my best friends brother - fred weasley

xxxix. crimson quills

The next morning Umbridge was already appointed headmistress, managing to make Hogwarts even more dreadful than she had already made it. She implemented more rules, enforced the ones she had already put in place, and started giving out harsher punishments. She slowly made her way through Dumbledore's army, putting each of us through extensive questioning sessions and using her 'special quill' on us. She added on more exams, on top of the usual amount O.W.Ls and end of year exams. During each exam she'd stand at the front of the room, staring down her nose at each of us. Although I dreaded the excess amount of exams and study, it did feel like a blessing as I was able to spend more quiet time with Fred, before he left Hogwarts. Some second years took my usual study spot in front of the fire, so I had to move onto an actual table and sit on a chair. Fred would either sit directly next to me or in front of me, finding someway to maintain physical touch. 

"What subject is it tonight, May?" He asked, coming down from his dormitory.

"Potions tonight, you?" I tilt my head up as he leans over for a kiss, dropping a textbook next to me. 

"Potions." He smiles, grabbing my legs to rest them over his. 

"How exciting." I grin at him. 

"Not how I was wanting to spend the night with you." He mumbles, opening up his book. 

"You'll be alright, Freddie." George waltzes in, dropping his books down in front of me. Fred's face turns sour. 

"Um. George." He says, annoyed. 

"What? Oh! Is it alright if I sit with you guys? I've just been swamped with paperwork and exams on top of that, as well as homework-" George starts to ramble on, oblivious to Fred's anger. 

"It's fine George, you can sit down." I smile at George, placing my hand on Fred's clenched fist to calm him down. George grins and drops into the seat, pulling some paper out of the pocket of his jumper. 

"So Fred, I was thinking, what if we set us a section just for-" George starts, unfolding the paper enthusiastically. 

"George! Shh!" Fred yells to shut his brother up, gesturing to me. 

"What? You still haven't told her?"

"Told me what?" I look between them both angrily.

"No, and I wasn't planning to for a while." Fred says through gritted teeth. 

"Tell me!" I plead, tugging on the string of his jumper. "Please?" I pout. 

"No. It's meant to be a surprise, so put that away, George." Fred mumbles angrily, turning back to his textbook. George fold his papers back up and sits with his hands in his pockets. We all sit in an awkward silence as the chatter of younger students fills the room for us. 

"George, quiz me." I give him my text book so that it isn't as awkward.

"Okay!" He smiles and readjusts his position, so I can't look over the book for the answers. "List the ingredients for... Draught of Living Death."

"Umm... Wormwood! Sopophorous bean juice, Sloth brain and uh... Asphodel!" I recall, he gives me an expectant look, suggesting that I'm missing something. 

"Asphodel..."

"Um... oh! Powdered root of Asphodel!" I clap as he nods along. "Come on Fred, quiz me baby!" He takes the book from George, leaning back so I can't see anything in the book. He flicks through some of the pages until landing on something that catches his interest.

"Alright, what are the known ingredients of the basic love potion?" H raises his eyebrows, playing along with George and I's excitement. 

"Love potion? You'd know all about that, wouldn't ya Freddie?" George snickers from behind me, earning a death stare from Fred.