Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
EMILIA'S HEALING BALM had done a great job. Fred's scar had closed quickly without him needing to steal anything from the infirmary. There was hardly a trace left on his hand — which made him curious as to why she still had such deep scars on her hand. He had kept his promise to use the balm sparingly as not to waste it, but gave some to George when he needed it, and Colin Creevey, who had been beside himself in pain.
He then also chose to confess to his brother something he had barely accepted himself. George had laughed. It amused him greatly that Fred had caught feelings for someone so unlikely. In any case, he had welcome the revelation rather well.
On Tuesday morning, the Great Hall was filled with students. Fred at heartily, listening to the new ideas of jokes that had sprouted in his brother's head during the night. There was nothing left but their shop project that kept them in place at Hogwarts, especially as students' rights gradually dwindled. More than a few months and they would finally be released from the terrible ordeal.
Emilia entered the room, and Fred noticed immediately. He hadn't seen her at breakfast since the Cedric incident. Granted, she was always there for other meals. The redhead put his toast down and watched, intrigued, as she sat down by a group of girls at the Hufflepuff table. Aware that his brother was no longer listening to him, George followed his twin's gaze.
"I honestly don't think you could be more obvious if you tried," George snorted, catching everyone's attention.
"What are you talking about?" Angelina asked curiously, her eyes darting between the brothers.
"Nothing," Fred replied a little too quickly. Despite being back on good terms, he would rather people not know about his little crush. Angelina pouted, annoyed at not being able to participate in the conversation before turning back to Katie.
Fred looked over to the Hufflepuff table and noticed the light tension between Emilia and a blonde girl that was talking to her. He wanted to go over and say something when he saw the tears spring in her eyes, but thought better of it. They weren't friends, and it would only cause more ruckus if he intervened. It had still been weeks since they'd last talked.
Two Hufflepuff students passed behind Fred, and he caught their conversation briefly. "Can't believe she would show her face to Felicity! Disgusting. . . honestly." Instantly, He was interested in what was being said.
"I know! And the nerve to not give it to Felicity! Gross."
Fred hadn't a clue the context of the conversation, but he assumed the blonde girl his Emilia was talking to was Felicity. "You two," He hailed the young Hufflepuffs, "What're you on about?"
The two girls, who couldn't be older than third years, shared a look before happily divulging. "Emilia Gleeson," The first one began, her eyes flickering over to the said girl, "Apparently Cedric gave her a necklace before the Yule Ball, and she—"
"Rejected him," The second one finished, "So, Felicity, Cedric's cousin, asked for the necklace back. But she won't give it back!"
Upon hearing the conversation, Alicia Spinnet leant forward and said, "Well, he did give it to her. She has every right to keep it."
Fred nodded in agreement as the first girl shrugged and lowered her voice slightly, "I'm surprised he even fancied a girl like her."
"A girl like her?" Fred repeated, not quite sure what they meant. The second girl looked uncomfortable at her friends words, meanwhile Alicia, Angelina, Katie, Lee, and George were all gaping at her. Apparently it was only Fred who didn't understand what she meant.
"Well. . . yes," The girl's eyes were wide under everyone's stares. She shared a look with her friend. "I— we better go."
They left and Fred was left even more confused than before. He turned to the group and mumbled, "Odd one she was."
"Er— Fred," George gained his attention, "You right?"
"Yes, why?" He frowned.
"That was completely out of line what she said," Angelina fumed. Fred swore he'd never seen the girl so angry, not even when they had their talk the previous year. "I thought times were at least getting a little more progressive."
"Definitely not the qualities of a Hufflepuff," Katie shook her head, "I feel bad for Emilia. She's going through enough without simple minded people like that spreading their vulgar thoughts."
"Did I miss something?" Fred asked the group, only to be met with incredulous stares, "Merlin's beard, what did I say?"
"What did you say?" Lee scoffed and shook his head, "More like what did she say."
Fred had never felt so confused. "Well. . . what did she say?"
The group shared a look before Alicia said in a quiet voice, "A girl like her. Doesn't take a genius to know what she meant by that."
"Clearly, I'm no genius," Fred joked, but received not even a smile, "Was it bad?"
"Are you absolutely kidding?" Angelina spat, her nose shrivelled up, "She wasn't referring to her personality. It's because she's black, Fred."
The rest of the day had been a haze to the Weasley boy. It had been during the first meeting of Dumbledore's Army that he saw Emilia again. Harry had somehow managed to recruit her, and she stood by one of the mirrors in the room, staring at the picture of Cedric that had been put up. She looked hauntingly beautiful, but Fred could only focus on how tired she looked — like she had fought the world, and the world had won.
He contemplated approaching her, but after that mornings activities, he decided against it. Angelina's words still echoed in his mind. He hadn't ever thought about such discrimination during his time at Hogwarts — or ever. It wasn't something he experienced, nor did it cross his mind that it still happened. He'd heard from his father about the Muggle race movements, but wasn't aware such problems existed in the Wizarding World.
It shattered his heart that Emilia Gleeson was suffering in silence.
