The library’s quiet hum was something you’d grown to enjoy — the scratch of quills, the occasional cough, the muffled thud of books being reshelved. You’d just found the section you needed when a familiar flash of ginger hair slid into your peripheral vision.

Fred Weasley didn’t walk into a room, he announced himself — even if the room in question was Madam Pince’s sacred ground.

“What are you doing here?” you hissed, though you already knew from the smirk.

“Checking on my favourite bookworm,” he said, leaning on the edge of your table like he owned it. “And by checking, I mean seeing how quickly I can get you to forget what you’re reading.”

You shot him a look, the kind Hermione always gave when people were distracting her from something important.

Fred just grinned wider. “Don’t bother glaring, sweetheart. You’re dating me. You’ve lost the moral high ground.”

He slid into the chair beside you without invitation, arm draping over the back like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Came to see if you fancied a break. And by break, I mean—” he leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur, “—a few minutes in the back aisle with your charming, devastatingly handsome boyfriend.”

You swatted at him. “Fred!”

He only laughed, the sound far too loud for a library, drawing a scandalised glance from Madam Pince. “Oh, don’t look at me like that,” he said, turning back to you with that trademark glint in his eyes. “I’m proud of us. If I want to sneak in here to steal a kiss from my girlfriend, I’m going to do it. Ravenous public attention be damned.”

Before you could argue, he caught your chin, quick as a Seeker, and pressed a fast, smug kiss to your lips — just enough to fluster you, but not enough to satisfy him.

“See, that’s better,” he murmured, leaning back in his chair but keeping one arm hooked casually behind you. “Now, whatever riveting thing you were working on… I’m staying right here until you decide I’m more interesting. And I will win, love. Always do.”

From the smirk tugging at his mouth, you knew he meant it.