Kare Kanojo no Jijo

Angelina couldn't sleep. She was too excited, too nervous, and too afraid of what might happen the next day.

’Of all the ways to confess your love to someone, it had to be part of a joke!’ she berated herself as she stared at the maroon canopy which hung over her bed. She flipped over, and fought with the many blankets and sheets that seemed to be smothering her.

She groaned loudly as she buried her head in her pillow. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" she shouted angrily into the pillows as she kicked her blankets off of her legs.

"Angelina, are you up already?" Katie's groggy voice sounded muffled from underneath a pile of blankets in the bed next to Angelina’s. "It's only midnight."

"Sorry," Angelina whispered as she flipped over to stare at the ceiling. "Can't sleep."

"Must stink to be you," Katie mumbled, as she buried herself more deeply in her blankets and drifted off to sleep.

Angelina closed her eyes and tried to will herself to sleep. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, she opened her eyes and glanced at her watch. Only five minutes had passed. "When will this night ever end?"

Angelina groaned loudly as she rolled over onto her stomach, pushing a few pillows off of the bed for good measure. As she buried her face into the mattress a pillow flew in her direction and landed on top of her head.

"Will just you go to sleep?" Katie whispered angrily. "I can't sleep with you tossing about all night!"

"Good, then I won't suffer alone," Angelina retorted as she once more turned over to lie on her back. "If I can't sleep NO one will!" Angelina shouted loudly, causing random complaints and muffled murmurs from her formerly sleeping roommates.

"Just forget about whatever’s bothering you until the morning. You'll get to sleep," Katie ordered, chucking another pillow at Angelina.

"Yes, mother," Angelina replied meekly as she tossed Katie's pillows back to her. "Good night."

"Just go to bloody sleep! G'night!" Katie said as she burrowed under her blankets, dragging her pillows with her.

Angelina took a deep breath and closed her eyes. ’Just forget,’ she thought to herself, forcing her body to relax. ’Fred will be there in the morning.’

********************************************************

"Hey, rise and shine," called Katie cheerfully as she tapped Angelina on the shoulder. "The early bird decided to sleep in today, then?" she continued as she proceeded to pull her hair into a low ponytail.

Angelina sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?" The sun was already up; and most of the girls who shared the room with she and Katie were already up and gone.

"Time to eat," Katie answered as she grabbed her robes and left the room.

Angelina glanced at her watch: she had thirty minutes until classes began for the day. She quickly got out of bed and dressed swiftly. She swept her hair into a ponytail as she grabbed her school bag and hastily stepped into her shoes before rushing to the Great Hall.

She surveyed the Gryffindor table. Most of the students had already gone, headed towards their first classes. Usually at that time the only students left in the hall were the late risers or the students who had escaped from early morning detentions. She had expected to see Fred, who was, almost without fail, the last Gryffindor to rise every morning. However, his usual seat between George and Lee was empty.

"Hey, Angelina!" George called out as he waved his arm madly.

"Morning, George," she said as she sat down across from him. "Where's Fred?"

"What? Not with you?" George asked her, wearing a puzzled expression.

"What do you mean?" Angelina asked, reaching for a slice of toast.

"I told him about your early morning habits and so he got up early this morning to meet you at the Quidditch field."

"You didn't," Angelina said in disbelief, shaking her head.

"I did," George confirmed as he nodded, a huge smile on his face. "Bet the poor boy’s still out there waiting for you."

Angelina stared at George for a moment. "He wouldn't."

"He would," George replied, as he finished his juice with a loud slurp and stood up. "I don't know what to tell you. It's incredibly funny."

"In a sad, pathetic, and hopelessly romantic sort of way," Lee chimed in as he rose and slapped George on the shoulder.

Angelina threw her spoon at George whilst simultaneously kicking Lee in the shin. "Don't you have other people to bother?" she asked as she shot them a threatening look.

"At least she hasn't lost her touch," George laughed, watching as Lee hopped around, clutching his leg.

