I Know The End {Fred Weasley, ACT I}

Chapter 44- Two Broken Promises

"What the fuck, George!" Eleanor screamed, looking up at him from where she lay on the floor.

"All's fair in love and war," he crooned, offering her a hand up, just as she had done for Angelina a second prior. But she hadn't made a pact with Angelina.

Eleanor smacked his hand away, lifting herself off the ground as she seethed. She tried to remind herself that it was only a game, a stupid game that most of her friends had already been eliminated from, but she couldn't control her anger. Eleanor Potter was not one who took betrayal lightly, even if it was only a game.

"You asshole! You PROMISED!"

"And to think you were just accusing me of being a double agent," Iris said pointedly, her arms crossed as she stared at George with disdain.

"I did what I had to do. I never would have beaten you out in a duel, it had to be a sneak attack. That's the only way I saw myself on coming out on top."

Eleanor scoffed. "How honorable of you. Fred would never have done such a thing, even after everything I've done."

"Well, that's because he's in love with you. He had no problem taking Alicia out."

"Or maybe he just doesn't break his word!" Eleanor screeched, drawing attention from onlookers. Iris fell back in her seat, hoping to hide herself from the scene Eleanor had created. Angelina on the other hand was still collecting herself from Eleanor's stunning spell.

"He breaks his word often enough," Angelina murmured, "just not when it comes to you."

Eleanor bit her lip to keep herself from turning on Angelina. Instead, she spared her friend a fleeting look before deciding to ignore the comment for the sake of their freshly rebuilt friendship. "This isn't even about Fred! It's about George being a traitor!"

"It's not that deep," George shrugged. "It's just a game."

"I don't like traitors," Eleanor hissed, "and I don't like people I can't trust."

"You can't trust me because I tricked you during a stupid game?"

"I hate to interrupt," Angelina said, straightening where she stood as she threw her bag over her shoulder, "but I had Alfie."

It was now George's turn to flush in anger. He turned on Angelina, gaping. "You can't tell people that!"

"Yes, she can. It was never made an outright violation of the rules. Just frowned upon." Eleanor said, smiling in satisfaction as George fell from grace.

"Don't take it personally, George," Angelina said, "I would have done the same to Eleanor, you just happened to get to her before I had the chance to. I don't want people who colluded in taking me out of the game to claim victory. I'm team Alfie now."

"Me too," Eleanor echoed, her eyes ablaze in anger. She didn't care that Angelina had been willing to slight her, she didn't care that she was becoming unhinged. The fire burning before them in the fireplace strengthened, rising in height in with a crack.

George jumped, looking between the fire and Eleanor, his eyes wide. "Calm down, dude."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN? OH, YES BECAUSE TELLING SOMEONE TO CALM DOWN DOES THE TRICK SO NICELY!"

"Eleanor, it's a game," Angelina said. She was scared. Eleanor could tell from the way she edged away, from the way her eyes darted to the portrait hole. Let her be scared. Let them all be scared.

"I don't take well to betrayal. No more how slight."

Betrayal. Rats. Betrayal. Rats.

"I'm going back to the library. You two can sort this out yourselves." Angelina's voice reached Eleanor's ears, but she didn't register it. All her attention was focused on George and the growing flame behind him. She hoped it would swallow him whole.