SPARKS FLY | fred weasley x oc | YEAR 3

chapter 5- owl post

I was scared half to death by a letter being dropped on my breakfast plate. "Merlin," I cursed under my breath as I slowed my heart. "What…" I looked up to see the Great Hall swarming with owls of all sizes and colors delivering letters and packages to students. "Is anything here normal?" I asked. Hermione looked up from her book, brows knitted together.
"This is a magical school, define normal."
"I just don't understand why we have to watch out for falling mail. Would it be so hard to have a pick-up room?"
"Someone's crabby this morning." Ron grunted as he sat next to me.
"Just tired, long week. Glad it's Friday." I mumbled as I opened the envelope and pulled out the multiple pieces on paper. "Jeez, my parents sent me a novel." I sighed as I began reading.

Melanie Jasmine,
We're so glad to hear that your first few weeks have been good! Sounds like you're having fun with these new friends. CONGRATS on making the quidditch team! You'll have to see if there's a game we can come to, we love watching you play. Poppy did great, nothing to worry about. She was definitely tired when she first arrived but recovered quickly.
Dad here- KEEPER?! You're amazing! That's such a great position! Can't wait to hear all about your first game. Work is good! It's been a long few months, but I'm finally finding a rhythm. I actually have met Aurthur Weasley, nice man. He is fascinated by all things Muggle, almost to an annoying degree, but he's so kind. Talks endlessly of his family. Stick close to those gingers, they seem like good company. I've heard the name Diggory tossed around but have yet to meet him. Glad I'll have something to talk about with him when we finally do meet. Keep up the good work!
Mom now- Sounds like Hogwarts is growing on you! Can't wait to hear more about everything: quidditch, classes, friends. I am finding myself bored everyday, between your father being gone lots for work and me not having a job here. I might start looking for something, maybe a school near the house is needing a new teacher. Keep us updated!
We love you,
Mom and Dad

I tucked the letter into my book bag and turned back to my friends, who were deep in hushed conversation. Normally I had no shame in eavesdropping, but something stopped me from listening too close to their whispers. We soon went our separate ways for classes, which annoyingly dragged on. I thought for sure I was going to fall asleep as Professor Trelawney droned on about the phases of the moon and how it affected each individual star sign. I usually enjoyed Divination, but today the small lofted classroom was too warm and the incense burning filled the room with a thin layer of haze. We all trudged out of the classroom and down the winding staircase sleepily. I blinked the sleep from my eyes as I bumped into Cedric as we turned down the stairs towards the common room.
"Careful there, Reynolds." He warned with a smile.
"Sorry, I'm practically falling asleep." I mumbled as we approached the barrel.
"Long week?" He asked as we stopped in the common room.
"Sort of, lots of homework, quidditch. Glad I have the weekend to catch up on everything." I lazily explained, but my head perked up as I saw people around me out of uniform. "Wait, where is everyone's robes?"
"Don't you remember? End of classes on Fridays starts the weekend, so we don't have to be in uniform." He chuckled as he walked to his own dorm. My eyes lit up as I hurried to my room and quickly shed the thick robes and changed into jeans and a sweater. It felt so good to be out of my stiff skirt. The rest of the night was rather uneventful, but everyone was buzzing about tomorrow.

