Enchanted [Fred Weasley]

Thirty-Two

Grace sat in the owlery, petting Desiree.

"You know Desiree, I feel like you're the only person who isn't mad at me." The owl didn't reply, she just ruffled her feathers. "That would make a great spell! I'll have to work on it!" Grace noted.

"Grace?" Grace turned her head and saw Ashton walking up.

"Hello, Ashton." Grace mumbled. Desiree flew off, leaving the two teens.

"I'm not here to yell at you."

"Reese and Aspen must adore it then." Grace said, setting her elbow on a ledge and resting her chin on her hand. She didn't look at Ashton. Her conversation that her and Aspen had replayed in her head.

"Grace, just apologize!" Aspen cried.

"I'll apologize when I want to! So, get off my case and mind your own business!"

"Not everything is about you!"

"I never said it was!"

"You sure make it seem like it is! The world doesn't revolve around you Grace!"

"You're right, it orbits around the sun!"

"Being a smart alike I see? Well, you know what? I'm sick of you wanting people to feel sorry for yourself!"

"Aspen, what is happening between Lewis and I is none of your business! Now, leave me alone!"

"I will, and I won't bother you again!" Aspen stormed off, mumbling to herself.

Ashton came up next her and rested his arms against the ledge.

"Everyone has downfalls with their friends." He told her. Grace squeezed her eyes shut, letting a tear escape. She opened them and hid her face in her hands.

"But why does it keep getting worse! I just wanted time to think before I talked to Lewis and now no matter what I do, someone comes and yells at me!" Grace shook her head and took a deep breath.

"You're in a dark place. All you need to do is look for the stars." Grace smiled.

"You sound like Reese." Ashton laughed and ran his hand through his black hair.

Grace couldn't help but notice how much Ashton has changed. In their first year he was a scared little boy, now he was taller than Grace—but most people were—and he's matured. Grace still laughed at his hair. Most of the time he just let it do whatever. Now he had it styled into more of a quiff, which actually made him look quite handsome, but, Grace still teased him.

"I don't blame you for being mad." He told her.

"You're the only one."

"Aspen and Reese, they'll come around. I know they will."

"But what if they don't," Grace cried, tears falling down her face. "What if I've ruined everything! My relationship, my friendship with them. I might've messed up everything."

Instead of saying anything, Ashton pulled Grace into a hug. Grace cried into his shoulder as he held her close.

"I don't want to lose them." Grace whispered into his shoulder after a few minutes of crying.

"You won't Grace, I promise."

"Pinky promise?" Grace held out her pinky.

"Pinky promise." Ashton replied and hooked his pinky to hers. Grace pulled away and wiped her eyes.

"You know, if you break the promise I get to break your pinky." Grace said, looking up at Ashton.

"I won't break your promise."

"Promise you won't break my promise?" Ashton chuckled.

"I promise I won't break your promise. Now, let's go eat."

"Sounds good."

• • •

"Ever gonna tell me what's in that journal of yours?" Grace peeked her eyes over her journal to find Reese sitting on her bed, twirling her wand in between her fingers.

"Wasn't planning on it. Ever going to try and listen to my side of the story? Or are you going to continue jumping to conclusions and just call me an attention seeker." Reese set down her wand and rolled her eyes.

"I never called you an attention seeker." Grace made a quick note on one of her spells before replying.

"You applied it."

"Don't force the words into my mouth."

"Oh, I'm not forcing anything! I'm just summarizing what you said to me, but with two words."

Reese just stared at Grace for moment before going back to twirling her wand.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night."