Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 11

Chapter 11: A Duel with Draco

Draco Malfoy paced the Slytherin common room, his face dark with fury as he finally processed the news Vera had accidentally let slip. Almost three weeks had passed since his loss to Gryffindor on the Quidditch pitch, but only now had he discovered the full consequence of that loss: Fred Weasley had not only taken his sister on a date, but by the sound of it, they'd been "cozy," as Vera so cheerfully described.

"You're telling me that... that prat actually got close enough to sit with her, alone, and she let him?" Draco demanded, his voice barely controlled.

Vera shrugged, biting back a smile. "It's been weeks, Draco. Maybe you should get over it."

But Draco was far from over it. For days, he stewed over the idea, unable to shake the mental image of Adhara and Fred laughing together by the lake, exchanging quiet words that were none of his business—except they were his business. At least, that's how he saw it.

It didn't take long for Draco to track down Fred. The Gryffindor was in the courtyard, leaning against the stone wall, casually tossing a Quaffle back and forth with George, who smirked as soon as he spotted Draco striding toward them.

"Look who's here!" George said, giving Fred a nudge. "And he doesn't look too happy."

Fred raised an eyebrow as Draco stormed up to him, his jaw set. "Something on your mind, Malfoy?"

"Only the fact that you've overstepped your place, Weasley," Draco spat, his hand twitching toward his wand. "I knew you were irritating, but this... You think you can just mess with my family?"

George let out a low whistle, stepping back and grinning. "Well, this should be interesting."

Fred straightened up, meeting Draco's glare with an amused smirk. "Look, Malfoy, I wasn't aware your sister was off-limits. Maybe you should've made that clear before you made the bet."

Draco's expression darkened, frustration bubbling within him. "You think this is a joke? You know what's at stake here. Our family has plans for Adhara—plans that involve her marrying a pureblood, not some Gryffindor prankster."

Fred's demeanor shifted slightly, the amusement fading as he squared his shoulders. "So you think you can control her life? Just because you have some idea of how it should be doesn't mean she has to follow it."

Draco clenched his jaw. "You don't understand the kind of pressure she's under. If our parents find out about you two—"

"Then don't let them find out," Fred shot back, his tone defiant. "Adhara's not a pawn in your family's game. She's her own person."

Before Draco could respond, a voice cut through the tension. "What in Merlin's name is going on here?" Adhara's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

Both boys froze, turning to find Adhara standing at the edge of the crowd, her expression furious. She stormed toward them, her blonde hair whipping around her face as she marched between them, placing herself directly in the line of fire.

"Are you two completely mental?" she demanded, glancing between Fred and Draco. "Duels in the courtyard? Really?"

Draco lowered his wand, his frustration still evident. "You should be asking him why he thinks he has the right to drag our family name through the mud."

Adhara shot him a look of exasperation. "Draco, enough. This is ridiculous. You lost a bet—get over it."

Draco's eyes widened. "So you're taking his side now?"

"There are no sides!" Adhara hissed, her tone sharp. "I don't need you trying to control my choices or my friends."

Fred cleared his throat, his smirk reappearing as he leaned casually against the wall. "You know, Addy, I'm starting to think your brother has a soft spot for me."

"Don't call me that," she muttered reflexively, though the glare she directed at Fred was softened by a flicker of humor. She turned back to Draco, her voice dropping. "And as for you, maybe you should think twice before storming into fights over things you don't understand."

Draco's expression shifted, a mix of anger and concern. "Adhara, I'm just looking out for you. You don't know what will happen if they find out about him. They will send you away, and it won't matter what you want."

Adhara's frustration flared. "I can make my own decisions, Draco! I don't need you fighting my battles for me."

Fred watched the exchange, his expression serious now. "Adhara's right. She's not some prize to be controlled or bargained over."

The tension in the air was thick as Draco considered Fred's words. He could see the way Adhara stood her ground, fierce and unyielding, and for a moment, he hesitated. "I just want you to be safe," he admitted quietly, the weight of his concern surfacing.

Adhara softened slightly at his words. "I appreciate that, but I'm not a child. I can handle myself."

Before either could respond, Fred spoke up again, "And I'll make sure to keep her safe too. No one's going to mess with her while I'm around."

Draco shot him a glare, but Adhara put a hand on Fred's arm, stopping the brewing tension. "Can we just agree to be civil? I don't want this to turn into something worse."

Draco sighed, his expression still troubled. "Fine. But if I hear of anything that puts you in danger—"

"I'll tell you," Adhara interrupted. "But I need you to trust me."

"Trust is hard when you're involved with him," Draco muttered, his tone heavy.

Adhara rolled her eyes. "I'm going to live my life, and you need to accept that."

With that, she turned to leave, pulling Fred along with her. The atmosphere between them was charged, and Fred could sense the lingering tension. "You really know how to handle him," he said, his tone light as they walked away from the scene.

Adhara sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's exhausting, honestly. He just wants to protect me, but he doesn't understand that I have my own life to live."

"Maybe we should take it slow?" Fred suggested, a teasing lilt in his voice. "I mean, we wouldn't want him to lose his cool again."

"Very funny," Adhara replied, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Just promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"Only the usual," Fred said with a wink, as they continued down the corridor. And though they both pretended it was nothing, the unspoken understanding between them hinted at something neither was quite ready to admit.