A Cozy Chair
Word Count- 3953
Warnings- cursing also not my best work but I still think it's fun.
About- Fred and George tell you about their latest plan that pushes you into making one of your own
———-
A cozy chair in the corner of a room. A spot I had sat in so many times before. Listening to the boys tell me their big dreams about a shop, about a prank, about a plan. A plan to leave Hogwarts. To make a name for themselves outside of the boring day to day life of the school. Outside of the list of rules made impossible to follow. It wasn’t a question or a maybe. It was a plan. They knew how they were going to do it and they knew when. So I sat in this chair and made a plan of my own. I’m going to tell Fred about the feelings I had towards him, before he leaves. As the twins start to plan out what to take with them and what to leave behind, I excuse myself to find the only other person who knows my secret, Ginny.
I had told her last year as a way to vent how I was feeling after Fred didn’t ask me to the ball. I'm not sure why I was surprised, everyone thought Shawn Martin was going to ask me and he eventually did. Shawn and I had gone as friends and while the schools thought that we were an excellent couple the truth was the only thing between us was a secret that I had found out by accident. Shawn was gay, and not ready to come out, we had helped each other lie during Amortentia day in potions. Shawn didn’t ask why I needed to lie but he told me why he did after class that day. I suppose the two of us could just sense that the other was in need.
I quickly walked to the courtyard to find Ginny, and while I did find her I found her with Hermione. With no time to think I used the new found fire under my feet to practice telling my deepest secret.
“Hey!” Ginny said as I plopped down confusion slowly crowding her face as my anxiety started to visibly creep up. “What’s going on? Where are Fred and George?”
“They're in their room, everything’s fine. Well mostly fine. I just- I have a- I need your help with something.” I was tripping over my words as I looked between the two girls. Hermione glanced between Ginny and I trying to figure out what could be happening. “Okay, so, I have a crush… on someone.” Ginny's confusion remained as Hermione clearly got more curious.
Hermione leaned in closer to me “Who is it?” She asked as a smile creeped onto her face. I glanced at Ginny who was still confused.
“It’s- well it’s Fred” I said, ripping up grass from beside my leg suddenly very interested in not looking at either of the two girls. Ginny let out a breath as Hermione did the opposite. She gasped and placed a hand on my knee.
“Fred?” She asked, the smile on her face filled her voice. I just nodded, keeping my eyes on my growing pile of grass “Did you tell him?”
“Not yet,” I found the courage to look up at Ginny who now also had a smile on her face.
“You’re finally going to tell him?” She struggled to keep the excitement out of her voice.
“Finally?” Hermione looked to Ginny who was more focused on my answer to her question.
“Yeah, well so here’s the thing and this is a secret you can tell no one. I paused and waited for the girls to agree, after they had both nodded I continued to talk, “So they’re leaving, soon, like in the dropping out way.” Hermione's eyes almost fell out of her head and Ginny looked unsurprised. “So the plan is to tell him before he leaves because then I figure he has some time to, I don’t know, not hate me.”
“He wouldn’t hate you,” Ginny said, rolling her eyes, followed shortly by Hermione's shock and the whole situation.
“They are dropping out?” She asked as though she hadn’t heard of the concept.
“I mean you don’t need to graduate to open a joke shop, plus with everything that’s happened they aren’t the first to consider the idea.” I defended.
“How much time do we have?” Ginny asked the only one of us who was ready to get started.
“Two days, I figure we plan today and execute tomorrow?” I answered suddenly unsure if I could even go through with it. Ginny shook her head.
“Where in your timeline there are you giving him time to even respond?” Hermione nodded as Ginny spoke.
“So- what,” Before I could even figure out what I was asking, Hermione was handing me a piece of parchment and a quill.
“Write him a letter, that way you can’t chicken out and we can deliver it tonight during dinner.” My heart started racing, dinner was only a couple hours away and I wasn't sure I was even ready for a response. What if he said no? What if he didn’t want to talk to me any more? What if-
“Okay, so just write it all down, pretend like he’s not even going to read it, and while you do that Hermione and I will figure out how to sneak it to him.” Ginny was already turning herself towards Hermoine ready to leave me to my writing.
“We should put it on the chair in their room so it’s waiting for them after dinner,” I spoke up, partially to avoid my part of the plan and partially to save myself from having to watch him read it. The two girls nodded at each other in agreement and I took a deep breath and started writing.
