FORTY TWO
[warning: sexual themes.
nothing explicit as usual]

THE REST OF AUGUST WENT by fairly quick as it had a tendency to do. As did September. Both the cafe and the joke shop were not nearly as busy as they had been over the summer which was good. However, Rory still had to go to work and found shifts without many customers quite boring.

The girl decided at the end of the school year she was going to write to Dumbledore about teaching, perhaps she could shadow Professor Burbage or help her grade papers. Just to get her foot in the door.

It was a chilly October night when Rory decided to help Fred with stocking up the shelves after the shop had closed since George was busy. Also, she wanted to spend time with the boy.

"So where did George say he was going tonight?" Rory asked, climbing a rickety ladder. Fred immediately grabbed the base and looked up at her with a warm smile.

"Just out. Not sure where, maybe Hogsmeade?"

Rory knew he was lying. She placed the items where they needed to be and stepped down. Fred placed a protective hand on the small of her back to make sure she didn't fall and he whipped out his wand to put the ladder away.

"That all for tonight, love?" She asked.

He nodded, "It's still pretty early. I'm not that tired. I mean, are you though? Tired?"

She shrugged and started heading toward the door to the flat, "Not really. Why?"

He leaned in close near her ear and said quietly, "You know why."

Rory tried to bite back a smile and kept her gaze forward, opening the door and stepping into the place they called home. She turned the lights on and walked straight into her and Fred's room.

"Rory..." he said, jumping on to their bed, "You alright?"

She sighed and sat down next to him. He looked at her with wanting eyes.

"I'm perfect, Freddie. Are you good?"

"Never better," he sighed. "I reckon it's pajama time, though."

Rory giggled and got off the bed, Fred did the same and they walked over to their dresser and picked out the sleepwear for the night. Fred tossed Rory a Weird Sisters t shirt and she accepted it without complaining. She removed her own shirt first and shyly crossed her arms over her chest which was clad in a light blue colored bra.

"Close your eyes," she teased. He rolled his eyes and placed his hands over his face.

"You know it's nothing I haven't seen before, Ror." He said, the sound slightly muffled from his palms.

"Fine," she said quietly, reaching behind her to unhook the garment. Fred smiled and removed his hands. His eyes widened and his smile faded into a more serious face as she let the fabric fall from her chest and on to the floor.

"What's wrong?" She said with slight insecurity, picking it up and placing it neatly back in her drawer.

He shook his head vigorously, "Absolutely nothing. You're just... you're just so perfect."

The girl blushed and covered her body in the shirt Fred had given her. His musky vanilla scent engulfed her and she smiled.

She was never particularly insecure about her body, however she wasn't confident in it either. She was never one to show it off, although she had no issue with those who did, she just always felt more herself in more modest clothing. It was just her personal style and what she thought was the most comfortable.

However there was a certain vulnerability that came with undressing completely in front of someone. She had done it in front of Fred plenty of times. Despite that, there was still something that made her want to hide herself out of instinct.

She changed out of her jeans into a pair of sleep shorts and sat down on the bed as Fred finished slipping out of his shirt and into a pair of fleece plaid pants.

He flopped beside her and smiled.

"Hey, Freddie," she began, "When you cast a Patronus... what memory did you think of?"

He placed a hand gently in her dark hair and softly stroked it, "You."

"Well, yes, but —"

"Just you. Every single memory would have worked. You're my very best friend. I love you."

She placed a delicate kiss on his lips, "Oh Freddie, I love you too."

With passion, he kissed back. The remainder of the night was spent in each other's love. The girl once again, made herself vulnerable for him and let out soft moans as he peppered kisses across her exposed skin. His careful hands travelled placed she longed for his touch and he sent waves of pleasure through her body with every movement.

He always put her first. Making her feel good made him feel good. It was like he worshiped her with each kiss. And he did. He praised her each time he could between kisses and gasps of excitement.

The way he teased her nearly brought her to tears. She knew he did it because it would make her feel even better when he gave in. But until then she would whimper soft begs as his kisses found their way to their final destination.

Fred Weasley had a special way of making Rory tremble.

The night went on in the direction they both knew it inevitably would. Rory enjoyed every moment. But all good things must come to an end, and their fires of passion were put out with blinding moans and proclamations of love.

The two didn't go to bed right away, instead they decided to have a second dinner (technically a third for Fred) which Fred cooked. It was nothing crazy, just buttered noodles and some hot vegetables. They ate it in their bed, almost like they were little kids knowing it was wrong, but that was the fun of it.

