𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, fred weasley

˗ˋ 100

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED
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-: seventh year :-

── IN WHICH HARRY DISCOVERS
SOMETHING

. . .

"I'm sorry you can't come tonight, Harry." Elodie fell into step beside the younger boy as they entered the Entrance Hall from the dinner room, making their way away from it. It had been some days since her first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with the woman, and everyone and their mothers had heard Angelina's complaints about how Harry wasn't able to attend Quidditch tryouts on Friday - and now that the day had arrived it seemed all the more bitter. "I heard Umbridge's detentions aren't particularly nice."

The Potter nodded slowly, pulling his sleeve down over his hand. "Yeah - they're not good." He agreed shiftily. "Her entire office is pink and she has these plates with with moving, meowing pictures of cats on them."

"Sounds like a personal hell." 

"Yeah, one that I don't think you'll ever experience." Harry sighed before he froze, looking particularly panicked as he looked up at her. "Not - not that it's bad, obviously it's really good, I just.. with the whole French thing."

"I've gotta be careful with that though. One slip up and I'm writing lines for the rest of the year." Elodie shuddered at the thought, although she didn't actually appear too bothered about it. "Imagine if she found out I was fluent in both and I was swearing behind her back - none of us really worked out the logistics of this." 

"I don't think it matters. Someone has to make a fool of her and if you can't do it in her language... you have to take every opportunity, right?" Harry had followed her out into one of the courtyards that provided a shortcut to the Quidditch ground before halting. "Shit - I should probably go back."

"Unless you want to skip and come to the tryouts anyway?" Elodie rose an eyebrow. Harry paused for a moment and her eyes widened. "I'm joking - sort of - but I have to be joking. It'll only be worse for you if you skip out on one of her detentions. Go on, it's only a couple hours and it looks like it'll rain."

Harry looked upwards, nodding slowly. "You're right. Oh - just one favour, Elodie, if you don't mind." He met her eyes. "I know you've been giving Ron advising with trying out."

"Did he finally manage to tell someone?" Elodie smiled, looking relieved. She had been aiding Ron in her free time with his nerves about potentially trying out as Keeper for the Gryffindor team that Friday, but hadn;t quite worked up the courage to tell anyone. It was easy enough to figure out why; in a family of so many high-achieving siblings, it wasn't complicated to feel overshadowed. "Oh, that's good. I couldn't imagine what he felt like."

Harry stared at her for a moment, the way her gaze drifted off into the distance listlessly, imagining it. He blinked suddenly, feeling an unexpected thud in his left chest region. Oh Merlin that was bad. He had to get his act in gear - he couldn't actually be feeling like this. Besides, she was two years older and dating Fred. Seriously dating Fred. But it didn't hurt to wonder for a moment, to compliment how pretty or how nice she was and... Harry was being stupid. He suddenly jumped back to life and Elodie's gaze landed on him again.

"Yeah - he, er, told me." Harry nodded. "I just wanted to ask if you could try and get Fred and George to go easy on him. I know they won't be horrible.. but I'm guessing this means quite a lot to him.. and them joking around would probably hurt a lot more than anyone else."

"Right - of course." Elodie nodded, adjusting the finger-less leather gloves that covered her palms. "Yeah, I'll kick them into shape, don't you worry about it. I've already got Fred distracted, and I daresay George would love to see Angelina in her captaincy element.. so we've got you covered. Not that I would let them be too harmful with their jokes.. I know they can go too far sometimes - so I've got your back." 

Harry nodded. "Thanks." He dug his hands into his pockets, wincing slightly as the material pushed against the slowly forming scar. "I should go before I'm late, but thanks again."

"No worries." Elodie hummed, beginning to walk backwards and in the direction of the pathway down to the pitch. "Oh - and Harry?" He turned back around. "You should try and make it to another practise some time, get to see me play as well?" 

"I have a feeling you're pretty good, Elodie." Harry called after her, returning her slight wave as she moved away from him. He hurried up his pace, shaking his head. It was a bad idea to dive into that hole.. but schoolboy crushes happened.

It just so happened that Harry had managed to pick the worst-yet-best person to harbour one for. 

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a/n
nobody has to worry about
harry lol it's just something for
me to add in later on for fun just
like little moments but i literally don't
have a lot to write for this part and this
is just a bridging chapter so i thought
i would have fun yknow?