Golden Girl; 𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂

Summer 1993: Chess, Cards, and Crushes

A crush.

Angelina thought that Bambi had a crush on Fred.

Bambi reread the letter, from Angelina, her face upturned in a confused grimace.

A bloody crush on bloody Fred Weasley?

She couldn't help but glance over her shoulder where Fred and George were sprawled on the rug and playing a violet game of Wizard's Chess. The sparkle of competitive, maniacal glee was obvious in Fred's eyes as he moved his knight across the board, knocking out George's bishop and rook in one swift swoop.

Fred threw his head back in triumph, laughing as George groaned dramatically, his voice dripping with mock outrage.

"You're evil, Fred. Evil."

Fred just grinned, the same cheeky grin he always did. Bambi rolled her eyes, crinkling the letter in her hand lightly.

Fred? Seriously?

Angelina must've been having a laugh, making a joke or something- but, it wasn't as if she'd ever straight up said something like that before. Sure, she teased Bambi about her friendship with Fred and George often, but most people did, Bambi was used to that.

"Like the view?" Fred teased, catching her gaze as she realised she'd been staring a bit too long, lost in thought.

Bambi blinked, startled out of her daze. "Oh—um, just... thinking," she mumbled, trying to shake off the flustered feeling creeping up on her. She folded the letter up, stuffing it back in the envelope and shutting it away between the covers of one of her books she had been reading.

Pants tilted her head all the way around, looking at Bambi curiously. "Woof?"

Ever since returning with Angelina's letter, she had been sitting on her perch, her large round eyes half shut with exhaustion. Looking at Bambi, she ruffled her feathers.

"I'm fine, Pants," Bambi said, taking in a breath and forcing herself to smile big as if she hadn't just been shaken by Angelina's words. "Just thinking, that's all." She reached out, scratching her on the head.

Fred glanced up from the chessboard, his competitive smirk fading slightly as he caught sight of Bambi still lost in thought. "Thinking, huh?" he asked, his tone light but curious. "Anything worth sharing with the class?"

Bambi shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nah, just stuff."

Fred didn't press further, turning his attention back to the game as George moved his knight with a victorious grin. The chess piece smashed into Fred's bishop, and George let out a triumphant laugh. "Finally! Thought I'd never get the upper hand!"

Fred groaned dramatically. "Yeah, yeah, enjoy it while it lasts."

Bambi watched them, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the confusion swirling in her mind. She tried to focus on the playful banter, but Angelina's letter kept creeping back, lingering at the edges of her thoughts.

It was Fred for goodness sake. She couldn't like Fred... she wouldn't let herself. Fred was one of her best friends. This would ruin everything if she was careless enough to let something like feelings get in the way.

She must just be getting her feelings mixed up– confused. The Weasley's were like a second family to her; Molly practically mothered her all last summer. And of course, Fred was, well, good looking but that's not why she felt the way she did, after all, George was identical and she didn't get all those strange feelings around him.

Bambi sighed, shaking her head.

Fred, now completely focused on the chessboard again, didn't seem to notice Bambi's lingering tension, but George wasn't as easily fooled. He shot her a knowing look, his eyebrow raised as if to say, "What's really going on?"