"Shut up, George!" Lee howled as he continued to hobble around. "Why did you kick me? He started it!"

Angelina ignored him as she quickly finished her breakfast, gathered her things, and headed towards the Quidditch field. It was deserted. The stands were empty. The locker room was locked. Angelina's heart sank: Fred obviously wasn't there. ’George just told me that because he knew I’d come out here looking for Fred,’ she thought to herself angrily.

Angelina looked at her watch. She had been so preoccupied with searching the Quidditch field that she hadn’t kept track of the time and was now was fifteen minutes late for her first class. She sprinted back to the school, rushed down the main corridor, flew up the staircase, skipping the steps three at a time, and pivoted madly around a corner, her black robes flapping behind her furiously. She was running so quickly that she didn't realise that someone had suddenly appeared in her path until it was too late.

*************************************************

As the latest riser in his family, Fred rarely woke up before sunrise. He tried to avoid morning detentions due to the fact that he could never wake up in time to serve them. He was always the last Gryffindor to breakfast; and would probably even have managed to sleep through morning Quidditch practices if it wasn’t for one extremely determined Oliver Wood armed with a bucketful of water and some highly imaginative curses. Whether it was due to the lack of sleep the night before, or the fact that he had woken up before dawn that morning, Fred just wasn't himself.

He had spent hours pacing around the chilly Quidditch field before had he finally concluded that George had probably been lying about Angelina's early morning flying habits. Feeling disappointed and horribly embarrassed, he had sat down in the stands to watch the sunrise, but had fallen asleep instead. If it hadn’t been for Hagrid waking him up, he would have slept through his first classes. He dragged himself through the corridors, the usual spring in his step missing. He was so quiet that Snape had marked him absent before someone had pointed out that Fred was indeed in class. Halfway through his opening lecture, Snape, completely unnerved by Fred's silence, stormed up to his table.

"What is wrong with you, Weasley?" Snape demanded, his eyes narrowed.

Fred slowly looked up, his pale face solemn, his blue eyes missing the bright light they usually carried. "Nothing," he replied with a sigh.

"Infirmary. Now." Snape barked as he turned his back on Fred.

"What?" Fred asked incredulously as he stared at Snape's retreating form.

"Mr. Weasley, get to the infirmary so that whatever hex, curse, or jinx you are suffering from can be fixed. Although I’m not entirely unsure that you aren’t improved greatly by it."

"I'm not..." Fred cut his protest short as Snape glared at him. "Alright, I'm going."

"I just didn't get any sleep," he mumbled to himself as he gathered his books and stuffed them into his cauldron. "I don't need to go to the infirmary."

"Did you have something to say, Mr. Weasley?"

"Straight to the infirmary," Fred said obediently as he headed for the door. He barely managed to stifle a yawn as he stepped into the corridor. 'Maybe I can convince Madam Pomfrey to let me take a nap,' he thought to himself. However, as he walked in the direction of the infirmary he was completely knocked off of his feet when someone collided into him. He looked up, realised who it was, and smiled for the first time that morning.

Angelina was staring at him as if she had just tackled a Basilisk. She continued to stare for a moment, then quickly stood up and offered him her hand.

He took her hand and stood. "Looking for Fred?" Fred asked, still smiling brightly.

Instead of returning his smile or laughing like she usually would have, Angelina stared at the floor. His smile quickly faded. "Alright, then? Didn't bruise yourself or anything?"

She just shook her head, still refusing to look up.

Fred suddenly realised that he was still holding Angelina’s hand. He quickly dropped the hand, feeling the heat rise to his face. He laughed nervously, raking his fingers through his hair.

There was an awkward silence as they both stood there, refusing to look each other in the eye.

"So...in a hurry?" Fred asked as he looked down the hallway behind her.

Angelina nodded. She slowly raised her head. "Well, I...” She stopped short and her eyes widened. She side stepped around him and bolted down the hallway.

