out my tongue. Surely this couldn't all be over the fact that I'm dating his twin? If you could even call it dating. Plus Fred has had other girlfriends and as far as I know George's never had anything against them.

I have a sudden idea of his behavior but dismiss it quickly. No, it couldn't be that. The Weasley's being so close to both Dumbledore and Harry were definitely protected by powerful magic. Unless...unless he went on his own will...No, he wouldn't. I'm making a stupid grudge into something more. He's just a little jealous. Yes, that's it. Jealousy can do strange things to people.