Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Explosive Fallout

The Great Hall buzzed with laughter and chatter as students celebrated the end of another day at Hogwarts. Adhara Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the Gryffindor side, where Fred Weasley was animatedly sharing tales of his latest prank. She felt a flicker of annoyance mixed with concern as she watched him; his antics were legendary, but they often came with consequences.

Fred had always been a source of both excitement and irritation for her. It was a strange mix of emotions; she enjoyed his company but was constantly aware of the trouble he brought with him. As the meal wound down, the commotion grew louder. Adhara felt a sense of unease as she caught wind of a plan Fred had concocted involving an elaborate prank on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. She stood, feeling a surge of determination.

"Fred!" she called out, making her way to the Gryffindor table, her heart pounding.

Fred turned, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Adhara! Just in time to witness the genius of my latest creation!"

"What are you planning?" she asked, trying to keep her tone steady. "You know you shouldn't be messing with the Quidditch teams. They're already on edge with the upcoming match."

"Oh, come on! It's harmless fun," he replied, waving her concerns aside. "Besides, what's a little chaos among friends?"

Before she could respond, a loud explosion erupted from the other end of the hall. Adhara's heart sank as she realized the prank had gone horribly wrong. The smoke, a mixture of bright green and purple, swirled chaotically and engulfed her in a matter of moments. She could hear gasps of surprise and laughter from the surrounding students, and panic gripped her.

"Weasley!" she yelled, coughing as the smoke thickened around her. It was suffocating, the acrid scent invading her senses. As the colorful mist began to dissipate, she felt an overwhelming rush of frustration.

As the smoke cleared, Adhara found herself covered in glitter and colorful goo, the remnants of Fred's failed prank. "What the hell, Weasley?" she shouted, her voice tinged with rage as she wiped the goo from her eyes.

Fred's expression shifted from delight to horror as he rushed over. "I didn't mean for it to hit you! I swear!"

"Oh, so now it's my fault?" Adhara snapped, her anger boiling over. "You couldn't have thought for a second that your stupid prank might backfire?"

"It was an accident!" he protested, but his tone only fueled her fury.

"An accident?" she echoed incredulously. "You think this is just a joke? Look at me! I'm covered in your mess! Do you even care about anyone but yourself?"

"I care, Addy! I really do!" he shot back, his frustration matching hers. "But you're blowing this out of proportion! It was supposed to be fun!"

"Fun?" she scoffed. "This isn't fun for me! You think it's hilarious to make a fool out of everyone around you! You never think about the consequences of your actions!"

Fred ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "You're acting like I did this on purpose! It was just meant for the Quidditch team!"

"And you don't care that it hit me instead!" Adhara's voice rose, drawing the attention of more students around them. Whispers began to ripple through the hall as onlookers watched their argument unfold. "You never think about how your actions affect others. You only see the punchline!"

"Maybe if you loosened up a bit, you'd see the fun in it!" he argued, his voice hardening. "You're so busy being the perfect Malfoy that you can't even enjoy life!"

"Perfect? I'm not trying to be perfect! I'm trying to keep you from being a complete idiot!" Adhara retorted, her cheeks flushed with anger. "Your selfishness is exhausting!"

"Selfishness?" Fred snapped, stepping closer, their faces inches apart as the audience around them held their breath. "You're the one who acts like you're above everyone else! It's no wonder you're always alone!"

The words struck a nerve, and Adhara's heart raced. "At least I don't need to make a fool of myself to get attention, Fred! Maybe if you cared more about your friends than your stupid jokes, you wouldn't be in this mess!"

"Maybe I don't need someone like you in my life, then!" he shot back, and the words felt like a slap. He didn't mean it since his emotions were playing with him.

Adhara's breath caught in her throat as she stared at him, hurt and disbelief mingling in her chest. "Fine. Maybe I don't need you either," she replied, her voice trembling with anger and pain. The murmurs of their classmates swirled around them, their eyes wide with shock at the confrontation. Without another word, she turned and stormed away, leaving Fred standing there, realization dawning on him as the laughter and chatter of the hall faded into the background.

Adhara left the Great Hall, feeling the weight of their argument pressing down on her. The angry tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, and she angrily wiped them away. She had never felt so angry and hurt at the same time. It wasn't just about the prank; it was about everything that had built up between them. Fred had a way of making her feel alive, but he also had a knack for driving her to the edge of frustration.

Fred watched her go, a mix of regret and frustration coursing through him. He had wanted to share his joy with her, but now it felt as though he had shattered the fragile bond they had built. The hall buzzed with life around him, but all he could feel was the growing distance between them, wondering how he had let it come to this.

Students exchanged glances, some whispering to one another about the spectacle they had just witnessed. "Did you see that? I thought they were going to tear each other apart!" one Gryffindor exclaimed, while a Slytherin smirked, "Typical Malfoy, always taking everything so seriously."

Fred clenched his fists at his sides, feeling the weight of their stares. "What are you all looking at?" he snapped, his voice sharper than he intended. The laughter faded as students turned back to their conversations, but he could feel their judgment lingering.

Fred replayed the argument in his mind, feeling the sting of Adhara's words. He knew he had to make things right.