Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Gryffindor Bravado

The sun streamed through the tall windows of the Transfiguration classroom, casting bright patches of light across the polished wooden desks. Students shuffled in, their chatter filling the air with a buzz of anticipation. It was the beginning of a new week, and Fred Weasley was in a particularly good mood, though the remnants of his recent encounter with Adhara still weighed on his mind.

As he settled into his seat next to George, he glanced across the room to where Adhara sat, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, engrossed in a conversation with her fellow Slytherins. The sight of her, with an expression of mild annoyance on her face, stirred something in him. He had to find a way to talk to her again, to apologize for the previous night in the library.

"Oi, Fred! You're daydreaming again," George teased, nudging him with an elbow. "What's got you so distracted? That lovely Slytherin over there?"

"Shut up, George," Fred muttered, trying to sound annoyed, but a grin crept onto his face. "I just need to find a way to make things right with Addy."

"Good luck with that," George said, chuckling. "You might need more than a heartfelt apology. Maybe a grand gesture?"

Fred smirked at the idea, a spark of mischief igniting in his mind. What could he do to get Adhara's attention? His thoughts swirled, and before he knew it, a plan began to form.

The lesson began, and Professor McGonagall stood at the front, explaining the intricacies of advanced transfiguration spells. Fred's mind, however, was elsewhere. He watched as Adhara scribbled notes, occasionally glancing his way, her expression a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

"Listen up, class! Today, we'll be practicing the transformation of inanimate objects into living creatures," Professor McGonagall announced, gesturing to the stacks of small, lifeless objects scattered across each desk. "Pair up and begin."

Fred turned to George, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I have an idea."

"Let me guess, it's not going to end well?" George replied, but Fred was already lost in his thoughts.

As the pairs began working on their transformations, Fred feigned concentration, casually watching Adhara and her partner, a smug Slytherin boy whose name he didn't bother to remember. Adhara appeared focused, but Fred could sense her frustration at her partner's lack of skill.

With a deep breath, he stood up, and without further thought, he cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention. "Hey, everyone! Watch this!"

Before anyone could respond, Fred grabbed one of the small objects—a plain wooden block—and focused on it with all his might. He flicked his wand and shouted, "Turnipus Maximus!"

To his surprise, the block transformed into a very confused-looking turnip, complete with eyes that blinked in bewilderment. Laughter erupted in the classroom as students gasped and chuckled at the sight. Fred, feeling bold, didn't stop there.

"Now, let's see how well it can hop!" He flicked his wand again, and the turnip began to bounce awkwardly across the desk, eliciting further laughter from his classmates.

Adhara, sitting just a few desks away, rolled her eyes, her lips twitching as if trying to suppress a smile. Fred caught her gaze for a fleeting moment, and the flicker of amusement in her eyes fueled his daring antics.

"Addy!" he called out, a grin plastered across his face. "What do you think? Can your Slytherin partner compete with a magical turnip?"

The laughter intensified, and for a brief moment, Adhara's irritation seemed to fade. "You're ridiculous, Weasley," she called back, attempting to sound exasperated, but the hint of amusement in her voice betrayed her.

Encouraged by her reaction, Fred continued his performance. He transformed the turnip into various shapes—a carrot, a potato, and then, in a burst of inspiration, into a small, hopping rabbit. Each transformation drew more laughter, and Fred was enjoying every second of it.

"Look at it go!" he shouted, pointing at the small rabbit as it hopped around the classroom. "It's the Hogwarts Rabbit Olympics!"

The students erupted in cheers, and even Professor McGonagall couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Fred's antics. "Weasley, this is not a circus. Focus on your spellwork," she admonished, though her tone lacked real severity.

Fred, undeterred, took a bow as the rabbit bounded back toward him, and with a flick of his wand, he turned it back into the original block. He let the applause wash over him, but his eyes searched for Adhara, who was shaking her head with a reluctant smile.

"Okay, okay, I'll admit it was impressive," she said, her voice raised so he could hear. "But don't let it go to your head."

"Too late for that," Fred shot back with a cheeky grin, finally mustering the courage to approach her desk. "Addy, about last night... I didn't mean to upset you. I was just trying to help."

She crossed her arms, clearly still a bit irritated. "You have a funny way of showing it."

"I know," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "But I thought if I could make you laugh, maybe we could start fresh."

Adhara narrowed her eyes, her expression shifting from annoyance to something more calculating. "You know, if you want to be taken seriously, you might want to tone down the antics a bit. It's hard to see you as anything but a joker."

Fred felt a mix of exhilaration and challenge rise within him. "Oh, I can be serious, Addy! Just give me a chance."

"Being serious is not the problem, Weasley," she replied, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "It's about being sincere."

"Touché," he conceded, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I'm still figuring that part out."

The class continued and Fred allowed himself to bask in the playful banter, feeling a sense of progress. It might not have been a step forward in the traditional sense, but he had at least managed to get a reaction from her, and that was something.

The rest of the class faded into the background as Fred thought about how he could show Adhara he was more than just a prankster. He was ready to prove he could be someone she could take seriously.