Chapter 3
On your way to that lesson, you decided to spend the rest of the term trying hard to keep out of the twin’s way. Keyword there, trying. That idea had no hope of working the moment you walked into potions.
Technically, potions was your best and favorite subject, and although yes, Snape was scary and intimidating and there's no doubt you'd work better if he would just stop standing there like that, it was what you were good at.
You found it interesting that putting different ingredients together would make something entirely different, and doing it reminded you of cooking at home with your mum, following recipes, and making meals together.
However on that first Thursday afternoon, you were walking to class, arm linked with Annie's, your uniforms messily put together as usual.
You found that the seat you would be sitting in for the rest of the year was right next to Fred Weasley. It was the second potions class of sixth year (Fred hadn't bothered to show up for the first) and you had walked in together talking about the date Freddie had planned to take Annie on that weekend when the vacant seat next to yours was filled with a certain redhead.
“Oh, so he’s taking you out to Hogsmeade and then dinner in the astronomy tower? Relationships make me sick” You said about her date that weekend
“You’re so painfully single Bel, don’t be jealous”
“I’m not jealous punzel, can’t you see I’m just making sure you stay sane”
“Waiting for Cedric to confess his feelings to you are we now?”
“shutup-”
You stopped there in the doorway and threw your head back letting out a groan in frustration.
"you're kidding me right now."
Your best friend simply laughed at the situation before her eyes. "This is going to be so fun"
"I beg of you be quiet before I kill myself"
She pushed you gently toward the boy with a laugh and after muttering a few curse words under your breath, you placed the textbook in your hands onto the table and took a seat on the stool. He turned to face you and stopped tapping the wooden quill, a clear grin on his face. His freckles were clear on his face and a singular curl of his hair was covering one of his eyes. His robes hung heavily on his shoulders, tie low on his shirt.
"Hey Mary"
You didn't respond and put your head in your hands, moving to run them through your hair that you had kept down that day.
A small "fuck me" escaped your lips that you thought was loud enough for yourself only.
"my pleasure" That was the first of many hours of snarky chatbacks and comments that made you want to kill him and then yourself.
Two weeks from that first lesson, you found yourself walking into potions on a Tuesday morning first period alone. Your uniform was as usual, and you stood taller than your actual height due to the platformed docs on your feet. You had kept your hair down for the past few days but today it was in two loose plaits that sat low on your shoulders. They were tied up by sheer purple ribbons and gold hoops hung from your ears.
Fred was already in his seat with his whole body turned around to talk to George and Lee who were paired together behind. The night before you had forced Angelina to watch your favourite movie trilogy with you while Annie was out with Freddie, and maybe that was not the best idea on a Monday night which was proven by how tired you were this morning.
You sat down at the desk and put your books down, instantly leaning your head on them and closing your eyes before the lesson began.
"Yeah don't worry I'm gonna ask her right now- Hey Mary, sleep well last night?"
He turned his body to face the front of the room but his eyes were on your half-asleep figure, and he leaned down to your level, his hair falling over his face.
"mmh" You gruntled out a response that was some kind of 'yes' and shifted to lay your head underneath your arm. After a minute or two of quiet, your eyes were closed but even in darkness, you could feel his eyes still on you, wandering over your face, silently watching you.
"Stop staring Weasley" You opened your eyes to glare at the boy whose cheeks eyes averted away nervously after being caught looking. He sat back up and held his hands up in surrender in an attempt to brush off his embarrassment and chuckled lightly.
"Just checking you were alive Mary, no need to get your panties in a twist"
You huffed "my panties are not in a twist"
"Are you sure?"
"yes, I'm sure!"
"mhm"
He gave you a skeptical look like he didn't believe you, and nodded with a playful smile that only annoyed you more. Realistically, this is how potions usually ended up going, and by that time you thought you would've been able to block him out, but unfortunately, everything that came out of his mouth still hit a nerve.
You turned your head and lay back down to sleep, but it was only 5 minutes before Snape walked through the door and swiftly walked over to your desk, where you were fast asleep, and smacked you loudly on the head with the thick textbook in his hand. He had walked over so quietly and the class had been silent at his entrance that the sound of the collision rung loud in the room.
The boy next to you covered his hand over his mouth and stifled a cackle while like the rest of the class who watched you instantly wake up, your hand going straight to the aching pain on the back of your head.