"Weasley." Snape's voice sounded from behind Fred, causing him to wince. "Interesting collision, yet you seem to be relatively unharmed."

Fred turned around to see Snape leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed.

"Feeling better?" Snape inquired, raising an eyebrow.

Fred just nodded quickly, a large grin on his face. As he picked up his scattered belongings he said, "Let me guess, ten points for pretending to be sick, ten points for disturbing your class, five points for inappropriate conduct, and a week of detention to tie the whole package together."

"Very good, Mr. Weasley," Snape said approvingly as he turned and walked back in to the classroom. "You can join your brother tomorrow morning in my classroom. Be sure to dress warmly."

*******************

"She gave you two weeks of detention?" Katie asked Angelina as they walked side by side towards the Quidditch field.

"I was twenty minutes late for class. I'm glad that's all I got."

"Why were you so late?"

"I was at the Quidditch field looking for..." she stopped short, not wanting to tell Katie why she had been there.

"At the Quidditch field looking for what, exactly?"

"Oh nothing," Angelina replied hastily. "I found what I was looking for on my way back to class."

"Fine, don't tell me," Katie said light-heartedly, a knowing smirk on her face.

They stopped outside the locker room and waited for the other Gryffindor team members. In a few minutes Alicia arrived, still dressed in her usual uniform.

"My class ran late. I didn't have time to change," Alicia explained as she dropped her book bag onto the ground next to the locker room door.

"Hello ladies!" Fred called out as he walked towards the group.

"Hey Fred," Angelina said as he stood next to her. "Not mad? About this morning?"

"What happened this morning?" Katie asked, elbowing Fred in the side.

"It's not every day a bloke gets ploughed over by a beautiful girl; but when you're accidentally tackled by someone you expect some kind of apology," Fred said.

"Who did what with whom?" George asked as he showed up dragging two Cleansweep Sevens behind him.

"Angelina attacked Fred this morning," Katie answered with a smile.

"Again?" George said with a laugh.

"Again?" Katie and Alicia chorused in confusion.

"Second time this week," George explained mockingly, as he shook his head. "She attacked him yesterday, too."

Instead of laughing, Fred glared at George and stomped off angrily. Angelina looked at George as if she was about to kill him.

"Was it something I said?" George asked dejectedly as he sat down on the ground with a sigh.

"Sometimes it's best just not to ask," Alicia told Katie, who just nodded in agreement.

"Perfect Quidditch weather, ain't it?" Oliver asked as he approached his team.

"Better than rain, sleet, heavy winds, or snow," Katie replied as she reached for her broom. "All of which, to you, is still ‘perfect’ Quidditch weather.”

"Good one," Alicia smirked as she gave Katie a high five. "Hello, Oliver."

"Alicia," Oliver grinned as he tilted his gaze in her direction. "Class ran late, then?”

"And you’re the last one to practice?" Alicia countered. "Sounds suspicious."

"Only to you," Oliver said with a wink as he threw her the key to the girls’ changing room.

"Alright, grab your gloves and shin guards," Oliver commanded as he unlocked the door to the boys’ changing area. "Once you ladies are ready, start off with a few laps around the pitch, and then begin working on that basket weave play I showed you yesterday."

"Yes, sir!" Angelina said, mock-saluting as she did an about face and marched into the locker room holding her broom over her shoulder like a rifle.

"I worry. I seriously worry about you," Katie said as she followed her friend into the locker room, shaking her head and wondering why Angelina was walking so strangely.

Oliver walked into the locker room. Completely oblivious to the fact that Fred was angrily staring at George and that George was nervously eyeing the exit, he continued issuing orders.

"Since we don't have a Seeker we can't hold a decent scrimmage," Oliver said as he opened the trunk that held the practice balls and grabbed the Quaffle. "Today I just want you two to work on your flying. Your Cleansweeps have you at a disadvantage, so I want you to be on your best form out there."

