The Space Boy and The Red Head

35 - Friend in Need

Saturday - 4th May 1996

Fred sat alone at the Gryffindor table. Purposely ignoring the glances Lee and George were giving him. He'd been distant with them both since Lees return early in the morning. It wasn't that he was angry with Lee, or George for that matter. He was angry with himself. He resented himself for the things he had said when he was trying to impress Angelina. He hadn't meant them, but did Apollo know that. Fred wasn't sure. He cursed himself for being so blind, so ignorant.

"What's up with him?" Lee asked George as they cast nervous looks down the table.
"Don't know, been weird since last night. He won't say" George stuffed some toast in his mouth, "after you two sneaked off to the dungeons" he cast an accusatory glance at Lee.

"Did you follow us?" Lee stood up panicked.

"Yes, but don't worry whatever you're hiding we didn't see it. Fred dragged me away before we got the chance." He grumbled.

"I'm not hiding anything!"

"You are. You both lied about going to Madam Pomfrey. Then you go down to the dungeons. With MY boyfriend." He spat.

"He's not cheating on you if that's what this is about. You don't have to be jealous, I'm not interested in him." Lee got defensive.

"Really? Cause you sneak off together a lot, keep secrets. It's a bit suspicious Lee."

"He's sick George. I help look after him that's all. I'm just trying to be a good friend" Lee retorted.

"Then why all the secrets? Are we not your friends too? Was no one going to tell us that he'll probably die cause of his illness?" George looked defeated. Lee sighed and sat back down. Gently patting the red heads shoulder.

"He didn't want you to worry about that. That's why he didn't tell you. He's scared you'd treat him differently. That you wouldn't want to be with him anymore" Lee explained gently. It hadn't occurred to him before how Apollos secrets might affect George like this. "I help him when it gets bad, because Apollo wants to hide how bad it gets from you."

"But I can help him too. I want to help."

"I know that. So does he, I think? But I think he wants to protect you from it all really. Thinks keeping it from you might make it hurt less, or something. You should talk to him about it though. Not me." Lee offered. George nodded and went to stand up.

"Not now though, he'll be sleeping. Why don't you go up to visit him a bit later. Tell him Fred and I hope he's feeling better soon." Lee suggested. Giving George one last reassuring pat on the shoulder before walking further down the table. Lee was determined to find out what was going on with Fred.

"Now, I've sorted your brothers problem. So what's going on with you? Moping more than Myrtle, you are. What's wrong?" Lee sat opposite the other twin.

"Nothing. Just leave it Lee" he pushed his food around his plate. Not daring to make eye contact, in fear he might give away his true emotions. Reveal the saddens he was trying to contain.

"Not good enough Fred. Out with it, come on." He encouraged.

Fred looked around the hall hesitantly, eyes still never reaching Lee's. He let out a breath he'd been holding. Feeling aches in his shoulders from how tense he'd been all morning.

"I know about Apollo." He mumbled. Still playing with his food. "I heard you both last night in the Dungeons. He was so scared to hurt you, I... I didn't know Lee." Lee finally saw the wateriness of Fred's eyes. He heard the shaky breaths the Weasley was taking as he tried to contain himself.

"Fred... it's ok. He's still Apollo."

"What? No! I'm not upset about that. I'm angry at myself Lee. Godric! I was so stupid." Tears streamed angrily down his face.

"You aren't stupid Fred. Why don't you try explain what your feeling, what your thinking?" Lee comforted one of the twins for a second time this morning.

"Why doesn't he hate me? I said horrible things about werewolves." He whispered the last word, "Why would he want to be friends with me after that? No wonder he never told me. I'm an awful friend"

"That's enough of that. You are not a bad friend. You were wrong to say that back then, but you only did it to impress a girl. I get that. He gets that. And you worked really hard to make up for it too. He forgave you the moment you said it. It was me that didn't let him speak to you at first." Lee reasoned.

"He didn't hate me?" His voice was so small.

"I don't think Apollo could ever hate you. Or anyone really" Lee smiled, thinking fondly of their friend.

"Except Snape. Or Umbridge maybe." Fred chuckled sadly. Wiping away the last of his tears.

"Exactly. They're the only exceptions, Greyback too I guess. You should see the scowl he gives his wanted poster on the notice boards" Lee laughed.

"Was it him? That did it" Fred asked. Lee just nodded solemnly but turned to cheer Fred up again.

"You and I are sneaking off to Hogsmeade today. Getting some supplies for a prank. George needs some time alone with his lover boy" he gestured to where George had been sitting, to find the spot empty.

"Guess he went early. Anyway, Why didn't you tell him? Thought you two never kept secrets"

"It isn't my secret to tell. He should tell him though. Especially if they're serious about this relationship thing they've got going on." He said following Lees eyes to the empty seat.

"I think so too. He's just scared of how he'd react. Doesn't want George to worry about him either."

"Cormac spoke to us last night. Said Apollo's "illness" would probably kill him. I didnt realise how bad it would be. Lycanthropy I mean. Lupin seems to cope with the potion. Why doesn't Apollo take it?" Fred asked sincerely.

"He's unregistered. No one can brew it legally for him. And his parents risk their jobs keeping it a secret. He could be locked up if anyone found out." Lee said. It sent a chill through Fred's body.

"So he's just accepting his fate? That it will eventually kill him, in what a few years if the textbooks are right" Fred was met with a grave nod. "That's shit"

"It is. But I'm working on it. Since the whole animagus thing, I'm going to try distract him as Scamper during the full moons. Last night was a trial run." Lee grinned.

"I'm guessing from the conversation you weren't meant to go in the room though"

"No. I wasn't. But I'm glad I did. Stopped him hurting himself as much. Kept him busy. Hard work though. Bloody exhausted from it all. And I doubt I'll sleep for a week after seeing him turn. Nasty stuff." A memory flashed in his mind. "Remember when we saw Hagrid carrying him? How we were so worried all week afterwards, checking he was alive at night. It's was like that. But worse." Lee tried to explain.

"Watching him being torn apart then replaced by a snarling beast? Like my worst nightmare multiplied by 10"

"I could hear his bones snapping. I can't imagine what it would've been like to see. I probably would have thrown up." He said, turning slightly green.

The two boys talked for a bit longer. Eventually going up to the tower to get ready for their Hogsmeade adventure.