Just A Bet ● Fred Weasley × Reader ●

23 - Awful Bets And Equally Awful Regrets

April 1st = HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRED AND GEORGE!!! 🥳🥳

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A month and a half. A whole month and a half was how long it took for Fred to ask Angelina to be his girlfriend. No, not ask. He asked a week after the ball. Correction: they started dating a month and a half ago.

Today was the day of the second task. The snow had melted, but it was still frigid as I walked to the black lake at noon.

Though, as I stumbled my way down the beaten path, hands shoved deep into the depths of my pockets, my thoughts whirled.

I knew Ange liked Fred earlier at the beginning of this school year. And then I caught onto Fred's feelings for her maybe in November, but I always ignored it because that wee dying spark of hope kept me going. Hope? I don't know her anymore. I thought I did once. Now it's like an old friend that left without explanation.

It tugged at me, but I was quickly yanked back to reality by a voice behind me. "Oi! l/n!"

I turn and see a posh coat and fur hat. My mood lifts a bit. "Draco, hey."

"Hello. Are you excited about the challenge?"

A shiver courses through me. "Maybe if it wasn't so cold."

"You're cold?" He looked me up and down, then shrugged. "Just buy a warmer jacket."

I si.ply stared before replying. "Not all of us are rich, Draco."

"Sounds like a you problem." He shrugged again before walking ahead of me to catch up with his friends Blaise and Pansy, leaving me to trudge alone with my thoughts.

Then there was more shouting. Ahead of me. Of course. The twins held boxes, heading upstream, taking bets. Ginny passed them and scolded them.

"George, what are you doing?" I didn't want to acknowledge Fred. It hurt.

He beamed down at me, the pom-pom on his winter hay flopping with each movement. "Making the best with what we've got. Good promotion for the shop we wanna have eventually. Get ahead of the game, y'know?"

"Sure, mate. How have you not gotten in trouble yet?"

"I'm pretty sure that the professors are so used to us that they've given up." Fred said behind me, but his voice fell on my purposely deaf ears.

"You said it, Brother. I don't really think ol' Dumbledore bothers with us anymore." George let out a boisterous laugh that was bound to turn some heads.

"Fine. But if you get into trouble, don't come crying to me." I jab my thumb at my own chest.

George mocked a salute, then patted Fred before the two of them kept moving onward.

Well then.

I wasn't sure if it should bother me that Fred seemed so happy. Maybe he's hiding it? I'm not sure. I don't want to be sure. Maybe that would just cause more pain than it already does...

On the docks, Dumbledore pointed his wand to his throat and explained the rules. But, to be honest, I wasn't listening worth anything. Distracted. All I grasped was that there was a set time for the champions to apparently find something dear to them. And that Fleur and Ced used a bubble head charm. Viktor managed to turn his head into that of a shark. And I didn't look up until Harry jumped out of the water, shouting in glee.

But after that, I was back to zoning out. Geirge had cane to my side but said nothing. I think he knows how I feel about the whole Fred and Ange thing.

I shouldn't be feeling like my heart has grown arms and is trying to teat through my ribs. I should be feeling happy for them. Ange has had terrible dating luck over the years, and Fred was a good man. They went great together...

Maybe that's why I hated it so...

●Fred's POV●

I wasn't even sure that y/n knew I was right beside her. Her eyes were locked on the water like a cat to a feather.

My mind drifted. The yule ball was a disaster. I wasn't expecting Ange to kiss me. When I saw y/n run out, I shouted her name, but she didn't respond. I couldn't understand what made her so worked up over it. A kiss was a kiss, right?

Unless...

No, that's absurd. She despises me. With good reason, too. I was a slimy git when we first met. I was an absolute knob. Her braids were so cute that day. Fluffy with hair frizzing about... She seemed so shy in that compartment... I probably made it worse. Thankfully, George was there to diffuse the tension, but I was so stupid.

And then in December, when she was mid snowball fight... the braids... it sent me for a loop, transporting me all the way back to that fateful day. I don't think she had worn that hairstyle during that time period. She looked amazing still, though.

Her face wasn't as round anymore, and she definitely had a bit more angle to her face now. But that was about it for differences. Aside from the obvious personality maturing...

I regret so much...

And now that Ange is my official girlfriend... I regret even more. I don't know what came over me when I asked her. Maybe remorse...? Desperation...? Sympathy...? Ange has been given nothing but rubbish when it comes to dating anyone. Believe me. I've heard about the summer flings that fly too fast. And she's a lovely girl, so I never understood why any man would mistreat her.

Damn... maybe it was sympathy and pity that made me do it.

I run a hand over my face, waking myself up enough to realize that Fleur had already come out of the water empty-handed, shouting about whatever precious item she lost still being beneath the surface of the water. But looking at y/n, she was still blanking in the tiny rippling waves.

I wanted to comfort her... how? She hates me.

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A/N - figured I'd post in honor of the Twins' birthday today. Sad chapter, I know... but happier days are coming, I swear.

See you next time, Darlings! Xxx