"what the fuck..!" Your reaction was delayed as you sat up from your position and rubbed the forming bruise. All eyes were on you and you looked behind to see George and Lee grinning.
George leaned forward and said lowly. "Sleep well, Mary?” You gave him a sarcastic smile and turn back to the front of the class where Professor Snape was standing. He spoke firmly while turning to begin the lesson.
"Sleeping in class and profanities Miss Martin, 40 points from Hufflepuff" Multiple Hufflepuff students around the class groaned at the deduction, and you only muttered a small response under your breath because you know that talking back would just make it worse.
Snape began the lesson of the day, stating they were going to be brewing the advanced truth potion, veritaserum.
"I am going to hand back your homework assignment on the effects of veritaserum, and then you will follow the textbooks to create it." He began handing out the essays and you opened your textbook to read the instructions.
Last week you had done the assignment and put a lot of research into it, it seemed you had not gotten off to the best start with Snape, and you were aiming for an O in N.E.W.T potions, so you did what you had to do.
He walked past your desk and handed both yours and Fred's to you individually, and gave a glare to Weasley before leaving. You turned over the paper and there was the large red circled E on the front, which you were glad to see, although hoping for higher this was a start.
You looked over at Fred's paper, a crimson P staring at him on the front of his paper.
"How'd you even get into N.E.W.T potions?"
"If you must know, I'm good at the practical aspect thank you very much."
"Right, right that makes sense, you're good at the part where you follow instructions out of the book"
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on his chair slightly, a smug look on his face while he stared into your eyes.
"I'm not the one sleeping in class"
He leaned forward and his eyes wandered from your eyes to your lips for less than a second. You had no response to him, and really the way that he just glanced just threw you off slightly. You simply sat there quietly and kept your eyes on him, not wanting to let Fred beat you. You were silent and he looked down at you and spoke lowly.
"What's wrong? cat got your tongue?"
You exhaled heavily at his smart comment and pushed yourself from the desk to go and get what you needed for the potion feeling your cheeks heating up at his close proximity.
Avoiding eye contact with the boy, you turned from him.
"oh go screw yourself, Weasley"
You walked away to the potions cupboard not hearing a response.
At the table, Fred was talking to George and Lee who already had their items in front of them.
"Mate stop pissing her off or she's not gonna do the potion"
"I'm not pissing her off, it's just teasing, she's still going to do it trust me"
Lee piped up while half reading the notes from Snape on his assignment. "Right, she just told you to go and 'screw yourself" with kindness"
"Just watch, I'll ask her and she'll have a look of enthusiasm and happiness on her face okay?"
George held out his hand under the table in a position to handshake Fred. "2 galleons then"
”wow, upping your prices?”
“Only because I’m sure that I’ll win. “
Lee wanted to join in as well, he was also pretty sure you weren’t going to be too overjoyed at Fred’s request, and he didn’t want to be left out.
“I’m in too, I could do with a few more galleons”
“Oh, you too Jordan? So if I lose, which I won’t, I have to give you each 2 galleons?”
“1 each then” proposed George
They shook hands under the table and Fred turned back to the front right when you arrived back with things for both you and him. You thought that it would be easier to just get it for the both of you, nothing more nothing less is what you told yourself as you placed the items in front of you both. He looked to you, his smile still playful while you put things in front of his cauldron.
"Aw, you thought of me? how sweet of you Mary" He smirked and took began reading the instructions, tapping your quill on the table.
You sat back down in your own seat "Give me my quill back Weasley”
He ignored your request and began speaking, eyes still on the response in front of him. "So I was wondering, when are you going to make that aging potion? you could make it now if you wanted"He shrugged.
You scoffed and held your hand out "I'm not going to make it right now, I'll make it in my own time now give me back the quill"
Again, he didn't comply. "You have everything you need, why not? Come on Mary just do it now"
You rolled your eyes and sighed irritably "I said no, I'm going to make when I want to, and right now I want to make this veritaserum"
"Don't be boring, make it and you'll get your quill back" He shrugged and smiled, his eyes laced with mischief while watching you, everyone around you was working.
You shook your head, denying his request once again "Dickhead, give it back" you reached for the quill but he pulled it out of your reach and winked.
"I can go and get everything you need from the cupboard right now, and you could make the potion, or" Fred took his wand out of the inside of his robes, and without words, changed the colours of your own yellow robes, to a deep Gryffindor crimson. “We could play a different game.”
