SPARKS FLY | fred weasley x oc | YEAR 3

chapter 7- the cloak

The last few weeks of term were absolutely brutal. I truly thought Hagrid was trying to kill us by assigning us blast-ended skrewts to raise after the Buckbeak incident with Draco. We had spent the entire semester trying to not be blown up twice a week. I was grateful when our last day with them came and we sent them off to a proper care facility. Snape actually was trying to kill us. We were assigned a mountain of homework on top of studying before the exam. My hand was actually starting to cramp from all the writing. Annoyingly, Divination had become a class I looked forward to. Mostly because there wasn't really any work, just lots of thinking. But I had also learned a lot. My mom is big into the zodiac signs and horoscopes-I get a magazine clipping for my own each week- so I already knew a lot of the material. Plus, my mom's best subject was Divination so I asked her for help constantly in our letters. The letters were a big adjustment. At Ilvermorny there were only a few phones that would be turned on for the weekends, but Hogwarts had nothing in the way of modern technology. Everyone had been looking forward to the end of term because that meant another trip to Hogsmeade.

"We're spending the whole day in Three Broomsticks." Olivia whined as we got ready in Hufflepuff. "It's snowing and I only have a few things left out of my trunk." Olivia and Jessica were both going home for the holiday, but I had arranged to stay with the Weasley's and Harry at school. My dad had been assigned to a matter in France and was allowed to bring my mom, so I opted to stay at school. We were sad to not get Christmas together, but I knew we would be okay.

"We can't see the whole village from the pub." Jessica argued. "We all have some shopping to do. The snow isn't even that bad."

"You can borrow an extra pair of socks if you want." I offered and she happily took. We met up with our Gryffindor friends in the courtyard. "Any requests Harry?" I asked just before we left for the train. I still felt so bad that he wasn't allowed to come with us.

"Yeah, actually. Could you pick up the new book on the Canons from the quidditch store? I wasn't able to order it and it's Ron's present. Here," He pulled my hand open and dumped a few galleons into my palm, more than what the book would cost. "Get me some of those animal chocolates, too. Those are great."

"You got it." I nodded as I shoved the coins into my pocket.

"Bye, children." George waved dramatically.

"You aren't coming?" Olivia asked.

"No, we've got some things to take care of here." Fred shrugged.

"You don't have to do any Christmas shopping?" Jessica asked flatly.

"No, we got that done ages ago." George sighed. We just shrugged our shoulders at each other and went on our way.

We had successfully dragged Olivia to Honeyduke's, Zonko's, and the Shrieking Shack before she forced us through the door of the Three Broomsticks. It was crowded today, the snow pushing people inside. Ron and Hermione had stayed behind at the Shrieking Shack, thankfully, because there was only a small table in the corner that we were able to stand at after Jessica ordered us butterbeer.

"My hands are permanently purple." Olivia whined as she pulled off her mittens.

"Oh, stop." I brushed her off. "Once you get that warm mug in your hands it will be fine." Jessica then approached with three mugs, all filled to the brim. Olivia quickly grabbed one and took a sip, not caring that it was scalding hot. Jessica and I both hid a laugh as we lightly blew on it to cool it down. We sat in a comfortable silence as we drank, but suddenly we were blasted with a cold chill as the door opened. We turned to see Dumbledor and McGonagall following Madam Rosmerta, the owner, inside and up a narrow staircase. The door lingered open and I saw Hermione and Ron standing in the doorway. As we left I saw them sitting on a bench outside.