(Alex's POV)

The situation with the bathroom didn't feel it was a month ago. It felt like it was yesterday, 3 December, but it wasn't. And I was glad. George's flushed face over couldn't have increased my embarrassment any more. I walked to the grand hall, getting ready for dinner when George turned the corner.

"Alex!" George ran to me.

My eyes followed him. "George." I smiled.

He embraced me tightly. "Freddie and I are going to Hogsmeade today. Want to come with us?"

"Today, after breakfast?"

He nodded. "That's the idea."

"All right." I smiled.

Fred came by and ringed our arms together. "Wise choice McWilliams." He smiled.

George intertwined mine with his and the three of us skipped to the Gryffindor table. I sat in the middle of the twins. Fred offered me a cupcake at the same time George did and their eyes locked. Fred smiled while George backed away.

I smiled and took the cupcake from George, then I took Fred's. "My favorites." I smiled.

They grinned. "As you are ours."

I grew silent and the three of us would exchange glances while eating. On occasion the twins would throw food for the other to catch with their mouths.

"Seems it's time to go." Fred grinned.

"Only if Alex is done eating." George swallowed the last of his food.

I nodded. "I'm ready. Let's go."

They laced our arms together as we made our way to Dervish and Banges.

"All right, Georgie," Fred opened the door of the shop, "did you bring the list?"

George nodded and unlaced our arms slowly. "Did you bring the money?"

"OF COURSE." Fred grinned. He looked at me. "You don't mind waiting out here do you?"

"What? I'm not going in with you guys?"

"Come on, Fred." George embraced me from behind, showing me to Fred like I was a new puppy he wanted to keep. "She won't tell anyone." He placed his mouth beside my ear. "Right," he whispered.

His whisper tickled and soothed my ear all at once. I lowered my head, trying to hide my blush and grin from Fred.

Fred yanked George into the shop and shut the door behind them.

I stuck my tongue out, rolled my eyes, and leaned my back against the wall. I sighed and put my hand in my pockets while looking at the shop across. Through the window I saw a small, beautiful christmas tree with ornaments flying around it.

I pulled out the parchment paper that I found at the beginning of the year and a quill. I grunted when I realized I didn't have ink.

"Stop!"

I nearly jumped at the sound of Fred's voice.

He dropped a bag on the floor and rushed to the paper in my hands.

"What's going on?"

He snatched the paper out of my hands. "Where did you get this from?"

"The floor of the D.A.D.A. room. Why?" I tried to snatch it back but Fred held it high above his head.

"This is mine." He grinned, waving it back and forth a little higher. "George is going to love this. Hey!" His eyes were wide. "No..."

The paper flew out of his hands. It gracefully glided and landed into the hand of George. "She found it, Fred." He grinned.

I whirled around. "What is it? Why is this piece of paper so important?"

George placed the paper into the bag with their purchased items. "We'll tell you all about it in a quiet place." He winked and jerked his head in the direction on the castle.

Fred grinned and followed him.

(Fred's POV)

"So this is actually a map?" McWilliams placed her hand over the map. "And it shows everyone on it?"

"Everyone." George and I grinned at each other as I leaned my back against the wall.

"That's very handy and amazing." McWilliam's blue eyes followed the footsteps of Katie Bell. "So you stole this from Filch?"

"I wouldn't say stolen." My tone was harsher than I intended. "It's more of taking away what wasn't his in the first place." I smiled.

Alex slightly tilted her head. "What?"

George grinned and stood up from his seat. He leaned over McWilliams from behind her, slowly crouch as he spoke until they were leveled. "This map," their bodies were touching as he pointed to the map, "is not Filch's. It's an item Filch confiscated, so we took away what wasn't his. It's not stealing." He smiled as McWilliams turned her head for face him.

I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. "HOWEVER, we decided that if I did find it, we would give it to Harry."

George closed his eyes, stood up straight, and headed back to his seat.

"When was this decided?" McWilliams raised a brow.

"Yesterday," George said slowly.

I rushed to the table, placing my wand on the map. "Mischief Managed." I folded the parchment and placed it in my pocket. "Now if you don't mind," I grinned, "I've got some mischief to create at Hogsmeade with Harry."

"Without us?" McWilliams stood up.

I nodded and rushed out the door as George called me.

"Fred." I heard McWilliams' footsteps behind me. "Fred!"

I turned the corridor and leaned my back against the wall. I took a deep breath and looked to see if McWilliams was following me. She was gone.

I sighed, smiling to myself. Almost laughing I got up and jumped when I saw McWilliams.

"What's wrong?" She folded her arms.

"Nothing. I'm absolutely fine." I grinned. "If you don't mind, I need to get this to Harry so he may go to Hogsmeade."

She stepped in front of me.

I rolled my eyes. "McWilliams."

"Why don't you call me Alex? We've been friends for four months and you still call me like any other class mate." Her blue eyes pierced into mine, almost causing my muscles to twitch.

I rolled my eyes. "Alex."

"Stop rolling your eyes." Her eyebrows neared each other. "Do you dislike me or something?"

