The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

II.XIV

Electra and Fleur had been inseparable since the Yule Ball.

For the first time in Electra's life she had another girl as a friend (Moony was over the moon). Electra had never clicked with anyone quite like she had with Fleur, not even Cedric. Maybe it was their shared hatred over Hadeon, or maybe it was because they were so surprisingly similar (pride and vain went hand in hand). But in all honesty, Electra had a feeling it was because they were just what each other needed after Hadeon's betrayal.

In the short time from the Yule Ball to mid-February, it was impossible to see one without the other and Electra didn't mind, she enjoyed Fleur's company immensely. And Fleur seemed to feel the same way as she frequently ditched her Beauxbatons schoolmates to spend time with Electra.

Even she and Cedric had a rapport going; Fleur would be her conceited, kinda bitchy self (though never at Electra or Cedric's expense) and Cedric was sweet and sympathetic as always, usually answering her complaints with things like, "It must be hard being away from your home," or "The pork is a bit dry, isn't it?".

His unending kindness and many years of dealing with Electra were amazing practice in befriending Fleur. Not that Cho much liked it.

When she wasn't with Fleur talking till their tongues were about to fall out or Cedric in the Prefect's bathroom practising his Bubble-Head charm and strengthening his swimming skills, she was with Adrian on Prefect patrols or in their common room, or with George playing gobstones or studying in an empty classroom, or in Moody's advanced lessons where she was failing spectacularly at nonverbal spells (though it had only been six lessons).

There were few instances when she was alone anymore, but tonight happened to be one of them.

Electra yawned as she walked sluggishly through the halls. She'd just finished all her homework for the weekend early (so she could relax for once) and was on her way to beat Cedric to the Prefect's bathroom for his training.

The second task was five days away and Cedric was wound tighter than a drum, that one. It was driving Electra mad. She'd hoped that Valentine's day with Cho would have taken the edge off, and it did... for a solid day that was.

She was passing through the Transfiguration Courtyard as she made her way towards the Grand Staircase when she heard someone sneaking up behind her, their footsteps lightly tapping on the flagstones. She wasted no time in grabbing her wand from the knot in her hair and twisting around.

Lottie squeaked and clutched her bag against her, as if to shield herself. Electra lowered her wand. "Don't sneak up on someone like that," reprimanded Electra. "I almost jinxed ya."

"Sorry," she squealed. "I just— you left this in the library." She reached into her bag and thrusted a scroll of parchment at her. Electra took it and unfurled it to find her Astronomy essay. Sinistra would've had her head if she didn't have this on her desk by tomorrow morning.

Electra glanced back at the girl. "Thank you. You saved my ass."

The younger girl's eyes widened. "It's no problem. I saw you get up without it so I took it and came after you."

Electra narrowed her eyes at Lottie. "Were you watching me, Lottie?" she asked with an air of amusement.

The younger witch shook her blonde head. "No, I— I mean we— me and my friends— were just sitting near your table and you left, but your scroll was still there so..."

Electra hummed. She rolled her essay back up and shoved it into her bag. "Well, thanks for being my shadow." Lottie's lips quirked upward. Electra frowned. She jerked her chin behind her. "Walk with me back to the dorms."