RP: Happy Birthday to Me!

[anon_fred]

Date: 1 April 2003
Characters: Fred Weasley and Angelina Johnson
Location: Starting out at Angelina’s flat, then we’ll see
Status: Private
Summary: It’s Fred’s birthday too, and he’s treating himself to a present
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[anon_angelina]

Angelina had kept herself busy in the preceeding days - and weeks. She and Katie had a plan now, one that needed to be implemented. It would keep her busier of course, once it was less plan and more action but still, there was some relief in it. Having something to immerse herself in, something familiar in it's own way. It was a bit of a dichotomy, both hating it and loving it at the same time.

But underlying everything had been thoughts of Fred.

He was usually lingering somewhere in her mind regardless, but she'd worried about him since the meeting. The despondance had surprised her, and worried her - but he had slipped out before she could leave, so she hadn't been able to follow him, and to make him talk. And as she had been seemingly avoided in the interim, Angelina had given him the wide berth he'd seemed to want. Not perhaps her usual style, but her own purpose had been there, and she'd had the egotistical and somewhat justifiable concern that she was part of what had caused the attitude he had.

But then April 1st had rolled around, and Angelina had basically decided to fuck that, the passive avoidance, no matter what it resulted in.

She hadn't needed the practical jokes at the Beedle Bar to remind her of his and George's impending birthday. She'd already been out shopping for his gift before stopping off for a pint, which was a harder task in itself than it sounded. Years well in the past she might have gotten him and George similarly sentimental (or lack thereof) in terms of gifts, and the gracious gift of getting her naked later in the evening if he was very lucky. But the latter seemed callous, no matter what had been 'decided' on before, so she'd settled for deciding on a gift that was maybe a bit better and meaningful than the one currently shoved in her top drawer for George.

Of course in the end she basically said fuck that as well, and got a duplicate. Wasn't quite her forte anyway, and she thought it a meaningless pretext with the way things had been shifting - it wasn't like she needed a gift to break down the proverbial barrier he had put up, it was something she should have been doing earlier anyway.

So she'd made her way home with the gift shrunk into her pocket, surprised then to see Fred banging on her door.

"The wanker lives!" The words were out with pointed and sharp amusement before she thought about it, keeping it lighter rather than all the ways it could have gone - and the similar words she might have used if he opened his flat door to her. "I was beginning to wonder. Though, I suppose it's your birthday, I should dispense with any disparaging names."

It was better this way anyway. How was she going to start off his birthday? 'Hey, want to know exactly how much I'm risking your future here in Annwn?'. "That is a sideways Happy Birthday," she informed him, taking the last few strides to stand beside him, "in case you were wondering otherwise. I thought I had become persona non grata enough with you I might be leaving your gift and a note in front of your flat door." The last words weren't entirely in jest, and they were seeking because she wasn't entirely sure where things stood, or where he wanted them to stand. And not just with 'them', specifically.

[anon_fred]

Hearing Angelina’s voice Fred turned around to face her, taking in both her presence and her words. He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck. “Uhm, no no, not at all,” he said feeling bad that she had thought he didn’t want her around, “actually, you’re a persona very much grata, I’ve just not been, uhm…” He pursed his lip, wiggling them a bit as he thought of how to best explain without a lengthy rant what had been going on lately. “I’ve just not been very… how should I say it?” He glanced at her and shrugged slightly. “I’ve stayed away from everybody, moping; let’s just put it that way, yeah? And birthday or not I’ll give you this one disparaging name,” he said with a small smirk, scratching the back of his neck, “I uhm… I deserved it, don’t I?”

As he looked at her, he began wondering why it was that finding the right words to tell her what he had come here for was so hard. His fingers tightened up in a fist, and lightly he knocked them against the door frame, as he looked from her to his hand, clearing his throat before he looked back at her. “So… yeah… I uhm… Ange…” Good job, Weasley, he thought to himself, that ought to convince her. “I came over to… I mean, I wanted to…” He sighed, frustrated and annoyed with his own lack of eloquence and initiative. “I wanted to apologise… for leaving the way I did, and for the things I said at the meeting. Well… bursting them out like that.”

