The days have passed. And soon as hell weeks were over, no one could really believe that they were heading home yet again. But the year did not end without a bit of surprise. It was like an unexpected bomb that was dropped upon all of them, Florence, Nicolai and Alexander walked in to the Great Hall with rumors spreading around that Professor Remus Lupin was a werewolf. Florence was baffled, to say the least, too distracted in listening to Jeremy Stretton and Duncan Inglebee about the rumor to even touch the buttered piece of hot toast that was sitting on her plate.

"But, that can't be. . . Professor Lupin was so nice. Who would have known?" said Nicolai in a distressed tone, all the while gathering more and more food onto her plate silently. Jeremy nodded earnestly. "I know, right? I mean, seeing the rumor came from the Slytherins, it would hardly be believable." he said.

"Oh but don't say anything about this. Penelope Clearwater actually asked Professor Flitwick about the werewolf rumor that had acquired overnight—you know, just to see if the information was right— and Professor Flitwick did confirm it." Duncan whispered to the group.

Professor Lupin's seat at the teacher's table was vacant, everyone expecting for him to be in his office and packing since his werewolf secret got out. Florence didn't really think too much about the matter. So what if he was a werewolf? She thought. Florence would say, without any sort of hesitation, that he was the best Defense teacher she had had in a while.

"So that does kind of mean that we're having another Defense teacher next year?" huffed Alexander, "I want him to stay"

"Same." muttered Florence, the others mentally acknowledging how good he actually was with his job this year. "The legend about that position being cursed is true, I tell you. No one could barely even stay more than two years anymore." said Nicolai, looking as distraught as her other two friends.

But that wasn't all that got Florence's stomach in a twist. Tonight was going to be the night when she would meet the one person that she simultaneously knows and does not know enough. She could feel the anxiety nibbling at her the whole day as she packed, a worried look on her face as she packed her trunk.

"Oh stop being so fussy about tonight, Flo," said Nicolai, obviously noticing her mood. Florence looked up from her trunk for a brief second, before sighing yet again. "Don't.... Just leave me be. I don't even know what I should be doing aside from being fussy."

"You should be happy! You're going to gain a new friend, and er—maybe a possible love interest?" Nicolai suggested, the look on Florence's face saying everything, "No? No love interest? Okay." she said sheepishly.

"It's just... What am I going to do? Or what should I say? Hello, it's great to meet you. Finally. Or, I've been looking forward for this moment, and I am kind of nervous because you might not be as great as I thought you are."

"Why are you even worrying about what to say?" Nicolai chuckled, setting a few books into her trunk before looking around for her Ravenclaw scarf, "Why wouldn't I? When we meet, one of us will have to speak during some point, right? I just don't want things to be awkward in any way." Florence said honestly.

"Awkward?" Nicolai snorted, "How could you two be awkward around each other? I mean, isn't talking anonymously for almost a year be the most awkward scenario yet? I'm sure you two would hit off just fine."

"Easy for you to say." Florence breathed out, before closing her trunk. Packing day was one of the very few days wherein she was thankful not to own an owl, as it was very tiresome to have to fetch it at the owlery so that you wouldn't have to do it hurriedly the next day. But during other days, she wished that she had another owl, and not just the family one.

"You're going to be fine, Flo, trust me. He really seems like a good guy."

"I'm not worried if he's a good guy or resident evil. I'm just nervous to meet him, is all."

"Then stop worrying. Problem solved."

Florence flopped down onto her shirt-covered bed in exasperation. "What if I don't go?" she murmured into her sheets, Nicolai looking at her incredulously, "Who are you and what have you done to the real Florence Magdalene Price? She isn't one to back out because she's scared."

"You're right." said Florence, Nicolai smiling in her victory to persuade her into not being nervous. That was until she spoke again, "I am a fraud."

"No, no! Okay, we'll settle this disaster of yours when I get back. I have to meet George in a while. I better get going." Nicolai informed her, the brunette nodding her head ever so weakly.

-------
"Why do I feel deep and utter regret with my decision of asking my protean buddy if we could meet tonight?" Fred asked George, who paused in mid-action of piling his clothes into his trunk, "What do you mean you regret it?" he asked, a frown on his face as he studied his twin's facial expression.

"What if I told you that I'm kind of not ready to meet her?" he said sheepishly, "Then I'd tell you that you're being a big wuss right now. What, so you're scared of a girl now?" George snorted, to which Fred shot him an annoyed look. He was sitting on his trunk, the lid closed. He literally had little to no initiative to start packing, seeing as there were still things bugging him.

