Grudges

Chapter 9

Moonlight reflected off the glasses of the man standing behind her, a surprised and disappointed look in his green eyes. Victoria looked away from the boy who lived and back at the black lake and breathed in the smoke once again.

"You can't tell anybody Harry." He sat next to her slowly, waving the exhaled smoke away from his face.

"You missed our meeting, I was worried." Harry said softly. Since the incident of Victoria being kicked out of the DA Harry had made a deal to privately teach her the spells he was teaching the rest of them, though no one knew of the meetings. Harry had told her he knew she was a good person, and that she deserved to know each and every spell taught to the DA, but the group wouldn't be happy with him if he did that, and if that happened someone might be angry enough to tell Umbridge of the meetings. That was something Harry couldn't risk.

"I'm sorry. I was on my way, and then I was here. I don't know." She took one last puff from the cigarette before snuffing it out and flicking the butt into the grass.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. Just a little stressed is all. You know, since everyone in the DA doesn't trust me and my best friend is angry with me because i'm friends with a guy who everyone thinks is a terrible person but really isn't because they won't see past their prejudices and the fact that literally his entire family is probably pressuring him to be something he doesn't want to be and do things he doesn't want to do." Victoria took a deep breath, calming herself down before she had the urge to light another cigarette. "Sorry, just a little stressed out."

Victoria laid her head on Harry's shoulder, his whole body tensed up beneath her as she did so. After he relaxed, Harry hesitantly placed his head atop of hers, smiling slightly when she didn't move away from him. As they sat Victoria's breathing became even, and when Harry looked down at the blonde her eyes were closed. She had fallen asleep.

Harry sighed, he didn't have the heart to wake her, and he couldn't take her to back her common room and he couldn't take her to his. Harry took the cloak lying next to them and putting it over both of them, their legs becoming invisible as the cloak covered them. Harry leaned back against the tree behind them, Victoria's head falling to his chest as he did so. Harry got little sleep that night, not due to the cold or the lack of comfort from the ground, but due to the beautiful girl sleeping on his chest. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

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Skye had been up all night studying for a potions test. Three hours had passed and she was still stuck on the first page. Skye had to many thoughts clouding her mind she couldn't concentrate. Why was Victoria so distant?Why didn't Victoria try harder to get back into the D.A.? The one that had been on her mind the most was the fact both twins were hiding something. This was the first time they've hidden anything from her. She even knew when George was going to ask her to the Yule ball the year before.

"In a week"

"If he doesn't then I will"

What in the world was Fred so adamant about hiding? Frustrated, Skye got up and snuck out of the common room. She couldn't focus in her common room despite it being the quietest one. Books lined the walls as small tables were scattered around with a small candle in the middle of them. The candles themselves were book scented, so the room always had that wonderful smell of old books . Soft music played in the background as ravenclaw students quietly sat around reading. As calming Skye had found the common room it was the last place she wanted to be.

Skye snuck around the castle making her way through the dark corridors undetected. That was until a bright orange sparkling firework danced in front of her face.

Skye followed the firework as it raced down and out the window leading into the courtyard. Once she noticed it had stopped and hovered in the air. Before Skye took a step towards it quiet voices could be heard from behind a bush.

"I told you it wouldn't work." It was Fred's voice. They must've been working on more products to sell.

"Who knows it might've destroyed Umbridge's office." George joked. "So when you telling Skye?"

Skye heard her name and hid on the other side of the bush. Is she finally going to figure out the secret?

"Shut up George. I'm going to tell her when i'm going to tell her. Leave it alone." Fred said, sighing heavily. Through the leaves of the bush she could barely see the red hair of the twins, and right now she was never more thankful to have jet black hair.

"Why is it taking you so long to tell her?" George asked as a loud pop sounded. A ball of blue light now shot up into the sky. Fred waited to talk until the sound dispersed.

"Because we're friends and honestly, with all the things with You-Know-Who going on I feel like having people closer than family is going to be hard. If there is a war i'm fighting in it, and if something happens to me, or worse to her. It would just....suck." Fred sighed once again, a rarely heard serious tone in his voice as he spoke of the upcoming war as if it were tomorrow. Another burst of light appeared this time a brilliant red. Skye watched as it descended and landed on the bush between her and the twins. She let out a loud scream falling backwards with a loud thump.

As the bush was put out an awkward silence filled the air as Skye made eye contact with both the twins.

"Hey guys....haha...how you doing..?" Skye spoke first trying to ease the awkward tension.

"How long were you there?" Fred asked raising an eyebrow.

"Not long... long enough to see the bush catch on fire." She lies as she pushes herself off the ground, twirling her hair once she stood.

George and Fred exchange glances then look back at her.

"Skye we all know how bad of a liar you are." George started. "So how long were you actually listening to our conversation?" Fred asked.

"Okay I was for awhile honestly. I think you should tell whoever this girl is that you like her, just because life is crap now, in the future it won't be. Plus any girl would be lucky to have you worrying over her." Skye said as the corner of her lips formed a frown as an unfamiliar pain formed in her chest. Could she actually be upset? Why would she?

The twins exchanged looked once again, George with a knowing look as he winked at Fred, who was smiling widely at her statement.

"Well thank you very much! I'll keep that in mind!" Fred said happily, walking so fast past her it was almost skipping. George stayed behind and sent a wink Skye's way before running after Fred. Another pang went through her chest as she thought of the many elaborate ways Fred had to ask out a girl, who sadly, and she couldn't tell why it hurt her heart to think about this. But sadly, it wasn't her.