[anon_angelina]

"I understand," Angelina said simply, because she did. Maybe not empathize, but she did understand. It wasn't about her, it was about him, even if she still worried she was a sort of catalyst. She gave him a smile, "You always deserve it though, you prat - the names and more, but not for that."

She let him look for the right words for a moment, not to make him suffer, but to listen to whatever he had to say. And though Fred wasn't eloquent in it, and not saying much, it was apparent it was an apology rather than anything else.

With a wave, she cut him off, saying quietly. "Listen Fred, you don't have to apologize for that. Why on earth would you think you did? You feel what you feel, and you have a right to all of it, including bursting it out in public to be misunderstood. The only thing I'm ever perturbed about is being shut out entirely, yeah? I mean it's one thing when I'm the one eschewing your company...." She smiled lightly, an attempt at levity. "Just talk to me Fred, don't shut me out - and don't fucking avoid me, it's all I ask. I can come break down your door, but I don't want to."

With a sigh, she stepped towards him, "Listen, we've got a lot to talk about, yeah? Tempting though it is to somewhat ignore it. That meeting made it abundantly clear, and a lot has happened since then. Talk, bleeding fun though that sounds like. And though I'm normally in favour of tackling things head on, and getting them settled and understood, maybe we can be persuaded to set it aside for a bit?"

She snorted with an upcurve of her lips, "Yes, I do realize it's more me inherent than we usually, who needs to be convinced to put things aside."

"After all though," Angelina smiled a bit wider then, leaning against the wall beside him, "it is your birthday, your day."

[anon_fred]

Fred turned to face her, though kept leaning against the wall. The smirk that was on his lips was a good mixture of self-satisfied and eagerly anticipating. “That’s why I came over here, Ang,” he said and sent her a grin. “Not to talk, but to stop being dead.” Yes, he knew they needed to talk, but if they started out with it, he doubted he’d ever get the chance to prove to her that he was going to start living again. Life is life, fight for it. The last sentence on the picture from George kept going through his head, and the longer he looked at Angelina, the more true it rang to him.

For a moment he wondered about what she meant when she said that a lot had happened since the meeting, but she had also said that she would like to wait with the talking until later. Still, her smile was wide and looking at her, he recognized just why it was it was her he had taking more than just a liking to all those years ago. “We’ll talk later,” he promised her, before his smile turned into a grin and he tilted his head to the side. “So where are you taking me and what did you get me?”

[anon_angelina]

Stop being dead? Well, it was an appropriate analogy for how he'd been acting, if not the potential for his life here - how much if it was reasonable, and how much was not, didn't matter. It was both disgruntling and a relief to put it all aside though for a moment, for a day.

"Ah, it starts, what you really came over for," Angelina said with a roll of her eyes, "gimme gimme gimme never gets." She gave a bit of a sheepish grin, "And it credits me with a bit more thought than I actually put into today, if you want the honest to Merlin truth. I'll do thoughtful for the next meaningful holiday, I swear."

She reached into her back pocket, pulling out the package shrunk there to a miniscule size, and setting it in her hand. "But, the present I can manage." Waving her wand, it sprung to full size and she had to grasp with wandhand to keep it from falling. "New beater's bat," she said with chagrin, "very deep, I know, but Alicia's store has it all. And it's probably been awhile since you bought yourself a new one.....or maybe she gave..." She'd even inscribed it with a small saying, Beware my wrath, George's having a mirrored version saying Whack it, whack it good - thinking he could appreciate the innudendo.

She gave a relatively unapologetic laugh. "Merlin, whatever, I don't excel at presents. And I didn't plan any moonlight picnics, or big Quidditch games, or a big surprise party. So...I fear I fail at birthdays. But...is it a cop out of I tell you to pick anything you want to do today, anywhere you want to go...simply whatever, and I will do everything in my power to make it happen? Well, whether it is a cop out or not, the offer stands. Even if you want me to raise a Quidditch team of all time greats to play against on short notice."