Fred,
I don’t know how to say this so I suppose it’s a good thing I’m writing it down. Do you remember the first Christmas I spent at the burrow with you and George? You snuck out with me on my first night there just to go on a walk because I couldn’t sleep. It was all so overwhelming in the best way. When you put your arm around my shoulder to keep me warm I told you that the burrow was going to be my new favorite place. It’s true, however it wasn’t the day leading up to this moment that made me believe that. I was you, it's the way that you opened up away from school and more than that it was the moon light bouncing off the frozen lake and into your hair that made me fall in love. That night I fell in love with the burrow, the lake, and most of all I fell in love with you.
I should have told you then. Instead I let it build until the secret felt like it was a part of me. Loving you from a distance became part of my everyday life. I am so sorry I didn’t tell you when I knew but I was so scared of losing you, both of you, that it felt impossible. You don’t have to like me back, you don’t even have to respond.
I just needed to finally tell you and I know that things are going to change when you leave, and while I am so excited for you I also knew that I couldn’t let you leave without saying this.
I love you
I let out a big sigh, catching the girl's attention. “I hate it” I grumbled leaning back in the grass. Ginny slid the paper from my lap and started to read it with Hermione just over her shoulder.
“I think it’s sweet,” Hermoine said.
“I think I should rewrite it,” I sat up to grab the paper but Ginny moved it out of reach. “Ginny I am serious,”
“No,” her voice was stern but I moved up to my knees to reach further to grab the paper. Hermoine stood up and took it from Ginny, clearly backing her up.
“Please, you guys, I just- I need to rewrite it,” Before either could respond Harry and Ron had started to make their way towards us. Hermoine slid the parchment into one of her books that she quickly put away before sticking her tongue out at me. I layer back in the grass accepting my fate and only slightly considering running away into the forbin forest to take my chances.
“What are you guys doing?” Ron asked mostly gesturing towards me and my obvious lack of twins nearby.
“I can’t want some girl time, Ronnie?” I ask, keeping my eyes on the sky, maybe I’ll sink into the grass if I remain still enough, I think to myself. Ron looks at Harry who just shrugs and I can hear Ginny's small giggle. That was enough to get me to my feet, I trust Ginny with my life but I suddenly feel like taking no risks.
“Well Fred and George were looking for you in the common room, said they would just see you at dinner.” Ron shrugged. Hermoine looked at me with a grin and I rolled my eyes. They were right though, it was about time to head to dinner.
“Did they head down already?” I tried to seem casual as I asked, Ron nodded but before he could say anything he was interrupted by Hermoine.
“Can you guys walk back to the common room with me? I don’t want to bring my bag to dinner,” she asked turning to Ginny and I, We both nodded and she turned back to the boys, “See you at dinner, try not to get into trouble on the way there,” and with that she turned on her heel and Ginny and I followed behind her.
After what felt like the most stressful ten minutes of my life, the three of us finally headed down to dinner. My nerves had spiked to an all time high. Per the rules I sat across from the boys and next to Hermoine who tried to keep me sane throughout the meal. As the minutes ticked by I almost forgot what was waiting for Fred in his room.
We joked as usual only this time with a lot more Hermoine who was my absolute hero, while she kept me out of my own head Ginny, on the other side of her, shot me dramatic barely subtle winks. Dinner had started to wind down and while most of the students were still in their seats talking to friends they otherwise couldn't. I felt like I was going to explode if I sat at the table any longer.
“Well I don’t know about you lot but I can’t eat another bite so I’m heading up,” Fred and George got up with me as well as Ginny and Hermione who were desperate to see what was going to happen. Once out of umbridge's sight Fred swung an arm over my shoulder.
“So where were you all day?” He asked with his signature grin, I laughed and shook my head.
“You mean the two hours I wasn’t with you two?” He nodded, “I ran into Ginny and Hermoine and decided to talk to them for a while. Why? Did you miss me?” I teased scrunching up my nose at him.
“Terribly, had to talk to George and all he wants to talk about is Angela,” Fred nudged his brother from over my shoulder.
“The absolute horror,” I joke walking through the door to the common room. George scoffed as he followed his brother in.
“You two are just jealous,” he said plopping in the chair Ginny and Hermione were sitting at one of the tables doing a very bad job of pretending to study and I sat down in the love seat where Fred had sat as well.
