Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Unspoken Words

Adhara Malfoy had perfected the art of avoidance since that unexpected kiss in the Room of Requirement. The moment replayed in her mind with alarming frequency, each recollection igniting a flicker of warmth in her chest that she was determined to ignore. She hadn't meant to kiss Fred, but the way he had cornered her, the desperation in his eyes, had triggered something within her—a spark she had long tried to suppress.

Now, as she walked through the corridors of Hogwarts, she kept her head down, her blonde hair falling like a curtain around her face. She felt a strange mixture of exhilaration and embarrassment. How could one impulsive act unravel her composure so thoroughly? Every time she caught a glimpse of Fred, her stomach twisted in knots. He was a constant presence in her peripheral vision, and every shared glance felt like an electric charge, yet she resolutely refused to acknowledge it.

In the hallways, she sat with Vera, who was recounting the latest gossip from the Slytherin quarters. Adhara forced herself to focus on her friend's words, nodding along, but her thoughts were miles away, trapped in that one moment with Fred. She needed to talk about it, to somehow make sense of what had happened, but the words stuck in her throat.

"So, what's up with you? You seem a bit out of it today," Vera asked, tilting her head in concern. Adhara met her friend's gaze, the worry in Vera's eyes breaking through her thoughts.

"Uhm, well—"Adhara replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, what?" Vera pressed, leaning closer, her curiosity piqued.

Adhara took a deep breath, the weight of the secret pressing down on her. "It's about Fred," she admitted, feeling her heart race at the mere mention of his name.

Vera's eyebrows shot up. "Fred Weasley? What about him?" she asked, clearly intrigued.

Adhara hesitated, her cheeks flushing as she recalled the kiss. "I..... kissed him." she finally blurted out, the confession spilling from her lips before she could second-guess herself.

"What?! Adhara! When?" Vera exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

"Just the other day, in the Room of Requirement," Adhara murmured, glancing around to ensure no one else was listening. "It was... unexpected."

"Unexpected? You kissed him! That's huge!" Vera said, her voice barely contained, a mix of excitement and disbelief.

"I know," Adhara sighed, rubbing her temples as if trying to massage away the memory. "But I didn't mean to. It just... happened. And now I can't stop thinking about it, and it's driving me mad."

Vera leaned back, a knowing smile creeping onto her face. "So, you liked it?"

Adhara shot her friend a glare. "That's not the point! I shouldn't have done it, and now things are awkward between us."

Adhara could sense Fred's presence nearby, though she refused to look his way. She could feel the weight of his gaze, a constant reminder of their shared moment. It was maddening. She caught a fleeting glimpse of him from the corner of her eye, his tousled hair and freckled face lit up by the warm glow of the common room's fireplace. He was talking with Lee Jordan, a wide grin spread across his face, but there was a hint of something more in his eyes when he glanced in her direction—something that made her heart race and her cheeks flush.

"Adhara?" Vera nudged her, drawing her attention back to their conversation. "You're totally blushing! You liked the kiss!"

"That's not the point," Adhara insisted, feeling increasingly flustered.

"Then what is the point? You're avoiding him, and it's clear he likes you. Maybe you should just talk to him," Vera suggested, her voice laced with encouragement.

"I can't! Not after... everything," Adhara replied, her gaze dropping to her hands, which were fidgeting nervously in her lap.

"Why not?" Vera pressed, genuinely puzzled. "You're both feeling something. Why not just admit it?"

Adhara opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by the sound of laughter erupting from the other side of the room. She instinctively glanced over to see Fred and Lee sharing a joke, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked. The world around them faded, and in that instant, the air crackled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Adhara felt her heart skip a beat, a familiar warmth flooding her cheeks as she quickly looked away, biting her lip to suppress the smile threatening to break through.

She felt an urge to close the distance, to confront her feelings and the uncertainty that had taken root since that fateful kiss, but she resisted. Instead, she buried herself deeper into her conversation with Vera, pretending to be invested in the latest Slytherin gossip.

But Fred didn't take his eyes off her. He leaned casually against the wall, the laughter fading into the background as he watched her interact with Vera, a subtle hint of concern etching his features. There was something in the way he looked at her—a blend of longing and confusion—that made Adhara's heart flutter despite her resolve to keep her distance.

When the evening wore on, she could feel Fred's gaze on her, and it became increasingly difficult to ignore. Each glance was heavy with unspoken words, a reminder of the connection they had shared. The tension hung thick in the air, yet neither of them dared to break the silence. They were both trapped in their own worlds, navigating the aftermath of a kiss that had shifted everything.

Eventually, Adhara excused herself from the common room, the weight of Fred's unyielding gaze following her as she made her way down the dimly lit corridors. She felt a mix of relief and frustration at her decision to leave, but she knew she needed time to process everything.

Once arrived, she took a deep breath, the cool air refreshing against her flushed skin. She walked swiftly, hoping to put as much distance as possible between herself and the turmoil of her thoughts. Yet, even in solitude, the memory of that kiss lingered, refusing to fade.

She moved through the castle with her heart raced at the thought of facing Fred again, and deep down, she knew she would have to confront her feelings eventually. But for now, all she could do was put one foot in front of the other, avoiding the inevitable reckoning that awaited her.