The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

I.II

Electra's gut feeling told her to walk to Scotland.

Surprisingly, their morning hadn't been as bad as she feared. Sure parents gave her looks of weary, terror and disgust as they pulled their children close the moment she, the Diggorys and their protective detail stepped foot onto Platform 9 ¾, but really it could have gone far worse.

Still, she had a bad feeling about today.

After a bone-crushing hug from Mrs. Diggory and a hearty pat on the shoulder from Mr. Diggory, Electra and Cedric made their way to the Prefect's cabins.

Cedric's parents had been so overjoyed that both he and Electra had received Prefect pins with their letters this year that they'd treated Cedric to a new broom and Electra a bunch of new books.

A few people gave Electra a wild look when she walked into the Prefect's compartment with the green enamel Prefect pin. Percy Weasley gave her a very curt handshake to welcome her as Headboy and Electra suppressed the urge to roll her eyes —she really has to take orders from this Gumby motherfucker?. Other than that no one in the Prefect's cabins had the gull to do anything but pretend Electra wasn't there —except for Adrian Pucey who gave her a triumphant smirk— and all other conversation was directed to Cedric.

Electra moved to the back corner by the window, kicking out two older Hufflepuffs, and buried her nose in one of her new books while Cedric sat beside her, chit-chatting with the other Prefects who had the nerve to stay in the same compartment as her.

The rain was coming down in sheets, the grey sky darkening enough for the lanterns to turn on in the train. Electra curled against the plush corner of the carriage and strained her eyes against the flickering shadows of firelight on her pages.

They had to be nearly there by the time Adrian Pucey wandered back into their compartment, sat on the bench across from her and took up staring at Electra as she read. She tried to ignore him for as long as she could, but his gaze was practically burning a hole in her face. She flipped the page of her book. "Fuck off, Pucey."

His haughty smirk grew and he let out a single laugh. "Charming as always, Black." Electra rolled her eyes and rested them back on her page. Adrian relaxed into his seat, splaying his legs and resting his sharp jaw on his fist. Electra fought to keep her eyes on the page and not look up at him, because despite how much she couldn't really stand him, she had to admit he was very handsome. "You know, I was hoping it was either you or Ayers. You're both much nicer to look at than the Rowles combined."

"Still the smooth talker, I see," droned Electra.

Adrian shrugged. "Guess neither of us have changed over the summer. Not in that way I mean." His eyes studied her hungrily.

"No, I don't think so," said Electra flatly. She wished desperately that Cedric would come to her rescue, but he was in the middle of a very animated conversation about the Quidditch World Cup with Ravenclaw's Marcus Turner. Stupid jock.

Adrian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You know, we'll be spending a lot more time together now that we're—"

Electra slapped her book down on her lap. "I'm going to stop you right there. The only thing you'll be spending more time with this year will be that right hand of yours."

Adrian laughed. "Harsh, Black. All I wanted was a partner."

"Find a new one," she grumbled as she picked her book back up, and froze.

Something outside the window flew over the train. Something big and dark.

Electra stood suddenly, squinting as she pressed her cheek to the glass. "Black?" asked Adrian, before looking over his shoulder and out of the window.