Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Expect The Unexpected

Adhara Malfoy stormed down the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, her footsteps echoing against the ancient stone walls. Ever since Fred Weasley's prank had backfired, landing her in an embarrassing situation in front of the entire Gryffindor table, she had made it a point to avoid him. Adhara had attempted to bury herself in her studies, immersing herself in her books and staying close to her fellow Slytherins, but Fred's constant presence lingered in her mind, irritating her more than she would admit.

She rounded a corner, intent on finding a quiet place to gather her thoughts. Just then, a hand suddenly covered her mouth, and before she could react, she was being pulled into a side corridor. Panic surged through her as she turned to see Fred's familiar face, a mix of mischief and determination written all over it.

"Weasley, what the—?" she began, but he shushed her, looking over his shoulder as if checking for any witnesses.

"Shh! Just trust me," he said, his voice low but urgent. "I need to talk to you."

Adhara's heart raced, a mix of anger and confusion surging through her. "Let me go! You can't just—"

But before she could finish her sentence, he tugged her further down the corridor until they reached a door that seemed to materialize out of nowhere—the Room of Requirement. He pushed the door open and hurried her inside, closing it firmly behind them.

"What is wrong with you?" she exclaimed, pulling away from him and crossing her arms defiantly. "You can't just kidnap me like this!"

"I'm not kidnapping you," he protested, running a hand through his hair, clearly flustered. "I'm trying to fix things. You've been avoiding me since the prank, and we need to talk!"

Adhara's anger flared at the mention of the prank. "Fix things? You think this is going to fix anything? You embarrassed me in front of everyone, and you expect me to just forgive you? You're unbelievable!"

Fred stepped closer, the space between them charged with tension. "I didn't mean for it to go that far. I thought it would be funny, I swear! But it wasn't supposed to involve you like that."

Adhara narrowed her eyes, her heart pounding not just from anger but also from something else she couldn't quite place. "You never think about how your actions affect other people. It's always just about you and your stupid jokes!"

"Can't you see that I care about you?" he shot back, frustration creeping into his voice. "I just wanted to make things better, to make you laugh!"

"Well, congratulations! You made me the butt of your joke!" she snapped, feeling her temper boil over. "You think I enjoy being the center of attention like that? You think it's funny?"

"I never meant to hurt you!" he exclaimed, his expression softening slightly. "I just wanted to see you smile, Addy. That's all."

Adhara felt a wave of emotions crash over her—anger, hurt, and something she dared not name. She was tired of feeling angry, tired of being hurt. In a moment of impulsive frustration, she stepped forward, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and pulled him down to her level. Their lips crashed together in an unexpected kiss.

The shock of the kiss hit both of them like a jolt, but Adhara was too wrapped up in her anger to think about the consequences. She kissed him fiercely, pouring all her frustration into that single act, not caring about anything else.

Fred's surprise was palpable, but he responded almost instinctively, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, fueled by the pent-up tension that had been building between them for so long. For a moment, nothing else mattered—just the connection they shared, the spark igniting between them.

But as quickly as it had begun, Adhara pulled away, her eyes wide with shock and realization. "What did I just do?" she breathed, her heart racing not just from the kiss but from the overwhelming flood of emotion that accompanied it.

"I—I don't know," Fred stammered, equally stunned. His eyes searched hers, filled with a mixture of confusion and hope. "Did that—did that mean something?"

Adhara took a step back, her mind racing. "I don't know! I'm so angry with you, and then I just—" She felt a rush of embarrassment flood her cheeks. "I can't believe I kissed you!"

"I mean, you kissed me," he said softly, his voice almost teasing. "That's a good sign, right?"

"Not if it was just a reaction to my anger!" Adhara replied, her voice rising again. "I can't deal with this right now."

She turned, heading for the door, but Fred reached out, grabbing her arm. "Wait! Adhara, don't go! We need to talk about this!"

"No!" she shouted, pulling her arm free. "You've done enough talking! I can't believe you dragged me in here like this. I need space!"

With that, she flung the door open and rushed into the corridor, leaving Fred standing in the Room of Requirement, feeling a mix of bewilderment and longing.

Adhara's heart raced as she walked away, every step filled with the weight of what had just happened. She didn't want to think about the kiss, about how her heart had raced and her anger had turned into something else entirely. All she could feel was the desire to escape, to put as much distance between herself and Fred as possible.

Fred stood in the stillness of the Room of Requirement, grappling with the whirlwind of emotions that had just unfolded. He felt as though he might still be dreaming, caught in a moment so surreal that he could hardly believe it. Never in his wildest imagination had he thought Adhara would kiss him so boldly, yet the sensation lingered on his lips, warm and electrifying. It was more than just a kiss—it felt exquisite, as if everything around them had faded away, leaving only that perfect, fleeting connection.

Adhara walked down the corridor, her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts—about Fred, about the kiss, and about the anger she still felt. She had kissed him in a moment of frustration, and it had changed everything. But she wasn't ready to confront that reality. Not now.