The next morning we all woke up early and rushed to the courtyard. McGonagall and Filch stood collecting our permission slips as she explained a few basic rules. "These trips to Hogsmede are a privilege and you will treat it as such. Should your behavior reflect poorly on the school in any way that privilege will not be extended again." I stood next to Hermione, both of us slightly shivering with our hands shoved in our pockets. Harry came into my view from the side as he spoke with McGonagall. She looked at him sympathetically before he turned to us and shook his head. We gave him the best smile we could muster before we were ushered off to the train.
"Poor Harry," Ron sighed as we sat down.
"His aunt and uncle treat him terribly, that's why he couldn't come. They refused to sign the permission slip." Hermione explained to me.
"That's awful. Maybe we could bring him something?" I offered. Hermione smiled softly at my gesture.
"Good idea, Melanie. Maybe something from Zonko's." Ron agreed.
"Zonko's?"
"The joke shop. Or maybe Honeyduke's candy store."
The day was fun and chaotic. All of my classmates zipping in and out of shops, laughing with one another. We started at Honeyduke's. Ron grabbed some jelly beans that I'd never heard of, but apparently they came in every flavor…even booger. Hermione kept it simple with some pieces of licorice and peppermints. I, on the other hand, had the hardest time choosing. There were so many things to choose from. After a long while, I decided on a box of chocolates where each one made you sound like a different animal and a chocolate frog for Harry. Ron then insisted we stop at the joke shop, but Hermione and I made him go alone while we went to the Three Broomsticks.
"Butterbeer?" I asked after she ordered us each one.
"Yeah, it's great. Sort of like caramel hot chocolate." She explained as we found a corner table. Ron soon entered, proud of his load. He spent the next several minutes explaining each item he got, but he was going so fast I couldn't keep up. Soon, three mugs were placed before us, filled with a thick, gold liquid and topped with a glossy white foam. They watched me and I took my first sip and my eyes went wide.
"Oh my God, that's amazing!" I sighed before gulping down more. It wasn't long before we were back at Hogwarts, squished on one of the moving staircases to Gryffindor, filling Harry in on the day's events.
"Honeydukes Sweet Shop is brilliant," Ron rambled. "But nothing beats Zonko's Joke Shop!"
"We didn't get a chance to go the the Shrieking Shack, though." I added.
"Did you know it's the most hau-" Ron started, but Harry butt in.
"The most haunted building in all of Britain, yeah, I know." He sounded sad that he'd missed the trip. The stairs were slowly moving us to the landing when we looked over and saw a large group of people standing in front of the portrait door.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Probably Neville's forgot the password again." Ron groaned.
"Hey!" An offended voice said behind us and we all turned to see Neville.
"Oh, look at that." Ron said smugly. We continued watching as Percy Weasley elbowed his way through the group.
"Let me through, please. I'm Head Boy!" He spoke angrily at the group of students who seemed to care less about his presence. "No one is to enter the dormitory until it has been fully searched." He announced earning a chorus of groans from Gryffindor students. Suddenly, Ron's younger sister Ginny, pushed her way down the stairs to us.
"It's the Fat Lady, she's gone!" We looked up the stairs to see that the portrait sat empty, but had massive gashes across it. Hermione and I shared a nervous gasp.
"Serves her right." Ron snorted. "She was a terrible singer."
"It's not funny, Ron." Hermione scolded. The other portraits on the walls were all in disarray as they frantically looked at the different frames, searching for their friend. Percy instructed that a large group of Ravenclaw's who'd gathered on another staircase go back to their common room just as Dumbledor shoved his way past our group. "Make way, make way." He looked intently at the frame. "Mr. Filch, round up the ghosts. Tell them to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."
"There's no need for ghosts, sir." Filch answered dryly. "She's there." He lifted a wobbly finger and pointed at a painting in the opposite corner. Everyone instantly rushed over to see the Fat Lady quivering behind a rock in the painting of a field. Dumbledor lifted his arms to hush the roar of students.
"Dear Lady," he spoke softly. "What has happened?" She slowly poked her round head out from behind the rock, followed by her broad shoulders.
"Headmaster," she cried. "I saw him…in the castle. It's Sirius Black!" At the mention of the escapee all hell broke loose. Students ran in every direction, all yelling in terror. Thankfully, Hermione's hand clamped over my wrist and she dragged me through the crowd of screaming children. We quickly ducked into the Gryffindor common room, now miraculously open, and joined the sea of confused pupils. Mere minutes later, Professor McGonagall came swooping in and stood near the hearth to address her house.
"Quiet, please." She did a quick scan of the room, doing a double take when she saw me. "Ms. Reynolds, why are you not in Hufflepuff?"
"Um, sorry. This was the closest place, I didn't want to get lost in the chaos." I explained sheepishly, earning a nod from her.
"Very well. As we investigate the situation Professor Dumbledor has decided that all students will sleep in the Great Hall tonight." Everyone grumbled at the announcement. "Please, children. Parents are being notified as we speak, and I can guess that tomorrow's post will be overwhelming. Please, all of you, gather the few things you will need for tonight's arrangements and be in the Great Hall no later than eight o'clock. Mr. Weasley?" Percy Weasly, Head Boy, instantly stood. "Please see that everyone makes it to the Great Hall. Start here and then check Hufflepuff. I'll have our Head Girl do the others." He nodded sternly and everyone broke off. "Ms. Reynolds," she shouted over the noise. "Collect your things from Hufflepuff and please check in with Professor Sprout. She's probably a mess right now, keeping track of everyone." I nodded before looking back to Hermione.
"I'll save you a cot." She whispered and smiled as I left the tower. Hufflepuff's common room was in disarray when I arrived. I quickly went to my room and grabbed my things, only stopping to make sure the small window was shut.
"Sorry, Poppy. No leaving today." I apologized as she cooed questioningly when the window clasped shut. I left my room, but bumped into someone in the tunnel. "Oh, my God, I'm so sorry!" I grabbed my things from the floor and looked up to see Jessica.
"Oh, good. You're here." She sighed. "Oi, Ced!" She yelled down the tunnel. "Tell Sprout-sy I found Reynolds." She looked at me with hands on her hips; very motherly, and then shooed me towards the common room.
"Reynolds, thank heavens!" Sprout yelled. "You get lost?"
"Sort of. I was there when Dumbledor found the Fat Lady and got pulled into Gryffindor. Fine now, though." I explained as she sighed, relieved, before ushering me out of the barrel and up the stairs. As I stepped into the Great Hall, it was weird seeing the long tables replaced with a series of cots and sleeping bags. I immediately noticed the huddle of red hair near the front. I walked up to find the twins, Ron, Ginny, and Percy all huddled around a tired owl and a crumpled letter. "You guys okay?"
"Yeah, sure." George answered, not looking up from the page.
"Letter from mum and dad. They're sort of losing it about all this." Fred gave me more of an explanation.
"I bet. I'll probably get a letter soon from my parents. I wonder if my dad knows anything about this yet?" I wondered aloud.
"He's in the Department of Mysteries, yeah?" George asked as he finished reading.
"Mmm-hmm." I nodded. "He said something about it being a serious situation in their last letter, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Ministry is going bonkers right now."
"Bonkers?" Ron repeated with raised eyebrows.
"Can we not make fun of my American slang, right now?" I sassed back before tossing my things on the empty cot between Fred and Hermione. Hermione offered a soft smile from behind her book, but as I sat down I felt Fred's eyes on me.
"Can I help you, Freddy?" I asked, slightly annoyed that he was staring.
"Nothing," he shook his head. "Just couldn't help but notice you chose the bed next to mine." I could hear the suggestion in his voice. It made my skin crawl, even though I knew he was just joking around.
"Well it was either here or the group of first year boys, and I'd rather not be breathing fart all night. Don't flatter yourself."
"Fine, if you say so…Mel." The nickname caught me off guard. I almost didn't say anything.
"Mel?" I asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah. You've taken it upon yourself to call me 'Freddy', something only George does on occasion. Thought I'd give you one of my own." He has a soft smile on his lips, so inviting and contagious.
"If you insist." I replied coolly, though I was trying to hide the smile forming on my own mouth. We all spent the next bit preparing our beds and soon Mr. Filch was flicking his wand, dimming the lanterns around the hall.