Only You

Spoilers: *OOTP and HBP much later in story*

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Disclaimer: None of the characters nor the settings belong to me but are all the property of J. K. Rowling. I make no money from them.

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Though Fred was all for setting the next night for their plan, George overruled him, deciding on the following Friday. They swore everyone involved to secrecy, promising dire results should anyone squeal to someone that might alert Melody. By the time they were done, much of Gryffindor was in on it except Wood who’d have nothing to do with it, muttering darkly about the twins taking their attention off the upcoming Quidditch season. Fred mentioned something about sending a bludger at his head in the next practice, but only Harry heard him.

If Melody got a lot of odd looks from other Gryffindors the next week, she put it down to what had happened with the dementor. Soon she was so deep into classwork, she didn’t have time to notice anyway. True to their promise to Hermione, the twins said nothing about the boggart. They did their best to help her stay caught up on homework, especially since she had to spend Wednesday evening in the Potions classroom with Snape. As they sat outside the door, George muttered about finding a way to hear what was going on, an idea that sent Fred’s mind off into speculation. He was completely engrossed in an idea and spent the rest of the evening pouring through Charms texts, leaving George and Melody to work on their own.

Thursday night, George worked on potions homework while Fred again searched through a Charms textbook, making notes on a parchment. When George looked up to check on Melody, he found her fast asleep on her DADA essay. He debated letting her sleep, but with a sudden inspiration, he woke her. Pulling her to her feet, he told her his plan quietly. Grabbing Fred, they walked her to the staircase into the boys dormitory. Then he and Fred stood in front of the entrance to the stairwell talking before heading back to their table. At 11:00, when others began making noises like they were going to bed soon, George sent Fred up to their room to get her while he stood again in front of the staircase, blocking the view. Soon, all three were back at their table, no one the wiser.

“What good did that do?” Fred hissed. “She was only up there a half hour!”

“Actually, I’ve been up there since right after we went down to dinner, sleeping. Thanks, George. I owe you!” she said, smiling warmly at George.

“Well why didn’t she go to her own room?” Fred asked in a whisper.

“Because Angelina and Katie have been in and out of that dorm all evening. Eventually they would have noticed she was in both places. No one from our room has set foot in the dorm since this morning,” George hissed back.

Fred sat back mollified, and Melody finished her homework with better attention after her nap.


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The next afternoon, the two boys were waiting outside Melody’s last class. They grabbed her bag, and told her she was taking the night off. Then Fred ran off with the bag, leaving George to hang on to Melody while she railed at them both. He told her she needed a break, and they’d help her with it the next day before Quidditch practice. He wouldn’t even let her go to the dorm, pulling her instead towards the Great Hall for dinner. Furious, it was halfway through dinner before she’d even speak to them. After dinner, they followed her back to the common room where she proceeded to search for her books. When they told her they would give it back the next day, she got angry again and stormed up the steps to her room.

She changed clothes, intending to take a nap, but after laying on her bed for a bit she decided she was too wound up to sleep. She got up, muttering darkly about red-headed prats, and headed back down to the common room.

George looked up with relief when she appeared, beginning to wonder if they were going to have to send someone up to drag her back down. He jumped to his feet and grabbed her, pulling her to the side of the room.

“Melody, I’m sorry about what we did. We just both thought you needed some time to unwind, and we knew you wouldn’t take time for yourself while you had homework to do.” He rubbed his hand up and down her arm gently. “Please don’t be mad at us, Mel. We were trying to do something nice . . .” His eyes pleaded with her. “Can you forgive us?”

Melody sighed and rolled her eyes. “Merlin save me from red-headed prats who think they know me better than I do . . .” she said to the ceiling.

Fred joined them. “Oh, come on, Mel. We said we were sorry . . .” he added softly.

“Oh, all right. I forgive you!” she said in exasperation. “Like I wouldn’t forgive my favorite boys no matter what they did,” she added fondly, touching George’s cheek gently. She looked at Fred and grinned, hitting him on the arm. “You, too!”

Fred rubbed his arm. “How is that fair?” he complained. “You pat his cheek and slug me? Where’s the justice?”

George pushed him out of the way, muttering, “Git!”

Fred laughed and grabbed Melody’s hand. “Come on, Mel, we were just going to have a game. You can play, too!” He pulled her to the circle of other Gryffindor’s, pushing her into an empty space. “So. What are we playing?”

