Photograph | fred weasley x fem reader

Chapter Twenty: Dementors

The train's grating whistle pierced the air, and the bustling throng of families and students gathered towards the doors of the Hogwarts Express. Steam swirled and filled the damp September air, the familiar smokey scent wafting nostalgia through your nose. After a slightly-panicked kiss on the cheek from Mrs Weasley and a warm hug from Mr Weasley, you grabbed Ginny's hand and followed the twins onto the train and through the packed corridors.

George found Lee's compartment and beckoned the three of you in. The compartment was already filled with a few other people, so it was a rather tight squeeze. You shuffled through the doors and threw your luggage into the rack with much less care than you should have, before plopping yourself down between Fred and a tall, burly boy who who believed to be Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch team Captain. You smiled and nodded politely at him, before turning your attention to Fred and Ginny.

The train rattled through the familiar sprawling countryside and the conversation drifted around new school subjects or bets on who the new defence of the dark arts professor would be or, when Oliver Wood spoke, Quidditch. 

Fred and George began discussing some kind of top secret plan with Lee, but you turned down their offer to join in this time. The nine hour train journey to school was about the only time you ever had to read. With your mind far away in the pages of the book you couldn't wait to read, you stood up to reach your trunk.

You stretched onto your tiptoes and reached your arms up as far as you could to unflip the worn brass buckles. You sighed, annoyed, as your fingertips just grazed the edge of your trunk.

"Coming to terms with how short you are, hobgoblin?" Fred called from the corner, glancing up from the parchment Lee and George were scribbling on to grin at you. You frowned playfully.

"Just wishing I'd donned my six-inch stilettos today. The one day I don't wear them!" You replied, throwing your hands up in faux despair. Fred snorted and shifted in his seat. It looked as though he was possibly about to stand up, but before he could, Oliver Wood smiled at you.

"Here, I'll help," he said cheerfully. He stood and, at more than a solid six feet, easily reached over. He unlocked your trunk and raised an eyebrow. "What're you looking for?"

You smiled politely. "Uh, one of my books. It's the thick red one labelled 'An Encyclopaedic Compendium of Rare and Dangerous Magical Beasts.'"

Oliver chuckled and nodded as he found the book and passed it to you. "A very catchy title," he said, clicking your trunk back shut and sitting down.

"I was thinking of getting it tattooed one day," you replied with a laugh, settling back down and cracking open the book to the marked page. Oliver grinned and crossed his arms, leaning back against the seat.

"That would be neat. I'm Oliver Wood, by the way. Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," he said after a short moment. You nodded.

"I know. Fred and George complain about you a lot," you replied, stifling a laugh as you thought back to all the whines and moans about the 5am practices. 

Angelina shook her head from across the compartment. "And they have every reason to. Ollie, everyone knows who you are. I'm surprised you haven't made yourself a t-shirt that says 'I'm Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team' with big red hearts all over it."

Oliver grinned. "Who says I haven't?" He replied, before swiftly lifting up his burgundy jumper to reveal a t-shirt that did indeed say "Captain of the Quidditch Team."

"You're missing the red hearts though," George sighed, crossing his arms as though he was extremely disappointed.

You laughed and eyed Oliver's t-shirt, tapping your chin thoughtfully. "You should add pictures of all the players' faces. Maybe put McGonagall's face on the back full-size," you said, grinning at the thought of Professor McGonagall's reaction.