Rebel Rebel (A Fred Weasley fanfic)

18

Why did fields have to be so uneven? Stevie was struggling to keep herself upright as she followed Draco, Lucius and her father across to the edge of the field where they would cut through the forest to get to the Quidditch stadium that had been built.

She walks a lot slower, taking a look around in case they should come across anyone that she might know but so far, it's just hundreds of strangers.

All the way to the stadium, there are green and red lanterns edging the path and every few feet, there are salespeople, each of them carrying trays full of souvenirs; luminous rosettes for each team, tiny Firebolts and hats to name a few.

"Hurry up, Stevie," Giles calls over his shoulder as a loud gong sounds from somewhere the perimeter of the woods, "It's time!"

She picks up the pace, walking along the path and she smiles when they're joined by some more of the crowd, there was something about the atmosphere that was infectious and she lets out a laugh when one of the green hands from the carts is dropped onto her head from seemingly nowhere. Looks like she'd be supporting Ireland.

The stadium is jaw-dropping in size but Stevie hardly gets a chance to appreciate the massive structure because she's swept up in the excited crowd once more, having to elbow her way out so she can follow her dad once more.

After handing over their tickets, they walk into the stadium, where golden walls surround them and lavish purple carpets decorate the stairs - wich there must be thousands of.

And so they begin their ascent, climbing and climbing until finally, it seems that they'd reached their seats and it's also where Stevie hears the familiar voice that belongs to Ron Weasley.

"Blimey dad, how high up are we?"

Stevie looks at the two Malfoy's when they let out scoffs, "Well, if it starts to rain, I'm sure you'll be the first to know."

Draco smirks at his father's taunt as the Weasley clan -along with Harry and Hermione- turn around. Each of them is draped in Ireland's colours; face paint, hats - their father even has the country's flag draped around his shoulders.

"We're in the Minister's box," Draco gloats, "By personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself..."

Stevie stops listening, looking at the boy she's spent the past however many weeks sending letters to, taking the fact that he's too busy glaring at the blonde boy beside her to really look at him. He looked different; not only was his hair longer, he also looked taller...he looked broader. Those summer Quidditch games he'd told her about had served him well.

Fred finally tears his glare from Malfoy, eyes widening somewhat when he realises that she's stood there and his gaze softens almost instantly. He smiles and Stevie feels her stomach flutter when he smiles at her - she'd missed his smile.

Seeing the smile that the boy is giving his daughter, Giles takes a step forward, essentially blocking her from his view. "Arthur," he gives Fred's dad a courteous nod, "Do have fun tonight. Stevie."

The three men leave the stairwell, heading to the left where the Minister's box must be and Stevie gives the Weasley's an apologetic smile before following them through the fancy curtain but before it can flutter shut behind her, she turns to give Fred a wave.

"You're right, dad," George says, drawing his twin's attention back to them, "He is a git. Wait, why are you smiling?"

Fred looks at his dad and sees that he is indeed smiling.

Arthur holds up their tickets, "Can't wait to see their faces when we join them."

~~|~~

Meanwhile, on the other side of the curtain, Stevie was trying to comfort a terrified House-Elf who had been cowering in the very corner of the box, bony hands over her large eyes. Her name was Winky and had informed Stevie that she was terribly scared of heights.

"Pathetic," Draco scoffs from behind them and she glares at him before focusing on the poor elf. Why on earth would her master send her all the way up here knowing how scared she would be.

"Yes, that's my daughter there," she hears her father talking and knowing that it's probably someone important from the Ministry, she gets up to go say hello - promising Winky that she'd be back.

"Stevie, this is Mr Sauron. He works alongside me."

She shakes his hand, "It's nice to meet you, sir."

Sauron laughs, "Sir? Very polite, aren't you? My, you look just like your mother, don't you? Ah, here's Arthur!"

Stevie swears she hears both her father and Lucius' necks crack with how fast they turned around, wishing she had a camera -one of the Muggle ones that the pictures don't move because honestly, she never wants to forget the look on their faces.

Snickering to herself, Stevie returns to Winky but seeing that Harry is now sat beside her, she squeezes her way past Percy and slides into the seat behind the elf, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder once more.

Fred and Geroge meander in a couple of minutes after the rest of the family, the older twin clutching the betting slip that they'd just put on but Stevie doesn't notice. She's far too concerned about the House-Elf in front of her, barely looking up as her dad slides into the empty seat beside her.

"Hi,"

Fred won't lie. As soon as he'd noticed Stevie sitting in an empty row, he left his brother's side so he could nab the one beside her.

She looks at him and smiles, Fancy seeing you here."

"I know," he muses, ignoring Ginny as she sits in the seat beside him, "What are the odds?"

"Going to introduce us to your friend, Fred?"

Stevie tears her eyes from the boy beside her, seeing two men, who must have only been a few years older than her and Fred. They both had similar characteristics and the Weasley red hair so she was going to take a guess that they were somehow related.

"With pleasure," Fred nods, pointing at the taller one on the right who had a ponytail and a pretty awesome earring with a fang dangling from it, "This is our oldest brother, Bill. He works as a Curse Breaker in Egypt and this," he points to the other, "Is Charlie."

Stevie notices that his face was covered in freckles - so much so that he looked tanned and glancing down at his arms, she sees a large burn that looked rather fresh.

Noticing her curious stare, the young man chuckles, "I work with dragons in Romania."

Her eyes widen, "Really? How interesting." She'd never seen a dragon before.

Everyone who's sat down stands when the Minister of Magic makes his entrance and once he's made his way around everyone to shake hands and welcome them, he gives the man who Stevie learned was Ludo Bagman a nod and he raises his wand to his neck and his voice booms to every corner of the stadium.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!" he says and a somewhat hush falls over the crowd, "And welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"