✓ | RESIST, fred weasley ii ⁸

04 ── damage

CHAPTER FOUR

The prank wars raged on throughout most of Fred and Nimah's fifth year, turning the castle into their personal arena for mischief. Though their antics occasionally landed them in detention, they managed to avoid crossing any serious lines. Nothing was permanently damaged, and—most importantly—no one was hurt.

Their creative battles became the talk of the school, with each prank more elaborate and outrageous than the last. From enchanted hallways that played tricks on unwitting students to cleverly disguised traps that left even professors scratching their heads, Fred and Nimah proved themselves masters of calculated chaos.

Even their detentions became something of a spectacle. Whether they were scrubbing cauldrons in the dungeons or polishing trophies under Filch's watchful glare, they somehow managed to turn the punishment into another chapter in their ongoing rivalry—competing over who could finish first or sneak in a jab without getting caught.

Despite the occasional reprimand from teachers and the exasperation of their friends, the prank wars added a spark of excitement to daily life at Hogwarts. They weren't just rivals; they were the architects of mayhem, united in their refusal to let things grow dull—even if it meant paying the price in late-night cleaning sessions and stern lectures from McGonagall.

By the middle of the year, it was clear that their battles had become a staple of Hogwarts life, leaving students to wonder how far the pair would go—and who, if anyone, might ever emerge victorious.

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of chaos and pranks, as always, but for some, it was more than just a rivalry playing out in the halls of Hogwarts. Whispers had started to spread like wildfire, stoking the imagination of students: Fred Weasley and Nimah Black—sparring partners in mischief—were bound to end up together.

To most, the idea was thrilling, even entertaining. But for one girl who had been nursing a crush on Fred, the rumours were anything but harmless fun. At first, she had ignored the speculation, convincing herself it was just idle gossip. But as the weeks wore on and the playful banter between Fred and Nimah grew more prominent, the jealousy she'd managed to suppress began to fester.

She hated the thought of "her" Fred being with someone like Nimah—someone so brash, reckless, and, in her eyes, undeserving. Fueled by envy and a need to act, she concocted a dangerous plan without fully considering the consequences.

Late one night, she snuck into the Quidditch storage room, where the Bludgers were kept. With a flick of her wand and a whispered incantation, she jinxed them, ensuring that they would specifically target Nimah and her team during their next match. Satisfied with her handiwork, she slipped away unnoticed, her mind already imagining the chaos that would follow.

The day of the match arrived, and as the game commenced, her grim satisfaction only grew. She watched from the stands, her eyes fixated on the field as the enchanted Bludgers went to work.

But things didn't go as planned.

Nimah, ever sharp on the field, noticed something was off almost immediately. When a Bludger flew dangerously close to her Keeper's face, she struck it away with a powerful swing of her bat. However, as the game continued, she realized the Bludgers were not acting as they should. One flew dangerously close to a Gryffindor Chaser, targeting him only because Nimah had flown directly behind him.

It dawned on her then—the Bludgers were hexed, and worse, she was the primary target.

What she didn't expect, however, was the second Bludger's sudden and inexplicable change in direction. Confused and concerned, Nimah turned to see where it was heading. Her heart nearly stopped when she realized the target: Fred Weasley.

Her mind raced as she watched the hexed Bludger collide with Fred, striking him hard enough to unseat him from his broom. The world seemed to slow as his body began to fall, tumbling headfirst toward the ground. Without hesitation, Nimah pushed herself into action, diving after him at breakneck speed.

The wind howled in her ears, and her heart pounded in her chest as she reached for him, gripping the fabric of his uniform just in time. But the momentum and Fred's weight pulled her down as well. Desperately trying to cushion his fall, she twisted her body beneath his, bracing for impact.

The collision with the ground was brutal. The air was forced from her lungs in a painful gasp as she hit the field, her body absorbing the full force of the fall. She felt a searing pain shoot through her back, and her vision blurred.

Through the haze, she barely registered the whistle blowing, signalling the end of the match. Her last conscious thought was of Fred, lying unconscious on top of her before the darkness consumed her entirely.

The field fell silent, the roar of the crowd replaced by a stunned, collective gasp. For a moment, time seemed frozen as the gravity of what had just transpired sank in. Then, chaos erupted.

Players abandoned their positions, racing toward the two motionless figures on the pitch. Spectators poured out of the stands, their earlier cheers of excitement now replaced by cries of panic and concern. The once-lively Quidditch field was now the site of a scene no one could have anticipated—two of Hogwarts' brightest captains, fierce rivals and beloved by their peers, lay still on the ground.

Madam Hooch was the first to reach them, her face pale as she shouted for the crowd to step back. "Give them space!" she commanded, her voice trembling slightly but still authoritative. Professors McGonagall and Longbottom arrived soon after, their wands drawn as they began assessing the situation.

"Enchanted Bludgers," McGonagall muttered darkly, her sharp gaze scanning the pitch. She didn't need to ask who had been targeted—Nimah's desperate dive to save Fred had told her everything.

As Madam Pomfrey arrived with her stretcher, the students whispered anxiously among themselves. "Did you see how she caught him?" one murmured. "She saved his life," another added, awe mingling with fear.

The girl who had jinxed the Bludgers stood frozen in the stands, her grim satisfaction replaced by dawning horror. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Her plan had spiralled out of control, and now two lives were hanging by a thread.

As Nimah and Fred were carefully levitated onto stretchers and taken toward the castle, the weight of the moment hung heavy over everyone. The rivalry that had brought so much life and energy to Hogwarts had now brought it to a standstill.

And as the two captains were carried away, the question on everyone's lips was the same: Who would do something so cruel? And, more importantly, would Fred and Nimah ever be the same again?