pull me deep - a love triangle

a warm welcome

(playlist of songs to listen to while reading in bio) :)

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Water dripped down her face. she was shaking in her boots, literally, and every time hiraeth's heel pressed against the floor the soles of her shoes squished. she huffed, her past curfew walk hadn't gone to plan, now, after being caught up in the rain. she currently stood outside of the Gryffindor common room, staring blankly at the portrait. 

she had forgotten the password..

"what a lovely start to the school year.." she whispered to herself, wringing out her soaked jumper.

"What are you doing out here? It's well past curfew."

she winced from the abruptness of being ripped away from her own thoughts, glancing over her shoulder. The voice had come from a boy she couldn't quiet make out in the dim lit hallway but his voice was distinct. 

"Sorry, just got in. I was taking a second to dry off."

He held a lantern in front of him and wandered further towards her. "Swim all the way here, did you? You look like a drowned cat." He chuckled, she quickly caught onto the laugh. it was Fred Weasley. she inched closer so his face was in view. yep, it was him. she noticed, again begrudgingly, that he had lovely white teeth, and that when he smiled two small dimples appeared in his cheeks. he was gorgeous. her eyes captured him, along with her untamed dirty blond hair. There was something wild, yet collected in her aura, he thought. 

"I appreciate the warm welcome." she said, smooth American accent sounding absolutely serpentine. something foreign to Fred's ears. she definitely wasn't a new student. he thought. sixth year, maybe seventh. although Fred had seen her once or twice before he never once spoke to the girl as of the train ride earlier that night. 

"right well, who are you anyways? if you don't mind me asking?" he blurted, holding the candle lit lamp closer to her so she could benefit off its warmth.

"hiraeth." she sighed heavily, flattening out her thoroughly damp jumper and ringing out her hair. silently appreciating his gesture. Fred made an "ahh" sound in realisation. 

"you're a Whitlock, aren't ya" he grinned proudly, having known who she is just off her name. hiraeth nodded more courteously than she felt inclined to be, a slightly annoyed expression on her face and vaguely heated cheeks made it obvious to Fred that she was flustered.

"I'm Fred" he spoke, she nodded, already knowing who he was. 

"while you're here, i wont ask why you, yourself are out past curfew but will ask if you can remind me of the new common room password. I've been trying to remember it for 15 minutes." she mumbled, kicking her squelching feet against the sleek stone of the floor.

"snitch." Fred said to the fat lady in portrait as it swung open. she thanked Fred silently, just before she was about to descend up the stairs he grabbed her forearm, her skin coming alight as he touched her. 

"here, take this" he whispered, passing his lamp for her to hold as he slipped his knit sweater with the initial "F" knitted neatly on the front off himself. he handed it to her and took back the lamp. he watched as she shoved the sweater quickly over her head, she dreaded for some warmth and this was gladly appreciated. she whispered a quick "thankyou", and ran up the stairs as quietly as her feet would let her. she tried to push away the tingling sensation still afloat in her stomach from his touch. and headed to bed, hoping that tomorrow would be a better day. 

Fred watched her climb the stairs. she was intriguing to him. something inside him was just begging for him to find out more about her. he shook his head to relief the thoughts he was having.