The group discussed several alternatives and finally settled on Truth or Dare, Angelina commenting that a good laugh might get Melody out of her snit. Melody stuck her tongue out at her in response, and the group laughed. The game progressed as usual, Neville having to eat a pepper imp that had been in someone’s pocket since the previous year being a highlight.

On Fred’s turn, he looked wickedly at Melody and asked, “Truth or Dare?”

She grinned and answered, “Dare, of course!” Melody had chosen dare every time since mid way through the first year.

Fred leaned forward and pinned her with his eyes. “I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but our Melody never chooses ‘Truth’ any more. That makes me think she has something to hide . . .” He looked around the circle.

She laughed and pointed out, “Be that as it may, I chose ‘Dare.’”

Fred sat back and said, “My dare is for you to answer ‘Truth’ for the next three challenges that come to you.” His words were soft, and there was a quiet giggle as everyone turned to Melody and looked at her.

Melody paled slightly, trying to think of a way out.

“What’s the matter, Melody?” George said softly. “Afraid?” He grinned wickedly. “I double dare you,” he added.

Ginny piped in, “I believe I’ll triple dare you!”

Fred laughed and called out, “Everyone who would like Mel to answer the next four challenges with ‘Truth,’ raise your hands!”

Melody looked around the circle in disbelief as the hands of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Katie, Lee, and Angelina shot up, followed quickly by several others, including Neville. She gave a short laugh and said, “Fine. I accept the dare.”

Fred sat back, delighted. He had known that it would take the others’ support to get her to accept that one. Melody looked at Lee, obviously expecting him to challenge her with his turn. To her surprise, he went for Katie, getting her to admit that she had once stolen something from Potions class because she’d had a crush on Professor Snape. Hermione then went for Angelina who’d had to admit she had lately been daydreaming about doing something naughty with Professor Lupin. Fred exclaimed in surprise on that admission and spent the next several minutes staring at Angelina with an unreadable expression on his face.

When the turn came round to Ron, he chose George. Unexpectedly, George chose ‘Truth’ instead of his usual ‘Dare.’ Ron seemed to be floundering for an idea when Fred mentioned that he knew his twin was keeping a secret that he hadn’t told anyone there, not even Mel. Ron’s head whipped around and without thinking he said, “You have a secret that even Melody doesn’t know?”

Fred cackled as George solemnly said, “Yes.”

“Well, what is it?” Ron demanded.

Fred crowed with laughter. “You’ve already asked him one thing, Ronnie! You wasted your turn!” Ron flushed with embarrassment, and the group laughed.

Fred was next forced to admit that he’d thought about kissing several people, most of them currently playing in the game. Not willing to let that one by, Katie made him tell who and was surprised to hear her own name along with nearly every other girl in the game save Ginny.

On her turn, Angelina gave Melody an evil smile and said, “Melody, you are in love with someone in this circle, aren’t you?”

Melody glared back and answered defiantly, “Yes.”

Ginny took the next turn and added, “And your boggart has something to do with who, doesn’t it?” She gave Melody an innocent look.

Melody narrowed her eyes, and her lips thinned. George said softly, “Don’t kill my sister, Melody . . .” Melody struggled for a minute before finally answering, “Fine! Yes, Ginny, it does. Happy?” Her face blushed a bright red.

Ginny grinned and said, “Quite happy, Melody! Thanks for asking!”

Neville paused and looked at Melody hesitantly, and then over to Fred. Fred glared back, and Ginny hit him on the knee. With a yelp, Neville said, “How long have you fancied the bloke, Melody?”

Melody gave a loud, exasperated sigh and cried, “What is this? Pick on Melody night???”

“Just answer the question, Melody,” Fred chortled.

With an inarticulate groan, Melody cried, “Since my first year, and I know you’re up to something, Fred Weasley! When I find out what it is, you won’t be able to sit down for a week! No, a month!”

Fred looked at George and drawled, “You know, I’m starting to regret all that help we gave her with hexes last year . . .”

George laughed and replied, “I think you should be!” He looked at Melody and said gently, “Just one more ‘Truth’ to go, Mel. You can do it.”

Melody made another sound that was a cross between a growl and a squeak that had everyone rolling in laughter.