The girls left their changing area and took to the air, circling the pitch. After a few laps Oliver tossed the Quaffle into the air. Alicia immediately scooped it into her arms and swiftly passed it to Katie while Angelina circled the Gryffindor goal post. As they flew towards her, Angelina increased speed and flew in between them. As she passed by, Katie handed the Quaffle to Angelina. Then all three of them performed sharp pivot and shot off in opposite directions. Angelina flew in a straight line towards the goal post that was being guarded by Oliver. She aimed and tossed it towards the goal. Oliver deflected the Quaffle with ease. All three chasers groaned as they watched the ball fall towards the center of the pitch.

"Try it again!" Oliver called out from the goal post. "Katie and Alicia, fly closer together! We don't want our opponents to notice that Angelina has the Quaffle until after she's in the scoring area!"

Fred circled around above one of the stands before going into a dive. He levelled out just inches from the ground, then shot forward, skimming the grass. As he reached the edge of the pitch, he climbed upwards until he was nearly flying vertically. He leaned back and caused the broom to flip upside down. As he rolled to his left before righting himself again he noticed that George was mirroring him move for move. He flew over to George.

"Not bad," George commented as he looked over to watch the girls repeat their play. "What's up with you?"

"You know," Fred replied angrily.

"I don't," George said honestly.

"Forget it," Fred ordered as he flew off towards the opposite end of the pitch.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to forget!" George called out after him. Sighing he flew over to Oliver.

"The play's coming out beautifully, Oliver. Give it about, oh, seventy-five more run-throughs. They'll have it perfect."

"It's pretty much a lost cause," Oliver said despairingly as he shook his head. "How are we going to get to the finals without a seeker?"

"You'll find someone," George said comfortingly as he watched his brother dive behind the stands. "But if I were you, I'd just pick anybody. The first game of the year's coming up soon."

"Yeah, it might come down to that," Oliver sighed as he blocked an attempted shot by Alicia.

"This is bloody boring: no Bludger beating," George complained.

"Want to play a quick game of Shuntbumps?" Oliver asked as he nodded over in the girls' direction.

"Shuntbumps!" George shouted loudly, a look of shock on his face. "You! Oliver "Quidditch-is-my-only-joy-in-life" Wood wants to play Shuntbumps? Well, I never!"

"Practice is about over anyway," Oliver pointed out with a shrug. He motioned for the others to join them. "Since we're about finished here, I thought we could play a game of Shuntbumps before dinner."

Alicia looked at George suspiciously, who quickly pointed at Oliver. "It was his idea, I swear!"

Angelina looked confused. She flew next to Fred and whispered: "Shuntbumps?"

Fred realised that she was too embarrassed to ask the others how to play the game; she didn't even know what it was. He flew in closer so that only she would be able to hear him. "Shuntbumps. A kid's game. You try to knock everyone off of his or her broom. The last one flying wins."

"Oh. Like King of the Mountain?" Angelina asked.

"Like what?" he asked, holding on to Angelina's broom so she wouldn't drift out of whispering distance.

"Children's game. Someone stands on the top of a high place, and everyone tries to take that person's place. Once you get pushed off of the top of the 'mountain' you're out. Last one standing wins," Angelina explained.

"Sounds like fun," Fred responded as he leaned in closer still. "A word of advice: don't fly any higher than you’d like to fall."

She nodded, suddenly appearing to be more interested in staring at the ground.

"You two ready?" Katie called over, causing them to jump.

"Ready," Fred confirmed, scooting away from Angelina and blushing slightly.

"Yeah, ready" Angelina agreed.

Oliver held the Quaffle out in front of him. "When the Quaffle hits the ground, anything goes."

*******************

Twenty minutes later Angelina sighed as she stared up at the sky. “I suppose we’re both out then.”

"That man is mental!” Fred agreed as he rolled onto his back. "Taking two people out at once!"

"Hey! I would have gotten away if he hadn't swung you into me!" Angelina laughed softly. "And I almost had George there."

"Yeah, and me too," Fred observed as he stood up. "Alright?"

