The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

II.XVII

"If I am right, you owe me big."

She laughed. "Mon amie, if you're right, and it is underground tunnels—," and Electra of all people knew there were enough tunnels underneath Hogwarts as is for Dumbledore to okay anymore, "—I'll throw you the biggest party Hogwarts has ever seen."

Fleur lit up. "I'll 'old you to zat."

Electra smirked. "I know you will."

The other witch squeezed her arm wrapped with Electra's, pulling her into her shoulder as they traipsed along the castle greens. The last two weeks of May had turned out to be unseasonably warm, so she, Fleur, and Cedric (mostly —that was if he wasn't already meeting up with Cho) took the opportunity to spend some time in the sun.

Though now as they meandered along the grounds, it was cloudy and nearly sunset, but Fleur wanted one more chance to make her theories known before the Champions were called together to receive the final clue into the Third Task. Fleur swore up and down it was underground tunnels, which Electra and Cedric seriously doubted (not like she would hear any of it of course). Though her treasure hunting idea wasn't so far fetched, but Electra didn't want to admit it aloud. It was okay for Fleur to be wrong, but Electra? Not if she could help it.

A breeze off the lake made the blades of grass dance in waves as if it were water. Electra breathed in the already dewy air (and a fishy smell that she ignored). It smelled of summer already. She got this giddy feeling in her stomach knowing another summer at Meadowview was just around the corner. But as they neared Hagrid's hut, a different season came to mind with his fireplace (most likely for a kettle) sending the smell of wood burning around them. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting it fill her lungs.

Electra got a sudden flash from the night of the Second Task. Fred's hair pulled back in a half-ponytail, the little scar on his lip shining in the moonlight when he smiled. Her eyes flew open as her heart skipped a beat. Without her realising, her cheeks had begun to heat. She really needed to get a hold of that.

Beside her, Fleur gasped suddenly. Electra started and whipped her head to look at the silver witch (and thank Godric she finally had a friend her height so she didn't have to crane her neck all the time). "What?"

Fleur was staring at her with mouth agape. "I can not believe you!"

Electra arched her brows in befuddlement. "What did I do?"

"You are crushing 'ard!"

"I'm what?"

Fleur frowned. "Zere ez someone you fancy. Why 'aven't you told me? I am your best friend!"

"Why haven't I told you?" Electra echoed, not even trying to keep her sarcasm to a minimum. "How could I? This is the first I'm hearing of it." A mirthless laugh came out in a puff of air.

Fleur pointed an accusatory finger in Electra's face. "Do not make fool of me. You're breazing in zee air like you've never smelled anyzing finer! It's sickening!" She flung her hand in the air for emphasis.

Electra let out a puzzled, airy laugh. "You've cracked."

Fleur gave the other witch a dirty look. "Oh shut up! Now tell me, who eez zee lucky bastard?" she pressed, pushing her face closer to Electra's. "Eet's one of zose dreamy redheads, no? Zee haha-funny ones."

"Fleur!" Electra blinked, willing her heart to beat normally. She had to lean her head back to create a bit of distance so she could look at her friend in bewilderment, and hopefully hide her blushing cheeks. "Are you winding me up?"

Fleur's silver eyebrows furrowed. "Winding? What eez zis winding?"

Electra waved her question away. "Nevermind. But there's no one. I'm merely happy. That's all." And about time.