Who: Fred Weasley and Leanne Yaxley What: First date! When: Backdated to Saturday Where: Fred's place Rating: PG Status: Complete
Saturday. The night of the date. Leanne was both excited and nervous. An actual date with Fred! She had read that letter so many times over the past few days to remind herself that she wasn't dreaming. Having dinner with Fred was something she was used to, but this time it was a date. That wasn't something she had expected him to say. At the same time, it was something she had wanted to hear for so long and she had thought that it would be a long time still before she would hear it from him.
As she had written in response to him, she planned to wear the necklace he had given her. Didn't take much planning an outfit, Leanne had a sweater the exact same color as the stone. She planned to wear it with a black skirt. After she was ready to apparated to the shop and headed up the stairs to Fred and George's flat and knocked on the door.
Though he'd taken plenty of ribbing for it, Fred had gotten George to stay the night with Lee once he'd promised over and over again to send an owl or a floo message if anything went wrong. Physically, that was. Though he was recovered enough to go and say he was recovered, Fred still had moments of weakness, and it especially came through when he overdid it. He'd slept the entire day after Leanne's party and neither twin was looking forward to a repeat.
But he was looking forward to this. The flat smelled incredible, with tomato sauce simmering on the stove and a pot of garlic butter wheat noodles waiting to be dressed with the sauce sitting nearby. He tried his hardest not to think about the fact that the last time he'd gone all out cooking for a girl, it'd been the night Alicia had told him she'd cheated on him. This wouldn't go anything like that. Leanne fancied him. He was getting the feeling that he might just fancy her, too. And besides, it was Christmas!
When the knock came at the door, Fred jumped, nearly splashing himself with the sauce he was stirring. "Hang on!" he called, quietly amused at how jumpy he was considering he had such a reputation for being a flirt and confident with women. Rushing to the door, he swung it open, oblivious to the fact that he was wearing a dishtowel as an apron tucked into his trousers and an older button down shirt over his nicer dress shirt. "Hi!" he greeted, then impulsively leaned down to press a light kiss against her lips. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Fred." Leanne greeted as she came in. "You look very nice." It was partly teasing and partly a compliment to him with the button down shirt over a nicer one and a dishtowel in his trousers. She was still feeling a little nervous. She didn't know if he fancied her or not, but this was a step in the right direction, though she knew she'd have agreed even if it was just as friends and not a date.
The smell of food greeted her and was wonderful. "It smells really delicious. Do you need any help?" Leanne asked. She knew he was cooking, but that didn't mean she couldn't at least offer to help, if he'd let her this time. As much as she wanted to bring it up, Leanne decided not to mention the Ministry again or what his plans were as it was Christmas.
"Actually, yeah, could you get the garlic bread out of the oven? We'll smell delightful, I'm sure, but hey, if we're both eating it..." His grin was playful and he shrugged. "And there's a salad if you want to pour the dressing on and stir it up." Tossing the dishtowel apron on the counter where it really belonged, Fred led the way into the kitchen. He had a feeling she was thinking of other things she could be helping with, but he refused. Absolutely refused. He'd lost Katie, he'd nearly died himself, he wouldn't put anyone else at risk if he could help it.
"It won't be so terribly awful if we're both eating it. Which is good because I especially love garlic bread." Leanne told him as she followed him into the kitchen. "I can do both of those." She got the garlic bread from the oven first. It smelled great. After she placed it on the counter, she went to the salad to mix the dressing in. "Have you told me before where you learned to cook?" Leanne wasn't sure if he had told her or not, but she was pretty sure it had been his mother. And this was definitely something that she liked about him.
Fred grinned over at her as she worked, willing to admit he enjoyed the sight of her in the kitchen. Maybe it came from being from a large family, but domestic scenes made him really, genuinely happy. "Mum," he confirmed, mixing the pasta and sauce. "When I'd be in time out, the other kids would go off and play. She took me into the kitchen with her and let me help here and there." His smile was a little wistful, really, considering how often he and his mother were at odds. That time when they were together in the kitchen had been one of the few times he'd felt she accepted him as he was. "I don't get to cook for other people that often, though, so I hope you like it."
Leanne smiled back. "She's a great woman. Glad to see she taught you something worth knowing. I think it's great you know how to cook." Leanne really did like that Fred could cook. To her, it was a great quality to have. "I'm sure I will. It does smell great, Fred. I am sure the taste will live up to the smell."
