Trophy room

"I need to kiss you?" Nikki put the crown back on her head. Leaning forward, she stood on tiptoes and kissed him on cheek. "Did I cure it?"

He laughed again, causing more petals to fall off his head. "Uh-oh. It looks like it didn't work," he said in mock disappointment. "We'll just have to try this again." He pulled the flower chain off his head and leaned down to kiss her square on the lips.

Nikki smiled into the kiss, wrapping one hand in his hair, and letting the other cup his face. This is perfect, so perfect. When they finally had to break apart, Nikki looked up at him and said breathlessly, "Well, are you cured?"

His lips pursed together in an amused smile. "Oh, I think so," he said, letting the small smile widen into a grin. His arms had snaked around her waist during their kiss and he let them rest there, hoping it didn't bother her.

[IMMA PAUSE THIS, BECAUSE IT IS TOO CUTE TO END RIGHT HERE.]

"If you are cured, does that mean I can't do it again?" Nikki pouted lightly. She rested her head on his chest, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. "You are wonderful, you know that, right?" She kissed his jaw lightly.

"I think you're pretty fantastic too," he said, staring absentmindedly at the cabinet of trophies behind her. "Beautiful as well," he added quietly.

[I think we should bring up the paper bag thing, but differently since it'll be IC.]

[Will only be on sporadically]

Nikki smiled softly at his last words. "So, you don't think I should draw a smiley face on a paper bag, cut eye slits and where it everywhere?" She giggled. "I could even use yarn for hair."

[Okay, I got the paper bags in!]

[That's ok. Me too from Tuesday on. ]

Fred chuckled. "If you did that, I'd have to take it and burn it. Or wear one myself," he replied. "It would be very unconventional," he mused, a smile still playing over his face.

[Yay paper bags!]

"You'd burn the paper bag I spent so much time decorating? Or steal it and wear it yourself?" Nikki frowned. "If you wore a paper bag, I wouldn't be able to kiss you, and I think that would be very bad. I would not like that, not at all." She gave him a light peck on the lips.

[You need to ask her to the ball!!!!!]

[Eurgh. I know... I was gonna think of a really romantic way, but since it technically starts today...]

Fred laughed. "I would never steal your paper bag," he said, aghast. "I would get one of my own. Then we'd match," he added with another laugh. "But, like you said, then I wouldn't be able to kiss you. That wouldn't be any fun." His eyes drifted to the wall next to them and he noticed a poster for the spring gala. I should ask Nikki to that. It's not like anyone else will ask me, he thought. And I really like her. I will. He pulled back so he could look at her properly. "Nikki, would you like to go to the spring gala?" he asked, nodding his head to the poster on the wall.

Nikki felt herself blush. Why do I keep blushing around him? "Sure, that would be great!" She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. "Merlin! We should go get ready!"

"Oh wow. We should." He kissed her on the cheek before turning to head to the Gryffindor common room. "See you soon," he called over his shoulder with a last grin.

She stood there for a moment, before somehow joining up with her time-turned self that was at the Lake.

Nikki entered the Trophy Room again, hoping to find Fred.

Fred walked down the corridor towards the trophy room. He hadn't seen Nikki since that horrifying event at the gala. He figured he'd come back here and see if she happened to be thinking the same thing as him. Even if she wasn't here, he could just sit there and remember what they had had before last night. As he walked in to the room, he saw someone's feet. He lifted his gaze from the floor and saw Nikki. He nearly ran to her, but stopped awkwardly a few feet away. "Hello," he said quietly in a tone that hopefully conveyed how miserable he'd been since he last saw her.

Nikki spun around, and tripped over her own feet. "Gravity, you horrible crime boss you!"

Fred immediately lunged out to catch her and couldn't help giving a small laugh at her coinciding comment. "I see you're still plagued by that guy," he commented, giving her a tiny smile as her stood her back on her feet. Once he was sure she was stable, the laughter on his face faded again. "How have you been?" he asked, dreading the answer.

[By the way, I'm expecting some crying at some point, so feel free to work it in wherever it's necessary.]

Nikki bit her lip. "Not that great. You?"

Fred's chest tightened with remorse. He could tell she hadn't taken it well and he had no idea what to do about it. "I'm so sorry," he said quietly. "I've been pretty down in the dumps too though," he added truthfully.

"Well, if both of us were unhappy, I'd say that is a pretty good sign you weren't playing a game with me." She paused. "What happened?"

[*bangs head against wall*]

[Ange! Did you get my PM?]

Fred shook his head. "I may be a bit of a prankster [what an understatement], but I'd never do something like that," he said sincerely. "As for what happened," he continued, "I'm not precisely sure what happened," he admitted. "I think Angela mistook me for George," he said.

Nikki winced. "That's not good. " She shook her head. "Does this mean you aren't mad at me for running off? Because Iwouldbemadatme..."

"Of course I was mad at you!" he said louder than he had intended that to come out. He pressed the palm of his hand to his forehead. "I was mad because you ran out before I had a chance to say anything. To explain myself," he clarified. Even if I had no idea what was going on at the time, he thought bitterly to himself.