He grinned wider. "You look hot in red"
You looked down at your robes, a twinning red growing on your cheeks "you're lucky I've even agreed to make it! get rid of the red now!"
You started to raise your voice in annoyance and reached for your own wand.
"I think it suits you, red is your colour Mary" Before he could finish you had changed the colour of his robes to a yellow that matched your old ones and smiled back proudly at him.
He only shrugged his shoulders. "I look good in yellow anyways"
"You really don't" you deadpanned "it's completely contrasting with whatever mess is on your head. Now change them back"
You placed your wand back in your pocket, not noticing A few heads had turned to you both arguing. Annie was looking from afar, an amused smile on her face.
"Oh, so you don't want the quill back anymore?" He looked you up and down teasingly, waving the quill that was still in the air.
"You know what I didn't even need it anymore, so you can shove it right up your-"
"Martin! Weasley!" Snape stood behind you both while you bickered. "Do either of you want to tell me while everyone else can get on with the task BUT you two?" He looked down at both your switched robe colours and raised his eyebrows. You stayed silent for a moment, hoping you wouldn't get more points deducted in the same lesson. But after seeing that Fred wasn’t going to take the blame, you spoke up.
"Sir, Weasley-"
"Move seats, Miss Martin, clearly you can't work next to Mr Weasley without flirting" You scoffed loudly in shock.
"flirting!? No sir listen he was-"
"That will be all Miss Martin, 20 points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and I'll see you both in detention tomorrow night"
Lee couldn't hold in his laugh after Snape changed both you and Fred's robes back to their original colour, and pointed you next to your new seat, which happened to be next to Cedric, who had watched the whole interaction intently. He smiled sweetly at you while you packed up your things. Before moving you looked to Fred, who didn't seem to be affected by the telling off.
"Just so you know, Weasley, I'm definitely not doing your bloody potion now, ever."
Cries of quiet protest came from George and Lee who begged you to do it, but you just shook your head at them with a sympathetic smile and walked to your new seat. Sitting down, you lay out your things for the second time and began working, Cedric watching you.
"Hey, don't worry about the points, we'll earn them back okay?” You smiled at him, it felt like all your troubles just melted away the moment he opened his mouth, his warm eyes making your insides go crazy.
"oh..yeah..the points. thank you Ced, I just really didn't want to get on bad terms with Snape this year you know?"
You were talking quietly together at the same level as the rest of the classroom, working simultaneously.
"You don't need to worry about that, you're so good at this he'll be forced to give you an O no matter how much he hates you."
You pushed up your glasses that were sliding down your nose due to looking down into the bubbling cauldron, your heart beating out of your chest. In the moments you were silent, inside you were panicking about how to say thank you again to the boy.
'is just a thank you too genuine? maybe thanks? no that sounds like we're mates. but we are mates, but I want to be something more? so thank you? but that's too formal!?'
"Thank you, really" He turned his head to make eyes with you and smiled, nodding to show he appreciated your thanks, and once again paused while you both looked at each other. He broke the eye contact and looked down at his own cauldron.
"Your hair looks cute today, by the way"
Your breath hitched in your own throat and you felt your face heating up. Again. You looked down to avoid making eye contact and the guarantee of you going even redder.
"Oh uh, thanks Ced, your hair looks cute too" It felt like all you were doing was thanking him for his compliments, which was not exactly how you wanted this conversation to go.
He let out a soft laugh that broke the tension at your compliment and looked at you smiling wide. "Well I'd hope so, it takes me a long time to get it like this"
"oh yeah?" You scoffed out and laughed back while still working.
"You need to put all that effort in pretty boy, otherwise you wouldn't have all the girls after you"
"haha Martin" he laughed sarcastically "Aren't you funny"
"But am I wrong?" you nodded your head forward to a pair of girls looking back at him and giggling. He only rolled his eyes and mixed his potion. They whispered something in each other’s ears and kept laughing. Cedric only rolled his eyes at the fangirls.
"Just wait till durmstrang gets here, I'll be forgotten and left in the dust" You looked at him and smiled, nodding in disbelief.
"Right, right, I can just see the headline now, Hogwarts champion found crying in the perfects bathroom because his groupies have moved on the sexy Bulgarian seeker Viktor Krum" You raised your hand to mimic the title of the paper. However, he didn't comment on how absurdly long the headline was.
