A Love Like This

Chapter Six

McGonagall sat at her desk across from the chair she told me to sit at.

"Miss Abbot, I wanted to ask you how comfortable you were with sharing a bit about yourself with me. It's only because we don't know much about you and we always make it a point to get to know our students."

"Um..." I lightly chuckled. "You um... you wanna know about me? Are- are you sure?"

"Yes," She smiled. "I understand you and Fred Weasley are involved, and I wasn't sure how much you were willing to share with him."

I turned red. "Um... yeah, thank you. I guess- if it's confidential I'd be comfortable."

"The only other person I would inform with any of your information is the Headmaster."

"Okay," I nodded, feeling a bit more comfortable. "Um... where do I start then?"

--

I left McGonagall's office in tears. She hadn't said anything to hurt me. My backstory just... it hurts. And it hurts to tell about. I hugged my backpack straps to my chest and sighed shakily, and just made my way to class. Potions.

I sat at the lab table I was instructed to sit at and minded my own business. Fred saw me walk in. This is the only class I have with him and George. I wiped my tears and read over the potion recipe on the textbook page.

A white, paper butterfly fluttered across the classroom and landed on my hand. It waved it's wings a few times before just going limp. That's when I opened it and unfolded it. I softly smiled at the handwriting. Messy. It's obviously Fred's.

--

Are you alright? I've been worried about you since breakfast. Say you need to go to the loo, I'll follow you out when I have a second to slip away.
-Fred

--

I folded the paper back up and slipped it in my back pocket, but didn't do as it offered. I couldn't leave class now, focusing on the potions was helping distract me. I felt his eyes on me. I felt bad but not at the same time. Knowing he'd just try something else to get my attention.

I managed to finish the potion, so I set back and grabbed my notebook, deciding to draw on an empty page. My mind was still full and racing at a high speed, I'm trying everything to get my mind off of all of this. It's not working.

Suddenly my quill started writing without my permission. Instead of finishing the sparrow drawing I was working on before, the quill moved down the page and started drawing funny faces on the paper. I stifled a laugh.

I looked back at Fred, who gave me a bit of an odd look, as if to ask if I was alright. I bit my lip and shook my head, not sure how to tell him I'm okay without physically telling him. Suddenly, the potion in his cauldron started bubbling over because he wasn't watching it. He dropped his wand as he helped George clean up the mess.

Soon the bell rang. I waited for him outside the classroom. I have Transfigurations next, then my free period, then lunch. I wasn't going to see him until lunch. I couldn't leave him worried about me for that long.

"Come on," He took my hand as he walked past me, gently leading me to the Gryffindor common room. There wasn't anyone in there and there wouldn't be for a bit. At least not until the next class. We sat on the couch. "You want to tell me what's wrong? What did McGonagall want?"

"She asked me to tell about myself because they don't know anything about me. So... I had to tell her my backstory and it was... painful?" I scoffed tearfully. "But- I'm fine."

"You're not. You're working up tears again," He slid me across the couch and into his arms. "You're alright, darling. Crying is healthy when in moderation. It's like a good drink occasionally."