Affliction - Theodore Nott | Fred Weasley

Four

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After the long eventful day she had, Lucy just wanted to curl up in a ball in bed, but there was one major thing stopping her. The letter.

She sat in the common room, curled up in front of the fire, the letter hanging from her finger tips loosely. No one was there with the girl, having skipped dinner, so she was free to feel however she wished, but she didn't wish to cry anymore.

While the letter wasn't something to be happy about necessarily, Lucy wasn't exactly as freaked out by it anymore. This person was the first connection she had to her life, who she was, where she came from, and these were all questions she had asked herself a million times.

When the common room door opened, she folded the letter and placed it in her pocket neatly, still just staring into the fire.

"Lucy?" Comes a voice and she looks up only to be met with Fred's warm gaze. He was alone, strange to Lucy because Fred was basically always with George.

The boy eyed Lucy warily, unsure as to what to say.

"Hi Fred," Lucy says, smiling a bit. He walks around and sits next to her on the couch, quiet.

"You weren't at dinner, I was... well I was worried," Fred says slowly, looking at Lucy fully now.

A smile plays at the corners of Lucy's lips, taken aback by what Fred had said. His flirting was one thing, but the fact that he seemed to really care sent butterflies through Lucy.

"You're sweet. But I'm alright, just not really hungry..." Lucy trails off as she looks up at Fred, who is just studying her quietly.

"What?" She breathes out. Fred reaches over slowly, and Lucy suddenly notices how his red hair is falling onto his forehead, how he smells like strawberries and a cologne that Lucy just couldn't put a finger on, and how he's so close she can almost feel his breath.

When he pushes a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brush her cheek and Lucy nearly shivers.

"I know I joke, and I know I flirt and tease, but Lucy... you are the prettiest girl I have ever seen." Fred says, a smile creeping up on his face. Lucy noted it was almost shy.

She smiles, a heartbreakingly beautiful smile, and her face flushes. "You are just saying that.." she laughs out. "Did George dare you—,"

"Go to hogsmeade with me!" Fred exclaims. Lucy jumps a bit, laughing. "What?"

"You're a fifth year now. You can go whenever you want. Go to hogsmeade with me this weekend... I want to take you on a date."

Fred was staring at her with wide eyes, almost like he was surprised he even said it. Lucy smiles and looks away, but then looks back at him, meeting his gaze.

"Okay," she breathes, and Fred's smile nearly takes her breath away.

"Yeah?" He laughs and Lucy just shakes her head, laughing as well. "You are probably the goofiest boy I know, but yes." She giggles, to which Fred just beams.

The ginger boy jumps up, throwing a fist in the air, and walks back out of the common room. Lucy just stares after him, her smile too big to hide.