Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Date

The week after the Quidditch match felt longer than usual for Adhara Malfoy. She couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation mixed with dread about her impending date with Fred Weasley. In an attempt to maintain some semblance of normalcy, she tried to forget about it, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the absurdity of it all.

Adhara had, quite unintentionally, found herself spreading the news about her date. It started as a casual mention to Vera in the Slytherin common room, her voice dripping with annoyance.

"I can't believe I'm actually going out with Fred Weasley," Adhara said, rolling her eyes as she flopped onto a plush green sofa, her blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. "It's utterly ridiculous."

"I know, you've told me a million times already. You sound like you're the one who wants everyone to know," Vera replied, stifling a laugh. "It's just a date, Adhara. No need to announce it to the world."

"Oh, please," Adhara huffed. "It's not like I want to go. I'm just doing this to get him off my back. It's a nightmare!"

Despite her irritation, Adhara found herself repeating the story to anyone who would listen. In the hallways, she'd complain to her classmates about the impending "disaster," and in the Great Hall during breakfast, she leaned over to a group of fellow Slytherins, her voice a low murmur.

"Guess who I'm going out with this weekend? Fred Weasley. Yes, you heard that right. The idiot who thinks he can win me over with his Quidditch skills."

Vera shot her a look of amusement. "You're the one making this a bigger deal than it is. It's not a wedding. Just a date."

"Tell that to him," Adhara replied, a smirk creeping onto her face. "I swear, he's probably counting down the hours."

As the days passed, Fred's enthusiasm about their date became increasingly apparent. He would saunter up to her in the hallways, grinning from ear to ear. "Can't wait for our big night, Addy!" he would say, clearly enjoying the fact that she hated the nickname.

Each time he called her that, a flicker of annoyance shot through her, but it was hard to stay irritated with his infectious excitement.

"Please keep it low-key, Fred," she finally told him during lunch one day, her voice low but urgent. "I don't want the entire school knowing about our date."

"Low-key? Me? Come on, that's not really my style," he replied, a teasing glint in his eyes. "But I'll do my best. How about a quiet stroll by the lake? Just you and me, no big deal."

Adhara crossed her arms, giving him a pointed look. "Just don't make it a spectacle. I don't want the whole school to know we're going out."

Fred smirked, leaning in slightly. "You do realize you're the one who's been spreading the word, right? Every time I turn around, someone's asking me about my 'big date' with Adhara Malfoy."

"I am not!" Adhara protested, though her cheeks flushed slightly. "I just mentioned it a couple of times to Vera!"

"Sure, just a couple," he teased, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction. "But hey, I'll keep it low-key if you really want. Just promise to keep your audience down to a minimum."

Adhara raised an eyebrow. "Is that your version of low-key? It sounds like a romantic cliché."

"Hey, clichés can be fun! And besides, I thought you'd like the scenery," Fred replied, undeterred.

Adhara sighed, feeling a mix of exasperation and begrudging admiration. "Fine. Just don't do anything stupid."

Saturday evening arrived, and Adhara found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror. She opted for a simple sweatshirt and pants. The dark green fabric of her top contrasted beautifully with her blonde hair. "What am I doing?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head.

When she finally stepped out of the common room, she spotted Fred waiting for her by the entrance of the castle, a wide grin plastered across his face. He wore a casual shirt that accentuated his easy-going charm, and her heart fluttered despite her resolve to stay annoyed with him.

"Ready for our adventure?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Adventure? You make it sound like we're going to slay a dragon," Adhara replied, crossing her arms.

"Maybe I'll surprise you," he said, his tone playful as they walked side by side toward the lake. The moonlight danced on the water, casting a magical glow around them.

As they reached the edge of the lake, Fred paused, taking a deep breath as he looked at the scenery. "See? Isn't this nice?" he said, turning to her. "Just the two of us, no distractions."

Adhara couldn't help but feel a bit enchanted. The atmosphere was serene, and for a moment, her annoyance faded. "I guess it is... nice," she admitted reluctantly.

"Great! Now that we've established that, how about I show you my secret fishing spot?" he suggested, gesturing toward a small dock further down the shoreline.

"Fishing?" Adhara raised an eyebrow. "You didn't mention that in your romantic plans."

"Relax, it's not like we're actually going to fish. Just thought it would be fun," Fred said with a wink.

"Fun? Is that your idea of a good time?" she teased.

"Definitely. I mean, what's more romantic than sitting by the lake, laughing at my terrible fishing skills?" Fred replied, his tone light and carefree.

Adhara couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "Alright, lead the way, Weasley. But if you embarrass me, I swear—"

"No need to threaten me, Addy. I promise I'll keep it as low-key as possible," he said, grinning.

As they walked along the shore, Fred shared stories of his earlier Quidditch matches, his animated gestures making her laugh. Adhara found herself relaxing, forgetting about the weight of expectations she had placed on this date.

"So, how did you end up with me anyway?" Fred asked, his tone suddenly serious.

Adhara paused, caught off guard by the question. "Honestly? I'm still trying to figure that out myself."

"Fair enough. But I'm glad you did," he said, his expression softening. "I think you're amazing, you know."

"Don't get all mushy on me, Weasley," Adhara replied, feigning annoyance, though her heart raced at his words.

Fred chuckled, leaning back against the wooden dock. "Alright, no mushiness. Just two friends enjoying a lovely evening by the lake."

"So do you read books?" Fred continued.

"Of course, I read books, Weasley, I'm a fully grown person who has the ability to read—"

"Very funny, what I meant was that do you do it as a hobby?" Fred rolled his eyes with a smile, loving her sarcasm.

"I do. I've read a lot of books in my lifetime. What I want to read now is a book about life lessons. "

"I see."

As the stars twinkled above them, Adhara felt the night shifting. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be as embarrassing as she thought. And as she listened to Fred's laughter, she realized that despite her initial reluctance, there was something undeniably charming about him.

"Thanks I guess? For today," she said.

"Anytime, Addy," he replied, his grin widening. "Just don't tell everyone about this. We wouldn't want to ruin the 'low-key' vibe."

Adhara rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her. "Deal."

As they sat together, the tension that had once filled the air began to dissipate, replaced by an unexpected warmth. Perhaps this year at Hogwarts wouldn't just be about rivalry and annoyance; maybe it would also be about surprising connections and the thrill of the unknown.