The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

I.VIII

"All we hear is how great Lexi Black is," said Heidi loudly over the storm in a teasing tone as she squeezed Electra's arm with her own. It was odd hearing Cedric's nickname for her on another's tongue.

Heidi was a very pretty girl with strawberry blonde hair and big round eyes. Heidi wasn't shy by any means and was one of the only people, it seemed, not afraid to touch her, save for Cedric. She made Electra nervous.

Heidi eyed Electra with a sly look and a tilt of her head, blinking rain out of her eyes. "You'll excuse us if we were skeptical."

They were nearing the Clock Tower finally. Without any way to answer Heidi, Electra pretended to be too preoccupied with keeping her hood over her head. This didn't seem to bother Heidi though, because she smiled. "He mentioned you were shy."

"Did he now?" she retorted Electra in a bland tone. Annoyingly, that really bothered her.

Shy wasn't quite the word Electra would have called it; mistrustful was more like it. Besides the point, she wished Ced would refrain from mentioning her to his other friends, especially while describing her as 'shy'. It made her seem weak, and Electra hated nothing more than to be seen as such. Reserved perhaps, but not weak.

"What are you lovely ladies talking about up there," called Anthony through the wind.

Heidi glanced back at him. "Just how our fearless Captain talks so admirably about our new Slytherin friend here."

They ducked into the Clock Tower Courtyard, staying under the viaducts for a bit of cover from the relentless rain. Electra threw back her hood and pulled the sopping wet Hufflepuff beanie off her head as Anthony chuckled at what Heidi had said. "It's all the bloke talks about. Lexi this, Lexi that." He caught up to the two girls and shot Electra a naughty grin. "I think I've even seen his pupils morph to the shape of hearts when he spoke of ya'." Electra frowned at his teasing.

"Cut it out," griped Cedric, giving his friend a hearty shove. Anthony laughed as he stumbled forward and Cedric took his spot beside Electra. He looked down at her and grinned.

Electra felt her nerves ease. She raised an imploring eyebrow at him. A silent exchange passed between them, as Cedric shook his head. He raised his hand and settled it on top of her head, in a way Electra imagined a real older brother would do. "I just wanted someone other than me to know how brilliant you are."

She was touched, truly, by Cedric's unyielding kindness towards her, especially when she didn't deserve it, but it still left a sour taste in her mouth.

They had entered the castle leaving the storm to rage on behind them, and trailing mud with them as they led the way to Hufflepuff's Common Room. Electra spoke over her shoulder, "Whatever Ced's told you about me, he's been exaggerating."

The Hufflepuff team chuckled at that. She peered up at Cedric through dark lashes and spoke low enough for just him to hear. "I appreciate your kind words Ced, but all the friends I'll ever need is you."

Cedric smiled at that and dropped his hand from her head. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Not even the Weasley twins?"

Electra shot him a dark look that he shrugged off with his easy grin. She regretted telling him about Hallowe'en. She was thinking of retorting when a voice rang out in the echoing grand staircase that stopped the whole precession in their tracks.

"Ah! How lucky I find you here," said Dumbledore in a pleasant tone, contradicting the anger Electra could still see shining bright in his icy blue eyes. He stood on the first marble step, his hands folded over his beard.

"Ms. Black. May we have a chat?"

Electra swallowed hard, her heart sinking.

Shit.