Except For You ~ {Fred Weasley}

Chapter 18

I walk into the Great Hall and someone immediately rushes over to me. Expecting Mr Trouble, I groan and turn to the person. But it’s not. A tall Hufflepuff with brown hair is standing next to me. He looks concerned.
“Is this a bad time?”
“Oh, no! Sorry Cedric. I thought you were somebody else.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Well, did you need anything or…?”
“Oh! Um, right! Well, last night, at the party-”
“The one I ran out of, yes.”
“Yes, well, you left your jacket behind.”
“I- I did?”
“Yeah. You took it off and must’ve forgotten about it or ran out too quickly, you left it on the stage.”
“I’ll… go get it then, thanks.”
“Oh, no, I brought it for you. Here.” He turns and jogs back to his own table, me following far behind. He picks it up from the seat and presents it to me. “For the lady.” He says in a posh accent, twirling his hands dramatically and bowing. I blush, but curtsy dramatically like him.
“Why, thank you my good sir.” I take it from him, flash him a smile and rush to my own table, blushing furiously.
“Hey!” Alice calls out to me once I near the Ravenclaw table. “You good?”
“Oh yeah. I just…” I trail off, glancing back at the Hufflepuff table.
“Who you drooling over?” Lilly asks.
“What! No- no one…” I trail off again, my eyes on the cute boy across the hall. He mutters something with his friends and he turns back to look at me. I blush harder and dart my eyes away. Grace nudges me and points to the Gryffindor table. I look over and see Mr Trouble practically breaking his goblet in anger, while giving Cedric the death stare that he doesn’t notice. I giggle slightly.
“Two of the hottest and most popular guys in school are fighting over you!” Alice whispers across the table when Cedric finally notices Mr Trouble’s stare and returns it.
“No way! There’s no way either of them are-” I catch Cedric’s eye and he winks at me, turning back to Mr Trouble and smirking. Mr Trouble basically snaps. He stands up sharply and marches over to Cedric. He towers over him and whispers something. Cedric looks amused until Mr Trouble must say something he doesn't like because Cedric also stands up, spits something and shoves Mr Trouble. Cedric sits back down and Mr Trouble walks back to his seat. It feels like I’m living in a movie.

“Er, guys? Where’s Amelia?” The girls go from being very giggly to very solemn in about zero point zero two seconds.
“You don’t know, do you?” Alice asks in return.
“Don’t know what?”
“Amelia’s parents sent her to… Beauxbatons Academy.” Lilly answers, tears glazing her eyes.
“What?” I breathe, not daring to believe it. Amelia was the first Ravenclaw friend I had made.
“It’s true. We saw her pack and leave last night.” Grace responds.
“That’s terrible, cruel even. And just when she was made prefect as well.” The girls agreed. I turn to Grace and wipe the tears from her face with my sleeve. “We mustn’t cry though. Amelia would feel terrible if she knew.” She sniffles and smiles. We had just started to eat again when Professor Flitwick waddles up to me.
“Miss Mathias I- are you four okay?” He asks instead, noticing our tears.
“Oh, we were just sad that Amelia left.” I answer, wiping my eyes with my palms.
“Oh, um, well, because Amelia had to leave, unfortunately, that means there is no longer a female prefect.”
“Right.”
“Well, my next option was you, Miss Mathias.”
“Me?” I repeat.
“Yes.”
“Well, I dunno. Amelia just left. It feels wrong.” I look at the other girls.
“Amelia would celebrate.” Lilly offers smally. That makes up my decision.
“Okay professor. I’ll be a prefect.” I answer. He beams, shuffles through his cloak and pulls out a shiny badge in the shape of a shield, with a navy blue background and a bronze ‘P’. “Thanks Professor.” I take it from his hand and pin it to my shirt.
“Now, because you weren’t given the letter you don’t know what prefects have to do. I would explain but I'm very busy. How about I call over the other Ravenclaw prefect and he can tell you all about it?”
“Oh um, I think I’ll go talk to another prefect Professor.” I smile sweetly and he shuffles off to the teachers table.
“I think I know who the prefect is.” Alice teases.
“Oh shut up!” I giggle.
“Well go up to him!” Grace exclaims, nudging me a little.
“Okay okay!” I get up and walk over to the Hufflepuff table. “Uh, Cedric?” He turns around and grins when he sees me.
“Yeah?”
I start rambling, “Um, so, my friend Amelia moved schools, and she was the Ravenclaw prefect but now I am and I was wondering if you could tell me how to like, be a prefect?”
“Yeah, of course! I’ll talk to you after breakfast.”
“Um okay. See you later, then.” I wave and walk back to my table blushing. Oh no, oh no! I thought I liked Mr Trouble! Ugh!