Self Worth - Fred Weasley Fan Fic

windows of opportunity

"Good girl Fang!" Fred praised as he helped the pregnant dog into her newly made whelping area. Fred and Elia visited Hagrid today to hang out with Fang and help out Hagrid with anything he needed. Ever since class ended, the two of them took care of Fang while the half-giant professor took care of some errands until he came back. Elia was still confused as to why Fred wanted the two of them to be there, but she didn't stop him. She had nothing else to do and she always had a good time with Fred, regardless of what they were doing.

Elia was sitting on her knees inside the small sectioned area for Fang that was cushioned with pillows and knitted blankets. Fang tiredly walked up to Elia and laid down beside her, Fang resting her head on Elia's lap. 

Elia froze awkwardly, not knowing what to do as Fred snorted at her. 

"Would ya look at that Elia! Fang likes you!" Hagrid beamed as Elia shot him an uncertain look and begged, "Hagrid, may I please take her off-"

"-nope! Fang wanted to rest on your lap, it'd be rude to move" Fred said purposefully, making fun of the uncomfortable girl.

Elia shot him an annoyed, wide-eyed look as Hagrid agreed, "It's true Elia, you want to make Fang feel as comfortable as possible" causing Fred to grin mockingly, knowing Elia wasn't a dog person in the slightest. 

Fred and Hagrid continued in conversation as Elia uncomfortably sat there waiting impatiently for Fang to move her head off. She looked at the dog on her lap when all of a sudden, the droopy-faced dog looked up at her affectionately, triggering a very small flicker of serotonin in Elia. Fang then licked Elia's hand softly indicating her trust and devotion to her. 

Elia's jaw dropped subtly as her heart fluttered with the most wholesome of feelings taking over her body. This was the most adorable thing she's ever witnessed and all Elia could fathom was a sudden urge to protect this creature at all costs.

Elia started to see why people were so delighted by dogs. She didn't want to move a muscle if it meant waking her up and totally disregarded the fact that her legs were burning for being in such an uncomfortable position for a long time. 

Elia then looked up to see Fred who was suppressing a knowing grin at her. 

"What? I think it's a nice dog" Elia defended, immediately regretting her statement that she said the other day about dogs. Fred chuckled, "Nothing nothing, it's just that you look very comfortable right now"

Right when Fred said that, Fang unknowingly moved her head off of Elia's lap, Elia's face turning visibly sad. 

¨Well Hagrid, thank you so much for letting us come over and spend time with Fang! Today has been lovely!" burst Fred as he got up from his chair, "ready to go Elia?" 

Elia looked up and wistfully groaned, "mhm" severely missing the feeling of the dog's warm head sleeping on her lap.

"Thank you for hanging out with Fang! She's really been missing human interaction" Hagrid whispered, carefully trying to not wake up the sleeping boarhound.

Elia got up slowly, keeping her eyes on the creature as Fred gently nudged her shoulder for her to pick up the pace. 

"Of course Hagrid, we'll see you Thursday!" Fred said as he and Elia left the homely hut.

The two of them walked back towards the courtyard in comfortable silence.

"Wow, wasn't that just nice Quill?" Fred asked purposefully while smiling at her. 

"y-yea, It was a nice dog" Elia muttered, feeling an odd sense of anguish. She couldn't help but sense a familiar anxious feeling. It was similar to the one she got before she became friends with Fred. But why? This was a totally different situation. It was just a dog, it's wasn't like it was a human being she could grow dangerously close to.