Owlery
The rest of the walk is silent, the only noise I can hear is the rhythmic padding of our feet hitting the stone pathways. I wring my hands together desperately wracking my brain for an excuse to continue on my own. With nothing coming to me I glance up at the tall boy next to me opening my mouth to speak. Fred turns to me as if sensing I was about to speak and I immediately forget my excuse, instead I turn back to stare in front of me ignoring his burning gaze.
‘Something on your mind?’ he says breaking the silence between us.
I stay silent for a moment longer, still slightly cautious of being caught. ‘What were you guys doing up so late’ I ask him, my brows furrowed slightly as I turn my face to look at him.
A small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, his face staying facing forward. After a moment of silence once again passed over us, I open my mouth to apologise for the intrusive question.
‘Planning’ he says simply, cutting off my apology before it’s spoken. I slow my steps slightly, eyeing the boy suspiciously. I’d heard many stories of the pranks the Weasley twins execute, many of them not being so harmless.
He notices my slower pace and questioning expression and laughs faintly to himself, turning his body so that he’s walking backwards whilst looking at me.
‘Nothing dangerous’ he says, his lips still pulled into a charming smile and his hands held up in mock surrender. He sees my face stays unchanging and adds ‘Promise’ with a wink.
I shake my head looking down slightly, a smile now tugging on my lips too. Fred turns back around falling back in step with me as we continue to the owlery.
‘What is it then’ I question him, feeling more confident than before. His gaze flits down to mine quickly his eyebrow raised.
‘You know the goblet of fire’ He starts, looking back down at me expectantly. I nod quickly at him, a small smile creeping onto my face again as I wait for him to continue. I feel as if I’m being let in on something top secret, something fun. Whilst I love Nova to bits, she’s the only friend I really have, and over our years of friendship we have never really done anything that great. Sure, we always have fun but the most spontaneous thing we’ve done is dye her hair a few shades darker in our second year. Now that I’m speaking with Fred about his plans, I realise how much I crave some adventure. Spontaneity. Harmless fun. All of it, I wish for all of it.
‘Well’ he continues excitedly ‘We want to enter’ he says a grin taking over his features. I frown at him.
‘You aren’t old enough though, are you?’ I say slowly, just in case I’m wrong.
‘You’re right,’ he says pointing a finger at me, speaking in a way similar to that of when someone is doing a presentation. ‘We’re brewing an ageing potion’ he says as if he’s trying to hold in a laugh.
My eyebrows raise as I take in what he’s saying. A laugh escapes me at the levels they will go to get something they want.
‘And you think it’ll work?’ my voice comes out a little more questioning than I intended, and his face contorts slightly.
‘Are you doubting my ability to brew a simple ageing potion, Evie?’ he says his expression changing to one o mock offense, he holds his hands flat against his chest over his heart as he looks at me in despair. A laugh bubbles out of me at the sight before me, closing my eyes slightly as a large smile takes over my face.
‘That’s not what I meant, and you know it,’ I say pushing his arm slightly, knocking away the offended expression from his face. ‘I meant Dumbledore drew the line himself; you really think you’ll be able to fool it?’ I ask, the last remnants of a laugh playing in my tone.
He stays quiet for a short moment, seeming to be imagining the scenario.
‘Well, what’s the harm in trying’ he says looking down at me fully this time. His face displays a calmer expression, one of warmth. I find myself unable to look away from him for a moment until we reach the stairs of the owlery.
No words are exchanged as we trudge up the spiralling stairs of the owlery entrance. I trail slightly behind Fred, his longs legs projecting him up faster than mine. Whilst I’m not entirely short I’m also not that tall either, standing at 5’6 I just pass Freds shoulders.
Once we reach the top, I try to quickly pass Fred beelining for Xena. I stroke her quickly whispering words of praise to my owl before quickly checking her nook for any mail. Disappointment floods me and my stomach drops. Not yet wanting to take that answer I continue rifling through her bedding, hoping a letter had been lost within the straw. Realisation washing over me I let my arms fall down to my sides, a quiet sigh escaping me. Bidding Xena a goodbye I turn to see Fred leant up against a nearby wall watching me intently.
‘Let’s go’ I say plastering a fake smile on my face, doing my best to cover up my disappointment and walking past Fred to the exit.
‘What that’s it?’ He calls out to me still planted firmly by the wall, his gaze questioning.
My lips pull into a small line, my eyes squeezing shut. Composing myself quickly before I turn back around to face him, I smile again.
‘Just wanted to check is all’ I say quietly in response to his question.
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