Catch Me, I'm Falling | Fred Weasley

Chapter 9

Olivia clutched her wrist, hissing as she massaged the sore spot. In her lovely tumble, she had landed on it. Lovely, just lovely. She ate lunch in the Great Hall in silence. Conversation floated through the room, but Olivia ignored it. Instead, she stewed in her misery.

She very nearly spilled pumpkin soup on her uniform. How could this day possibly get any worse? As if on cue, an owl soared overhead, dropping a letter into Olivia's hands. It was from Angela. She stood, taking the thing into the hallway, where she leaned against a pillar and opened it.

Dear Olivia,

How are you? I hope things are going well for you at Hogwarts, dear. In your last letter, you mentioned that you might stay there for Christmas. I think that is a lovely idea. Your father and I will extend our stay in Paris. The city is so beautiful around the holidays.

We'll send gifts! I'm sure that your friends at Hogwarts will be glad to spend time with you. Jasper will be returning home, so do send along your Christmas wishes to your aunt.

Paris is so romantic. It is everything I've dreamed of. Oh! You must come to see it someday. Pastries at the cafe at sunrise. Candlelit dinners. Walks along the Seine. And the art. Oh, the art. I've never seen such a vast collection of magnificent things.

I wish you a merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season.

With love,

Mum

Olivia had sent a letter a week before telling her parents that staying at Hogwarts might be a good idea. Most children went home, but Olivia wasn't in the mood to spend the holidays cooped up in a house with Jasper or his mother. She'd figured she could get some studying done, anyway. And bloody hell did she need it. Despite her thoughts, her parents' response surprised her. She'd expected them to beg her to come spend Christmas with them. In that event, she would grumble a bit but relent in the end. But no. They would be spending Christmas in Paris.

Olivia crumpled the paper in her hands. She'd wanted her parents to fight her on this like parents are supposed to. Didn't they want to spend time with her? Didn't they care? She tried to convince herself it didn't matter, but she couldn't stamp out her rage. They had moved on, hadn't they? They had new lives. Lives that she wasn't a part of.

It was her greatest fear coming alive. Sometimes, all she wanted was to push people away. Yet, some part of her longed for them to prove her wrong, to fight for her. Wasn't that love? Wasn't that what truly caring about someone meant? Staying by their side through thick and thin. But no, they just up and left her. They had accepted that she was gone and now she was nothing but a ghost of the past.

Olivia focused her roiling emotions on the letter, tearing it up into shreds. She was so entranced by the little act of violence that she didn't notice when someone walked up to her.

"You've been avoiding me."

Olivia looked up and her eyes widened. There, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, was Fred Weasley. She swore softly, knowing there was no escape for her now.

"Why?" he repeated. Olivia didn't answer his question, just stood there, mouth sealed in a tight line.

"I-I just. Um..." she stared at her feet.

"Look," he said, straightening. "I just wanted to say hello. You left me with some questions. You can't just run into a poor chap, wet as a dog, and not explain yourself." He put his hand to his chest in mock sincerity. "You left a wet spot that raised some questions. The least you could do is explain. You owe me that much."

Olivia blushed in embarrassment, playing with the paper in her hands. "I... uh, sort of flooded the dungeon." A few disobedient shreds floated to the ground like feathery snow.

He lit up. "That was you? Well done. You'll have to tell me how you managed that. It was quite the feat if I do say so myself..."

She interrupted him quickly, "No, it wasn't like that. It was an accident. I swear."

Fred leaned in closer and winked. "Sure it was."

"I'm serious."

"Right, well. It doesn't explain why you've been avoiding me."

"I haven't..."

"You sure about that?" The bell rang.

"You should get to class," Olivia mumbled. She didn't have to worry about that, as her sessions were held in the afternoon. Sensing an escape, she made to walk away, but he spoke again.

"Please. Come on. I'm sure Hagrid won't mind if I miss class just this once."

"I don't want you to miss class."

"It's not as if I haven't skipped class before." Olivia was silent for a moment.

"Okay, okay. Fine. It's not like you'll believe me anyway. I... see the future. It isn't exactly pleasant. I like to avoid people I've had visions of. So just do me a favor: stop asking questions and leave me alone."

"What? It can't be that bad." he began, but Olivia's stone face told him everything. "Okay then. I'll stop asking questions. But... I can't leave you alone. I'm too invested now. I must know, what's your name?"

"I'm not-"

"Pleeeease," he whined.

"I won't-"

"Pleeeease," he got louder, attracting a few stares.

"Shhh! Quiet. Merlin's beard, I can't believe I'm doing this. My name is Olivia Sparks."

"Ooooh. I like that. Sparky."

"Don't..."

"Alright. All good fun, Sparks," he said, putting his hands up in surrender, but smiling like a fool. Then, as if in protest to his cockiness, Olivia's stomach growled. He grinned.

"Hungry?"

She sighed, playing with a strand of hair, eyes flicking up to his, then quickly back down. "None of your business," she mumbled.

"You're in luck," he said, flourishing a piece of candy from his pocket. A lemon drop.

Olivia finally let a tiny smile lift her face, letting out a little huff."I like those. You always carry some around?"

"Mmhmm," he hummed, handing her the sweet. She unwrapped it, popping it into her mouth and closing her eyes as the sweet taste spread across her tongue. It was zingy and tart, but still as sweet as honey. It burst like a firework across her taste buds.

"It's not breakfast, but it might help you last til' lunch," Fred shrugged, suddenly a bit bashful.

Olivia put her hand over her mouth as she spoke. "Thanks. You didn't have to do that."

"No problem. I'll...um, see you around?" he asked, hopefully.

Olivia sighed. "Maybe."

"Okay then. Maybe it is," Fred nodded with a smile and sped off rather quickly. Olivia blinked, frowned slightly, then set off to the library to do her homework.