Orange Trees | Fred Weasley

Chapter Six

August 26th, 1994

Although it was now almost three in the morning, Jericho was wide awake with excitement. For the next forty minutes, Jericho spent time with the Veela, listening to whatever they wanted to tell him. He learned many things, and confirmed his suspicions that there was more to them than just pretty faces.

He learned that apart from being the mascot for the Bulgarian Quidditch team, the group competed in dance competitions all around the world. They were a contemporary dance troop, and had been together for almost fifty years. Many of the members, such as Ramsy, were new; just starting this past summer. Others, such as Seriphina, were veteran members and had been with the troop for many years.

He also learned of their many hobbies, and was happy to learn that he shared many of them. Many of the girls loved the arts, and spent much of their free time drawing and painting. Aranella, an eighteen year old Veela, loved to sew, and was the current designer for all of their costumes. Cindona, a veteran dancer close to Seriphina's age, was a fantastic embroiderer, and was excited to show off her most recent piece of work. Some of them, he learned, loved to cook, and were happy to have him try the pastries they brought for the Cup. They were delightfully tasty, and reminded him of the types of cakes he would steal for the fairies.

A couple of the girls, such as Ramsy, also played sports. Some even played Quidditch during their personal free time. Ramsy, who he learned was close in age, gushed to the boy about the joy of the sport, and shared her dream of being a professional player. He wished her all the luck in the world in achieving her goal, and hoped to see her back in a World Cup one day; as a player and not a mascot.

Time ticked by as he chatted with the Veela, and as he finished his last drawing of the group of women, he listened to one of them speak of their school.

"It is very strict at times, and I do often wish I could go to an actual magic academy, but it's home nonetheless. We're required to attend once we learn to walk, so we're often away from our families for a majority of our lives. It's hard, but... it's why chosen families like this are so important." The young Veela finished, her two friends offering a comforting hand as she finished.

Jericho looked up from his drawing, a somber expression on his face. Although he wasn't a fan of his parents a majority of the time, he couldn't imagine spending most of his childhood away from them; away from his home.

Jericho sat amidst the Veela, their ethereal beauty and enchanting presence a stark contrast to the turmoil within him. As they recounted their own struggles, the burden of his secret seemed to lessen, if only slightly.

Ramsy, with her bright eyes and unrestrained curiosity, moved to the next topic swiftly. "Jericho, are we the only ones who know you're gay?"

Jericho paused before he spoke. He's never really talked about this before. Any mention of him liking boys has always been in passing, and has always been with a select group of people. But now, he had a chance to talk about his frustrations. With creatures who seemed to be more than just supportive. Perhaps this was the time to. He shook his head. "No, uh - I'm friends with some fairies, who live in this orange tree on my family's land, they know. And, uh - there are two people at school who know. Though, only one is really a friend." He finished, taking a deep breath.

The Veela expressed their sympathy, their eyes filled with understanding. "It's a difficult thing to carry alone," one said softly. "But you'll find more people who will accept you for who you are."

Jericho sighed, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. "It's not just about acceptance. There's also this shame that seems to come with it. I feel like I'm carrying this weight, and I just can't let it go."