"Because if I have to make a plan," she snorted, "it's going to be a trip to one of the fine establishments in town, my treat. And doesn't that sound exciting?"

[anon_fred]

”Not exactly the real reason,” Fred admitted with a smirk and a teasing waggle of his eyebrows, ”since that reason would require talk and explanation, but I promise I’ll tell you later.”

His eyes, though, went big with excitement and surprise when he saw the bat lying in Angelina’s hand. “Whoa…” he breathed as he reached out to let his fingers clutch around the handle. “I’ve never had a brand new bat before. Angelina, this is brilliant!” Without thinking, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her lips in thanks, before he was back to admiring and touching the bat in his hand. “Beware my wrath…” he read with a chuckle as his fingertips trailed over the etched words. “Would that be yours or mine?” he teased, before he stepped away from her, giving the bat a few swings, feeling how perfectly the weight fitted his strength, and the size of it the length of his arm and size of his hand. Now that he thought about it, it hadn’t shifted in his hands, which meant that it would have had to fit even before he grabbed hold of it. Knowing it was a silly sentiment, it still made him smile, over the simple fact that Angelina Johnson knew his bat size.

“Thank you,” he said, genuinely meaning it, before he stepped back to her, not wanting to look stupid and continue talking to her from that far a distance. After all, he had come over to spend time with her. “As for your other offer… could be a cop out, but let’s say that it isn’t, because…” he shrugged, “it’s too early in the day for a moonlight picnic and the big Quidditch game includes too many people, and… it’s been done. Let George take care of those things, yeah?” He smirked, though it soon turned into a real smile. “So let’s instead explore that idea of yours about the establishments in town, only… let’s say, have them bring the food to us, so it would be something like pizza, Chinese, curry and beer, and we either take it to one of the fields or to your flat, if that’s more of your fancy, and I’d say you didn’t fail at birthdays.”

Reaching out he hooked his index finger with hers. “Call me slushy, but I’d just really like to spend today with you, and if one of those fields turns out to be a sun shiny beach, then all the better.”

[anon_angelina]

"Good point," Angelina conceded with a grin, lips still soft from his kiss as he pulled back, "my wrath is something to be feared for sure, but outside of flagrant fouls, yours is something that can be taken out on the pitch." For all it had little sentimental value, she found the satisfaction in watching him swing it around, seemingly enamoured of the gift.

At his suggestion, she smiled at their joined hands, and didn't pull back - glad to have an expression of happiness on both their faces. "Nah, not slushy. That would be your in lurve twin brother. Just...nice." She didn't know exactly how much truth was in the answer when she responded, "I'd like to spend the day with you too, without too much else detracting from just that. And the rest, it's a wish I can eaily indulge, if you'll give me a few minutes."

"The fields," she decided, "not that my flat isn't amazing in it's own right." Angelina squeezed his finger lightly that was still joined with hers. "Tell you what, you apparate there, let the magic pick out your deepest wish for a location without my own thoughts interfering - and I'll get the food and drinks, and meet you there and we can...play it by ear from there." She couldn't help but grin, "And since you've got both yours intact unlike some, that makes it a little bit easier."

Not bothering for a trip into the flat, she patted his chest goodbye, closing her eyes and concentrating, ending up in front of the Laughing Lotus. She normally had more issues choosing specific Indian dishes, but not wanting to take too long getting back to Fred, she chose them at random - waiting impatiently as the order was prepared. Taking the sack once it was ready, she made another stop to get a few beers - and apparated herself carefully to the fields, not wanting to spill what she was carrying.

Looking around, she waited to see if Fred was there, and what the field had shifted too.

