Riptides (Fred Weasley Fan Fiction)

Chapter 26

About a week later, the Yule Ball was announced. Some students were worried that in the course of the latest events, Dumbledore will decide not to have a ball, but in the end, it was stated that it will take place right before the Christmas break, during which everyone goes home. Everyone could feel the excitement in the air and the preparations began. The girls all started writing letters to their parents asking to send them the most beautiful dresses they can find, and the boys were thinking who to invite to the ball.

Within a week, ninety percent of the students already had their partners. Daphne was going with her boyfriend, Zabini asked Pansy, but when she denied, he decided to go with a Ravenclaw girl Lyssie didn't know the name of, and Nott invited Katie Bell. She played in Gryffindor's Quidditch team and he would always say to keep your friends close, bur enemies even closer.

Pansy tried to invite Draco three times already, but he kept rejecting her. Lyssie didn't have a partner, but it didn't worry her. If she had to, she would go alone and be alright with it. What she was worried about, however, was the fact that Fred hasn't spoken to her in over a week.

She knew it was because of the stupid tattoo on her forearm but was sure he would understand her decision if they spoke. She was determined to make him meet her in private. Even if he didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore, she had to explain what actually happened. She couldn't accept the fact that their relationship was about to end in such an idiotic way.

Lyssie was sitting in her dormitory, browsing through the book Fred gave her a while ago. She wasn't sure what did she want to see there but it was undeniable that Tolkien had something to say on every topic. She was skimming the text looking for something about involuntarily joining the dark side in order to save one's friend and his whole family.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger," she read silently.

Funny how Tolkien could have no idea about the world she lived in and could express her own thoughts so clearly. However, there seemed to be nothing to include in a note she wanted to send to Fred. She wondered how he managed to find all those citations he used to send her in his paper planes.

She took a piece of paper and a quill and started writing instead:

I've looked through all the citations of Tolkien and wasn't able to find anything that would express how I feel. Thus, let me use my own words.

Meet me in the docks if you're willing to hear them.

L. B.

Lyssie sent the note and immediately walked to the docks.

It was a cold, winter afternoon and the lake was all frozen. The boats were no longer in the water. Somebody probably hid them somewhere when the winter came. Getting to the docks wasn't easy, as the path she would usually take was covered with snow. She stood at the end of the bridge and looked at the white mist her breath produced.

She hid her hands in the pockets of her coat. It was getting really cold, and Fred was nowhere to be seen. She's been waiting there for a couple of minutes and her hands and feet were getting numb from the cold. Well, she kind of expected him not to come see her. She remembered his face from the last time they spoke outside the Great Hall. He was terrified of her. Why would he want to come see her now?

She turned away and started walking back towards the castle with her eyes on the snow under her feet. And then, she bumped into somebody.

"Careful there," the voice said. He came.

"Fred." She looked up and saw his face. He was smiling.

Fred hugged her and she felt nice warmth penetrate her whole body. She pulled her hands around his waist and they stood like that for a moment.