"You think I'm going to be Hogwarts champion?" His smile left his face and was replaced with sincere curiosity. You paused and were slightly embarrassed to explain yourself.
"well- well yeah, you're going to enter right? don't tell me you're not"
He furrowed his brow and looked down.
"I was going to, for my father though, you think I could actually get picked?"
You said it so casually like it was obvious and he was clearly missing something. "And you're forgetting, win the cup"
"Please" He rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. Cedric’s sleeves were rolled up, his robe draped over the stool behind him.
"I'm serious Ced, I can't think of anyone who'd do it better" You sent him a sweet smile as you both finished your potions, time going quickly while you were talking.
"I expect to see you cheering in the stands then" He turned the mood back to light and relaxed while you both poured your concoctions into the small glass bottles and wrote the name on the front. You spoke while you poured.
"Oh you know I'll be right at the front worrying about you" He laughed at that and began packing his textbook away into his bag. He lifted his robe off of his chair and put it back on while students around you both began to pack their things away as well. You did the same and there was a plait behind your shoulder to get it out of your way.
"I've got to run, but I'll see you at lunch Bel?"
"Yeah of course" you sent him a small wave while he rushed out the room, much to your confusion, and you walked over to Annie's desk, while she was still packing her things. The main thing on your mind in that moment was that for the year you had another hour of time to talk to Cedric. It warmed your heart that it meant something to him that you thought he could win the tournament. You spoke as you approached Annie.
"Hurry up, I've got a free next, and Ange agreed to practice quidditch with me and some others"
"Why do you need me then?"
"Freddie will be there"
She started packing her things quicker. You leaned your forearms on her desk while she stuffed textbooks into her bag, Snape was preoccupied with handing out detentions for insufficient work to dismiss the class as one.
You tapped your fingers on the table when a familiar redhead approached you, crossbody bag over his shoulder.
"George, I'm not going to do it, unless you have a really good offer, that involves me never speaking to your brother again"
He leaned against the desk, his lips formed in a straight line.
"I mean, I'm still thinking of a way to win you back, but that's not what I'm here about."
"oh, what is it then?"
"Fred's really sorry about what happened..earlier"
You stood up straight and crossed your arms over your chest. "No he's not"
George leaned forward and exhaled like he was holding in a breath, and that familiar playful smile was present on his lips once again. "Okay no he's not, but it was worth a try, right? Please just do the aging potion, we need you"
You pulled your bag over your shoulder and hesitated for a moment, trying to think of a way to turn this around, Fred always had the advantage on you. But now you had the upper hand.
"Hmm...you know I love you Georgie, but get Fred to give me a proper sincere apology, and maybe I'll consider it" George raised his eyebrows and scoffed, knowing Fred would be too proud to say any sort of apology and would end up trying to make the potion himself.
You turned to walk away, Annie was waiting at the door for you, chatting to a Ravenclaw you didn't recognize.
"Bella come on, I know he's a prick but you're giving me an impossible task here" He followed you and walked in sync with your steps while he continued to beg you.
You turned to face him while you walked together, Annie on your other side, watching silently. "If he stopped being a cunt for one second, maybe he'd get what he wants" You shrugged your shoulders.
"Hey I told him not to do it, but don't punish me or Lee for his actions" He's hands were in his pockets while he walked.
"That reminds me, he owes me two galleons, thanks Mary" he grinned and winked at you playfully, before going back to begging you.
The three of you walked towards the pitch, you shutting down all of George's attempts at a negotiation.
"George you're not even bad at potions, make it yourself"
"It won't be the same! Lee thinks I'll fuck it up and kill him or something"
You laughed at that, knowing Lee was probably right. You were about to reject him again before Annie spoke up and interrupted you.
"George I hate to break it to you, but you're not gonna win this one mate" You nodded in agreement "Get me my apology and we have a deal"
He was hesitant, but silently shook hands with you and then ran off to the centre of the field where Fred stood with Angelina, Alicia Spinnit, Katie Bell, Lee Jordan, and Freddie Kingsley.
Annie stopped you before you approached the group together, facing you towards her.
"I wanted to run something by you"
You were skeptical, and raised your eyebrow. "go on.."
"Actually, never mind," She said and kept walking ahead of you.
"You did that at breakfast! what is it?!"You tried to catch up with her but she started jogging and then running.