"I'm not scared of a girl, Georgie." Fred scowled at him, "I'm nervous. I'm pretty sure those two are different emotions, last time I checked."

"That's so unlike you. We're Fred and George. We have a lot of nerve," said George, "And besides, this isn't like a blind date. You two basically know each other already—well, barely— you two barely know each other due to your condition. . . But you know each other nonetheless!".

"Barely. We barely know each other. All I know is that she's in our year, she likes the color red and a tad obsession with the Holyhead Harpies. Her mum has a cat who she apparently hates with a passion and she sits at the back of the Transfiguration classroom like us..." Fred grumbled.

"So?" inquired George, who found it hard to see the point that Fred was trying to make, "You only know very little, what about that then?"

"Then things would turn slightly awkward at some point during our first ever meeting! And I don't do awkward."

"Well it wouldn't be awkward if you two talked." George suggested.

"About what? The Harpies? I don't even like them that much.... Or the color red? It's very limited and I want our first meeting to be memorable..." Fred sighed, a sly look on George's face, "Well.... If you're going for memorable you might as well just snog her....".

"George!"

"What? I was only suggesting." he defended himself, Fred's eyes widening in realization. "Didn't you say that you knew who she was?" he asked him. George nodded hesitantly. "Yes. . .?"

"Why don't you tell me what she's like? You know, to give me a head start?" he suggested, George's eyes widening at this, "No, that's a bad idea, Fred. I will tell you nothing. Nothing, nothing nothing—Merlin's pants stop looking at me like that! You're bloody ridiculous!" he scowled at his twin who attempted a pleading face.

Fred shrugged, "I tried. But if you aren't giving anything up then there's nothing I can do..."

"I knew you were going to say that—wait what?" he frowned, looking at his twin with a bewildered expression. "I said there's nothing I can do if you won't tell me," Fred repeated, "Are you turning deaf or what?"

"I mean," George started, getting suspicious with Fred's plans, even though there wasn't really anything he should be suspicious about, "You're not going to pry anything from me?" he asked, Fred shaking his head without hesitation.

"No," he snorted, "I won't."

"That is highly suspicious, you know..." George muttered, his hazel eyes in slits as he continued staring his brother down.

"Well, it's your problem now if you think I'm plotting anything that involves mind reading." Fred chuckled, finally getting off from the top of his trunk, starting to gather all his stuff inside, "Remember when mum used to tell us when she wanted our room clean, that cleaning was actually very relaxing and was a famous way to get rid of stress?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to go do that now and see if she's right."

"You go and do that." George chuckled, checking the small clock in their dormitory room, "I have to go and see Nicolai for a bit. I'll be back to continue my pep talk before dinner, I promise." George called out, before completely disappearing out of sight.

Fred turned to Lee, who had just slipped in to their dorm room, "Do you have any clue with what those two do when they're alone together?" he asked him, Lee shaking his head without hesitation, "I haven't got a clue. But if I were to bet my money, I'd say snogging somewhere deserted and dark."

"Well, speaking of unknown disappearances, I haven't really seen you around a lot lately. Where have you been going?"

"Oh, you know," said Jordan, biting back a smile, "Here and there. . ."

----
"How's Florence?" George asked as soon as he shut the door to the broom closet close, lighting his wand. From the faint light he could see Nicolai's brows raised, the idea of them pressed up closer to each other than usual was not really appealing to her in a romantic way. She couldn't help but wonder if there were secret George Weasley admirers lurking around, or if they'd be jealous of a bisexual individual as herself for being in her current position.

"I still don't think that the broom closet is the best meeting place, Weasley." she said, putting a bucket upside down before taking a seat, only to stand back up again as it made things even more awkward. When she sat down, she was in eye level with his crotch. She then decided that standing was the best option.

"I know that it may look like we're a usual PDA couple trying to snog discreetly. But as I have explained to you, the owlery or the clock tower is in no way a good meeting spot during broad daylight. People might hear us." George said briefly , holding his wand lower.

"Aren't you worried that we might get last minute detention when Filch finds us here and thinks of unholy things we could have been doing here?"

"Clearwater. If you want this over as soon as possible, just shut up about that and start focusing on tonight's agenda." the redhead said impstiently, Nicolai shooting him a sheepish look before apologizing. "Now how is Florence doing?"

