Collision - Fred Weasley

Chapter twenty one

☆☆☆

The night continued, and only grew louder by the minute. The Slytherin common room was over-flooding with the smell of alcohol and sweat and students dancing and drinking, even the Gryffindors seemed to get along with Slytherin.

Music pounded from the enchanted speakers throughout the room. Fred was talking to George, at least he tried to concentrate on the conversation.

They stood by one of the tables, talking about some prank they were planning, but his attention kept wandering. His eyes kept drifting back to Lyra. She was still in that dark red dress, controlling the room without even meaning to. 

Fred wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or something else, but the irritation he'd been feeling toward her since the Quidditch match had turned into something else tonight. 

Something worse. 

It wasn't just rivalry anymore, though that was still there. But seeing her, in this light, after all these years. He couldn't get enough. 

He still disliked her though, very much, but with the spirit running through his veins, he couldn't control his thoughts any loner.

His eyebrow raised when he saw her speaking to a seventh-year Hufflepuff he recognised as Finn Collins. 

The Hufflepuff was tall, handsome and arrogant way that Hufflepuffs sometimes were, if you think Hufflepuff is known for their 'kindness' around Hogwarts, you'd be wrong. He had a reputation for being a smooth talker, and tonight his target was Lyra.

Fred's jaw tightened as he watched them from across the room. Collins leaned in closer to Lyra, flashing her that signature 'wanna go somewhere else' smile. But something about Lyra's behaviour told Fred she wasn't interested. 

Her arms were crossed, her responses short, and her eyes flicked around the room as if looking for an escape. But Collins didn't seem to get the hint, or maybe he just didn't care. 

He kept talking, leaning in closer, and Fred's irritation grew.

"Mate, you alright?" George's voice broke through Fred's thoughts.

Fred's eyes never left the Slytherin girl. "Doesn't that guy seem awfully desperate to you?" He asked, mentioning over to the Hufflepuff

George followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe he does. Didn't know you cared that much."

Fred snorted. "I don't care. I just don't like seeing her cornered by that idiot. It's so awkward to watch."

George looked back at the scene and shrugged. "Looks like she can handle herself. But if you're that concerned, maybe you should do something about it." He smirked.

"She can handle herself." He shrugged, pouring some firewhiskey down his throat. But then, his eyes flicked back to Lyra just in time to see Collins reach out and place a hand on her arm. Lyra stiffened, clearly uncomfortable. 

Before she could pull away, Collins whispered something in her ear. Whatever he said made her freeze for a moment, and then, hesitating before she nodded.

Fred's stomach twisted as he watched them disappear into the cold corridors, leaving the common room.

"Bloody hell," Fred muttered under his breath, his fist tightening around the bottle he was holding.

George was saying something, but Fred didn't hear him. His mind was already made up. He wasn't going to let her go off alone with that smug Hufflepuff, not when she clearly didn't want to. 

They may be rivals, but he wasn't a monster.

Without another word, Fred set down his drink and slipped through the crowd. George yelled after him, but he blocked the noises out as he followed them out of the common room.

☆

The sound of the party faded, replaced by the eerie quiet of the castle at night. Fred moved quickly, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of them.

He spotted them a few turns down. Collins was leading Lyra toward one of the more secluded parts of the castle. Fred quickened his pace, staying far enough behind to avoid being noticed but close enough to hear snippets of their conversation. 

"You look beautiful tonight, that dress was really made for you." Collins called out, drooling as he spoke.

"Thanks, Collins." She replied, and only Fred was able to pick up on her sarcastic behvaiour.

Lyra wasn't responding much. She sounded frustrated, giving uninterested answers as they walked deeper into the castle.

Finally, they stopped in a small corridor where the walls met and Collins turned to face her. His expression was changing to something more determined, more eager. He stepped closer, reaching out to brush a strand of hair away from her face.

"You're the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes upon." He muttered softly, but his gaze was mainly focused on her chest. 

Fred's sighed out by the sight. He could see Lyra's discomfort from here, the way she stiffened at his touch. She wasn't scared,  but she was clearly not interested in him.

He watched as Collins lowered his head, aiming for her lips, and a horror flashed through Lyra's eyes.

"Hey, Collins." Fred's voice echoed through the corridor as he came walking towards them calmly, surprising both the Slytherin and the Hufflepuff

Collins turned, his expression twisting into a sneer. "What do you want, Weasley? Fancy spying on people now. This doesn't concern you."

Fred took a step forward, his eyes locked on Collins. "I think it does, from the looks of it."

Lyra's eyes flicked to Fred, and for a moment her eyes were filled with gratitude, or annoyance.  But either way, Fred wasn't going to let this go.

Collins scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, please. Don't act like you care, Weasley. This is between me and Lyra. You return back to the party, and collect your own girl."

Fred's nose wrinkled up in disgust by the word 'collect', who did Collins think he. 

"Does she agree with that, though?"

Lyra finally spoke, her voice sharp and cutting. "Finn. he's right, I don't agree. So unless you want to walk back to the common room unharmed, I suggest you leave."

Lyra's command hung in the air, but Collins didn't move. Instead, a smirk twisted across his face, his eyes narrowing as he glanced between her and Fred.

"Really? You think you can scare me off?" Collins sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Fred didn't move either the space between the two boys shrinking by the second. Fred looked the boy up and down, towering over him by at least thirty centimeters.

"I'm not trying to scare you," Fred said. I'm just telling you to back off, and if you can't handle getting told what to do, I might have to knock some sense into you."

Collins took a step closer, his chest almost bumping with Fred. Lyra could see the shift in Fred's demeanor, this wasn't the usual Fred, the one who joked and taunted. This was a half-drunk Fred Weasley, ready for a fight.

"Knock some sense into me?" Collins scoffed. "You think you're something, don't you, just because you play a little Quidditch and have a big mouth. But you're nothing, Weasley. And you're wasting your time on her." 

He jerked his head toward Lyra, his tone full of contempt.

"She would never settle for a bloke like you. Don't you remember where you both came from. Your family would disown you if you even were to touch her, you freak."

That was the last straw.

Before anyone could react, the Gryffindors fist blew against the Hufflepuffs jaw, making him stumble back in the process. 

☆☆☆