Fred Weasley x Reader

Chapter 34

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Readers Pov

Everything seemed to almost go back to normal. However, there was an unspoken tension between us when anyone brought up the ball. The school had taken down the Christmas decor and began preparing for the second task of the tournament. 

Fred and I were currently sitting in History of Magic. Professor Binns continued to drone on while the twins and Lee passed notes back and forth. Suddenly someone walked past and plopped a newspaper in front of me. 

I looked up to find Lucian Bole smirking and walking back to his table. The newspaper had a small scrap of parchment attached to it. There was messy, scribbled writing, "Haven't been missing the gigantic oaf?"

I lifted the note and saw a copy of The Daily Prophet with the headline 'DUMBLEDORE'S GIGANTIC MISTAKE'. The article was topped with a picture of Hagrid looking extremely shifty. My heart sunk as I realized Hagrid hadn't been to dinner since school started up again. I had assumed he was just busy with taking care of the Beauxbatons horses, or taking down the Christmas decorations. I glared up at Lucian before reading through the article. 

As I read the article, I began to grow more angry by the second. Of course Rita Skeeter, the horrendous woman, had found out that Hagrid was a half-giant. Her article consisted of criticizing Dumbledore, an interview from Draco Malfoy that was composed of complete lies, and the 'danger' of being close to Hagrid and his 'brutal nature'. 

Red sparks flew out of my wand even though it just sat on the desk. Fred's eyes widened as he pushed papers awake from them. 

"What's that? What'd Bole do now?" He asked before reaching forward and grabbing the paper from my hands. 

I watched his face contort from confusion to anger. He threw down it down in disgust, "What the bloody hell is she talking about? Hagrid's the nicest person we know!" 

"Keep it down!" George whispered from behind us. 

"What's that?" Lee asked.

Fred picked up the paper and threw it towards them. George grabbed it while Lee read over his shoulder. Their reactions were much like Fred's.

"Who does she think she is? Talking about Hagrid like that?" George whispered furiously. 

Just then the bell chimed and Professor Binns dismissed the class. 

"I'll try and go down to his hutch tonight and talk to him," I sighed while slinging my book bag over my shoulder.

Lucian Bole walked past us, sneering at the paper. I followed him out into the crowded hall.

"Bole!" I shouted, walking up to him. 

"What now, you filthy mudblood?" His friends snickered at the derogatory term while he smirked. 

I heard Lee, Fred, and George throw their things down. Before they could do anything however, I marched up to Bole and stood in front of him. 

"Don't you ever speak or write about Hagrid that way," I spat.

Then I did something I had never done, and would usually never do. 

I pulled back my fist and punched him in the nose. 

He staggered back a few feet, looking extremely shocked. He brought his hands up to his crooked nose as it began to bleed, broken. My face remained expressionless as I picked up my book bag that had apparently fallen. Bole was still shell shocked and the hallway was completely silent. I straightened up and turned around.