Falling Slowly (A Hogwarts Lovestory) - Fred Weasley Fanfiction

10 | It's Only Life

My recent adventure with the twins helped me to climb out of the rabbit hole I had found myself in ever since I heard about Ben. Even though I hadn't talked or even seen both of them during the following days, I was grateful they made me feel like myself again.

I passed the final exams quite well under the current circumstances, even Divination, but I decided to cut that subject out of my timetable next year. I didn't see how I'd ever need it in my future.

I had to meet up with Dumbledore twice before the school year ended, but I didn't pay much attention when he explained the circumstances of my residence during summer holidays. It wouldn't be at the same place they put Ben and that would've been the only issue that mattered to me.
At least Dumbledore agreed it was his duty now to look after me, as I literally had no one else left, so he gave me his personal permission to visit Hogsmeade with my classmates.

So it was I spent my last evening at school at the Hog's Head Inn, after I filled up all my pockets with sweets from Honeydukes.
"Next year is going to be so amazing now that you can come with us!", Alicia said and ordered a round of butterbeer for everyone at our table.
I sat next to Oliver with Angelina on my other side. Alicia and Cedric sat on the other side of the table next to each other holding hands.
Percy Weasley, who was Oliver's roommate and friend, had joined us at this special day. He said he had finished all his duties as Gryffindor's Prefect by now and was therefore willing to get himself one day free. I grinned quietly to myself, this had probably been his only night off during the whole year. He was so different from his younger brothers, but I liked him nonetheless.
"To the successful ending of another school year", I said and raised my glass.
"And to a wonderful summer vacation", Alicia added.
"To many amazing following evenings at the Hog's Head with the most wonderful friends in the world", Angelina also continued what I started.
"And to our next attempt to finally win the bloody Quidditch Cup", Oliver sighed and everybody laughed.
We all clinked our glasses and I suddenly realized it would be a long summer for me until I'll see them all again.

I heard the door open behind my back and foot steps approached towards our table. It was the Weasley twins who joined us now.
"Blimey, Perce, you finally managed to get outside! You sure there's no work left to do?", Fred teased his older brother.
"You can laugh now", Percy didn't seem impressed. "But wait until Mum finds out about your grades."

It was a long but wonderful last evening.
On our way back to Hogwarts, Oliver for once decided not to walk besides me holding my hand but to walk a few steps ahead of me chatting excitingly with Percy.
"Julie Daniels walking alone, without being guarded by her lover, this truly is an exceptionally moment", someone whispered in my ear. George grinned as I turned my face towards him.
"Don't you make fun of me, Weasley!", I said to him.
"Honestly, Julie", said George quietly, so no one else could hear him, "I am not kidding right now."
He looked at me, now with the most serious expression I had ever seen on his face.
"Tell me one thing, Julie. Does he really make you happy?"
"You may not believe it, as words like decency and politeness aren't part of your vocabulary", I answered angrily, "but Oliver has always been very caring and thoughtful towards me."
George said nothing for a while and I had just thought he wouldn't answer anything at all, but I was wrong.
"That wasn't my question", he said. "But you don't have to answer it right now if you don't want to, you may think about it later.
I know you probably don't want to hear my opinion on that. But, as you already recognised correctly, words like decency and politeness aren't part of my vocabulary. So I'm telling you, if you like it or not.
Oliver might be the caring and thoughtful boyfriend you described, I do not doubt that. I just believe that you deserve something else. Someone else. You deserve someone who is challenging you. Someone who doesn't hold you back. Someone who supports your development. Someone who makes you discover totally new perspectives. Someone", he concluded, "who truly sees you."