I smiled. "If I disliked you, you would know it. You would be the subject of my pranks. There, I don't dislike you."

"Then what's wrong? You don't usually act like this."

 I crossed my arms and leaned my back against the wall. I took a deep breath. "There's something about you I can't quite place my finger on. I'm usually a cheerful guy, but when you come along something inside me changes." My eyes narrowed. "Shifts. I don't know if it's mistrust or something else."

She placed a hand on my shoulder. Her gentle blue eyes were piercing into my core. "What can I do to make you trust me?"

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I knew that I trusted her, but there was something about her she was hiding. I took another deep breath and opened my eyes. "I know I trust you." I stood up straight, petting her blond hair.

"Then what is it?" Her eyes scanned my face for a desperate answer.

Her eyes always told me what George meant to her, but I couldn't confirm what she meant to George. I felt a small frown on my face. "I think it's your unfortunate feelings for George." I turned my back to her. "Alex, you and I live in a world of magic. We both know not everything is what it seems."

(Alex's POV)

He took off at full speed. I called him, but he was gone. I walked back to Hogsmeade, allowing his words to linger in my mind. There was a message behind it, I knew that, but whose side did it come from? George's or Fred's or my own?

I bought chocolate from Honeydukes, sat on a stump, and let my thoughts take over. I watched some students pass by, some throw snowballs at each other, and occasionally watched the snow fall, making stories for each snowflake.

My chocolate was knocked out of my hand with a snow ball. I gasped and looking at the dirty chocolate.

"Thought you might like some more and some of mine." George.

My head swirled to meet his grin. "How did you know I was out here?"

He smirked.

"Oh." I lowered my head, grinning. "Forgot, ha."

He sat next to me on the stump. "Most girls usually don't frown when they're eating chocolate."

"I was frowning?"

George lightly tapped his shoulder against mine, while reaching into the bag. "I guess subconsciously you were." He pulled out some chocolate wrapped in a golden bar. "Then again you're not like most girls." He handed me the chocolate. "It's better than what you were having."

I took the bar. "So you talked to Fred?"

He sighed, digging into his bag. "Freddie is having a temper tantrum. Soon it'll be my turn." He laughed. "But, you know, he hasn't acted like this since the time Bill took one of his toys without asking. We were kids, but I'm sure this is kind of the same with the map." He pulled out some licorice. Our gaze locked as we turned towards each other.

We smiled and looked away.

"So, it's nothing personal."

George nodded and stood up. "We should go to the lake. It's colder, but it looks nicer." He held his hand out to me, grinning.

I took hold of it as he helped me up and our bodies touched. Our eyes widened and I looked away. I heard him laugh lightly as I grinned. We nodded and started walking to the lake.

"So, Alex, is Fred the only one bothering you?"

"He doesn't bother me. Why?"

George shrugged. "You seem distracted when you're around me. I guess I have that effect on most girls."

"You said I wasn't like most girls."

"You aren't. Doesn't mean you won't be effected the same way." He looked at me.

I laughed. "So confident there Mr. Weasley."

He grinned. "So what is it?"

"What is what?" I watched my breath escape me.

"What is it that distracts you when I'm around?"

I smiled. "I think it might be the fact that you are the most mischievious boy in Hogwarts."

He smiled, placing the bag of candy at the base of the tree near the shore. He sat next to his bag, looking out at the lake. He looked up at me and frowned.

"What's wrong?" I leaned into his gaze.

He extended his hand up to me. "I"m tired of sitting down." His eyes were big and he grinned widely. "Help me up?"

I rolled my eyes and took his hand. He pulled me down, twirling me to press my back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me. I felt his head against mine. He let out a sort of purr.

"Alex," he groaned. "You're so warm."

I felt myself blushing so hard. "Ar-are you drunk?"

He started rubbing his head against mine. "I only had chocolate." He pressed his head against the side of my face. I could feel his breathing pressed against my cheek. I saw our breathes intertwining in the gently wind.

"Alex," he whispered. "Alex, what's on your mind? Why are you always so distant around me?"

"Well right now this is on my mind."

He put his hand on top of mine. "Remember the beginning of the year? I'm very sorry about it. And I'm very sorry for the what I might do."

"Might do?"

(George's POV)

I smiled, but that was all I could do. My heart started to freeze as I put my back against the tree. "Some time later I guess." I'm not brave enough right now.

She turned to face me. "What? Why are you and Fred acting so strange today?"

"Freddie might be acting strange." I shrugged. "I don't think I'm acting strange."

"Ugh." Her cheeks slightly puffed.

So cute! I sighed. "Well, Alex, I have some christmas shopping to do. For now, let's go cheer up our little Freddie." I carefully stood up and took my bag.

She stood up, wiping the fallen snow off her jacket. "Do you think he's still angry?"

I paused, taking in Alex's concern. "I don't think either one of us could be angry with you, sweetheart." I winked, hoping that would make her smile. Hoping that would make her come closer to me. Hoping that would help heal the mistake from before.

She smiled and took a handful of chocolate bars out of my bag. "Perfect. Then, these are mine."

I grinned.

That truly was perfect.