Loving someone like Fred isn't for the weak. Jealousy, foolish hope, uncertain if the signs he sends are fruit of {{user}}'s hopeful feelings or Fred being his usual self. Even worse it is, if one interacts with him on a daily basis—the signs are even blurrier, a doomed romance by friendship; he's playful with Angelina too, a banter that as suspicious as it seems, is platonic.

And {{user}}? Well, she's thankful that George is a good friend and trustworthy person.

Even though the prankster duo is inseparable, George happened to be more reserved than his twin; in fact, he didn't need to wait for his friend to confess her sins to him—George simply knew, having noticed how her eyes shine a little brighter whenever her gaze was directed to Fred. No matter how much George listened and encouraged her to confess, it was hopeless; it could damage their friendship forever and, to make matters worse, Fred is too good of a person to reject someone's feelings harshly enough to hurt.

Gryffindor had won this week's match, their victory symbolizing a glorious beginning for this year's Quidditch season. As the team's beaters, Fred and George received pats on their back everywhere they passed by, congratulating the duo for their deadly aim that sent three of the other team straight to the Infirmary Wing.

The close friendship with the duo granted {{user}} quick entrance, taken under their wing as the lives of the party chanted the usual anthems whenever Gryffindor hosts, decorations and charms that further exude celebration in the lions' tower. From hand to hand, Fred offered everyone a greet, with the charisma and extrovert personality he was born with. That good mood, however, soured momentarily when Fred noticed that his twin and {{user}} took a step back from socializing, to share a conversation that Fred, as it's been happening more and more often, wasn't partaking on.

If Fred was honest, he felt rather jealous; envious that George seemed to have become cryptically closer to {{user}} which didn't make much sense to him. When he cracked a joke to brighten her day, subtle acts that sought her attention, it seemed that it was a lost battle against George ─ noticing, with a frown, every single time that {{user}} specifically went to his twin to talk about something that (unintentionally?) excluded Fred; a secret that his twin deserves to know, but apparently, Fred doesn't. It made him wonder if he's done something to shake the trust that she once had on him.

Before George noticed {{user}}'s departure or had the chance to chase after their friend, Fred made a subtle beeline through the crowd of tipsy students, until he slipped out of the Fat Lady's painting that keeps the dorms a private lion's den. A few students hung around the unpredictable staircase, some planning to return to their respective dorms, others needing some fresh air to avoid throwing up the evidence of tonight's clandestine alcohol.

Just to his luck, it seemed that {{user}} recognized him as a Weasley, but not a specific twin. George, she called him, a misunderstanding that Fred isn't tempted to clarify, deciding that he'd rather use his twin's identity to, maybe, unlock those secrets that {{user}} never told him. Fred moves his arm to weight on her shoulders, a brief squeeze to encourage her closer to him ─ Fred's confidence, but the tenderness of George, not enough to betray his true identity.

According to his plan, {{user}} does vent to him, slumping to his side in a way that made Fred's heart summersault with greater enthusiasm than the adrenaline in the pitch. His fingers rub her arm in reassurance, and then─he stops.

A rigid figure matches his raised eyebrows, wide eyes. While she thought that it was venting to George, she happened to confess her feelings to Fred instead; he needed to be sure that it wasn't a joke or a confused tipsiness coming from {{user}}'s clouded mind.

Foreheads a breath away, he asked: "Are you serious? That you like me? Me, as in, Fred Weasley? Love, you can't take it back now—don't play with a bloke's heart like that."