Fool Me Once (Book One) - Fred Weasley

16. The Talk ***

The following day was a little bit crazy. It started off by Riviera finding Aaliyah and Fred asleep together in her bed. The pair were still in their clothes from yesterday so she knows nothing happened between them but she still made fun of the two for it.

When she left Fred looked at Aaliyah and took her hands in his. "You ready for today princess?" He asked and she shook her head before taking her hands out of his and snuggling back into his chest.

"We have to get up at some point." He told her honestly, running his hands up and down her back. "Could I have today please Freddie? You can go if you want but I'd really like you to stay." Aaliyah said as she placed a hand on his chest and her chin on her hand so she could look up at him.

"One day. That's all the moping I'm allowing you alright. But I want to talk to you. Your not holding it inside anymore." Fred said and Aaliyahs face fell. She wanted to forget everything that happened with Adrian. She didnt want to relive it for Fred's benefit.

"B- but I don't want to think about it." She said as a tear fell down her face when she looked at him. "Hey, I'll tell you something that will make you feel better when you tell me yeah? You just have to tell me once and I'll never ask again, and I'll tell everyone else not to aswell alright love?" He questioned and she nodded before sitting up straddling him.

Fred too sat up and leaned against the headboard rising his hands on Aaliyahs hips. "I'm here okay. Not Adrian, Freddie. Adrian is never going to come near you again." Fred promised as Aaliyah took a deep breath trying to collect her thoughts.

"It started to get bad after Christmas." She said looking down ag her hands and picking at the sides of her thumbs like she did when she was nervous. One normal day Fred would have stopped her, would have taken her hands apart and held them so she couldn't do that that herself anymore. But maybe right now she needed it, she was talking about something that was very stressful to her and maybe she just needed a distraction, so this time. This one time, he let it slide.

"I erm, I mentioned getting you a present and he freaked out. He knew we were still friends of course, but he didn't think we were close enough to buy each other Christmas gifts. He used to do small things like grab my arm when he wanted me to shut up. Or pull my hair when I was annoying him when we were alone. At first I didn't think much of it, you know?" Aaliyah asked Fred tears running down her face as she looked into his eyes. "I know princess. It's okay." He reassured as she took another deep breath in order to continue.

"A- and then when he found out about the fire bolts he went ballistic. That was the first time he hit me. It hurt but I thought he wouldn't do it again. He was mad that for his birthday I got him a ring engraved with my name and I got you and George fire bolts. I thought I understood where he was coming from Freddie. I didnt realise it was as bad as it was until he punched me. Straight into my stomach. I thought he was trying to give me a hug. But I forgave him, because he seemed so apologetic about it. I thought he wouldn't ever do it again." She said stopping for a moment to bring her breathing back to normal while Fred rubbed her back and continued to tell her how strong she was.

"It just kept getting worse from there. I spoke out of turn, he hit me. I wasn't somewhere I was supposed to be, he'd yell. It was horrible, but I didn't see a way out. You had Amelia, George has Lee, Riv and David, Ange and Ali. I didnt want to bother you because you all seemed like you had your own stuff going on." She said finally as she broke down and cried into Fred's shoulder. He let her, he didn't push for more information, she had told him enough.

If anything, Fred was mad at himself. How could he not have noticed? He would have helped her in a heartbeat. Any of their friends would have. But they didn't. And Fred was so angry at himself for not noticing sooner. For not helping.