tension. (fred weasley fanfic)

fourteen

i wandered back to the common room, my feet practically carrying me as my mind was completely blank.

i pushed away the thoughts, mumbling the password to the lady in the portrait who seemed to be dozing off. i stepped inside the common room to be met with complete silence, the fire crackling as i smiled lightly to myself.

i had wandered up to my room, slipping out of my clothes and sleeping in one of my plain shirts and my underwear, falling into one of the best sleeps i desperately needed.

***

I sat outside in the pitch, early in the morning as the cold air gave me goosebumps but i didn't mind. it relaxed me, and was rather quiet. that was, until the two ginger twins had arrived. they had thrown a paintball at seamus's back, laughing as the boy complained at the paint which seeped right through his sweater, the twins just laughed at his anger which caused it to increase more, the younger boy storming towards them as they ran off.

"whats up, larke?" ron grinned, snapping me from my gaze as he placed himself next to me in the pitch. "nothing, im just tired." i simply replied, giving the ginger boy a small smile as he nodded, seeing right through the lie. "your not staring at fred, are you?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he followed my eyes. "don't be stupid." i replied, awkwardly chuckling as he pulled a strange look.

"morning! would you like to join us in going to the three broomsticks?" hermione asked, smiling as harry stood next to the frizzy haired girl, looking rather clueless as me and ron both looked at eachother, grinning as we both stood up. "how would we ever miss it?" i winked, linking arms with the girl as harry and ron exchanged looks, following us not far behind.

once we had arrived at the pub, we noticed there was more than a handful of people from hogwarts having the same idea. we ordered our four butterbeers and sat in a large booth, as i attempted to make myself more comfortable in the worn out cushion.

i sat, deep in my own thoughts as i looked outside of the window, looking at the several wizards and witches wandering the streets. some were holding hands, others were just out for a daily stroll. i looked up at the gloomy sky, my lips forming into a slight pout as i saw the weather drastically change.

"Nova!" harry spoke, snapping me from my gaze as i looked up at him. "i've been calling you for the past five minutes, your butterbeers infront of you." he said, furrowing his eyebrows at me as he scooted it closer to me. i smiled lightly, sipping at the drink as hermione and ron exchanged looks. 

"Are you sure your okay nova? you've been acting strange all day.." ron asked, clearly worried as i shrugged. "Im fine." i simply replied, wiping the butterbeer on the sides of my lips. "what is going on with you? you keep zoning out." hermione said, as i laughed slightly. "guys im fine, okay? stop worrying about me." i said, the three didn't buy it and gave me strange looks, but pushed the questions aside as i involved myself in the conversation.

we soon finished our butterbeers and arrived back at hogwarts shortly before noon, not wanting to be out for too long as Mcgonagall wouldn't be too happy about that. whenever we entered the school, hermione and harry had told me and ron they had to go somewhere, so me and ron decided to go out to the lake.

we sat up on the tree which overlooked the entire lake, as we shared our sweets which we bought from honeydukes. "Nova, what's going on with you recently?" ron asked quietly, furrowing his eyebrows.

"There's nothing wrong ron, please stop worrying about me." i sighed, giving him a small smile as he pulled a look. "Im your best friend, Nova. don't lie to me." he pleaded, now chewing down on a candycane flavoured fudge.

 "i think im just a little overwhelmed with everything going on right now." i shrugged. "You know, you don't have to keep it all inside, right? you can talk to me." he smiled lightly, as i looked out at the lake.

"alright, well lets talk about you." i giggled, changing the subject as his face went deadpan. "seriously?" he replied, as i nodded eagerly. "What about you and hermione, eh?" i nudged him lightly, causing his cheeks to heat up. "Pssh, what are you talking about?" he lied, as i kissed my teeth.

"Oh hermione, you've got a little something here." i repeated his words from a few hours ago, reaching out to wipe the side of his lips as he slapped my hand away. "alright alright, i suppose maybe i have something for her." he scoffed, laughing at my actions as i grinned. "i knew it from the bloody start!" i whooped, congratulating myself.

"what about you? any boys?" he grinned, as i broke off a piece of my chocolate bar. 

"nope, boy's are a waste of time." i shrugged, as he tilted his head. "im glad, i'll support you for whoever you like, apart from my brothers." he pointed, sounding pretty serious as i chewed at my lip discreetly. "please, as if.." i giggled, as he laughed.

the two of us walked back to the castle after the moon had started to light up the sky, ron held out the pink and white striped bag which was nearly empty. "want one?" he asked, as we walked into the common room. i nodded whilst grabbing one of the jelly beans.

 i bit into it, slowly chewing it only to realise that it was the vomit flavoured jelly bean. i spat it out immediately and pulled a face, sticking out my tongue as he laughed, clutching the sides of his stomache.

"what did you do, ron?" george asked, his twin furrowing his eyebrows as we looked at the two of them on the sofa.

 "none of your buisness, nosy git." he joked, grinning as i sat on the armchair next to hermione. "everything okay now?" the girl asked, softly caressing my arm as i merely nodded. "hermione, im fine.." i whispered, as she shook her head. "i know you dont want to talk about it, but there was something wrong and it was obvious." she said, as i pulled her into a hug.

my eyes wandered over to fred, once i had let go of hermione. i noticed he was staring, a small smile on his face, almost as if he was admiring me. i smiled sweetly at him, neither of us had bothered to break eye contact.

"hey larke." i heard somebody say behind me, turning around to see cormac was walking past me. he winked my way, as i shifted uncomfortably in my seat. i heard fred mutter something, my eyes looking back over at cormac to see that he walked into the corner of the table, causing him to groan as he clutched his side, shooting daggers towards the ginger boy who had a smirk on his face.