“What are we jealous of?” I asked George who sighed like it should be obvious.
“Love,” he responded and I bursted into laughter, I couldn’t help it given what I had just spent the day doing. I cleared my throat before I spoke.
“Sorry, I just thought you were going to say that we were jealous because you have the record for most words spoken in a single minute,” I teased, causing Fred to laugh, I tried to hold back my blush.
“You two are mean,” George said, standing up and heading towards the stairs only for Lee to come down them before George could say whatever he was about to. Lee had a huge grin on his face and it was like the missing piece to a puzzle clicked in for Ginny Hermoin and I all at the same time, Lee shared a room with Fred and George, Lee was not at dinner tonight, the letter. I looked at Ginny in horror who had the same look on her face.
“Where have you been?” Fred asked, causing Lee to grin.
“In our room, reading.” Fuck.
“Reading?” George asked, dropping his dramatics. Lee just nodded, stealing George’s seat by the fire. I sat hoping that he left the note alone. By the way he looked at me. I know he had read it.
“Why weren’t you at dinner?” I asked desperately, needing a change of subject. Lee once again just shrugged the small grin on his face growing. I pleaded with him silently to stop. Lee may be an ass but he’s a good guy. He let out a sigh.
“With upcoming events I figured I should clean up and besides I stole food from the kitchen earlier.” His eyes slid from Fred to the stairs and back again. I risked a glance at Ginny and Hermoine and by the looks on their faces I knew that George had gon upstairs.
“I’ll be back, I am freezing.” I said as casually as I could. Once I reached the stairs I turned back around and pointed at Lee. “Do not steal my spot,” I hoped it came off as a joke and based on Freds laugh it did, I hurried up the stairs and rushed to Fred's room. As soon as I opened the door I saw George reading the letter. “Please, don’t do that.” I said, trying to catch my breath.
George turned around with a grin on his face, “Well you put it out in the open,”
“Hermoine, put it there,” George laughed.
“That's what you get for not having me help you,” I let out a sigh. I couldn’t even think of what to say. “Come on, let's go back down there before everyone comes up here looking for us” George put his arm around my shoulder and guided me to the door.
“Thanks, but also you are an ass,” He laughed, pulling a smile to my face as well. I broke off from George to go to my room and get out of my school uniform. A nice pair of sleep short and a tank top, as I was about to leave my room I remembered the excuse I had given to get up here and grabbed the seater off of my bed before heading down after pulling it over my head.
Making my way down the stairs I heard George and Lee arguing about who had to sit on the floor, trying not to draw either attention. I climbed over the back of the couch and slid back down in my seat next to Fred to watch the two argue. Before I knew it I felt a brush of hair against my cheek and Fred was whispering in my ear. “When did you steal my sweater?” I looked down and he was right, of course, A big F was plastered on the front of the sweater I was wearing.
I turned to face him, our noses almost brushing and I felt my face heat up, “You left it in my room, so it's more of an abandoned property situation.” Fred laughed and gave me a small shrug “Keep it for when you miss me,” he said with a wink before pulling away. I forced myself to laugh and look back at the two fighting boys, who were now peacefully sitting Lee on the chair and George sitting on the ground looking grumpy.
“You know there is more than one chair right?” I asked a very unamused george.
“This is the best chair,” Lee said with a grin. I rolled my eyes. Ginny caught my eye and waved me over.
“Well Georgie, it is your lucky day you can have my seat, I am needed elsewhere,” I said standing from my spot and walking to the two girls.
“Nice sweater,” Lee yelled after me. I responded by flipping him off causing the twins to laugh. Once safely at the table Ginny leaned over to me and whispered.
“What happened? Did George read the letter?” I nodded.
“And so did Lee,”Hermoine looked cranky that the plan didn’t work out smoothly.
“Well the night is not over,” Ginny added.
“Don’t remind me,”
It seemed like forever had gone by when I felt someone slide into the seat next to me. I looked over to see George glancing over the papers in front of us as though we were writing more love letters. “Don’t freak,” George said and I turned around to see that Fred was gone from his seat. The girls grinned as they caught on to the conversation and I looked at George in a panic.
He dropped his grin and nudged my shoulder pulling my attention back to the stack of papers in front of us, “what are you guys working on?” I knew he didn’t actually care but I welcomed even the weakest distraction.