" A bit dazed," Angelina admitted as she sat upright. They both started as they heard a high-pitched and blood curdling scream followed by maniacal laughter from over their heads.

They looked skywards just in time to watch Oliver shoot forward and slam into George a second time, sending the redhead to the ground.

"Ow," George groaned as he sat up and shook his head.

"Here," Fred offered Angelina his hand.

"Thanks," as Angelina stood, their eyes met, causing them both to blush.

"Aw," Katie, who had been first out of the game, called out. "They're blushing."

"Am not!" they protested in unison, quickly turning away from each other.

"Yes you are," George pointed out. "Angelina's ears always turn dark red when she blushes. You told me that, remember, Fred?"

"It's pretty obvious when Fred blushes, but you've got to know where to look to catch her," Katie chimed in, offering George a hand.

"No thanks," George shook his head. "I'd prefer not to stand right now."

"Stop being such a baby," Katie scolded, grabbing George by the arms and pulling him to his feet. "See? Nothing's broken."

"I think it's about time for dinner," Fred decided as he picked up his broom.

"Yeah, I'm starved," Katie agreed, heading for the showers.

"But they're still up there," Angelina noted as she pointed upward. Oliver and Alicia were still playing, chasing each other and trying to oust the other from their broom.

"They're both too stubborn to lose, much less to let the other win. They'll get bored of playing 'catch you, catch me' eventually, and call it a draw," George predicted as he too began to leave the field.

Angelina turned to follow Katie. Suddenly, Fred reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait,"

"What?" Angelina asked nervously, not wanting to turn around.

"You...you don't fly around the field every morning. Do you?" Fred asked.

"I do normally, but not today: I overslept," Angelina told him.

"Oh," Fred responded quietly, letting go of her arm.

"Is that all that you wanted to know?" Angelina asked as she heard him walk away from her.

"Yeah." His voice sounded further away.

"About yesterday…" She turned to face him; his back was turned yet he was frozen in place.

"Don't worry about it. It was a good joke," Fred’s lighthearted tone of voice sounded forced.

"It wasn't. It was a horrible joke. I shouldn't have done it," Angelina said as she stepped towards him.

"George and Lee explained everything. You just wanted to give me my letter back. Thanks," Fred answered quickly as he continued to walk forward. Angelina stared blankly as she watched him walk into the changing room.

*****************************

"You really are an idiot," George told his twin as he watched Fred walk into the locker room.

"You overheard?" Fred said as he pulled off his gloves and threw them into his locker.

"Every pathetic word," George confirmed as he finished changing into his Hogwarts uniform. "Thanks?"

Fred smiled at him. "Well, I am glad she gave it back."

"I worry about you brother, I really do," George said as he shook his head.

********************************

"I can't believe it!" Angelina shouted as she threw her things into her locker. "Of all the thick-headed, ridiculous...isn't it so obvious? To everyone but him, I suppose!" she ranted as she slammed the door to her locker and began to pace around the room.

"What's going on?" Katie said as she grabbed Angelina by her shoulders and held her still. "You've been acting strange all week. You've been avoiding Fred and bickering with George. Then yesterday you couldn't sleep a wink and then you overslept today. You were twenty minutes late to Alchemy. That's not like you."

Angelina quickly recounted the events of the past few days to Katie, finishing with her last conversation with Fred.

"So he's in love with you?" Katie asked as Angelina finished her story.

"Yeah, but he doesn't think I love him," Angelina replied bitterly. "Because of that stupid joke."

"He knows alright," Katie stated as she let go of Angelina’s shoulders. "But if he's anything like George he probably wants to let you confess your feelings differently."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Angelina asked.

"After your first confession, you felt unsure about the way you went about it. You even told him that you regretted telling him in a way - you apologised for that joke. He won't accept that you like him if he doesn’t think you’re sure," Katie explained with a shrug.

"What about George?"

"What about him?" Katie asked with a wink. "You have your Weasley to worry about, I have mine."

To Be Continued