intriguing (fred weasley x fem! reader)

Chapter Eight: The First Task

*Y/N'S POV*

     Unfortunately, I never actually got the chance to speak with Fred, again he was ignoring me. It was incredibly frustrating, I couldn't believe how childish he was being, if he really liked me, wouldn't he be trying just as hard as I am to fix it?

      "Honestly, Y/N, I'm sure Fred will come around," Ginny tried to calm me as we walked to the arena for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, "I mean he's liked you for so long, he's not just going to give that up," 

     "Not if he's walking around thinking that I fancy Cedric Diggory. The last time we spoke, that's exactly what he was thinking. And now that he's ignoring me, I haven't had the chance to clear it up," I sighed, frustrated.

     "He's being stupid, not unlike him," she quipped, "I'm sure he and George will be here today so just try to talk to him then." 

     We took our seats near the rest of Gryffindor, I was looking down at the stadium, what the bloody hell did they need such a big one for anyway?

    "Bets, place your bets!" I heard Fred's familiar voice calling out.

     "Bets taken, bets taken here!" George's voice followed as I saw them walking around with a box for them to take their bets. They were going around calling out to people to make bets, saying that Krum was the smart money and all that rubbish. 

     They were finally making their way up to our row, stopping abruptly as they saw Ginny and me. "Hey, Y/N," George greeted normally.

      "Hi Georgie, how's the gambling going?" I looked over at Fred who was looking everywhere else but at me.

     "So far so good, wanna place one?"

     "None for me, thanks," I tried to get Fred's attention, "You alright there, Weasley?"

     "Fine, Lestrange," still not making eye contact with me, "Excuse me," he pushed past us and went over to Angelina. She was quick to link their arms and send me a smug smirk. 

     "Are you fucking kidding me?" I couldn't help but raise my voice. People around me snapping their necks at my booming voice, including Fred.

     "Y/N, come on, not here," Hermione spoke from the row below.

     I shook my head, too angry to care about all the looks,"I can't believe you! You're an ass, Fred Weasley!" 

  Fred said nothing, his face only growing red with embarrassment. I scoffed before leaving that row and joining Hermione and Ron in the one below. She rubbed my arm as I tried to refocus on the event rather than Fred and Angelina. 

     It was easier when I saw Cedric was first, he looked rather nervous as he entered the arena. My eyes widened along with everyone else's as we learned why. A dragon came shrieking and stomping out of another entrance to the arena. Charlie Weasley's voice lingered in the back of my mind as I identified the dragon as a Swedish Short Snout, not as dangerous as other species but still just as frightening to go up against. 

   "Come on Cedric," I muttered to myself. Cheering for Cedric and watching him avoid being killed by a dragon definitely helped in getting Fred off my mind. 

     Cedric used a Transfiguration spell and turned one of the rocks into a dog, distracting the dragon. He was partially successful; the dragon took the bait, and Cedric went for the Golden egg. Halfway through, the dragon turned its attention back to Cedric and burned his face. Cedric retrieved the egg, however, and passed the task. 

     "You think he'll be alright?" I asked Hermione and Neville, who I was sitting in between.

     "He'll be fine, Madam Pomfrey will heal his burns quickly and he'll be back to himself in no time at all," she answered. 

     Fleur and Krum went next, not so easily retrieving the eggs as Fleur's skirt caught on fire and Krum's dragon smashed half of its actual eggs. Harry was last and his dragon, the Hungarian Horntail, one of the most aggressive dragons in the world. We tried our best to cheer through our worries as Harry stepped into the arena. I grasped onto Neville's arm, worriedly as the dragon roared at Harry. All of us practically biting our fingernails as we watched the tussle.

    "Your wand Harry! Your wand!" Hermione shouted down at him.

     "Accio, Firebolt!" Harry shouted as he waved his wand in the air. The dragon had Harry pinned behind a rock before Harry jumped and landed safely onto his broomstick.

     "Yes!" Hermione and I cheered. But our cheering turned into gasps again as the dragon broke free of its chain and flew after Harry. Harry soared through the teacher's seating, the dragon tearing it apart as it chased him. Everyone erupted into cheers once again seeing the professors knocked over and dazed. 

     "Well done dragon!" I heard Fred shout from behind me. We all looked around, trying to find where Harry and the dragon had gone. We became more worried when we could no longer hear the roars of the dragon.

     Hermione was the first to erupt into cheers as Harry flew back into the stadium, the dragon nowhere to be seen. We all continued to cheer as Harry scooped up the egg with ease.

     "Party in the Common Room tonight!" George yelled to all of the Gryffindors.

     Hermione pulled my arm to follow her, "Come on, let's go."

     "Yeah, just um give me a minute," I pulled away, "I actually need to go speak with Cedric."

     "Y/N, are you sure-"

    "I just want to make sure he's okay and congratulate him on his victory," I explained, a half-truth but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

   She sighed, "Alright. We'll see you in the Common Room then."

  I gave her a reassuring nod before parting from them. I found Cedric in the Hospital Wing, half his face bandaged after Madam Pomfrey had put on some burn cream.

     "Feeling alright there Diggory?" I smiled as I walked near his bed.

     "Y/N? What're you doing here?" he winced as he shifted towards me, "I heard there was supposed to be some big party in the Gryffindor Common Room tonight to celebrate Potter. Aren't Fred and George hosting?"

     "I-I know, I just wanted to see if you were alright is all," I sat down on the edge of his bed.

     "I'm fine," he placed his hand on mine again, "Nothing Madam Pomfrey can't fix," he smiled at me reassuringly. I looked down at our hands, feeling a bit guilty for liking the feeling but not caring at the same time, "Are you alright?"

     I snapped out of my daze, "Y-yeah, fine. Just glad you're okay is all," I smiled at him, "Well I should be going. Wouldn't want to miss the entire celebration, you know?"

     "Of course, of course. Go enjoy," Cedric smiled.

     "Oh and Cedric?" I turned before leaving.

     "Yeah?"

     "If you're still up for it, I'd like to get that butterbeer sometime, just the two of us," I smiled, a tinge of guilt in my stomach as I said it.

     "I'd like that, is Fred alright with that?"

     I ignored the question, "I'll see you later, Cedric," I smiled and quickly exited the room. I had no idea what I was doing or what my plan was but it sure as hell felt good to get back at Fred for flirting, especially with Angelina.