The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

II.II

Hiking sucked.

Though her aversion may be in part to the fact that her new white trainers that she had so carefully kept clean all summer were now wrecked and she had grass stains on her knees from tripping over rabbit holes.

They'd been at it for hours, getting up at two in the morning and trekking through the meadow and forest beyond it. She adjusted the straps on her backpack and prayed for this hill to end soon.

Electra brought up the rear in their little pack. All donned in muggle clothes —Cedric in jeans and an emerald green, tropical patterned button-down that he tucked into his waistband so it billowed over his hips and Electra in white linen shorts, a tank top, one of Cedric's green button-downs that she left unbuttoned and tied at the ribs, and a dark green bandana around her head to keep her curls out of her face— as not to tip off the locals when they arrived, or so Mr. Diggory told them, so no jerseys much to Cedric chagrin. It didn't matter to Electra, she only had muggle clothes and ill-fitting Hogwarts uniforms at the moment.

Ahead of her, Cedric gave a great sigh of relief. "Finally!"

Prayers answered.

Cedric dropped his backpack in the grass on top of Stoatshead Hill and Electra found a rock to sit on (like hell she was going to sit in the grass with white linen shorts on) as she massaged her calves.

"Now now, we're not out of the woods yet," huffed Mr. Diggory as he caught his breath. He wiped sweat from his forehead. "There's still the issue of finding the blasted Portkey."

She and Cedric groaned. "The sooner we find the Portkey, the sooner you two can relax."

Electra stood up with a grunt. "What—," Cedric yawned, "—are we looking for?"

Mr. Diggory shrugged and Cedric let out an exasperated groan. Electra hoisted her backpack higher up on her shoulders and went to work. It was a large hilltop and the three spread out looking for anything that could be used as a Portkey. Electra begged the universe to help them find it faster so she could sit down and give her legs a rest.

It seemed the universe was listening again as she heard Cedric call out in the dark. "I think I've got it!" She hurried up onto a higher point where Cedric stood.

"Good work, Cedric my boy," praised Mr. Diggory. He clapped his son on the back. Cedric stood over a tattered old boot, a perfect disguise for a Portkey as no muggle would pick up such a gross looking thing.

"Thank Merlin," breathed Electra as she collapsed in the grass. Screw the shorts.

Mr. Diggory took a seat in the grass too and checked his watch. "Twenty minutes until it activates," he announced.

Cedric plopped down beside Electra as she leaned back and used her backpack as a rest. Cedric dropped his head onto Electra's legs and closed his eyes. She let her heavy eyelids shut as the chilly early morning breeze raised goosebumps on her bare arms and legs.

She wasn't sure how long she and Cedric laid there before she heard familiar voices. Mr. Diggory stood up and looked over the hill. "Over here Arthur!"

Electra's eyes snapped open.

Mr. Diggory waved his arm in the air, the boot clutched in his hand, to catch the new party's attention. "Over here, son, we've got it!"

"Amos!" She lifted her head to look in the direction of the other voice. A man with flaming red hair was trudging up the other side of the hill, six others in tow.

Electra smiled to herself for a brief moment. The summer had been good to Fred and George. Like Cedric, it looked like they had been training in their Beater positions all summer, as they too were broader, especially in the chest area, and their arms thick with tight muscles. They had grown their hair to their jawlines as well, but whereas George looked like he actually combed his hair out, Fred looked like he just ran his fingers through his and called it a day. Seemed fitting.