Harry looked at Ron on his turn, and then turned his gaze to George. “I think I’ll give you a break, Melody. Besides, I want to get back to George’s secret that he hasn’t been brave enough to share with you.” He leaned back and said, “So, George? What’ll it be?”

George looked at Melody and said, “Dare.” Melody growled again and rolled her eyes.

Harry laughed. “I dare you to crawl over and whisper your secret in Melody’s ear!” he said with glee.

Melody frowned at Harry, certain that George would explode with complaints of cheating. She missed seeing him grin and crawl across the circle with a predatory grace, starting when he touched her. George settled beside her and looked warily at the others as if he was afraid they’d overhear. “Come here,” he said and pulled her towards his lap with a wink.

Deciding to play along, she let him. Once she was settled, he turned her face away from the circle and tilted his head to reach her ear. His left arm around her to support her, he pressed his right hand against her head to hold it in place as he began to whisper.

“My secret is that I have been crazy about you since the first day you walked into the Great Hall for Sorting and that I have done everything I possibly could to be near you every minute I could. I have spent nearly a year trying to get the nerve to tell you how I feel but I was too afraid. Until I heard about your boggart. So that’s my secret. I adore you, and I want you to be mine. I want all the other boys to know you belong to me so they’ll quit staring at you and fantasizing about you and so they’ll quit making excuses to talk to you in the hopes that they’ll get your attention. I want to be able to hold you close any time I want without needing a dementor or a carriage ride as an excuse. I want to lie in the grass on a sunny afternoon with your head on my chest. I want to run my fingers over your face and pull you in for a kiss.” He held her tighter as she started to pull back. “Oh yes, I want to kiss you and kiss you until neither of us can breathe. I watch your lips all the time. I watch you all the time. I think about you in class and I dream about you at night. I imagine what your mouth will taste like and how your skin will feel under my fingers. I want you, Melody. Bad.” Gently, he pressed his lips to her ear before letting go of her head and smiling at her stunned look.

Melody sat and stared at him for a minute. She heard a cough, and Harry’s head came into view as he leaned over to her. “I take it the secret was a doozy . . .” he said wryly. He held out his hand to help her back off George’s lap. For a minute, he wasn’t sure if she was going to leave his lap. Finally, she took his hand and slid back into her spot on the floor. George patted her shoulder and crawled back to his spot.

Melody continued to stare at George, not noticing the group watching. Katie and Angelina were grinning from ear to ear and clutching at each other, something Fred was quite interested in seeing. Melody finally felt a nudge from Harry. She looked at him, and he motioned to the circle.

Ron exclaimed, “Bloody hell! It’s your turn!” He yelped when Hermione slugged him.

“Oh,” said Melody softly. Her eyes widened. “Oh!” she said again. With a mental shake, she cast around for an idea. In spite of years of playing this game and thousands of nefarious ideas for dares, her mind went completely blank. She looked wildly around the circle, her gaze falling on George.

“Truth or Dare?” she breathed.

He smiled at her. “Truth,” he answered softly.

She worked for a minute to get her thoughts coherent. She’d been friends with them for a long time, and she’d never known them to be intentionally cruel to someone they didn’t already loathe. Unless it was a protest against authority. But then they still didn’t prank McGonagall or any of the professors they respected. Her voice shaky, she asked, “Was that the truth? Honest to Merlin, up and up truth?” She could barely breathe while she waited for the answer.

George caught her eyes and looked at her warmly. “Yes,” he breathed, nodding.

“Alright, Dean, your turn,” directed Fred as he grinned at Melody. She was still staring at George like there was no one else in the room. “Just don’t ask either one of them anything or we’ll be here till Halloween!” The group laughed, and the game went on.

Melody had finally managed to blink once or twice when Fred threw something at George to get his attention. “Your turn, Forge. Pay attention!”

George smiled and turned his eyes on Melody. “Last truth, Mel. . . “ he said gently. “Do you want to be my date for anything and everything that happens this year? And the rest of the time, too?” He looked at her questioningly, his heart in his eyes.

Feeling suddenly shy, Melody blushed and nodded slightly.

A huge grin spread across George’s face, and he stood up. There was a sound at the boys staircase, but no one’s eyes left George. Walking towards her, he held out his hands and said, “Can we tell everyone that we’re dating? That I’m your boyfriend, and you’re my girl?”

