Just Say Yes || Fred Weasley

Chapter Nine

Once we returned from Hogsmeade, we spotted Lee in front of us, waving goodbye to a brunette and walking away quickly. Trying catch a view of her face, the twins lifted me up again so that I could see over the mass of people returning from the town.
"I can't see her anymore!" I groaned, hanging my head in defeat.
"Aw it's okay Em, we'll just force it out of him at the feast" Fred said comfortingly.
"Yeah it's no biggie" George added, a sly smile on his face.
"I'm so hungry though to be fair" I laughed, "how long until dinner?"
George glanced at his wristwatch "around half an hour?"

"Lee Jordan!" I scolded, sipping my pumpkin juice "you never told us you were meeting a lady friend!"
Lee's face blushed, and he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly "it's no big deal..."
"It is a big deal! We're your best friends! We need to know who this girl is so we can approve her!" George protested, dramatically waving his arms around to prove his point.
"That's the point! What if you don't like her? Then it will be awkward because I'm sure as hell not going to stop seeing her!"
"Aha!" Fred yelled "you admitted to being romantically involved". The twins high fived, victorious grins overpowered their features. If looks could kill, the Weasley's would be dead several times over. Lee was sending such an intense glare, that George actually shivered.

The tense moment was broken as we heard a snooty voice call for Harry.
"The Dementors send their love Potter!"
"Piss off Malfoy you git" I yelled back "Potters not gay - I know that might break your little heart but you ought to know"
Everyone around me stared wide-mouthed.
"What?"
Laughter uproared, as all house tables (apart from the majority of Slytherin) started to jeer at Malfoy.
"Thanks Emily" Harry called, and I sent a thumbs up in return, suppressing my smile.

Once the feast was finished, and Lee had eaten half of the food, we all trekked up the stairs back to our common room, but came to a halt as we came face to face with the fat lady - or should I say, the lack thereof.
"Oh my god" I gasped. Three large slashes ran across the canvas, and the fat lady had fled. I could hear students piling up behind us, and I grabbed Fred's arm for comfort. He noticed my frantic state and rubbed my arm soothingly, turning around to Lee and George.
"Do you think -"
"This was Sirius Black?"
"Most probably" Lee replied, looking rather ill.
"Let me through please" came Percy's voice, and he came bustling importantly through the crowd. "What's the hold-up? You can't have all forgotten the password - excuse me I'm Head Boy"
Silence swept over the crowd as everyone waited with baited breath for Percy to speak. Suddenly in a sharp voice Percy spoke "Somebody get professor Dumbledore - quick"

Within minutes Dumbledore arrived, and the crowds swiftly parted to let the older wizard through. He took one look at the portrait, before turning around, his eyes somber, to see McGonagall, Lupin and Snape hurrying towards him.
"We need to find her" Dumbledore ordered. Students immediately started checking all the portraits that lines the walls.
"You'll be lucky" said Peeves in a cackling voice "she's on the fourth floor. Doesn't want to be seen, she's ashamed your headship, sir"
"What do you mean Peeves"
"He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in you see - terrible temper he's got, that Sirius Black"

Frantic cries echoed throughout the stairwell as people started to panic. I clutched Fred's arm even harder as I whimpered in fear. Whilst I had made a joke out of his escape, I never thought he'd come to Hogwarts. I was worried for Harry, my friends but most importantly my sister. If Black was really a big supporter of you-know-who, he more than likely shared the same views of muggle-borns.
I had completely blanked out, missing Dumbledore's order to go to the great hall. Sensing my anxiety, Fred removed his arms from my grip, instead placing it on the small of my back and guided me through the corridors.

Once inside, Dumbledore had summoned sleeping bags for everybody, before leaving the prefects ("I'm Head Boy, be quiet" Percy repeated for the fifth time within an hour) in charge, whilst the teachers swept the castle for Black. Fred led me over to a group of sleeping bags, George and Lee close behind.
"No more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"
Whispers erupted throughout the hall as we all lay in our sleeping bags.
"Are you okay?" Fred whispered, his face full of concern. I sent him a smile and a small nod.
"I can't believe Black got in!" Lee whispered incredulously
"Neither. You think he's after Harry?" George suggested.
"Definitely a possibility, if he was as in love with you-know-who as everyone said he is" Fred added.
I decided to stay silent, pretending to be asleep.

"What was that about earlier?" George asked Fred, voice barley above a murmur
"I don't know what you mean" Fred replied, using a defensive tone.
"You were all over Emily - protecting her and shit; it was cute" Lee replied, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.
"She was scared! What was I supposed to do? Ignore her?"
"No but you definitely were more than friendly"
"Shut up George"
"No I won't. I know that Angelina crush was bullocks. Own up to it man!"
"I'm not doing this right now"
I heard a scuffle and Fred turning over in his sleeping bag.
My head was swirling with information, far too much to process at that moment in time.
George and Lee chatted for about another half hour before they fell off to sleep, leaving me to overthink all night.

The next day, everything went back to normal. The school hadn't found a trace of Black anywhere in the castle, so we all returned to normal lessons. At lunch, I stuffed my pockets to the brim with food and slipped away from my friends, making my way outside to the edge of the forbidden forest.
I had met with Padfoot multiple times since I first met him, each time bringing more and more food.
"Paddy" I quietly called, sitting down on the grass about a meter from the tree line "hey boy"
The black dog came out cautiously, looking around for any sign of danger. When he saw none, he came happily trotting out and sat in front of me. I swiftly emptied my pocket and watched him gorge on the food happily.
"Can I rant to you bud?"
I received a sharp bark in reply so I took that as a yes.
"Sirius Black broke into Hogwarts yesterday, everyone freaked out - me included. I'm not exactly scared of him, but I'm scared of his views. Like - what if he tried to attack my sister. We're both muggle born and I know V- you-know-who's followers despise people like us. I mean just last year we were both petrified by the basilisk from the chamber of secrets because of it!"
The dog whimpered, nudging my foot with his nose. It was only then that I realised I was crying.
"Sorry" I said, wiping them away "I guess I'm just confused, you know? I'd do anything to keep her safe, even if she is a pain in the arse. But that's not all the shit that's going on, that bloody Wesley -" I trailed off "but you don't want to hear about that"
The dog looked annoyed, making me giggle. "I wish you could talk back, that'd be so cool" I thought aloud, running my fingers across the dogs back, making his tail wiggle wildly.
"I just want all of this drama to be over - Hogwarts should be a happy place" I grumbled, hunched over.

I heard footsteps behind me, causing Padfoot to run off into the safety of the tree line. I wiped my tears away quickly, and caught glimpse of his beady eyes still watching from behind a tree. Sending the dog a small smile, I turned around. They were just some second years on their way back to the hall.