Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Tides of Tension

The chirping of birds filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within Fred Weasley. He sat at the edge of the lake, tossing small stones into the water, his mind racing with thoughts of Adhara. It had been days since their heated exchange, and the silence between them felt like a chasm he couldn't bridge.

He stood up suddenly, his decision made. He couldn't just sit around waiting for her to talk to him. It was time to confront her, to find out where they stood after that unexpected kiss. He could still feel the lingering sensation of her lips against his, the way it had sent shockwaves through him. But he needed answers; he needed her to be honest with him, and he was determined to get to the bottom of things.

He approached the edge of the lake and spotted Adhara sitting on a large rock, her gaze fixed on the water. Her blonde hair caught the light, creating a halo around her head, and for a moment, he couldn't help but admire her beauty. But as he drew closer, he noticed the tension in her shoulders and the way she refused to meet his eyes. It only fueled his resolve.

"Adhara," he called out, his voice steady despite the nerves bubbling in his stomach.

She turned slowly, her expression guarded. "What do you want, Weasley?" she asked, her tone cool and distant.

"We need to talk," he said, taking a few steps closer. "About everything that's happened."

"Do we really?" Adhara replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "Because I thought we were done talking."

"Done talking?" Fred echoed, frustration creeping into his voice. "You walked out on me! You can't just pretend like that kiss didn't happen!"

Adhara's eyes narrowed. "You think I'm pretending? That kiss was a mistake. An impulsive, stupid mistake."

"Stupid?" He felt a surge of anger at her words. "You can't seriously believe that. You kissed me! You wanted to kiss me, and you know it!"

"I was angry!" she shot back, her voice rising. "It was a reaction, not a confession of feelings!"

"Then what do you want from me, Addy?" he asked, stepping closer, desperation creeping into his tone. "I want to understand. I want to know what this is between us."

She shook her head, her frustration boiling over. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't just some fun game for me! I have a reputation to uphold, and being seen with you—"

"Being seen with me?" Fred interrupted, incredulous. "Is that really what this is about? You're worried about what people will think?"

"It's not just that!" Adhara exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion. "You're a Gryffindor, and I'm a Malfoy. Our families are practically at war, Fred! This isn't just about us!"

Fred took a deep breath, his heart racing as he tried to process her words. "I don't care about our families. I care about you, Addy. You're the one who matters to me, not the bloody Malfoy name!"

"Maybe that's easy for you to say, but it's not that simple for me!" she replied, her voice trembling. "You have no idea what it's like to be me, to carry the weight of my family's expectations!"

"I'm trying to understand!" he argued, his frustration reaching its peak. "But you keep pushing me away! If you want this to work, you need to stop hiding behind your family's legacy!"

Adhara took a step back, her expression shifting from anger to pain. "You don't get to tell me how to feel or how to live my life!"

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do!" he shouted, the tension between them palpable. "I'm trying to fight for us! But you make it so damn hard!"

"Fight for us?" she scoffed, her eyes blazing with anger. "What does that even mean? You think a kiss fixes everything? You think we can just forget about the mess our families have made?"

Fred felt his heart drop at her words, but anger surged anew. "You're right, it doesn't fix everything! But it's a start! And I'm willing to fight through the mess if you would just let me!"

They stood there, panting, their heated words hanging in the air like an electric charge. The world around them faded, and in that moment, it felt like they were the only two people in existence, caught in a storm of emotions.

"I can't do this," Adhara said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You want to walk away? Again?" Fred asked, desperation creeping into his tone. "Is that really what you want? To just pretend none of this ever happened?"

But before he could say anything more, Adhara took another step back, shaking her head, the anguish in her eyes clear. "You don't understand. It's not that simple for me."

"Then make it simple!" Fred cried, frustration bubbling over. "Just tell me what you're afraid of! I'm right here!"

In that moment, it was as if the tension between them reached a breaking point. Adhara's heart raced, and without thinking, she stepped forward, fueled by a mix of anger and longing. Before she could second-guess herself, she pulled Fred down to her, capturing his lips with hers in a fervent kiss.

Adhara had developed an unexpected habit of kissing Fred Weasley whenever they found themselves in the midst of an argument.

The world around them faded into nothingness, and all that existed was the fire igniting between them. This kiss was different, charged with the intensity of their argument, and it left them both breathless.

Fred was momentarily taken aback, surprise mixing with exhilaration as he melted into the kiss. He had hoped for this, dreamed of it, but never expected it to come in the middle of such a heated confrontation once more. His hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her back with equal fervor.

Adhara was overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through her. Anger, confusion, desire—all melded into one powerful emotion that made her heart race. She deepened the kiss, losing herself in the moment, the worries of their differences fading into the background. In that instant, nothing else mattered but the connection they shared.

Fred was about to pull away from the kiss, but Adhara had other plans. She firmly pressed her lips against his, refusing to let him retreat. In that moment, she knew this was no mistake. The heat between them was electric, and she didn't care if anyone happened to walk by and witness their embrace.

All that mattered was how incredibly right this felt—his warmth enveloping her, the way their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly. Her heart raced as she deepened the kiss, surrendering to the surge of emotions that had been building between them. The world around them faded, leaving only the two of them in a bubble of undeniable connection, where everything else was forgotten.