"Rapunzel you better not! I know what you're like!" You tried to go after her but by the time you had caught up, she had already reached the group. You weren't too tired but still leaned on her shoulder to catch your breath. Everyone was standing in a circle, And had gone silent at your arrival, George sighing knowing they would have to explain the rules to the group all over again. A few of them had their quidditch uniform, but some others were still in their regular uniform, not bothering to change. You stood there with your head still in her hair, while the group started up the conversation again.
Annie leaned down and whispered into your hair. "Fred's staring"
You looked up at the red-headed boy, who was already in his quidditch uniform, the jersey tight on his torso, showing his figure shaped by hours of playing quidditch. His eyes were on you while you stood in your regular uniform, and they moved up and down your body slowly, ignoring what his twin was saying. He had his usual smirk while he stared, and his bat in his hands.
You stared back at Fred, who had just been told your demands by his brother, there was a glare on your eyes where play was in his.
You looked away from his piercing azure eyes, feeling embarrassed for some reason.
Annie spoke up while she moved toward her boyfriend, who put his arm around her waist.
"I thought Lee didn't play, why are you here?”
"We didn't have enough people," said Fred, who looked between the team. "We'll split into two teams of 4, one beater, two chasers, and a keeper."
"What about a seeker?" Spoke Angelina, who was standing between Alicia and Katie.
You hadn't seen her since last night during your movie marathon, and she didn't look nearly as tired as you. You sent her a smile, along with the other two. You got along with both bell and spinnet, they were good players and kind girls, so naturally, there was no tension between you.
"We won't have one" Responded George, who stepped forward. "Me and Fred will be captains, and pick teams." Fred nodded and they stood next to each other, George was about to pick when you spoke up.
"Who said you two get to be captains?"
"We did Mary, now do you want to be picked last or not?" Fred said as quickly as you asked, like he knew it was coming, a wide smile growing on his face as he spoke, and you only muttered under your breath while George carried on.
"Anyways...Ange, you're with me" Angelina crossed the circle to stand next to George, and gave him a smile.
"works for me"
Fred was to pick next, and he took his time, clearly acting like he was struggling to choose.
Alicia spoke up just as the group was getting bored. "Hurry up Fred, we don't have all day"
"Alright alright Spinnet," He said, and then nodded towards you with a wink "Mary's with me"
You groaned and let your head fall back.
"Do I have to?"
"Yes!" The whole group said simultaneously. You often all hung around together and they all had to put up with the constant bickering between you both, and knew this game wasn't going to be fun, it was always so much easier when you were on opposing sides.
You walked over and stood next to Fred, who playfully put his arm around your waist to mirror the couple who stood in front of you entwined in each other’s arms just like he did at the party. While George picked out his next teammate, Fred whispered in your ear.
"You should be thanking me for getting you moved next to your loverboy" You felt him grin into your hair before moving back upwards and you only pushed him away, removing his arm from around your waist.
"I said what I said, apologize and I'll do what you want Weasley"
"anything I want?" He asked, that grin still present on his face.
"Shut up you know what I mean" Your face began heating up and you knew he could see it, that wicked smile growing. Your mind had wandered to things it shouldn't have, but you pushed that image away.
"yeah, the potion, what were you thinking of Mary?" he said lowly, leaning down like nobody else was around and it was just the two of you. "Share with me what's got your face all hot"
You stood silently, going even redder from his teasing, when George pulled you out of the trance that was Fred Weasley, Telling him to pick his next player. Fred's eyes didn't move off of you as he spoke.
"Spinnet." She nodded and walked over to you both, standing on his other side.
His voice was low again as he continued speaking to you.
"Something wrong?"
"fuck off Weasley" You looked away from his gaze and crossed your arms. He only laughed and looked away from you, standing up straight.
"Sorry Jordan, but Bell is just so much better than you, based off of the fact you've never played before" George shrugged as he picked Katie, leaving us with Lee Jordan, the complete rookie.
"I wish I could be pissed to be picked last but I would have picked myself last as well" Lee shrugged his shoulders and walked over to where you stood with Fred and Alicia.
You brought yourself back to the group, trying to ignore whatever just happened between you and Fred, he was so confusing, always putting you in a position where if you even asked what the hell that was he'd just say 'its all teasing', and even knowing that, your heart picked up a beat.
"Alright, I'll sit on the stands and watch, play nice" Annie waved and smiled, giving you a look that meant she was specifically talking to you. She left with a peck on Freddie's lips.
