Catch Me, I'm Falling | Fred Weasley

Chapter 26

Under most circumstances, Olivia loved being alone. But lying alone in the hospital with only a flickering candle for company while her friends partied felt different. She'd grown rather fond of partying in the past year. Now, it was like she was missing something.

She drifted in and out of sleep, strands of hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. Madam Pomfrey had told her that she'd just have to suffer through it. Time seemed to stretch on forever. After what seemed like hours, a faint sound echoed down the hall. Was that... laughter?

Yes, it was. And familiar laughter, too. Lee, the girls, the twins. Yes, George and Fred's guffaws were synched as always, creating an almost harmonized sound with George's deeper voice and Fred's sharper one. Her friends. They rounded the corner and Olivia couldn't help but smile.

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to see you, of course," George trilled, practically skipping over.

"Oh, well you're cheerful, George," Olivia commented.

"Its-I-Its the f-f-firewhiskey," Katie giggled. "They spiked the punch."

"Of course they did," Olivia huffed, mumbling to herself as she rolled her eyes. Then, she frowned. "Why did you leave the party? It's still going on, isn't it? What happened to partying all night?"

Fred pouted, plopping himself on Olivia's cot. "We couldn't leave you here alone, now could we?"

George settled himself on the cot next to them, laying back with his arms behind his head. Lee and Alicia found another empty cot while Angelina helped a stumbling Katie over to an armchair in the corner.

They recalled the events of the Yule Ball, describing them to Olivia in vivid detail.

"What? Cho went with Cedric?" Olivia tried to act shocked at the news, despite already knowing that it would happen. Fred narrowed his eyes at her and Olivia chose to ignore him.

Alicia nodded. "Quite the drama, actually. Rumour has it that Harry asked Cho, too. But she rejected him." Olivia nodded along. Unfortunately, she was a terrible actor.

Lucky for her, the group fell asleep one by one until only Fred and she remained awake. He sidled up close to her, handed her their lucky coin, and whispered, "You knew, didn't you?"

Olivia cocked her head, "Nothing gets past you, does it?"

"You didn't really answer my question." Olivia's fingers played with the coin.

"Yes, Fred. I knew." He nodded.

"Is it always like this?" he asked.

"Like what?"

"Odd, for you. How everyone forgets that you already know."

"Sometimes. But I don't mind. The visions I have are... limited. It's as if they are from someone else's perspective. It's truly nothing like the real thing," Olivia answered honestly. Fred was fascinated.

"Will we be friends... in the future?" Olivia stared at him. He looked so vulnerable.

"I-I don't know. I don't exist in my visions." Fred looked saddened by this, so she added, "But I hope so. Every day with you is an adventure. I don't want to lose that." Fred grinned.

"Good. That's what I like to hear. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm knackered. Fancy a kip with your favorite Weasley?" Olivia frowned.

"Don't flatter yourself. You know what, I take back everything I said. Your ego really doesn't need more feeding."

"Aw, you don't mean that. I know you love me, Sparks."

Olivia whacked him with her pillow in response. "Sleep, Weasley."