[anon_fred]

Fred nodded his agreement to Angelina’s suggestion, watching her apparate away, before he pulled out his wand, shouldered his bat, and apparated himself to The Wanting Place. He hadn’t been there for more than a moment, before he felt the air shift around him as his surroundings changed and he opened his eyes… and found himself standing in the middle of the Gryffindor common room.

His smile turned into a bright grin, as he turned around, seeing that everything was as it had always been, except for it being empty, no students around at all, just the common room with its huge chairs and comfortable sofas in front of the fireplace. For a moment he wondered why, when it struck him, that one of the things he’d always wanted to try, was just being alone in the common room. Not once had that happened before.

Still grinning he let himself fall down on the big sofa, his legs dangling over the armrest, as he looked up into the ceiling, seemingly far above him, before movement off to the side caught his attention. Turning his head, his eyes landed on Angelina. “Welcome to Hogwarts,” he grinned at her, as he held his hand out to her. “Guess the sun shiny beach’ll come later.”

[anon_angelina]

Stepping forward, the scene enveloping her, Angelina felt herself surprised to be entering into the Gryffindor common room. She raised her eyebrows, looking around, as she set the bags she had carried in on one of the few tables that were located in the room. Ignoring the food and drinks for a moment, she went over to the couch, sliding her hand into the one he offered and sinking into the cushions beside him.

"Of all the places in all the world," she smiled, taking in the familiar surroundings. "Hogwarts, really? Not that I didn't love my time there, but I still spent a lot of time too just waiting to get out - onto bigger and better things. But just as well," she sighed, remembering exactly how many hours had been spent talking, partying, and studying in the very room they were sitting in, "I didn't bring my bathing suit."

Taking in the isolation of the room, Angelina added, "I was always chomping at the bit to head out for the holidays, but I can see one of the side benefits of staying around once all the loud and annoying first years had gone home to their parents. Even if we kept them off the furniture when we were around, it did detract from the enjoyment." She grinned, "Yes, I know, I was a first year once upon a time - but that seems like such a long time ago. And I was never annoying, I swear, not even when I was trying to nudge my way into Quidditch discussions."

She tilted her head towards Fred, "Hmm, let's see, there has to be something more to it. But, even not, what's your favourite memory of the common room?"

[anon_fred]

“My favourite memory of the common room?” he mused and idly let his fingers caress over her hip. “I’m not sure, there are quite a few, like… bringing up trays of food from the kitchens and all of us spending the night down here…” his smile turned soft as he reminisced, “or… snogging in the corner when everybody was around though no one was paying attention, drinking Firewhiskey in that chair right over there,” Fred pointed to the chair closest to the fireplace, “the burn of it making me think I’d never be able to breathe again.”

He looked up at her, his smile now a wicked smirk. “Or pulling the legs of the firstyears who tried to butt in on the Quidditch talk… and of course you were never annoying.” He shook his head. “Nuh uh, I watched you, and you didn’t give up. Of course, it was just Charlie that was there, so there was nothing to be afraid of, because… he’ll talk to anybody, but still.” He gave her hip a gentle squeeze. “Though I think it’s this place because it has the best sofas around, so it would make for a good place to start out with the…” Knitting his eyebrows together, he looked up at Angelina. “What did you bring?” He shrugged, and waved it off. “No matter what it is, I thought we ought to be comfortable, and then later we can go see about bathing without your bathing suit.” His grin was wide, nearly touching both his earlobes at once at the thought of that. “What’s your favourite memory from here?”

[anon_angelina]

"My favourite memory?" Angelina pondered, "Those - well, psuedo slumber parties that never actually had any slumber rank right up there on the list. I miss that, you know? The group of us. I suppose it was inevitable - drifting apart, pairing up, branching outside - even if Voldemort didn't happen, even if everything after Voldemort didn't happen. Because it started first year out as it was, careers and such becoming all consuming. Doesn't stop me from missing it though. Not knowing what you have until it's gone and all that."

She shot him a smile, "Course there were some members of the group I was more fond of than others, and some I was..well, less fond of."

