Read My Mind

I Was Scared

"So things have been--"

"Awkward," George finished the sentence for his brother, who was currently laying flat on the bed, spreading all his limbs and staring at the ceiling looking frustrated.

"Fine, it has been awkward. What do I do?" Fred rolled over and now he's on his side, supporting his head with his right hand and staring at his brother angrily with both eyes.

"Well, what do you think made it awkward then?" George asked.

"How would I know?" Fred was waving his hands. "We were kissing, and it was good, really, good, and then ughhh--" He stuffed his face in the pillow.

"Then she stopped talking to you, locked herself in the room, but surprisingly started joining us for dinner, so you can't make even excuses to go check on her anymore." George had a smirk on his face that Fred had never realized to be so annoying.

"Yes! Plus, she spent every waking moment with Hermione and Ginny, and Ron, and Harry! Since when was Ron interested in learning more charms and studying for tests?" Fred was actually angry at both of his brothers.

"I just don't understand." He groaned. He was happy that his father was recovering, at least he's stable now; he was glad to get away from Umbridge for a brief moment so that he could breathe again, and he was filled with joy because of that kiss and that moment of intimacy with Ria--except the fact that she had been avoiding him ever since.

"Well, why don't you just go ask her then?" George said.

Fred gave him a , "are-you-crazy look," and realized that exact sentence had come out of his mouth when it was Angelina and George. George burst into laughter and Fred threw a pillow at him

"Fine." He left the room and went to find Ria.

They were all in the living room. Hermione was trying to convince Ria again on teaching them Asian magics, and Fred heard her say, "I will not say a word about this as long as that curse still exists."

"But they would be fine if they keep it to themselves."

"Well, do they know that you have enchanted the parchment? Do they know if any of them slips the secret, they will have the word "SNITCH" engraved on their forehead forever?"

Hermione was still trying to say something, but Harry, Ron, and Ginny were all now looking at her.

"Okay, fine. I was just trying to be safe." She pulled out the piece of parchment and casted a fire spell.

"There, you happy?"

"No. I'm still not joining." Ria said.

"What?" This time it was Harry.

"You don't understand the extent that woman was planning on doing. Reading her mind was like cutting through the thickest, most oily slice of cheesecake that was rotting." Her choice of words were definitely graphic enough to make the rest of the group frown.

"She was asking Professor Snape on Veritaserum, and she was planning on turning people against each other. There is no guarantee that we will have a united group, even if we want to. How many of us do you think can even resist even a drop of Veritaserum?" She asked.

"But if we don't at least try, isn't that already her purpose then?" Ron said, and Fred found him nodding. His brother might not always be the brightest, but he sure had something that helps him see through things rather quickly.

Ria didn't say anything, they are not wrong. If they don't do anything, if they show no reaction, isn't that already losing anyway? She sighed, "I'm sorry. I'm just, this is not me. I can't. I'm sorry." She stood up and was ready to leave, and she saw Fred.