There was a snort of laughter from the stairs, and some of the group looked up to see Oliver Wood pick up a pillow and throw it at George’s head. “THE WHOLE BLOODY SCHOOL KNOWS YOU’RE A COUPLE, YOU PAIR OF GITS!” he yelled as the pillow bounced off George’s ear. “Everyone except you two idiots, at least!” He turned around and stomped back up the stairs.

Fred grinned and announced, “I think that’s the game!” He got up and shook hands with the other players, thanking them for their help. Then started to shoo everyone off.

Meanwhile, George had pulled Melody to her feet. “Why don’t we go sit down and talk a bit,” he suggested, nodding to the couch.

Still laboring with the unexpected shyness, Melody nodded and let him lead her to the fire,

George sat down and pulled her down next to him so that he could put his arm around her. He felt the stiffness in her body and said, “We’ve sat like this before. Relax!” With one hand, he rubbed her arm. Finally, he felt her start to settle into his body. “That’s it,” he said soothingly. “That’s perfect,” he added to himself, his eyes closing in pleasure.

Fred took it upon himself to run everyone else off. “Leave them alone, will you?” he said. “Give them some privacy. Go on with you! Find something else to stare at!” Eventually, the others started to settle into other activities. No one went near the fire, though. Not with Fred standing guard.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner, Melody,” George was saying. “I enjoyed having you around so much, and I didn’t want to scare you off. I was afraid if you didn’t feel the same as me that you might get weirded out being around me and I’d lose you as a friend, and I couldn’t risk that,” he added earnestly.

Melody giggled. Then she shrugged. “Well, obviously I can’t say anything since I’ve been doing the exact same thing!” she told him. Her hand plucked at the material covering his leg. Nervously, she added, “I was afraid I was too young. That you saw me as a little sister or something.”

George laughed and hugged her tightly. “Never, ever, have I thought of you as a little sister! Not even when you were a first year!” He kissed her temple and added, “The most beautiful, adorable, delicious first year I’d ever seen, I might add. I was deathly afraid you’d be sorted into another house,” he admitted.

Melody smiled. They sat silently for a few minutes. Then she frowned. “George?” she said softly. “What about Fred?”

George’s smile faltered. “What about him?” he asked.

“You guys have always been together,” she said thoughtfully.

He waited, but she didn’t go on. Finally, he said, “So. . . ?”

“Well. Is he going to feel left out?” she turned and looked at him. “I don’t want to come between the two of you!” she said. “What you have is special. It’s like no other relationship in the world. I don’t want to mess it up!”

George smiled at her. “You won’t mess it up, Mel. Fred and I will always be twins. We’ll always have that relationship.”

Melody persisted. “But you’re closer than even most twins. You finish each other’s sentences.”

George frowned. “Where are you going with this, Mel?” he asked uncertainly.

She shrugged. “I just don’t want everything to change, George.” She blushed suddenly and eyes dropped. “Well, I mean some things can change, but just not everything . . .”

George grinned again. “We’re not going to stop hanging out with Fred just because we’re dating, okay?” he assured her.

Melody blushed again.

George put a finger on her chin and lifted her head to meet his eyes. “What are you wanting to say, Mel?” he asked softly. She blushed again and dropped her eyes. He leaned down and tried to meet her gaze again. “Tell me. . .” he persisted.

Melody whispered, “I don’t want him to be uncomfortable if I feel like . . .” she started. George raised his eyebrows. She blushed again and tried to hang her head.

George took pity on her. “You’re wondering if we’re going to have to sneak off to snog?” he whispered and watched her blush even more. “Well,” he responded slowly. “I hadn’t really thought about it.” He looked at her and thought a few minutes. Then he asked, “Would it bother you if he was around?” He picked up her hand and held it tightly in his. “If we were all three sitting somewhere talking and I wanted to hold your hand. . . Would that bother you?”

Melody looked at her own small hand in his larger one and thought she’d never seen anything so perfect. She smiled. “No, that wouldn’t bother me,” she said after a minute, still smiling.

George pulled her closer to nestle against his chest. “And if we were sitting here by the fire, would it bug you if Fred was watching us cuddle?” he asked.

Melody’s eyes grew wide when he said ‘cuddle’ and her heart begin to beat so quickly she didn’t know if it would ever slow down. Trying to remember to breathe, she leaned her head against his chest for a moment. Her quiet voice drifted up. “No, that would be okay, too.”