Some people might have thought it stupid for a bloke to know how to cook, but Fred knew all the great chefs were men. Well, most were, at least. And besides, it would be a help in picking up girls. Not only could he cook for them in his kitchen, but he could cook in theirs. And bring things to their places or picnics, or--well, it was just good to have.
As for his mum being a great woman... Well. No. He knew she was great. She was wonderful, most people would think he was nutters for saying otherwise. Fred just had many long pent up issues regarding the woman for him to truly let his guard down. "I'm not even sure she knew I'd picked it up," he told her, scooping everything on to plates and setting the small table in the kitchen. Nothing overly fancy, just a nice tablecloth and a pair of candlesticks in the middle. "For her's and Dad's anniversary one year, I offered to make them a nice meal. I'm pretty sure they thought I'd lost it. Come on, sit down. What did you lot do for Christmas?"
"If you ever want to try again, I can vouch for you. That is, if this all turns out well." Leanne said as she followed him over to the table. "I think she was the greatest help for me while you were at St. Mungo's." She smiled as she sat down. "It was just mum and I. We sort of just had dinner, listened to the wireless. I got her some jewelry that I'm sure she really liked. She gave me some records. Nothing elaborate. How was your Christmas?"
"Typical Weasley family gathering," he answered with a shrug. Nodding towards the plate, he grinned. "Go ahead, dig in." Considering it, he gave a laugh. "It's madness at our place around the holidays. Charlie brought a girl home from Romania who speaks almost entirely German, Ron was whimpering because the Cannons are still the absolute worst in the league and Ginny's pygmy puff got loose. It was complete chaos. And Fleur still hates British meals." He twirled his spaghetti around his fork and smirked over at her.
Leanne didn't need to be told twice. After only a bite, she knew it was good. "Godric, wish I had siblings. Sounds like a lot of fun, even if it is madness," Leanne said in between bites. "Did you find her pygmy puff?" His Christmas did sound a lot more fun than hers had ever been. Hers had only consisted of parents as far as she could remember, not that she minded. There were some days that she did wish she had a brother or sister to share the holiday with. "This is really good, Fred. You're a brilliant cook."
"Glad you think so," he said, flushing with pleasure at her compliment. "Yeah, we found Arnold, after what felt like three days of searching. Stupid little thing was hiding under the oven. I can just hear Ginny if Mum had cooked him!" For a moment, he simply placed his chin in his hand and watched her eat before turning back to his own meal. Maybe spaghetti had been a bad idea for a first proper date. There was likely to be sauce everywhere. He did everything he could to stay neat. "Clearly, we didn't breed them for their brains. They're like those Slytherin girls who giggled in groups around every corner. Cute to look at, but nothing decent going on in the head."
"You'll have to try something else next time. I just might say the exact same thing." She was completely serious. Leanne really thought he was brilliant, at everything, even if she was somewhat biased because she fancied him. "Glad you found him. They certainly are adorable. Well, that does sound like a Slytherin to me. There are very few that I actually get along with. I think some are still leary of me since I was sorted into Gryffindor and not Slytherin all those years ago."
Fred was even more wary of Slytherins than ever before, thanks to a certain Marcus Flint messing around with his girl. But he wouldn't say that to Leanne. For one, it would ruin their night unnecessarily. And for another, he was relatively certain you didn't talk about the ex girlfriend on a first date with a new girl. "Yeah, well, their loss, our gain," he told her with a bright smile. "The Hat never lies, after all. We got the better end of the deal and no wonder they're ticked off about it. We might've, too, without you." There was no doubt in Fred's mind that if she'd been a Slytherin, he might have still found her attractive, but there was little chance she'd be sitting in his kitchen eating a homemade meal. The odds were slim to none. As it was, she was probably too good for him anyway. The thought dampened his mood slightly as he twirled a noodle continuously. "But yeah, maybe we'll start doing some intelligence tests on them, only breeding the smarter ones out of them. Gryffindor's special," he added teasingly.
"No, the Hat never lies. I'm glad I was Gryffindor. Doubt I would have had as much fun in Slytherin than in Gryffindor." Leanne told him. It was close, being put into Gryffindor. Slytherin was almost a possibility for her and she couldn't thinking that maybe this whole situation would have been worse for her if she had been a Slytherin and not Gryffindor. Then again, people probably assumed she had been Slytherin because of her family and being Death Eaters. "That sounds like a good plan. You and George have got the brains to do that."
