The Challenge

Chapter 43

Scorpius went to the Slytherin common room. Fred and I go to the Gryffindor common room because he wanted me to help him make some firecrackers. When we walk in, the first thing we see is Kaitlin and James snogging. "Gross." I say. 
Kaitlin pulls away and looks at me. "Sapphire. I need to talk to you."
I nod, "okay. You are."
Kaitlin stands up and pulls me to the side. "Val's in her dorm. I talked to her as much as I could. She told me Fred accused her of cheating because she wouldn't tell him what was going on."
I nod, "I know. Fred told me. He's such an idiot. I'll go talk to her. But in a bit so she can cool down."
"She has to tell him."
"I know she does." I agree, "she's just so bloody stubborn."
Kaitlin laughs, "you can say that again."
"So," I trail off a little. "You and James."
"I asked him out. He said yes." Kaitlin smiles. "We're boyfriend and girlfriend now. Is that okay?"
I give her a weird look, "why wouldn't it be?"
"Well, like I said, there are rumors that you fancy him." Kaitlin says. 
I roll my eyes, "I don't. Like I said, I'm mad at him."
She laughs, "okay. Thanks. For you know, Val."
"Of course." I smile. I walk over to Fred and we go to his dorm. I sit on the floor next to his bed and watch him take out the firecrackers. "Let's make these bad boys."
"What did Kaitlin tell you?" He asks as he passes me a fire cracker. 
I shrug, "she told me Val's upset."
"Oh." Fred frowns. 
"It's not your fault." I reassure him. "She's just a bit stressed out. She'll be fine in a few days."
"Okay." Fred drops the subject. 

