SPARKS FLY | fred weasley x oc | YEAR 3

chapter 13- the firebolt

The Great Hall was buzzing. Everyone was thrilled that the end of term had finally arrived. There was no exam for Defense Against the Dark Arts, though Snape insisted on arguing with Dumbledor about it, then made the Potions exam almost impossibly hard. Trelawny had forgotten the term was ending and Sprout had us do a group project. This morning had been the last exams and the house elves had prepared a lunch feast to celebrate. Olivia and Jessica sat across from me, Ron, and Hermione, whining about their O.W.L. exams.

"It can't have been that bad." Hermione brushed them off, only launching Olivia into a rather well thought out argument.

"No, they really are. It's inhumane to make children sit in silence for hours on end, forced to be tested on knowledge they will probably never use. I think it gave me a humpback from looking down for that long."

"You're so dramatic!" Jessica spat. "Just be glad it's over."

"She's right, Liv. You're going to give yourself stress acne." That seemed to shut her up.

"Did you survive Snape's exam?" Fred boomed as he, George, Lee Jordan, Dean, and Seamus all sat around us at the table.

"No, it was awful! He shouldn't be allowed to test us on things we never covered in class."

"Careful, Melanie. Acne." Olivia sassed, earning a snarl from me.

"I don't care about my skin, it was the worst I've ever done on a test." I crossed my arms in a pout and everyone laughed. The trays of sandwiches were passed and different soup ladles exchanged as we all talked about our summer plans. It made me sad to think that I wouldn't see my new friends for the next few months. I was excited to see my parents and explore the new city, but Hogwarts had become a home away from home. It felt weird to think that I wouldn't be able to hang out in the common room or do homework in the Great Hall until next fall.

"Melanie, you alive?" Jessica asked as she waved a hand in front of my face.

"Sorry, got lost in thought."

"A dangerous place to get lost." George shuddered. "Especially my thoughts."

"Right." I ignored his joke and focused on the conversation.

"I'll be right back." Harry mumbled, nobody questioning where he was off to.

"Fred was just telling us that he got a letter from his Mum telling him to invite us all to their home." Oliva filled me in.

"That would be so fun! I'm dying to meet Molly."

"My mum?" Ron asked with his mouth full of bread. "Why?" He seemed confused why anyone would want to voluntarily hang out with his mother.

"I at least want to thank her for the jumper in person." I say with an eye roll.

"But you sent her a note." George deadpanned. "She went on and on about how nice she thought it was in her last letter to me and Fred."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I think she likes you more than me." Fred teased and I brushed it off. But I couldn't help but feel the blood rush to my cheeks. Olivia must have noticed me subtly hiding my head behind my bowl of soup because she kicked my shin. I glared at her and slowly sat up.

"Any other plans, Melanie? What do Americans do in the summer?" Everyone chuckled lightly.

"I don't know, I guess the same things. Hang out with friends, go to carnivals, take road trips to the beach." They all stared at me blankly.

"Where are you planning to find a beach in London?" Jessica asked as she held back a laugh.

"Oh, right." I spoke softly, embarrassed. "I'm sure my parents have lots of things they want to show me. I also talked about maybe going back to America for a few weeks, though my best friend, Daphne, has been dying to find an excuse to come here."