"Can't believe George isn't back yet," Rory said.

Fred shrugged and took a bite, "I can. I'm sure he's having a good time. Whatever it is he's doing."

Rory nodded and placed her empty bowl on the night table. She yawned and slipped under the covers, she'd deal with the dirty dishes the next morning.

"I'm going to take a quick shower, love." Fred said softly, planting a kiss on her forehead.

She nodded and shot him a soft smile. She fell asleep before he returned, he was sleeping soundly next to her when she woke up a few hours later to use the bathroom. The girl grabbed her wand and muttered, "Lumos" quietly and stepped out of the room.

She noticed the bathroom light was already on and the door was shut. Rory assumed George had gotten back finally and was using it, so she waited.

However it was not George who came out. It was a girl.

A girl with dark hair messily resting past her shoulders and glimmering dark eyes. She was wearing just George's shirt which was quite big on her. Her makeup which Rory could tell was once flawless was slightly smudged around her face.

It was Marina Dobbs, in the flesh.

"Oh hello, Mar." Rory said, as she walked past. Then it hit her. They were in the flat. George brought Marina back to the flat. She was in just his shirt in the middle of the night. "Mar!"

"Oh, hello, Rory." She said with a blush, "Sorry, I didn't think you were going to be up."

Rory shook her head, in slight disbelief. "Don't be sorry... I'm just... shocked. Well, no, I'm not. But —"

"I'm just as surprised as you," Marina said softly, "Rory I can't explain how... great I feel right now. I feel so free. You, me and Angie need to grab lunch sometime soon, yeah? I'll let you go now though, goodnight Rory!"

Before Rory could muster a response, Marina slipped into George's room, vanishing in the darkness.

[][][][][]

"WELL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW all the details, Marina!" Angelina said with a grin as the three sat in The Three Broomsticks a week later.

"Yeah, Marina. I'm a bit curious as well..." Rory nodded. She hadn't confronted George about what she saw and Fred claimed he didn't know much about it. Marina had been gone early the next morning so she didn't get the chance to speak to her either. But now they had finally met up and Rory was dying of curiosity.

Marina blushed, probably out of slight embarrassment and spoke, "Well... we were just going to get dinner and drinks, I think we both sort of knew it was a date. Honestly, it was a long time coming. It was going great and we were out for hours just talking, then the pub closed and we decided to go back to the flat. We were just on his bed, sitting there, still talking. I didn't expect the night to go the direction it did but I think so much as been pent up for so long we just sort of took the opportunity. It was really great."

"And..." Angelina smirked.

"And... we kissed. It was fireworks you guys! We kept going because it was so wonderful! To be honest, I never thought that I'd be able to... I never thought I'd be able to be with someone again, not after Graham. I went on a date or two over the summer but anytime they tried anything I got really scared. But when George kissed me, I didn't flinch, I didn't tense up. And oh my goodness it was so amazing. He was so gentle with me. He held my hand the entire time. It was so strange, in a good way. He... he made me feel like a person rather than a vessel. D'you know what I mean?"

Rory nodded, happy that Marina was healing and was finally doing something that was good for her.

"George taught me that sex isn't just a thing we do to make men feel good! It can be about us, too!"

Angelina laughed softly, "Well, obviously! Are you telling me Montague never made you —" Marina shook her head and Angelina nearly toppled over.

"I'm so happy, you guys!" The raven haired girl beamed, "It was... probably the best experience of my life. I literally cried after, which I was ashamed of at first. He got worried he had done something wrong, I freaked him out a bit. But then he held me and told me how beautiful and worthy and wonderful I was and how much he cared about me. Then I felt proud of myself, because having sex with George was a really big deal and I did it. For the first time since January I don't feel like damaged goods. It's like I'm finally... clean. I've washed my hands of all the bullshit Graham was feeding me."

"I'm really proud of you, Marina." Rory smiled, she was so genuinely happy for her best friend. Something in the back of her head always made sense of Marina and George, they had a unique closeness Rory was never able to understand. "Do you plan on going out again, then?"

Marina nodded, still blushing, "Yeah, probably sometime this week. I hope he has the same intentions as I do, you know... we could really be something serious."

"I think he does, Mar," Angelina nodded, "I don't fancy him as someone who would do something like that and then not follow up with it."

"Me neither," Rory said, "There's no need to worry. I'm really excited for you two."

Marina reached across the table and grabbed Angelina and Rory's hands and gave them a tight squeeze with a gentle smile.

"Thank you guys."