Catch Me, I'm Falling | Fred Weasley

Chapter 23

Fred liked having Olivia fuss over him. Liked it more than he'd care to admit. He'd convinced himself (and George) that he was over his crush. He and Olivia were just friends now. And to be honest, Fred was grateful. Olivia was loyal and kind and brave. She was smart, too. He couldn't ask for a better friend.

He usually didn't go to the hospital wing when he was hurt. It wasn't that Madam Pomfrey would get him in trouble, he just never wanted to bother. Once, during his third year, he'd kicked his foot into a wall very hard. His toe had swollen to the size of a grapefruit, turning all shades of the rainbow. Lee and George had even used it as a mood ring, betting on what color it would turn next. When it finally healed, Fred's toe was a bit... crooked. It hadn't been the same since that incident.

But now that Olivia was in the hospital, Fred found that he didn't mind. He rather liked it, actually. The way Olivia had flitted about him had almost reminded him of his mother. She was attentive and caring, so unlike his other friends. It was like a little reminder of home.

Fred and George had spent the last week coming up with a way to enter the tournament. On the surface, the twins acted like it was a joke. But inside, they desperately wanted a chance at their dreams. The idea of opening a store had been brewing in them for a while now, and it seemed so close Fred could almost taste it.

The aging potion had been George's idea. He was the brains of the operation. But it was Fred that had convinced him of its genius.

"They'll never see it coming. It's just so..."

"Pathetically dim-witted," they chorused, breaking into grins.

-

"Today's the day," George chirped in merriment as Fred practically buzzed with energy. Olivia groaned. She knew exactly what this was. The others, however, were confused.

"What day?" Alicia asked, skepticism rolling across her usually confident expression. George put a hand around her and gestured grandly, ever the businessman.

"Today is the day we enter our names into the tournament, of course," he answered and Fred stepped in front of Olivia.

"Well, are you going to wish us luck?" he asked. There was a spark of hope in his expression, the need for her approval, but Olivia was too caught up in her own thoughts to notice. She rolled her eyes and shoved him away, trying desperately not to smile.

"Piss off."

"Come on, you already know what's going to happen. Why not tell us?"

"Yeah, tell us, Sparks," George said with a devilish grin. Olivia only shook her head, motioning that her lips were sealed. George shrugged, but Fred stared at her intently, trying to gauge something from her expression. At last, he was pulled away by his eager twin. As the group walked towards the goblet, the twins scampered up to talk to a few others, including Hermione. Olivia stretched like a cat as she prepared for the show.

Lee said enthusiastically, "I bet five galleons it's going to work. They've got a brilliant plan, they do." Katie scrunched her nose at Lee's suggestion.

"Deal. No way they'll do it."

Angelina chuckled. "You could be a bit more supportive, Katie."

"Ah, but they won't mind if it wins me five galleons. You know how it is," Katie smirked. She had a point. The twins always said, "A bet fairly won is a bet fairly won."

George and Fred scampered up to the center of the crowded students, grinning as the mob cheered. They were quite popular among students at Hogwarts. Indeed, they soaked up the attention as they successfully hopped over the age line, celebrating with a "Yeahhh."