Smirking slightly, Fred tipped his shoulders up and shook his head. "You're possibly the only person I know who thinks so." Reaching for the bottle, he topped off his wine glass and offered more to Leanne. Not exactly the chance to get her drunk, more for the romantic tilt. "Keep in mind, we spent six and a half years of school with most people thinking we didn't know doodly squat."
Leanne accepted more wine from him. "I hardly think I am the only one who thinks it. I am sure there are others out there that do as well." She still believed that she couldn't be the only one. "Look, you aren't in school anymore and you are doing so brilliantly now. How can anyone think otherwise?"
"You'd be surprised," Fred admitted, somewhat reluctantly. "Some people are still determined we should go back to school, no matter how well we do now." Shaking his head to clear it, he forced a smile. "Why are we getting all serious? This is supposed to be a fun night. What sorts of brilliant things did you get for your birthday?"
"But that shouldn't matter." Leanne smirked. It was supposed to be a fun night. "I got candy, perfume, earrings, and..." Leanne held the necklace up a little. "And this. Quite my favorite gift in fact. Thank you."
A slow smile crossed Fred's face. Getting to his feet, he moved to his and George's pitiful excuse for a Christmas tree and pulled out a box in silver and blue wrapping. Inside were the earrings to match the necklace around her neck. "That wasn't a Christmas present, silly," he teased. "That was your birthday. This is Christmas." He pulled his chair around the table, closer to hers, and placed the box next to her plate.
"You know it all sort of blends together, my birthday and Christmas. It usually all gets celebrated on one day." Leanne looked at the box he placed beside her. "What is this?" She knew he wasn't going to tell her and she had to see for herself. She unwrapped the present and opened it to find earrings that matched her necklace. "Fred." Leanne looked up at Fred and smiled. Now that he was sitting closer to her, Leanne leaned in and kissed him. "Thank you."
Fred flushed slightly, but he was beaming despite himself. "You really like it?" he asked quietly, resting a hand lightly on her knee. It seemed like she did. Most girls liked pretty things. But Leanne wasn't most girls. He'd already decided Leanne was special.
She placed her hand on top of his. "I do. I really like it," she said smiling. "Though you could give me just about anything and I'll like it. And I mean that."
Hesitating only a moment, he leaned in, pressing his lips softly to hers, and then slowly, less softly. It only took a moment for him to decide he liked this. A lot. But she was a cute girl and he was a warm-blooded male. Of course he'd like snogging. Did that mean he liked her? Merlin, why was it so hard to tell? "Just about anything?" he murmured, pulling back just slightly.
Leanne could get used to this. She enjoyed snogging Fred, more than she enjoyed snogging anyone else. Although she appeared calm and collected, on the inside she was jumping up and down. This is what she had been wanting for months. Maybe he finally did fancy her too. "Just about anything," she repeated.
"Does that include another night like this?" he asked, threading his fingers through hers. He couldn't help it. He was smiling like a total goofball. And why shouldn't he? For once it felt like things might actually be going his way.
Leanne grinned, and sure that her smile matched his. "It does. I'd love another night like this." She wanted many more nights like this. The dinner and the snogging and whatever else fit the occasion. Leanne leaned closer to him again and kissed him softly. "This has been wonderful, Fred."
Almost absently, he slipped his fingers through her hair. "I'm glad you liked it," he admitted, smiling against her mouth. "I would like to do this again sometime." For a brief moment, Fred considered, then smiled again. "And lots of other things. After all, you can't dance on my kitchen table like it's a bar."
"Me too. All of it." Leanne couldn't help laughing, stealing a glance at the table. "No, I can't. Wouldn't be the same at all." That had been an enjoyable time too, and as much as she had denied it before, she wouldn't have minded at all to do that again. "What are you doing to ring in the New Year? Think we could go to a pub or club with that muggle recording thing and have as good a time as when we went before?"
It only took Fred a moment to consider. "Yeah," he said with a sly grin. "I think we could. I think we could have an even better time now. Because I'm not worried about doing this anymore." And he leaned in yet again, stealing another sweet kiss.