"Like how normal people would act. . . Only a thousand times more nervous to be exact." she said with an undertone of amusement. "Well how about Fred?" she inquired.

"Same as Florence. But I don't really understand what they're so nervous about, though."

"They're nervous that they might not pass the standards that they've set with each other." said Nicolai, "I think it's a normal feeling for them though, seeing as their situation rarely happens to anyone."

George chuckled, "Well, I don't know about you but, whatever happened this school year—I've never really expected a thing. From the moment that Freddie showed me the writings on his desk, I didn't really think that much of it to be honest."

"And you think I did?" snorted Nicolai, reminiscing the first few weeks of school, "I mean, Xander and I thought she was being possessed by an evil spirit dwelling in the back desk."

". . . Well that's some imagination you two have."

"I know, right?" she chuckled. "But anyways. Tonight is the night! And I cannot express how absolutely ecstatic I am for the both of them!" she clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle a squeal. "I could already picture them out together."

"Our hard work will finally pay off..." sighed George, "And we could stop pretending that we're a couple. Thank Merlin for that."

"Absolutely." agreed Nicolai, all the while glaring at George, "Well that was a bit offensive. You should be thanking the universe for the chance of getting to hang out with me. I am a wonderful companion."

George snorted, "Sure you are—"

The door was yanked open, light immediately filling the tiny closet. Stood outside was a boy who looked probably a year younger, a mop in his right hand and his eyes wide with shock. "Shit..." muttered Nicolai as the boy kept gawking at them. "I—uh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you two were in there!" he said, panicked. "If I interrupted anything—"

"No, no! Noel, you didn't," George chuckled nervously, "And we were just ah, we were only talking I swear."

The boy simply nodded, and was quick in grabbing the bucket that Nicolai flipped over before scampering away.

"I told you." Nicolai told George, who shrugged, "We're fine. That was only Angelina's little brother. He wouldn't really say anything... You know, even if there isn't anything he should say."

The day dragged on agonizingly, and Florence could feel her stomach drop at every hour. Fred was trying to take his mind off of it, not worry too much. But he couldn't actually , no not really. It was a mix of excite and nervousness. And it wasn't really pleasant in any way.

"Florence..." sighed Alexander, watching as the girl remained stagnant in her seat, a half consumed plate of food sitting before her. "I get that you're feeling anxious about meeting him. You've been waiting for thid for a long time but you really have to eat something if you don't want to pass out in front of him."

"Xander's right, you know," Nicolai chipped in, "And like I said, there's nothing that you should worrying about." she reassured, and from her peripheral vision, she could also see George trying to ease Fred out of chickening out. He was on the brink of backing out, but George wouldn't have any of it.

"Just imagine how distraught she would be if you stood her up!" George told his brother, who's knees were shaking uncharacteristically fast.

"Two more minutes, George. Don't blame me if I'm nervous...." he replied tersely, glancing st the clock every second. He couldn't believe that he was actually doing this. He really couldn't. But with much persuasion, Fred was able to muster up enough courage to pursue his plan.

Both Fred and George left as soon as the Great Hall was barely filled with people, George making sure that Florence went ahead, so everything would be kept a secret until the moment when Fred comes up to the Clock Tower.

So there they were, both Fred and George waiting at the bottom of the stairs leading to the Clock tower. George gave him a brief thumbs up before stalking back up to the Gryffindor tower. Fred exhaled, attempting to just go and leave her hanging. But something made him do otherwise.

His hands clung to the railings ever so tightly, and he could feel his stomach churn with every step he took, closer and closer to the top.

By the time he was there, he saw her, back faced to him. Even if he didn't really see her face, he knew all too well that the long brown hair belonged to her. He was right. Fred was right about Florence. But somehow, knowing this did not ease him even a little bit.

And Florence turned around, hearing faint shuffling. She had been listening very attentively to her surroundings that even before he arrived, she would turn at the sound of leaves rustling or the breeze hitting against something. And she felt as if her heart was stuck in her throat, staring wide-eyed at the redheaded boy as if she had not seen him before.

But how could she have not guessed? It wasn't very obvious, but she felt stupid that she did not even think of the possibility.

She stood their gawking, while he tried to remain composed and unfazed under her gaze.

"Fred?!"

////
a.n: I love you all & I hope you love me too. Unrequited love is just the worst.

-Denise