Photograph | fred weasley x reader

Christmas Eve

W: brief mention of death (y/n's mum)

You wrote to your father every night, always emitting the looming dangers, and told him of the presents that you'd been working on for months for your friends. You wrote to Mr and Mrs Weasley too, promising them that you'd keep an eye on Ron and Ginny and make sure that the twins didn't get into too much trouble.

Almost all of the students went home this Christmas, including your two Ravenclaw friends who'd normally stay, so for the first time in two years, you had your entire dorm room to yourself. A few seventh and fifth years stayed behind to study for their O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts, but they were quiet and kept to themselves, mostly in the library, so it wasn't long until the common room became almost entirely empty too, although you spent very little time there anyway, occupied with the twins.

As quickly as the pure white snow flitted from the cloudy sky, Christmas Eve arrived.

"George!" Ron whined as gravy splattered against his forehead. You laughed loudly and brightly, the sound filling the empty Great Hall. Although there were only thirteen students and a handful of professors, the hall felt more warm and homely than ever. With its gigantic, tinsel-covered trees that glistened with enchanted lights, array of reefs and decorations glistening in shades of red and green and gold hung on every wall and the familiar smell of the warm spices of dinner wafting through the air, you felt utterly content and at ease.

George raised his spoon again, his eye twinkling with mischief, and he dramatically swung it around, splattering gravy for the third time. The strange, off-tune music swelled once more, and with each flick of his wrist, George conducted a pathetic attempt at the wizard Christmas song "Butterbeer Cheers." Your group then began to sing along to the music, your voices also very off key:

"Butterbeer Cheers,
Ringing in our ears.
Oh great Merlin,
Can you hear?
The swell of the bells,
Cast your merry spells.
Rejoice now, dears
For we have butterbeers."

As you all sang the last note at a different key, you all fell about laughing, doubling over. Harry wiped away a tear from his eye and turned to you,

"Y/N, I have never heard of someone charming a spoon to play music."

You grinned, still red in the face from laughing so hard, "that's because not everyone has such brilliant ideas like I do."

Fred chuckled, his eyes on yours, "she's right, you know. Have we ever told you about the time we transfigured Dumbledore's hat into a fat turkey? All Y/N's brain that one."

You burst into laughter again, recalling that infamous day. "Oh, Merlin! Dumbledore didn't even realise until he tipped his head, and it just... plopped right onto his desk," you choked out between laughs.

"Ah, good times, good times," George grinned, raising his goblet of pumpkin juice in a toast. "To Y/N, the mastermind behind our greatest schemes!"

As everyone cheered, you felt a warm glow settle over you. Despite the looming fears outside of these castle walls, in this moment, everything felt perfectly right. Here you were, surrounded by friends who felt more like family, laughter filling the air like a shield against the darkness lurking in the corridors.

The laughter quieted, but a comfortable silence lingered among you all as the enchanted spoons clinked quietly against the plates. You took a breath, feeling the weight of the room's cozy atmosphere envelop you. But then, a flicker of sadness crossed your mind, unbidden. You thought of your father, celebrating Christmas on his own, hoping he'd gotten the gifts you'd sent and that he knew you were thinking of him.

As your mind drifted off, Hermione turned to you, "Y/N, we were all thinking- well, no, I suppose it was the twin's idea- although I think Ginny actually suggested it first- or was it Fred's idea? No, no it was Ginny's. No it was George's- no Fred's- because I remember- yes that's right, he mentioned it last Tuesday while you were in your Arithmancy class- how is that by the way? I was thinking of choosing that for my third year too, but I also like Ancient Runes, oh but Muggle Studies might-"