intriguing (fred weasley x fem! reader)

Chapter Two: The Hogwarts Express

*Y/N's POV*

     It was a relief that the match was over quickly, the Irish surprisingly defeating the Bulgarians. Much to my uncle and Draco's dismay. Another relief being that I had convinced them that the lady's loo had quite a long wait and that's why I was gone so long. Their obvious annoyance with the Bulgarian loss averted their attention away from me.

     "You two take the Portkey home, I have some business to attend to." Uncle Lucius instructed us. Draco nodded passively, not daring to question his father, as per usual.

     I never made it that easy, raising my brow, "What business could you possibly have at the Quidditch World Cup?"

     "Nothing that either of you needs to concern yourselves with. Go to the Portkey, now. Don't make me repeat myself, young lady," he hissed.

     "Fine," I rolled my eyes as Draco dragged me to the Portkey.

     "Why can't you ever just do as you're told, Y/N?" Draco sneered.

     "Well, where's the fun in that, Cousin?" I smirked, chuckling to myself before we both took the Portkey back home.

    "Where'd you really go?" Draco asked as we walked up the stairs to the Manor's large front doors.

     "What're you talking about?" I quirked an eyebrow.

     "Oh, come on Y/N, you missed like half of the bloody match. Might as well tell me."

     "I don't think it's any of your business really," I crossed my arms.

     "Oh, wait, let me guess. You went with those filthy blood traitors?" Draco's face turned sour.

    "Don't call them that," I snapped.

    "Oh, so I'm right? Hmm, interesting. Wonder what Mummy and Daddy would think of you hanging around their sort?"

     "You'll keep your bloody mouth shut unless you want me to tell your parents about your little incident with Pansy Parkinson in the bathrooms last year, do you?"

     "You wouldn't dare," his eyes narrowed.

     "Try me," I smirked, "Now, you are not to speak of my parents anymore, is that understood?" He scoffed but nodded when I raised my eyebrow once again, "Glad we're on the same page for once, Cousin. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go pack the rest of my things." I smiled sarcastically before heading to my room. I couldn't find Aunt Narcissa anywhere and just assumed she had gone out to run some errands or something of that sort.

     September 1st came quicker than I had thought, much to my relief, honestly. My family wasn't exactly the most favorable company. 

   The Malfoys and I had arrived at Kings Cross Station, more specifically Platform 9 3/4, a little earlier than expected. Which wasn't that bad, it meant Draco and I could find our seats easier without having to push through the crowds of families.

     "Alright, you two behave. I'll be expecting some check-in letters from both of you, am I clear?" Aunt Narcissa fixed us up a bit, always making sure we looked presentable. Aunt Narcissa was usually the one to see us off, the last time I remember Uncle Lucius accompanying us was Draco's first year. Claimed he didn't like mingling so close to all the commoners.

     "Yes, Aunt Narcissa," I nodded.

     "Goodbye, Y/N. Good luck this year, make good choices please," she smiled before pulling me into a quick hug. I took my luggage from the station floor and walked over to the train.

     Draco and I hadn't sat together since he was a first-year and my aunt practically forced me to accompany him everywhere. I found an empty compartment easily, taking a seat close to the window, watching the rest of the families pile onto the station platform.

     "There you are, Y/N," I turned to see George, Fred, Ginny, and Neville flock into my compartment.

     "Hello boys," I smiled at the twins, "Ginny," I winked, "Good to see you all again." I smiled widely as Neville, scooped me into his arms, "Neville!" I shrieked as he spun me around just as George had done weeks before, "Look at you," I looked the boy up and down, smiling, "You're nearly a foot taller than me."

     "Yeah, Gran said I had a bit of a growth spurt," he blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. 

     "A bit? You're nearly the size of the twins," I laughed. 

    We all took our seats. Neville, George, and Ginny sitting across from Fred and me; I really don't know how we ended up next to each other but I also saw no point in complaining either. 

     Neville pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet from his bag, "Blimey!" he shrieked as read the front cover, "Did you guys see this at the World Cup?"

     "What?" I took the newspaper from him, Terror at the Quidditch World Cup, printed in bold letters on the front page, "When did this happen?"

     "A couple of hours after the match, you didn't see it?" Ginny asked.

     "No, Uncle Lucius instructed us to go home 'cause he had some business to take care of," I let out a sigh, "Oh, goodness. I should've known." I muttered to myself, "You guys saw them?" I looked up at the Weasley kids.

     "Not exactly, Dad had us take Ginny to the Portkey. He went back when Ron and Hermione got separated from Harry," Fred moved closer to me, reading the newspaper from over my shoulder.

     I shut the newspaper and handed it back to Neville, "How did the Ministry let this happen? I mean the Minister himself was there. How did Death Eaters even get in? Wasn't there any security or something?" he asked.

     "Dad says there were loads and that's why the Ministry's so riled up, it happened too easily," George explained as Neville folded the paper back up before shoving it back into his bag.

     "Well, the Minister isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, is he?" Fred joked, I was laughing when I turned to look at him and met his rather close brown eyes, not realizing he never scooted back over, "Hello there," he smirked, eyeing my lips as he did so.

     "Oi! You two done over there?" George interrupted, making Fred and I slide away from each other abruptly.

     "Leave them alone," Ginny narrowed her eyes at her older brother. A blush crept onto my face, looking over at Fred, who had the same outcome, "I think Y/N and Fred make a rather cute couple, don't you?"

     "Ginevra Weasley!" I kicked her foot, now completely avoiding eye contact with Fred for the rest of the train ride.