Angelina elbowed Fred lightly, "We could have made some brilliant memories at graduation too, if some wankers hadn't been so impatient to get out of here they left school early."

She thought for a moment though, the feel of his fingers soft against her hip intruding peripherally into her thoughts, inadvertently shifting closer each time. There was comfort and arousal that came with a simple touch from Fred. "But," she finally decided, "if I had to pick one specific memory, I'd go with the first Quidditch celebration after winning the cup for the first time. Would have preferred to hold it in the great hall myself, but the other houses might have objected. All us Gryffs packed in here, jubilant - 'twas grand. Or maybe it was the celebration the last time," she smirked slightly, "egotistical or not, it tasted a little bit better when I captained it - but still, that first celebration was special, since all of us were there."

She listed off the dishes she'd brought, but her mind wasn't on the food at that moment. "These are damn comfortable," she agreed, the cushions soft against their backs, "and we didn't even have to threaten any annoying little kids. Maybe I can snag one of these for the flat." Though she didn't think it was actually possible specifically from there. For all the last time she'd used the fields she'd been...actually some place else, she didn't think they were right then. Maybe more an..illusion of it. But either way, it didn't matter right then, and she was enjoying it. Waving her wand, she summoned a few of the dishes over - and some of the beer.

"Nah, it's more you I'm interested in seeing naked," she told him bluntly with a grin, as she opened the plastic containers, "after all birthday...birthday suit...seems appropriate, no? Of course I could probably think of a few more interesting things to do if clothing was 'optional'."

Licking her fingers as sauce got on them, Angelina laughed, "So, shall we recount favourite Hogwarts memories room by room then, since I was ridiculous enough to limit it? I'm sure the loo's got some great ones after all. Now if you wanted memories from the astronomy tower..."

[anon_fred]

For a moment Fred got lost just watching Angelina lick her fingers, before she laughed and her words made him smile as began unpacking the bread. “Memories from the Astronomy Tower..?” he smirked before he grinned and nodded. “Hell yeah, and maybe a tale or two from the Trophy Room…” Once he had a piece of the bread broken off, he scooped up a bit of the curry, and held it up for Angelina to taste. “And then tell me why it’s only the birthday boy who should be dressed in his birthday suit. Ought to go for the guest as well, right? Or the host… or… well… you.” Not-at-all-discreetly, he looked up and down her body before he nodded. “Yeah… definitely you, even if it isn’t your birthday.”

“So…” Pushing himself up on his elbow, he reached across Angelina, and grabbed the beers she had brought, before opening two and handing her one of them. “If George n’me hadn’t been in such a hurry to get out of here…” he paused to take a long gulp from his bottle, “which brilliant memory would we be having now?”

[anon_angelina]

"Who said I was talking about you?" Angelina smirked, eyebrows arched in challenge before she accepted the morsel of food from his fingers - lips brushing over the tips as she hummed in appreciation of the flavour. She wasn't entirely being facetious, though she supposed the most entertaining memories had occured with him there - if they were doing a comparison.

She fought the urge to post as his eyes raked her body, tingly feeling starting in anticipation, "I know my body is a sight for sore eyes, but it was your prudish subconscious that brought us here instead. But you're right, what's good for goose is good for the gander. Besides," Angelina slid her eyes slowly over his form, "I wouldn't want to leave you naked there all alone and let you get...cold."

The sip of the beer was refreshing, and she took another long pull as she contemplated his question. "Well, we wouldn't having anything now, but back then....Merlin if I know exactly, I'm not a fucking diviner. Or...well, whatever exactly you'd call it for predicting the past."

"But if I had to guess," she took another bite of curry, from her own hands this time, "I always imagined you and your brother would have found a way to liven up the pomp and circumstance of graduation a little. I probably would have lectured at the time, but would have been welcome. Bloody boring. And the Quidditch celebrations would have been more memorable. Merlin, the games would have been more memorable - not that the sods who replaced you weren't fairly competent, but it was us chasers," she winked, "who pretty much carried the team, and we eked out wins. And once NEWT results were in, and the ickle underlings were all fast asleep in their beds, I might have even been convinced to make a few of the rooms a little more...memorable."

