The Language of Flowers | Fred Weasley

14: N A R C I S S U S - egotism

By midnight, I had consumed four butterbeers and had tried and failed to have a fifth. Joanna had consumed six, and she complained that she wouldn't be able to have another one or she would have to go to the restroom in the middle of the night. We had both fallen into a fit of giggles several times now and it just got worse as the sugar finally left our system and tiredness kicks in.

Joanna had forgiven me at the beginning of the night, admitting that she was being ridiculous. I apologized to her as well, promising that I would be more careful with her emotions. We hugged it out and we were over it within minutes.

After our butterbeer battle, we for some strange reason decided to try and figure out who was the better speller. María had out her dictionary and she was giving us the biggest words for us to spell. Joanna may have the record so far for most butterbeers drunken, I've spelled more words correctly.

When Joanna began to try and spell sacrilegious, a word I knew but I honestly had no idea how to spell, I got up. The word seemed simple enough but Joanna was so tired that she had said 's' about three times and couldn't seem to get past the l. I got up, knowing it will be awhile until Joanna figured out how to spell the word. I was craving just a small piece of cake, so I headed over to the cake table, knowing it would be awhile before Joanna figured out how to spell. Plus, I needed to have that piece to have enough energy to force myself, Jo, and María to go to bed for the night, or so I told myself.

Half of the Gryffindors had already retreated to their rooms for the night, leaving mostly older students. A few third years were still awake, they sat huddled in the corner of the room singing some song so out of tune that I didn't have any idea what song it was.

"Oi! Ellie!" Someone called across the room just as I got to the cakes. I wanted my cake and I wanted to eat it without being interrupted. I turned around to see Fred and George walk towards me, devilish grins on their stupid faces.

"Can it wait?" I grumble, crossing my arms at them.

"Oh I don't think you'll want to wait for this. George and I have a little bet going and if you wait for just a moment, you might be able to get yourself some money."

Did he say money? "I'm listening," I said, raising an eyebrow at them.

"Fred bet that you wouldn't be able to sneak into Snape's classroom and steal his personal potions book," George explained, "And I bet that you could. We're betting 10 sickles. I'm willing to give you half, Fred isn't going to give you any." George smirked.

I chewed his words over. Worst case, I got detention. Best case, a little pay back to my least favorite Weasley. "Deal."

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"Hawksley!" At the sound of my last name, which usually wasn't said with such anger, I looked up from my book, my eyes wide. Fred was storming towards me, his face contorted with rage.

"Yes?" I said, mustering every ounce of self-control to keep from laughing.

"You think your little prank was funny?" Fred growled, stopping in front of me. The whole Gryffindor common room went silent. Though the students pretended to be engrossed in whatever they were doing, I could feel their eyes on us.

"Yeah, I did. That's kinda the point of a prank. Did Professor Snape think it was funny?" I asked.

"He thought it was just bloody hilarious. Doesn't everybody just love seeing 'Fred Weasley' written in big red ink on the first page of their personal potion book?" Fred laughs darkly and I cover my mouth with my sweater sleeve to keep from laughing.

"I know I sure do," Joanna shrugged nonchalantly from her seat. She glanced at me, trying to gauge how I'm reacting to this situation, and that small glance completely breaks my composure. I began roaring with laughter.