The Truth Comes Out

Chapter One: Love Potions Gone Bad

I finally decided to do it. One way or another I was going to make Angelina Johnson mine. And she'd take me seriously for a change.

I wasn't going to be just Fred Weasley, twin brother of George and trouble maker extraordinaire. No. I was going to be Fred, a suave and desirable gentleman all the girls would want. But I'd only pick one.

I'd finally found the perfect spell that didn't have any chance of backfiring. It was a simple potion that made the receiver fall head over heels with the first person of the opposite sex they see.

All I had to do was give it to her while no one else was around. Easy enough if I could just get Alicia Spinnet away from her for two minutes.

I was walking to the Great Hall, thinking of who I could bribe to do just that when I saw Angelina just ahead of me. My heart began beating rather noisily in my chest. It's just Angelina, I told myself. You've known her for years. She's your friend.

I ran to catch up to her. She turned as I fell into step with her.

Angelina's eyes were bright and she smiled. "Hello, Fred. Fancy meeting you here. Near food."

I swallowed and coughed out a laugh. "Yeah. Food."

Her forehead creased into a frown. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing!" I said quickly. "I mean, I'm fine. Where's Alicia?"

Her eyes went dark with something I couldn't quite place, but it disappeared when she smiled. "Haven't seen her since Quidditch practice. I think she was with George."

I sighed with relief and let her walk through the Great Hall in front of me. Finally alone with her.

Everyone had already started eating, so Angelina sat down next to my sister Ginny and I sat across from them.

Gin winked at me and nodded. She was the only one who know what I was going to do. She had walked in on me making the potion, so I had no choice but to tell her my story. She thought it was very romantic and offered to help distract Angelina.

"Angelina, I need your help," Gin pleaded. Great acting skills she has.

Angel looked at Ginny in surprise. "What is it, Gin?"

Ginny glared at me. "It's girls stuff," she huffed. She made sure Angelina was facing her before whispering in her ear. Gin purposely picked Angel's right ear so she couldn't see what I was going to do.

I picked up Angelina's glass of pumpkin juice and looked around carefully, before pulling a liquid clear vile out of my pocket. I was just setting the cup down when the girls were finishing their talk.

Ginny was looking very smug with herself and Angelina's face was a bright shade of red I'd never seen on her before. She wouldn't look at me as she reached for her glass. I held my breath as I watched her take a drink.

"Angel," I began. I was determined to get her attention as she drank. That way there'd be no way she'd be distracted by anything (or anyone) else.

Her head was turning to me and just as our eyes were about to meet the stupid wanker I call my brother came rushing towards the table.

"Fred! There you are!" George said loudly, plopping down next to me. "I have a great idea for some new candy."

I watched helplessly as Angelina's dark eyes settled on my twin. Her eyes glazed over and she got this goofy look on her face. "Hi, George," she said, her voice sounding odd. It was a mixture of awe and confusion, but it seemed the awe won out.

Ginny's mouth was opened wide and she looked horrified as she eyed the two of them, while George glanced briefly at Angelina, waving carelessly at her. "Hi, Angel."

Angelina leaned over the table and brushed her hand over his and gave him this flirty little smile I've never seen her give anyone. Ever. George tugged his hand away and looked and Angel as if she'd grown another head.

I thumped my head on the table. I ruined it! And I didn't have an antidote. George was still talking to me, oblivious to my state. How could I help him make a new gag candy when I couldn't even deal with simple love potion?

A nice black hole seemed a good place to crawl into for a while.

~*~

The next few days passed quickly when I wasn't paying attention to Angelina. Which was all the time.

I watched as she turned all giggly and girly around my brother. Angel had never acted like a girl. She was always one of the guys and it never really bothered her.

That's why I like her. My Angel doesn't care what people think. She'll do what she wants to do and very rarely cares about the consequences. She won't do anything just because it's cool. That's probably why she always helps me and George with our practical jokes.

I dragged my broom dejectedly through the corridors. Even my Quidditch was affected by her. During practice, instead of looking out for bludgers. I'd watch her as she flew around with Alicia. Let's just say I've been knocked off my broom three times in the past five days.

I walked into the common room and headed up to the dorms. Angelina was just coming down, looking refreshed and beautiful.

She smiled brightly at me. "George, I was hoping to run into you!"

I opened my mouth to correct her, but found I couldn't because her lips were attached to mine.

Angelina took full advantage of my surprise, sliding her arms behind my neck. Her mouth was warm and moving under mine.

But being the idiot I was, I just stood there, while the girl of my dreams was in my arms, not doing anything.

Angelina pulled away from me, her face scrunched up in disappointment. "I-It's okay if you don't want to-"

My lips cut her off mid-sentence. How could she think I didn't want her? I've been drooling over her since second year. Her tongue was tracing the entrance of my mouth, asking for entry. I happily obliged and-

Wow.

I've kissed a few girls in my life, but none of them made me feel like this. My heart was beating furiously and it was getting harder to breath. But I didn't want oxygen. I wanted Angelina. She's all I really need to survive. Kissing her was like playing twenty games of Quidditch all at once. Exhilarating. Heart stopping. Mind blowing.

Oh, God. I think I'm in love with her.