Fred, Val, Kaitlin, James and I are on our way to the Great Hall for lunch. James is only with us because of Kaitlin. I still can't look at James. I don't know what to think. Once we walk in, I hear the sorting hat. "Slytherin!" I see a guy my age. He has brown hair, hazel eyes, he is tall and a bit fit. Val and him locked eyes. He must be Andrew. Val runs towards him and he embraces her in his arms. 
I see Fred storm out of the Great Hall. Kaitlin and I look at each other. Kaitlin runs over to Val and I run after Fred. I run down the corridor, "Fred!" I yell once I see him. I try to run faster, I feel tired already. Stupid pregnancy. "Fred Weasley!" I yell louder. I finally catch up to him, I grab his arm. "Fred."
"What?!" He yells in my face. 
"Will you calm down?" I say as I try to catch my breath. 
Fred's face softens a little and rubs my back. "You shouldn't be running."
I roll my eyes, "if you'd just listen. Val and -"
"Who is he?" Fred questions. "You told me she wasn't cheating on me!"
I give him a look, "she isn't!"
"Then who is he?" Fred questions. 
"Andrew Grimes." I answer. 
"Andrew Grimes?" Fred spits out. "Who the hell is that?! Why did Val go running into his arms? You told me she wasn't bloody cheating on me!"
"She isn't!" I exclaim. "She's not cheating on you, Fred."
"Then tell me who he is!" Fred yells.
"Val is the one who should tell you everything!" I tell him, "ask her."
"She won't bloody tell me!" Fred says in frustration. "Why can't you tell me? You're supposed to be my best friend!"
"I am your best friend." I say. 
"Then tell me!"
I look at him in frustration, "fine! Andrew is her brother."
Fred rolls his eyes, "he doesn't have the same last name."
"Val's adopted. Her real name is Valerie Grimes. She changed her last name when Kaitlin's family adopted her." I explain. 
Fred frowns, "what?"
"You'll have to ask Val to explain the rest." I cross my arms over my cheat. 
"Why didn't she tell me she was adopted?" Fred questions. 
"I don't bloody know." I threw my arms up in frustration. "You know how she is! Sometimes she doesn't have a filter and talks nonstop but then she can be secretive and stubborn as hell. I've been trying to convince her to tell you but she wouldn't."
"How did you find out?" He narrows his eyes. 
"She got an owl from someone. Can't say who, she'll tell you. Anyways, she was really upset and I confronted her. She let me read the letter." I explain. 
Fred sighs, "why isn't she telling me these things! I'm her bloody boyfriend for crying out loud!"
"Calm down, Fred." I grab his arms and shook him a little. "Come on, after lunch we'll all go to the Black Lake and she will explain everything."
"Fine." Fred sighs. 
"Let's go back to the Great Hall." I pull his arm. 
"I'm not hungry." Fred says. 
I nod, "okay. Neither am I."
Fred frowns, "you need to eat."
"But I'm not hungry." I tell him. 
He glares at me, "Sapphire. You need to eat."
"Well, so do you." 
Fred groans, "okay fine. Come on." He pulls me towards the Great Hall. 
"I'll be back." I tell him. I walk over to the Slytherin table. "Val." I say sternly. 
She looks at me a little nervous. "Yeah?"
"When you're all done eating. Go to the Black Lake." I look at Andrew. "You too." I look back at Val and narrow my eyes. "No excuses. I will drag you there if I have to."
Val sighs, "okay fine. We'll be there."
I pat her head, "good girl." I walk over to the Gryffindor table and sit down next to Fred. 
"Who the hell is that with Val?" Rox asks. 
"Her brother." Fred mutters. He is pissy. 
I sigh, "you guys should go to the Black Lake. Val is going to tell you what's going on. Maybe not all of it. But she'll explain." Kaitlin looks at me then glances at Fred then back to me. I just shrug and start to eat. 
"I didn't know you had a brother." Rox says to Kaitlin. 
"I don't." Kaitlin says. 
"Then why did Fred say he's her brother?" Albus asks. 
"Later." I tell him. 
Once we all finish eating, Fred, Rox, Kaitlin, Lily, Rose, James, Albus, Hugo, Justin, Julisa and I meets Val and Andrew at the Black Lake. We all sit together in a circle by a tree. I look at Val, "well."
Val looks back at me, "I thought it would only be Fred here."
"We have a right to know too." Julisa says. "We are your friends aren't we?"
Val sighs. Andrew holds her hand. "I can tell them." He says.
Val shakes her head. "No. I will." She looks at Fred the whole time she speaks. "My real name is Valerie Grimes. Andrew is my brother. Kaitlin is my adoptive sister."
"You're adopted?" Julisa asks. "Why didn't you tell us?"
Val doesn't take her eyes off Fred. "My father was a death eater, he tortured my mum and she ended up in Saint Mungo's. After that, he ran off and took Andrew with him. After he ran off, I was put into an orphanage. I was adopted when I was 9 years old by Kaitlin's family. My mum died a few days ago. My father was found and was put into Azkaban a few days a go. Now Andrew's here, after like 7 years. He's going to live with me with the Winters until he finds a house for us."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Fred asks. 
"Because I was scared!" Val exclaims. "You don't go around telling someone your father was a death eater and that he tortured your mum until she went mental."
"Val, I'm your boyfriend and best friend! You know you can trust me with anything and I would never judge you!" Fred says. 
"I know I can trust you, Freddie." Val says. "It's just that I was afraid of your reaction."
"By not telling me, you made me think you were bloody cheating on me!" Fred yells. Oh no. "You're supposed to trust the person you're dating!"
Val glares at him. "If you're supposed to trust the person you're dating then why did you assume I was cheating on you?" Val's voice rises. "We were on a bloody date and you accused me of cheating!"
"Well sorry!" Fred exclaims, "I've never loved someone as much as I love you! I get paranoid sometimes. Especially when you started hiding things from me!" Val stops talking and stares at him. He told her he loves her. "You have to stop keeping things to yourself, Valerie." Fred says. "You have to trust more and not shut me out like that. I really do care about you. More than anything else."
"Fred." Val says quietly. "I'm sorry..." She looks like she is going to cry. Everyone looks uncomfortable. Can't blame them. Is it bad that I'm enjoying this? I mean, Fred finally told her he loves her. Even though he was yelling at her. 
I speak up, "um. Maybe we should let these two talk." Everyone agrees and get up. We walk away from Val and Fred. I lean against a tree and watch Fred and Val sit there not talking. 
"I feel horrible." Rox says. "I kinda yelled at her because Fred was all upset."
"It's not your fault." Kaitlin says. "At least you guys know now. Please don't go around telling people."
"We won't tell anyone, promise." Rose smiles. 
I look at Andrew, "I'm Sapphire by the way."
Andrew smiles, "Val told me a lot about you."
"Good things I hope." I laugh a little. 
"Yeah. She told me about your ex and what he did.." Andrew trails off. "I personally think he's a dick." I smile. "Anyways, I hope for the best for you."
"Thank you." I smile at him. I like him. He's so sweet! I look back at Fred and Val to see him hugging her. Okay, they're all good now. Yay. 
Kaitlin rests her head on James' shoulder and he wraps his arm around her. I look away not wanting to see James hold another girl. Wait, what? Why am I- why did I say that? I'm so confused. Hormones from pregnancy probably. 
Andrew looks at Kaitlin and wiggle his eyebrows. She glares at him causing him to smirk. "Kitty Kat, are you going to introduce me to your little boyfriend here?" He teases. 
Kaitlin rolls her eyes. "Andrew, this is James. James, that's Andrew."
"Nice to meet you mate." Andrew says. 
"You too." James nods his head. 
"If you hurt Kaitlin." Andrew says, "I'll hurt you. Got it?"
James nods, "Got it."
Fred and Val walks over. Fred has his arm around her. They're so adorable. "Everything all sorted?" I smirk. 
"Yeah." Val smiles. 
Andrew looks at Fred. "If you hurt my Valerie in any way shape or form. I will beat your face in."
"Don't worry." Fred smiles. "I would never hurt her." He kisses her cheek. 
"Don't get all lovey dovey now." Julisa teases. 
"I wouldn't be talking if I were you." Val looks at Justin. 
Rox frowns, "my best friends all has a boyfriend."
"I don't." I point out. 
"True." Rox nods. "But I'm going to be the third wheel all the time."
I laugh, "you'll get used to it." I look over at Fred and Val. They give me a cheeky smile.
Albus speaks up, "you don't have to be a third wheel." He winks.
I laugh and ruffle his hair. "Maybe try asking out someone shorter than you."
Albus rolls his eyes, "I'm the same height as you."
"Shut up." I laugh. "I know who you fancy."
Albus slaps my arm, "shut up!"
James smirks, "you fancy someone Al?"
"No!" Albus glares at me. "Rose wanna go and find Scorpius or something? Lily, Hugo want to come with?" I smirk at Albus causing him to glare at me. The four of them leaves. 
I sigh, "I'm tired."
"Go take a nap." Fred says. "You were running earlier."
"And whose fault is that?" I question. 
Fred rolls his eyes, "Gem go."
I frown, "carry me!"
"No." Fred says. 
"But, I'm pregnant and shouldn't be running around the castle." I pout. 
"You won't be running though." Fred points out. 
I groan, "fine."