Summer Holiday

Chapter 28

The halls were busy as students made their way to class. It was already after lunch and Sophie had just left the great hall and was walking to her next class. She walked along with her bag over her shoulder and a book in one of her hands. Her eyes drifted to some students ahead of her, and that's when she saw Fred Weasley staring directly at her, walking towards her. Her legs froze momentarily before she turned around and began walking in the opposite direction.

"Sophie! Wait!" Fred called after her. She picked up her pace. "Please!" She could hear the footsteps behind her growing louder. Just then she felt a hand gently grab her elbow. She turned around to face Fred. He let go of her arm. "Please Sophie. Can I talk to you?" She stared into his concerned eyes. "Please?" He asked again.

She sighed. "Yeah. Okay." She knew she couldn't avoid him forever and it really was beginning to get annoying.

She could see his face light up for a second. "Let's find somewhere to sit." Fred said as he guided the two of them to a bench in one of the hallways. They both took a seat.

It was silent for a moment. "What did you want to talk about?" Sophie finally had to ask.

Fred closed his eyes then opened them. "I just want to start with I'm sorry. I was such an idiot over holiday." Fred looked at her.

She thought he was a acting like an idiot, but she didn't want to pick a fight and she knew he wouldn't stop trying to speak with her until she said something about it. "No Fred. It's okay. Don't worry about it." She replied dismissively.

"No, it's not okay and I do worry about it. I acted so poorly. I don't even know what got into me."

"It's okay." Sophie smiled at him hoping it would make him feel better.

"No. Look, I......I'm not even sure where to begin. I just want to say.......I'm sorry for more than just the holiday. I treated you so terribly when we were together." Sophie watched him carefully. "I should've been better to you, and I'd like to make it up to you."

Sophie knew that if he had said this a year ago she would've jumped at the chance to be with him, but now it was wrong. Things were different now. She was different. "I don't know Fred." Sophie looked around. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

He looked at her. "Oh." He looked away momentarily. "No, I understand. I just want you to know I'm not asking you to get back together with me because I know it's too late, but I'd at least like to try and make it up to you so one day we could maybe be friends?"

Fred stared at her while he waited for her to say something. She let out a long breath. "Yeah. We can work on being friends." She put on her best fake smile hoping it would be enough for him.

Fred grinned a large smile. His smile quickly faded and he spoke again. "Sophie, I really need you to know......I never cheated on you." Fred's brows formed a concerned frown as he gazed into her eyes.

A painful lump formed in her chest as the words escaped his mouth. She wanted to be over him, but deep down it still hurt. She let out a long breath. "Thank you for telling me that." Sophie looked at him.

"I really am going to make it up to you starting right now. I'm going to be a wonderful friend to you."

"Okay Fred. Let's try to be friends."

Fred placed his hand on Sophie's. "Thank you." He smiled at her.

Sophie looked away from Fred and felt her breath hitch. Draco was walking by. Draco's eyes were glued to Sophie's as he passed her holding hands with Fred. His icy grey eyes looked furious and Sophie couldn't pull her own eyes away from him. Draco kept his expression blank, but Sophie could see the anger bleeding from his eyes.