“Helping Ginny with an essay,” I kept listening for any sound coming down the stars but everything was quiet. Ginny started to explain what her essay was about to a very uninterested George while I watched the stairs from the corner of my eye.
An excruciating amount of time went by before Lee went up to the room, probably just as impatient as the rest of us. We heard his laughter coming down before we actually saw him. Panic once again ran through me.
“He’s asleep,” Lee said almost doubling over, “Didn’t even see it,” He added once catching his breath.
“How could you possibly know that,” Hermoine asked.
“Talked to him before he fell asleep, said he laid down, didn’t turn on a light or anything,” The laughter started to bubble up in Lee’s voice again and for the first time since writing the letter I felt like I took a full breath.
“Well, in that case, I am going to bed.” I said getting up from the table. Once in bed I couldn’t stop my mind from running. Part of me wanted to sneak into the room and take the letter back, the other was just happy that the secret was finally going to come out. I fell asleep that night thinking of the what ifs.
The next morning I woke up to Hermione yelling at me to get up. I pulled the blanket over my head, and mumbled something about going away.
“If you don’t get up right now we are going to be late!” The panic in her voice pulled me out of bed and as I threw on my uniform I glanced at the clock to see we had seven minutes to make it to class. I threw my bag over my shoulder and followed her down the stairs
“Why didn’t you just go?” I asked as we made it down the girls stairs.
“Didn’t want you to get in trouble,” she replied, not turning around. Climbing down the last couple stairs I almost ran right into Fred.
“Hey,” he started before I cut him off.
“Hey Freddie, no time is going to be late.” I threw over my shoulder as I rushed out the common room. We made it with seconds to spare.As we left class hermione kept giving me weird looks. She said nothing as we made it back to the common room where Fred, George, and Ginny were sitting at one of the tables Hermione and I dropped into nearby arm chairs and for a moment I felt like I could fall asleep.
“You look dead,” Ginny said with a laugh. I opened my eyes to see she was talking to me.
“Yeah, well, I’m the idiot who let Hermione talk her into taking early morning classes with her.” I fought off a yawn before sitting up. The whole table was looking at me like I was supposed to say something. “What are you guys doing?” I asked and looked at Hermoine who was also looking at me like I was crazy. George started to laugh, bringing Lee with him Fred on the other hand continued to fidget with a piece of paper in his hands.
Fuck.
I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t even sure I knew how to think but before I could panic too much about it my mouth started to speak.
“You read it?” Fred looked over to me and the table fell quite once more.
“Of course.” Ginny ushered everyone away from the table and I sat up straighter suddenly feeling the anxiety closing in.
“I’m sorry, I wanted to rewrite it. I should have let them rewrite it. I shouldn’t have-“ Fred suddenly stood up and slipped the letter into his pocket before walking to me and holding out his hand. I took it hoping that he couldn’t feel my heartbeat the way I could.
“You love me?” He asked, his gaze locked on my hand. I nodded.
“Yes.” I said I needed something, anything, to fill the quiet. He pulled on my hand tugging me to his chest, his eyes suddenly locked on mine.
“Say it, please” something about being this close to Fred gave me all the confidence I could need. The way he was looking at me felt like we were the only two people in the world and I had no problem giving him what he asked for.
“I love you,” the words had barely left my mouth when his lips touched mine. He let go of my hand in favor of putting one hand on my waist and the other on my cheek to hold me closer. I allowed one of my hands to play with the hair on the back of his neck.
He pulled away, pressing his forehead against mine and meeting my eyes. “I love you,” he said smiling, pulling a soft laugh from me before I pulled him back in for a kiss. I could feel him smiling into it and I couldn’t help but smile back.
The sounds of clapping pulled us from our moment and I turned to see a very amused Lee and George clapping away as Hermione and Ginny looked at them in disappointment. I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked up at Fred and rolled my eyes.
He pulled me into him before leading us to one of the couches to sit down. “I’m going to write to you everyday.” Fred whispered in my ear as our friends chatted away. I looked up at him before speaking.
“You better,” I joked, pulling a laugh from him. My eyes drifted to his smile and before I knew it he was kissing me again. It wasn’t as long as the others but it was just as perfect.
Later that night I sat in the cozy chair in the corner of a mostly empty room, my cheeks warm and the echoes of fireworks in my ears counting how many days till I could feel his lips on mine again.
