Just A Bet ● Fred Weasley × Reader ●

37 - Screw Umb!tch

The room of requirement, found by Neville. It was the perfect place to practice. A whole room designed to be whatever you need most.

"Let's start with something basic: Expelliarmus." Harry paces among the group that made up Dumbledore's Army.

I knew that spell. I've had my fair share of having to avoid the twins' pranks by knocking their hands from their hand. I aced that class within the day.

Among the tones of notes Umbridge made us take in our 'class,' we practiced. I heard Neville would practice wand movements, Luna would practice pronunciation... Then after the day was over, students would migrate their way into the secret room for designated practice.

Many a time had I noticed Filch lurking around the entrance. He was catching on... I warned Harry, who told everyone to be extra watchful before entering. We couldn't have anyone find out, especially Umbridge, who explicitly disbanded every student-led organization.

The next lesson was the stunning spell, Stupify. Every time we worked on the spell, I was astonished by how Harry hadn't turned black and blue with how much he let others practice on him.

Many students practiced on each other, like Ron and Hermione.

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you," said Ron.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Ronald."

We all divided, creating a long aisle between the two dueling. Everyone knew Hermione could do it, so we all cheered on Ron. Ever since his wand broke in his second year, he's always been a bit nervous with his spell-casting skills.

"Come on, Ron!"

"You got this!"

"Let's go, Ron!"

I was peaking around the obnoxiously tall twins as they made a bet.

"One sickle," Fred whispered.

"You're on," replied George.

Ron and Hermione stared each other down, wands drawn, tension thick. He opened his mouth, but she was faster, flicking her wand with a speed I had never seen before.

"Stupify!" she shouted and Ron went flying backward, landing hard on his back. Luckily, there was a padded mat protecting the person hit.

I heard a clink and watched Fred shive a sickle into George's hand.

"Thank you."

"Shut up."

Ron sulked toward us, rubbing his back. "I uh... I let her do that."

-

I was sitting in the bleachers after the first Quidditch match of the year, wrapped in a scarf and a winter hat. Wonder had moved in quick this year... Everyone had long filed out after the game, but Ron, Hermione, and I all stayed, waiting for Harry and the twins.

Both teams, Gryffindor and Slytherin, were on the field. It was mandatory for the team captains to shake hands in order to maintain good sportsmanship, but I could tell that the Slytherin captain was still sore about the loss.

Draco was among the Slytherin team, frowning at everyone, but then the frown morphed.

"Stupid Weaselbee's. Always blocking our rightful win."

Uh oh...

"Piss off, Malfoy," Harry fired back.

"Oh-ho. Defending the gingers, I see. Mum never teach you how to tell the difference between the wrong sort? Or, oh right. Poor mummy is dead." He laughed. "Yoh were just raised by the fat hag the weasels call mum."

Merlin's beard... Now he was crossing the line...

"Watch it, Malfoy," George said.

"Yeah, watch your damn mouth," Fred added.

If there was one thing I knew for certain about the Weasely's, it was that you never mess with their family.

"Or what? Your girlfriend going to protect you?" He pointed at me. Ne? Why me? "She can't protect you, Freddie boy. The fatherless freak couldn't even protect herself." 

What...?

Tears welled. I confided in him. He seemed genuinely sorry when I first mentioned my father being dead when I was taking care of him in his tiny ferret form... I trusted Draco.

He crossed the line. And he crossed so far that George shoved Fred back.

"Hold him!" George demanded as he launched himself at Draco alongside Harry.

Three team members grabbed Fred, holding him back.

George was on the blond slytherin in second, bone meeting flesh in a punch, already melting Draco's eye.

Fred thrashed, yet none of the members let up. "Let me go!" They held strong.

Harry got in a few of his own punches, but George got most of them, leaving blotches kf purple and blue to form across Draco's pale skin. Kind of deserved, really.

Then Umbridge walked onto the field.

Shit.

"Children..." she said with that awful too wide grin. "The Ministry does not promote violence among peers... Now, the three of you, Weasley twins and Potter, my office this instant. And someone get Mister Malfoy to the hospital wing urgently."

Double shit.

The three boys nodded. George let go of Draco's collar, Harry backed up, eyes downcast. And Fred... sweaty and red with anger, reluctantly calmed down. But his heavy breathing and hatred filled eyes told otherwise.

If the circumstances were different, I'd say he might have even looked attractive- Eh?! No, y/n, no. Don't think like that. You crazy girl.

Fred wiped his mouth, looking at where he had bit his own lip to refrain from doing something he'd regret. He only glanced my way, then moved off the field with Harry and his twin.

-

"Banned from Quidditch for life?!" Angelina shouted as Harry explained the situation after getting back to the common room.

Fair enough... I mean, as bad as it is, Harry and George did beat up a player. No matter how awful he was. And with Ange as team captain, yeah, she has every right to be stressed. She just lost Gryffimdor's best Seeker and most experienced Beaters.

But I didn't pay much attention to the conversation.

"And then she banned me by association." Fred groaned and flopped onto the sofa. "Because 'George could impersonate you.'" He made air quotations while mimicking Umbridge.

I took his hand, flipping it over and over as if bloody words would appear kn his skin any moment. Nothing... good. That's better than me, but I've been doing a good job at keeping my scars hidden.

"That's unfair to you," I muttered, still focused on his freckled skin.

"Yeah, but at least Malfoy is down for the count." He smirked, but then the expression fell. "He shouldn't have said that to you... You didn't do anything to the prat. You two were kind of friends, last year."

My own flat expression fell at the mention, but I shrugged it off. It was Draco... It was to be expected...

"What are you looking for?" Fred asked, not yet drawing his hand away like he would have in years prior.

I let go and smiled at him. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

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A/N - 2 chapters in a day! I am popping off! Heck yeah!

Anyway, how we doing, my Darlings? Has school started for any of you yet? I go back in 4 days, which is crazy! I'm so excited! Are y'all?

Until next time, Darlings! Xxx