[1] Lemons into Lemonade ✓ | FRED WEASLEY

Chapter Twenty

"Aubrey, here you go," Lexy said, tapping Fred on the back as he worked on the curls, slowly getting his braiding skills closer and closer to perfection. In the palm of her hand was a small, circular badge reading 'Potter stinks' before the words slowly swirled away into another phrase: "Support Cedric Diggory - the true Hogwarts Champion."

Now Harry was his friend but even Fred had to admit this was funny, letting out a small snort of laughter. At this, Lexy beamed, pinning it on her friend for her.

"Thought you'd like it," She replied, "Angela won't be happy about it but I think we can risk that, they're really clever and I mean... it is kind of true. I bet he'll still win though, it is HARRY POTTER, I love Cedric but... he's HARRY POTTER."

"I reckon Cedric will do okay, hon," Fred replied, "He's pretty smart, right?"

"True," Lexy replied, "But Roger could thrash them both, I reckon. If he was playing that is. Have I told you? I've been talking to him more, just a little bit but baby steps as you said, you know? I'm so excited, imagine if we sit next to him or something..."

Fred slowly lost interest, his mind drifting over to the more pressing topic: the plan with Aubrey. He still wasn't entirely sure whether she'd actually get George to the Quad where they'd agreed to meet; over the last few meetings, she'd seemed increasingly anxious about the whole thing. Although she claimed that her crush on George didn't matter, it was having an impact, whether she liked it or not. He did have backup plans but Kenny was their best shot; George wouldn't back down from a battle of wits if challenged.

"Does my hair look okay?" He asked Lexy who nodded enthusiastically.

"Multiple little braids today, I see," She said, giving him a smile, "It looks like crazy cute, Aubrey, so cute."

"Thanks, girl," Fred replied, about to continue when they suddenly heard a commotion in the common room and quickly dashed out to see what was happening. The commotion turned out to be a leaving cheer for Cedric Diggory who looked extremely shaken despite the weak smile on his face.

"The true Hogwarts Champion," Lexy echoed the words on the badge, "I kind of take it back, he looks pretty calm, a level head is essenital."

"I don't know," Fred replied, "Looks a little shaken to me, hon."

"Perhaps," Lexy replied, "He's pretty hot."

"Going off Roger?"

"Maybe..." Lexy murmured softly before shaking her head, "Anyway, we should probably go, I bet Kenny and Angela are already lurking outside for us, you know how prompt she is."

As predicted, Kenny and Angela were already outside, both of them raising their eyebrows in time as they caught sight of the badges.

"What are those?" Angela asked.

"The result of peer pressure, hon," Fred replied, without missing a beat to which Angela had no reply although Kenny glowered slightly, "You both excited for the first task?"

"Of course," Angela replied, gripping Kenny's arm with a giddy grin on her face, "It's so exciting, my Mum told me what it is ... but you'll have to wait and see."

"Of course," Fred replied, rolling his eyes as he suddenly realised they were going the wrong way, "Why are we going this way?"

"Back route," Kenny replied bluntly, "Quicker."

"But the Quad way's shorter... hon," Fred replied.

"Which makes it busier," Angela replied, "We'll get better seats this way."