My Promise For You | Fred Weasley

Chapter 18:

I have potions class and I find myself waiting for this class to arrive during the week. Adrian is far from being unpleasant and makes the course more interesting. I take my usual place next to him. We had to prepare a Draught of Living Death.

Adrian whispered to me "Mayline, do you already have a date for the Yull ball?"

My heartbeat quicken; he intended to ask me? Basically, I didn't mind going with him. But Fred comes first.

"No and you?"

"Neither, I haven't asked her yet"

"Oh ok, I hope she will say yes then" He gave me a smile that I returned and we resumed the preparation of our potion.

After class ended I bumped into Cedric in the hallways. "Hey Ced! I wanted to talk to you"

"Hi May! yes tell me"

"I'm really stuck with the clue; I'm not asking you to give it to me I know we're in competition. But I just wanted to know if you found it?" I ask him embarrassed.

"I was just planning to tell you about it; all I can tell you is to take a bath with it and I don't know... meditate a bit" he replied with a smile.

I then squinted my eyes because I thought he was playing a joke on me.

"I advise you the bathroom of the prefects" He says to me with a smirk and approaches my ear "Do you remember the password?

I swallowed my saliva and replied "Uh yes, yes. Thank you"

He gave me a wink and continued on his way.

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The evening

I decided to get out of the table quickly to head for the prefects' bathroom and take advantage of the fact that most people were eating. I arrived at the door and whispered the password. There was what could be considered a small pool in the center of the room; dozens of gold faucets and paintings adorned the walls.

I opened all the taps and the pool filled with water and bubbles. I took off my shorts and my t-shirt and slipped into the water. It was very warm and smelled like lavender. I relaxed and considered the clue but nothing came to mind.

So I decided to take the egg and open it; but the same shrill cry resounded. I then dropped it without doing it on purpose in the water and then I heard  something like a song but I couldn't understand anything.

My eyes opened wide and I realized that I had to listen to it underwater. So I took a deep breath and dove in. I then distinctly heard the chant

" Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

An hour long you'll have to look,

To recover what we took."

I came back to the surface and repeated what I had just heard. I had to listen a few more times to know it by heart.

They can't sing above ground, so they live underwater... Mermaids! But that means I'm going to have to go there to retrieve an object, I think. But for an hour?! How will I do?

I don't mind swimming, I had taken lessons when I was younger. But I couldn't stay in apnea for an hour! I absolutely had to do some research!

I then decided to get out of the water, wipe myself off and get dressed. I walked back into the common room and found Kathleen and George sitting on the couch.

"Hey May! so this swim?" asked George.

I sat across from them and said "Very relaxing, except that I'm going to have to fight some mermaids!"

"What was the clue?" Kathleen asked.

I tell them the chant and explain what I have deduced from it.

"It's crazy!" wondered George.

"We don't have time to waste! Starting tomorrow I'll help you find a solution. Cho is already helping Cedric normally." Kathleen added.

I heard voices coming towards us so I looked towards the stairs to see Fred and Jessica arriving.

"Did you know she was up there?" Kathleen whispered to George and he shook his head.

I noticed then that she was holding in her hands a bouquet of tulips (my favorites) and a bag of Honeydukes.

"Hey guys!" said Fred enthusiastically as he sat down. Jessica followed him and sat on him.

I could not believe my eyes. I looked at Kathleen to be sure she saw as I did; and the expression on her face confirmed it.

"What are you doing Fred?" George asked in a slightly embarrassed tone. Meanwhile Jessica was staring at me and I couldn't take my eyes off Fred.

"How so?" asked Fred confused.

"Your invitation to the ball..." George said uncertainly.

"Ah yes! As you see she said yes" and he kissed Jessica on the cheek.

It was as if time had just stopped, I no longer understood anything. He was supposed to ask me. Did he change his mind? Was he even planning to ask me at first? I felt stupid for having believed it.

I just wanted to scream, make him understand how much I hated him. But I didn't want to give Jessica that satisfaction; so I got up and said "I'm going to bed, see you tomorrow".

I didn't wait for answers and went up to my room. I was finally alone and I could let myself go. I went into the bathroom, cast the silencing spell and started crying. I had never cried so much because of him. I really thought we had gotten closer but obviously I was wrong.

I looked at myself in the mirror and founded myself pathetic.

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George's point of view

I saw the expression on her face, she was heartbroken. And I just wanted to hit my stupid brother for what he was doing to her!

Jessica left shortly after her without failing to kiss him. Kathleen and I watched in disgust.

"Fred you really are the worst idiot!" exclaimed Kathleen furiously. She went up to join Mayline to console her I suppose.

"What's the matter with all of you?" Fred asked me.

"You have a lot of nerve telling me we have a problem when you're the one hurting May!"

"Hurt May?" he said confused.

"Yes, May your best friend! The one you were supposed to get close to this year! The one you were supposed to invite to the ball!" I lost my temper and fortunately there was no one left downstairs.

"I don't know how to explain it, I just changed my mind. Jessica ..."

He started but I cut him off "Jessica, that's the only word you have in your mouth! You've only known her for a little, Fred. And May's always been there for you. You even told me you bought her favorite flowers and candies, why did you do that?"

"I... I don't know. I thought at the time I would ask May, but Jessica came knocking on my door and seeing her I was only thinking of one thing; invite her" He said unsure of himself.

I couldn't look at him anymore so I decided to go up and leave him alone downstairs.

I went upstairs and decided to stop by the girls' room to see how May was doing. I knocked and Kathleen opened me but there was no trace of Mayline.

"She locked herself in the bathroom" whispers to me Kathleen.

"I don't know what's going on, but something's wrong with Fred" I tell her.

George's end point of view