𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 | f. w

xxv. never have i ever

chapter twenty-five
NEVER HAVE I EVER

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Edith's pov

» » 'NEVER HAVE I EVER', all though originally a muggle game, was very popular when most of the members of the group attended Hogwarts. They spent many nights together in front of the blazing fire in the Gryffindor common room playing the game. Hearts were shattered and deep secrets revealed as light was cast upon their inner, most dark thoughts and feelings.

"Okay–okay—how about this one? Never have I ever... done the deed under my parents roof".

Violet gasped as she took notice of the majority of the group taking shots. Both Ravi and Charlie seemed no less of proud and confident at the fact, whereas Edith's cheeks flushed a dark crimson. Fred caught Charlie eyeing the two as he gurgled down the contents of his own glass. After all, he was well aware of two of his favourite people getting down and dirty during one of their stays at the Burrow. In fact, Edith getting back from Romania and ending up in Fred's bed, wasn't the first time they'd slept together. Oh no, they had gotten together once before.

Flashback to just before the Second Wizarding War

Edith stood breathless and perplexed outside of the many bedrooms in the Burrow. Battling thoughts swirled inside her mind, and every bone inside her body was telling her not to do this. Not to go there.

But of of course—being the stubborn girl that she was—she listened to the one thing she knew would be the death of her:

her own beating heart.

She had been standing there for awhile—and was just about to press her knuckles to the wood—when the door swung open to reveal a tired-looking Fred Weasley.

"Edith? What are you doing here?", he asked groggily. In fact, it was all he got out before Edith had swung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.

"Okay—I have a good one. Never have I ever been in love with my best friend", Charlie said insinuatingly, looking to his best friend and brother.

Everyone knew of Fred and Edith's complicated past, but no one dared face the giant elephant in the room.

As the both of them drank to it, reluctantly at that, they didn't dare face each other at all. Instead, Edith's gaze fell upon her own lap, whereas Fred gave Charlie a death stare.

Violet chuckled underneath her breath, clinking her glass against Ravi's before taking a gulp of her wine.

From there on, the tension in the air was adamant, clear as day. Fred and Edith didn't dare look each other in the eyes, and although Edith couldn't be more flushed from the thought of Fred being in love with her, it was her own feelings that made it complicated. Sure, she'd said she loved him before, but she'd never actually admitted to anyone that she was in love with him, not even herself.

"Well, this was fun and all that—but I think it's time we took it up a notch", Ravi grinned, his legs swaying as he stood up to refill his drink before falling back into the space on the couch between Charlie and Violet. Edith eyed him suspiciously, praying to Godric he wasn't about to make everything worse. If that was even possible.

"Go for it, Ravi", Violet chuckled, clearly attracted to the handsome man.

"Yes. Well—never have I ever... gotten my heart broken".

The group fell silent.

This time around, Edith was the one with the death glare, her eyes piercing through Ravi's skull, who seemed no short of careless about the whole situation he'd just created. She found herself turning to a taken aback Fred, who reached for his half full glass, ready to chug down the rest of his Fire Whiskey.

The heartbreak and sorrow adamant on his handsome face made Edith's heart pound. It tore her asunder knowing she was the main cause of his pain, and she would have given anything to take it back. All of it. If she could've gone back in time and changed how she acted and the decisions she made— she would. Only problem was — she couldn't, and she knew it damn well.

"Okay... I see that's a rather sensitive subject", Ravi continued, finally taking notice of the strained tension in the air. The tension he himself had been a creator of. "Anyone up for a smoke?".

Violet beamed, whereas Charlie was already halfway out the door. "Yes please", either one of them muttered.

The second she could hear the front door close, Edith rose from her seat, heading towards the kitchen. She needed to do something. Anything. She had to keep her self occupied in order to not think about the giant elephant in the room that seemed to grow with each glance she and Fred shared. Or rather, each glance they didn't share.

"I hate this fucking game", Fred muttered angrily, taking another swig from his glass, emptying it. It was pretty clear he was drunk, and had become so early on. Edith couldn't help but wonder if he was just as upset about the silly game the group was playing as she was. Hearing his little comment made her certain of it.

"Freddie—".

"I mean, who even came up with this stupid game in the first place?". He paused, letting out a deep but frustrated sigh. "I'm getting another drink".

"I think you've had quiet enough of that", Edith challenged, knowing full well she was walking on thin ice with him at that point. Fred had a history of getting pretty drunk at parties, and when he was drunk, well then he tended to speak the truth, and she knew she was about to hear all of it.

He huffed. "Really? Well, I've had quite enough of this", he motioned between the two of them as he took a few steps towards the kitchen where Edith stood, pouring herself a glass of cold water. "But it's not like I can walk out on you. I would never do to you what you did to me".

Fred's words stung, breaking her heart all over again.

He's drunk. He's only saying this because he's been drinking. He's not himself. Edith kept repeating the mantras in her head. She stayed silent for a few seconds, hoping Fred would lose interest in whatever argument he was starting, but alas, the truth was different.

"Why did you leave?", he started again, his tone considerably more sorrowful.

"Fred—",

"Tell me the truth this time. The whole truth. You owe me as much".

Edith sighed.

"Alright".

⬩ word count: 1109