Forever and always, until the end (Fred Weasley&Anertha Diggory) WattyAwards2013

Tri-wizard tournament second task

Written 3/5/2013

Tri-wizard tournament second task

The weather was turning cold, frost lay on the ground, crunching under the feet of excited students. Task 2 was here. The school was in a buzz. Fred and George were up early resetting their 'bet boxes' for another round of gambling schoolmates. George stopped and looked at his brother. 'You and Anertha are sorted now yeah? You're not gonna fall out again. I only ask because of the aftermath of task one.' Fred glared at him. 'Shut up George. I don't need a reminder. That was months ago anyway, we're fine.' He continued to sort his box. 'Morning.' Anertha spoke from behind them. George smiled. Fred turned around and kissed her lightly, before going back to the box. 'You seem in a happier mood this time round.' George remarked. Fred shot him a look of warning. Luckily for them she was, she simply said 'Well, whatever Cedric faces today, it cannot be worse than a dragon right.' Fred let out a relieved breath. George closed his box and picked it up. Anertha looked at it suspiciously. 'What is that?' She nodded towards the box. The twins looked puzzled. 'One of our bet boxes? We had these for the last task?' Fred questioned. Anertha went stiff. 'What exactly do you bet on?' She asked, afraid of the answer. She had been so wrapped up in stressing last time; she did not notice the boxes. 'Ummm, oh you know, generics; who wins, who loses...' Fred began. 'Who'll live, who'll die.' George finished absent-mindedly closing Fred's box. 'AH!' He groaned in shock as Fred hit him. 'George!' He was scowling at his twin. They both looked back at Anertha tentatively. She was stood like a statue, very pale and if looks could kill, they would be very dead. Fred gulped in fear, George took a step back. 'YOU'RE BETTING ON MY BROTHER'S LIFE?' She finally exploded. 'I...I CAN'T...I AM SO...' She growled and turned on her heel, storming away from them, out of the common room. 'Well done George, she was in a good mood as well.' He looked to George. 'Why you blaming me?' 'You brought up the life and death bets. Idiot.' Fred slammed his hands onto his box and followed Anertha. George hurriedly picked up his and followed suit.

They didn't see her again until later that morning. George was doing most of the talking. Fred's mind was elsewhere. Making their way up and down from the lake, they finally met up with her. She was walking down with their sister. 'This can't be good.' Fred thought as Ginny walked into the pair of them. 'Don't be so mean.' She snapped before walking on. Anertha paused briefly to glare at them, and then caught up with Ginny. George shrugged it off and carried on shouting. Fred joined in but his feet wanted to follow her.

'I can't believe those two.' Ginny complained. 'I swear they have no morals. How you put up with Fred, I really don't want to know.' Anertha normally would have laughed at that, but she was fuming. How could someone she loved be so thoughtless? Sometimes she wondered if he loved her at all. 'Hey Gin, I'm going to go wish Cedric good luck. Meet you in the stands?' 'Yeah, sure.' Ginny smiled. Anertha made her way to the start line, where she found her brother. 'Annie, what you doing down here?' Cedric lit up as he hugged her, she sank into it. She needed him right now. Cedric noticed her clinging to him. 'What's he done?' He asked, pulling his sister away and looking at her face. She filled him in on the betting. Cedric's mouth opened to speak but nothing came out. Dumbledore was speaking. 'After.' Cedric mouthed as he prepared to enter the water. She took a step back as the whistle went and Cedric disappeared into the black lake. As she made her way up the stands, she saw Harry flipping in mid-air. She laughed at the sight. She found Ginny in the front of the crowd. 'Did you see Harry?' She smiled. 'Oh yeah, I saw him.' She really didn't want another talk about Harry Potter. Not much time passed when they announced Fleur's retirement from the task. This sent a wave of panic through her. Was he ok down there? 'Oh how I need Fred right now.' She thought. As if he had heard her, Fred appeared behind her. 'He's fine, I'm sure.' She turned to face him and saw the box hanging from his neck. She fought hard not to say anything. 'Remove the box.' Fred looked perplexed but did. He placed it on the floor next to George. Once upright Anertha stepped forwards and put her arms around him, he delayed doing the same but he too held her. He was still not huge on showing affection in public, but this was an improvement. She stepped away and interlocked their fingers instead. Fred was more comfortable with this.

An eternity passed, but eventually Cedric surfaced, followed by Cho Chang. 'Cho?' Anertha said confused but relieved her brother was in her sight. 'The treasures are people?' Viktor and Hermione surfaced next. Ron and Gabrielle appeared shortly afterwards. Fred and George cheered. They laughed together. 'Ronniekins went for a swim.' George chuckled. Anertha looked at them astonished. They caught her gaze. 'What now Annie?' Fred frowned. 'You're just going to laugh at the fact your brother was at the bottom of the lake?' 'So?' George looked lost. 'He's fine, see...' He pointed down at a towel-wrapped Ron. 'I have a question, if they were taking people for treasures, why didn't they take you instead of Cho?' Fred said thoughtfully. 'Fred!' Ginny shouted. George looked to the floor, 'Oh god Fred.' Anertha's face went the same colour as the Weasley's hair. 'So, you don't care your brother was down there but now...oh now you wanted me down there too?' She pushed Fred aside as she stormed past. 'CHARMING!' She shouted as she went. 'Well done Fred.' George rolled his eyes. 'What? It was a reasonable question.' He replied, but now he had an empty feeling in his stomach.

Anertha walked so fast, she was almost at Cedric's side when they announced him the winner. She threw herself around him, despite the fact he was wet. 'You did it Ced, I'm so proud.' Cedric's face brightened and he kissed his sister hard on the cheek. 'When I saw Cho down there, I was relieved it wasn't you. I would've blown a fuse if it was. Ha, maybe that's why they didn't.' He laughed. Anertha laughed too. 'Maybe.' The stands above them began to clear. 'Shouldn't you go and find Fred? I'll see you later after I'm dry.' She looked to the floor and shook her head. 'You're still together right?' He asked worried. 'Yeah...but for how long, I don't know.' She whispered. 'Oh Annie, what am I going to do with you two? Make up before the next task, just in case I die or something.' He winked. 'Not funny Ced.' 'Was a little bit, come here.' He pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.' Go...Find him.' He pushed her towards the crowd. She sighed and left, she had to try and make her and Fred work. She loved him.