It Was Always You

“Happy Birthday!”

Maxine blinked several times as she tried to take in what she was seeing. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this.

The room before her was decorated with purple streamers and balloons, and there were at least a dozen faces grinning at her as she stood there in shock. Off to the left stood Fred and George, wearing identical smirks, and beside them was Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were there as well, along with Sir Nicholas and Neville, who had walked in behind her to join the crowd.

Maxine felt her face redden with embarrassment as she spoke. “I can’t…I mean, wow.” Everyone laughed at her inability to form a coherent sentence, and she was grateful when small talk was made amongst them, removing the spotlight from her.

“So,” Fred beamed, as he and George walked over to her, “Surprised?”

“Understatement,” Maxine responded. “And you know I’m gonna kill you both, right?”

“Eh, you could never do that,” George smirked back. Music began playing and before she could protest George had grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into the middle of the room.

She felt the now-familiar fluttering sensation in her stomach and tried to ignore it, just like every day that week. She refused to accept the fact that she could possibly fancy one of her closest friends, even though the feeling had only gotten stronger as time went on.
Maxine couldn’t help but laugh as George began dancing in a ridiculous fashion, and she hardly noticed anything that was going on around her as he grabbed both of her hands in his and began twirling her around. When the song was over, he wrapped an arm around her waist and dipped her, causing her to clutch onto his shirt.

“Don’t you trust me?” He asked, his face a few inches from hers, and then in one swift motion he pretended to drop her, catching her only a few inches from the ground.

“You’re a complete arse,” She stated, trying to act angry but failing. She couldn’t be angry at George. He was just too adorable.

The rest of the party was filled much more dancing (She danced with Fred, Neville, and Harry), drinking Butterbeer, and eating Cauldron Cakes and other sweets that the twins had brought up from the kitchens. It was by far the best birthday that Maxine had ever had and she didn’t want it to end. However, just like every other day, the sun set and nighttime arrived.

Fred, Maxine, and George were the last to leave and Maxine was in such high spirits that she linked arms with them and forced them to skip along with her.

“Maxine,” Fred mumbled, “This probably isn’t such a good idea…I ate about a dozen Cauldron Cakes…” As she looked over at Fred she realized that he did, indeed, look rather ill. “I think I’ll meet you two in the common room…”

Maxine and George watched as he departed toward the nearest lavatory and then continued on their way, arms still linked.

“Did you enjoy your birthday?” George asked, as the two reached the main staircase.
“I did,” Maxine smiled, “But you know you didn’t have to make such a fuss about it.”
“We wanted to,” George shrugged, “I wanted to.”

Maxine ignored the flutters in her stomach caused by his words and instead focused on giving the Fat Lady the password to the Gryffindor common room. George shooed a couple of first years off of the couch nearest the fireplace and he and Maxine sat in comfortable silence until Fred returned.

“What are you grinning about?” Maxine asked him, as he took a seat in an armchair beside the couch.

“Just decided to stop by Filch’s office on my way back and I’m a couple of dung bombs lighter now.”

“Without me?” George frowned. “Some brother you are.” Maxine couldn’t help but giggle at the twins’ brotherly love but immediately after found herself yawning. “Tired?”

“Obviously,” She replied, shoving George lightly on the arm before standing. “I’ll see you two tomorrow then?”

“Obviously,” The twins stated together, smirking.

A day with Fred and George was never boring, that was for sure.