Falling Slowly (A Hogwarts Lovestory) - Fred Weasley Fanfiction

09 | 5AM

When school went on after the holidays and the castle was filled up with students once again, Oliver somehow decided to wrap me up in cotton.
He almost crushed me with his lovingly affection. I knew he was just trying to be nice to me and maybe I should've appreciated it more, but I slowly started to regret telling him about everything.

"Why didn't you send me an owl?", he had asked. "I would've come here to get you! My parents would've loved to get to know you, they're dying to meet you."
He barely left me alone during the following weeks. I tried my best not to blame him for this kind of behavior and to focus on the fact how much I must have meant to him instead.

I thought I needed more time alone for myself, to help the healing process. But as I already spent most nights awake feeling lonely, it happened to be 5AM in the morning when I found myself longing for some distraction.

The "golden trio" seemed quite busy to me recently. I could feel they were up to something, but probably not to something good. They sat offside the other Gryffindors most time, putting their heads together over a bunch of handwritten notes. I got the impression they didn't want me to be a part of it and I definitely did not want to force myself on them.

Unfortunately, Angelina and Alicia weren't a real help either. They hung out a lot with Katie Bell lately, which I didn't mind, I liked Katie, but the three of them were either talking about Quidditch or boys and I did not feel like talking about any of this. Apparently, Alicia finally got herself a date with Cedric Diggory and she didn't stop talking about what to wear for even a minute. When Angelina jumped on and told us all how Fred had put her arms around her after Quidditch training the day before and how she was sure he was into her, too, I needed to get myself out of there as soon as possible.

I haven't touched my Ukulele even once since what happened on Christmas Eve and so the remaining schoolyear passed by quite lonely for me.
Right when I thought that I was not able to handle even one more pitiful look by Oliver or one more superficial comment about whatever kind of hairstyle gets a boy to like you, life at Hogwarts suddenly got interesting again.

Apparently, the "golden trio" had been on Voldemort's tracks lately. They discovered Professor Quirrell had shared his body with You-Know-Who and therefore wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone that was hidden in the castle. That's why they wanted to find out something about Nicholas Flamel so badly, the inventer of the stone's powers.
Sadly, Hermione was the only one who got out of the danger unharmed. Ron and Harry on the other hand had to spent weeks in the hospital wing, which was run by Madam Pomfrey. She was very strict with rules in her working area so she insisted that nobody was allowed to visit her patients outside the visiting hours.

I just got back from another visit in the hospital wing, after I watered the flowers alongside Harry's bed and left him a jumbo pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (in case he'd wake up hungrily), when someone knocked on the door to my dormitory.
I closed my eyes and groaned quietly. I hadn't expect Oliver to be back from class at least for two hours. But when I stood up and opened the door, I learned that it wasn't Oliver who had knocked.

What I saw when I opened the door was Fred Weasley, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Evening, Julie", he said. "I need your help. Would you come with me, please?"
"Come with you where exactly?", I asked, but he didn't answer, he just grinned and pulled me with him.
"Oy, I got her, George!", he called for his brother, who joined us at our way out of the Gryffindor common room.
They wouldn't tell me what they were up to until we were standing in front of the boy's restroom on the fifth floor.
"There we are", George said and both grinned at me mischievously.
I looked up to them.
"I don't get it, guys. What exactly do you need me for?"
"We", Fred said solemnly and put his arm around me, "need your help with removing a lavatory seat."
He looked at me as if he wanted me to be excessively excited.
"Yeah, see", George added, "we've been thinking, with all Harry went through recently, he'd deserve a more..."
"...personal gift", Fred finished his brother's sentence.
They both looked down at me with their hazel eyes glowing full of expectations.
"Well", I said after a short while. "We better get started!"

After Madam Pomfrey kicked us out of the hospital wing as we tried to deliver our gift to Harry, we ran straight outside to escape from her loud yelling. I couldn't remember when I laughed that hard the last time.

I did not want to go back to the common room, where I'd be cuddled by Oliver the rest of the day, so the three of us snuck out of the castle and took place next to a big elder tree, hoping we could enjoy the last sunbeams of the day.
I leaned my back against the tree and closed my eyes for a moment.
"That. Was. Incredible.", I said. "I mean, did you see her face?"
We all laughed.
"Guess now I finally get it. Why you're playing pranks all the time. Makes you feel alive."
I looked closely at both of them.
"Honestly, guys. Thank you. I know you actually didn't need me out there on your mission. I really appreciate that."
"Anytime, Julie. Anytime", Fred softly put his hand on my thigh. It felt warm and nice and I blushed.
"So, are you all as excited as me for the big announcement next week? You think we'll win the House Cup this time?", George asked sarcastically.
We all groaned at the thought of Slytherin winning it. Again.
"Well, at least we can go home afterwards", Fred said and George agreed.
I said nothing for a while. The idea of going home felt like a bad joke.
"Promise me, guys, can you please write me letters during summer? I don't know where I'm going, yet, but Dombledore organized the whole thing. I'm sure he'll give you the adress of the orphanage."
"Yeah, of course, Julie. You have my word", George promised. "Right, Freddy?"
But Fred didn't answer.
In fact, he didn't say even a single word when we walked back to the castle and I also didn't see him again until the feast a week later.

And you don't know what you've got until it's gone
And you don't know who to love until you're lost
And you don't know how to feel until the moment's passed
I wish you'd live, like you're made of glass
- Amber Run