George sat holding her for several moments before letting go of her hand to reach up to her face and lift her chin. Leaning his head down, he looked into her eyes. “And,” he whispered, his breath tickling her face gently. “If Fred were sitting with us somewhere, and I leaned my head down to kiss you. . .” He brushed his lips against hers gently. “Would that be a problem?”

Melody stared at his mouth, desperately wanting more. “Fred can watch whatever he wants as long as you kiss me again,” she breathed aloud, not realizing she’d spoken.

George’s eyes flashed, and his mouth swooped down on hers. His lips burned against hers as he kissed her again and again. With a soft groan, he licked at her lips with his tongue, groaning louder when her mouth opened to give him access. Trying to be gentle, he explored her mouth, marveling at the sweet taste and softness of her. His tongue teased hers until she timidly licked at his teeth. When he felt her tongue move into his mouth, he groaned again.

“Sounds painful,” came a voice from the nearby chair. “Are you sure you’re doing it right?”

George looked up and hissed. “I’ll get you for that, brother!” he warned darkly.

Melody looked at Fred and flushed, but she bravely met his eyes. “Perhaps he’s looking for pointers . . .” she said, her eyes glinting with laughter.

“So it won’t bug you if I watch?” Fred teased. “I could use all the help I can get.” He grinned at George. “Maybe you’ll let me practice on her?”

“Watch it!” warned George darkly.

“I’m trying!” Fred exclaimed in mock innocence. “You aren’t doing anything anymore!”

Melody started to laugh. “How long have you been there?” she demanded.

“Since you started worrying about my well-being,” Fred answered.

Melody turned to George. “Did you know he was there?” she asked, trying to decide whether to be outraged.

Meekly, George answered, “Yeah, I saw him sit down. Are you angry?”

Melody looked from George to Fred. Shaking her head, she started to laugh again. “I should have known!” she said aloud.

George hugged her and whispered, “Please don’t be angry.”

“I’m not, you git. At least that answers my question about him feeling too uncomfortable to hang around us, I guess,” she said ruefully. Turning to Fred, she asked, “So it really doesn’t bother you?”

Fred looked at her and said honestly, “No, it doesn’t bother me to see it. Gets a little boring, after awhile.” He grinned at her. “Can I interrupt when I get bored?”

George gave a firm “No!” while Melody said, “You can try. . .”

Fred laughed at them both. “Since we’re playing ‘True Confessions’. . .” he started, looking at George. He added, “She’s going to find out sooner or later.”

George sighed. “Yeah, we should tell her now,” he agreed. Sighing again, he said, “Mel, the game was a set up. Fred organized it all and everything that was directed at you or me was planned.” He sat, waiting glumly for her response.

Melody looked at Fred who was looking at the floor. “Oh, it was obvious that Fred had organized something!” she told them. “But why?”

“Well, we’d been planning it for some time,” Fred said. “A way of feeling out how you felt about George.”

George added, “We were supposed to have tried it last spring. That is until Mr. Funny Man over there changed the plan without telling me!”

Melody thought for a minute and then said, “Oh, the sweet nothings . . . I get it.” She looked at Fred, “But you told me to . . . “

Fred hung his head. “Couldn’t resist. It was just too perfect. . .”

She lunged at him, only stopped by George who grabbed her hips and pulled her back. “You mean we could have had all this out in the open last spring?” she demanded. “Instead of waiting and worrying all summer?”

Fred put his hands up to protect himself. “Well, he could have said something on his own, you know!” he cried in self defense.

Melody glared at him and then at George. “Yeah, he could have,” she admitted. “And I could have said something, too. So we’re all big gits, I guess.”

Fred laughed. “Well, I think it makes the two of you more git than me, thank you very much! I’m only git by association!” He ducked before the cushion George threw could hit him. “You know, I think I’ll go up to bed,” he announced, standing. “I’ve got to help someone with homework before Quidditch practice. Don’t stay up too long!” he added, heading to the stairs.

“Git!” both Melody and George said as he left.

“Sorry. I should have said something a long time ago,” George said as Melody looked at him.

She smiled and leaned up to kiss him. “Yeah, you should have,” she agreed.

George pulled her over into his lip. “You know, last night my bed smelled like you,” he whispered against her lips. “I liked it,” he added as his lips closed over hers.

The fire had burned down to embers before they finally made their way to their separate beds.