"But alas," she shook her head with a mock sigh, "none of it was to be. That, and all the miniscule little things that were missed. You became too busy getting bloody rich, while the rest of us suffered through the rest of that miserable year."

[anon_fred]

“I said you were talking about me,” Fred said with a bit of a shrug. He wasn’t ignorant enough to think that he was the only one Angelina had ever been with. “So… indulge me, yeah, and exclude those other blokes.” He sent her a small smile to show that it was okay. He knew, she’d told him, after all.

Making himself comfortable on the sofa he listened to her. Part of him felt bad that he and George had left as early as they had, but the other part of him knew that it couldn’t have been any differently. The way Umbridge was running the school, it was either this or something horrible that would have been the outcome of that. “Hmm…” he said pursing his lips slightly. “Maybe we should have stuck around back then, eh?” For a moment he considered what she had said. “Now… You say ‘prudish thoughts’,” he finally chuckled, “I say ‘comfortable sofas’, but this is The Wanting Place so…”

Reaching up his hand, he gently ran it over her face. “Close your eyes…” Once he was certain she wasn’t looking, he wrapped his arm more firmly around her waist, and imagined that sun shiny beach they had talked about before, only now complete with the Gryffindor Commonroom sofa and coffee table. “I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly back then, but I’d very much like the chance to make up for what was missed out on… if you’ll let me.”

[anon_angelina]

"Consider them forgotten," Angelina replied with a wave of her hand. In truth it had been an allusion to the only boy she'd ever 'experimented' with in the astronomy tower before Fred - though she'd not been innocent after Fred - a youthful and rather pathetic experience, that was expected at that age. But when they'd 'broke up' a day later, it had wounded her little first year heart.

She was surprised, but obliged when he motioned for her to close her eyes, though she didn't take being unaware of her surroundings well. So it was hard to relax against him, though she tried, as his arm slid firmly around her waste. She hummed a tune, wondering more what was up his sleeve, since though she suspected it was linked to her last comment - she wasn't sure.

It might have been easier to keep them closed until she was told to open them, but Fred's words spurred her eyes open at the first sound of his voice. But even before that she'd felt the warmth of the sun on her skin, and the smell of the sand fill her nostrils - her jumper and jeans already feeling stifling against her skin, and the brightness shining through the seeming thinness of her eyelids. But still, the sofa's they sat on hadn't shifted - they were still snuggled into them, and the coffee table with food still sat in front of them. A complete contrast in settings.

"You don't have to make it up to me," Angelina told him in amusement, tilting her head towards Fred, "though you did mess up my Quidditch team balance. And left me high and dry for intimacy - well, at least intimacy within the walls of Hogwarts, because it wasn't like you dropped off the face of the planet, only seemingly."

Shielding her eyes agains the sun, she laughed, "But I'll let you make whatever amends you feel are neccessary. Within reason of course. Though I'm not sure any memories we missed at Hogwarts included a beach."

[anon_fred]

“No, the beach is just for warmth,” Fred chuckled, glad to hear the laugh from Angelina. There had been far too little laughing from her since she had come to Annwn, well, probably before then as well, but he couldn’t really be sure of that. “What you called prudish thoughts earlier, was just me remembering the comfort of the common room, when I’d really like to see you in your suit matching my birthday suit…” he paused for a moment, to look over at the water, before he looked back at Angelina with a bright grin. “Too much explanation. Let’s just say that now we have the sofas I’ve been dying to try out with you, and the sun shiny beach that just begs for you to put on the bathing suit you didn’t bring along.”

Reaching up, he caught a lock of her hair and gently tug at it as he let it slip between two of his fingers. “We may’ve missed some memories at Hogwarts, but… maybe we should just start making new memories instead of catching up?” For a moment he twirled the lock around his finger. “That’s why I came over to spend today with you, you know?”