Serpentine ; Fred Weasley

Twenty-seven

"What?"

As Fred realised what he said, he looked down at the invisible clock on his wrist and cleared his throat.

"I should get going. Don't want to be late for dinner." He said and a nervous chuckle left him.

He avoided my eyes on purpose before walking past me, and I spun around to follow him with my eyes.

"Wait!" I yelled once I realised the words that had just left his mouth.

He kept walking.

"Freddie!" I shouted, walking after him. "Fred you can't just leave after saying that!"

"Saying what?" He asked innocently, eyes focused on the street instead of looking at me.

I ran up in front of him and he stopped abruptly.

"You love me?"

He glanced down at me quickly, letting out a sigh.

"No, Kai... I do not." He said. "I don't know why I said that."

I frowned and took a step back. He was obviously lying. He wouldn't look at me and he couldn't stand still.

"Oh shit." I cursed, running my hand over my mouth.

"Kai..." he breathed. "...I meant I love you as a friend."

"Yeah, after you kissed me?" I asked. "You don't kiss a friend and then tell them you love them."

"I have to go." He said quickly, pushing past me and I turned around again to look after him.

"Fred!" I shouted, but then he disapparated.

I sighed.

I love you too...

I did. I did love him.

Didn't I?

With another sigh, I turned around and looked up at my house.

Or did I like him?

I made my way up to the house and as I walked inside in the warm and cosy hallway, I pulled the beanie off my head.

I put it away and hung my coat on the wall before I pushed my shoes off.

"Where have you been?" My mum walked into the hallway with her arms folded over her chest.

"I told you... I went to Diagon Alley."

"That was hours ago." She said. "Do you realise how worried I've been? You know I want you home before dark! It's—"

She stopped talking when I turned towards her.

"Why did you invite the Larch family over for dinner?"

"Oh..." mum let her arms fall along her sides. "...I invited them and Martha, her aunt and uncle. It was before I knew you and Felix broke up."

Sighing, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes for a moment.

"Well... when is it?

"On the twenty-second." She informed me. "It would mean a lot if you were there. You can still be civilised with him even if you aren't together."

I hummed and looked towards the stairs, wondering if I should ask whether or not Fred could come.

Would he still want to?

"Uh, mum?"

"Yes darling?"

"Can I at least bring my uh... new boyfriend to the dinner?"