You shrugged your shoulders. "Can't make any promises"
You smiled at her while she walked away, and began walking with Alicia to get your brooms from the locker room where you left them. You linked arms as you walked.
"Bel I love you, but we're never going to win unless you TRY and get along with Fred" Alicia said.
"I swear!" you responded, raising your hand in annoyance "he antagonises me, every time I think we're getting somewhere he just does some shit like that again!"
"Okay fair" She paused "but I saw whatever...that was" She raised an eyebrow while you walked but you interrupted her.
"don't even say it Spinnet, that is NOT a thing that's happening."
"are you sureee? I'd bet galleons on it if I could" She grinned and shook you slightly making you squeal.
"Please no! don't make me think about it!"
She started laughing while you acted like you could see the image of yourself and Fred in front of your eyes.
"I mean, you can't say he's not hot! I know I definitely saw whatever he was clearly not hiding underneath that jersey"
You stayed silent, feeling your face reddening knowing very well that you might have let your eyes linger on him longer than you needed to.
Alicia only laughed even harder at your silence.
"AHH! I KNEW IT! you're too proud to say you think he's totally fit!" You groaned but laughed along with her, you would never admit in words that maybe you thought he was attractive, but it didn't beat his pain of a personality.
"say it louder why don't you! I didn't even say that!!"
She gave you a skeptical look at your attempt to move the conversation along.
"mhm right, right and you could keep your eyes off him earlier there"
“You know what spinnet” You paused, having no idea how to get yourself out of this situation. “What’s been going on with you lately, I'm pretty sure i saw you with Blaise last week?”
She only continued to laugh and gave in to your conversation change. You both went to grab your brooms and change out of your uniforms into your quidditch uniforms. Being September, it wasn’t too cold outside, so you left the robe with your uniform seeing as it was only a practice game.
Quidditch was one of those things that got rid of your stress, like music or films. You liked feeling free on your broom, even flying alone at night which you did a lot of in fifth year, it made you feel like nothing else could affect you.
Spinnet hurried you out of the lockers and you ran back to the pitch, where Lee was still struggling to get two feet off of the ground. His grip was so tight on the broom, and you sighed, knowing this game would probably not get very far.
“Lee” You walked up to him and held his shoulder, he gripped onto your arm so tight and fast, as if he couldn’t stand up if he straightened his legs.
“Hold me, Bella, I feel unsteady right now”
You found it quite amusing, how scared he was of flying, the school only gave flying lessons to the first years, and you were pretty sure Lee skipped most of that.
"Lee just relax you're too tense" You reassured him.
"I'm trying Bel I really am!"
You continued to hold on to him while trying to calm him down, if he was this scared he'd never be able to do it.
George flew down to your level for a second, looking over the struggling Lee Jordan.
"Look, Mary, we can't all sit here and wait for this twat to learn to fly a broom, so we're gonna play"
You nodded in response, looking up at him momentarily. He had his bat in hand, and was swinging it around next to him. The 6 flew up into the air, and started warming up, not really playing but throwing around the quaffle.
"You better learn quickly Lee, I don't have all day."
"It's not easy okay? I really am trying."
You sighed, desperate to get up there and play.
"Watch how I do it"
You let go of him and he let out a yelp before steadying himself, his eyes on you.
You got up onto you broom and a second later you were in the air, flying circles around Lee. He was looking up at you, his face in the exact same expression as it was before.
"Okay great, now can I get the tutorial?"
You stopped flying and hovered above him in the air.
"That was the tutorial!" You huffed.
"I'm a slow learner!" He cried. You flew down to his level and he held back onto your arm.
"Okay, put one hand on the broom, and I'm going to guide you." He nodded and did as he was told. You began to guide him upwards slowly, and reassured him a long the way.
"That's good, you're doing well!"
His grip on your loosened, and eventually, he had both hands on the broom in front of him, you were still flying side by side slowly. You flew next him to steady just incase, you were still low but slowly rising up and just as Lee was really getting the hang of it and becoming more confident, Fred flew down to hover in front of you both.
"Nice one mate, you got both hands on the broom!" He slapped Jordan on the back, causing him to jolt forward and lose grip on on one hand in the broom. You quickly gripped his shoulder steadying him, and his hand found the broom again. His breath was heavy and his eyes were wide with fear while you held on to him.
"fucking hell Fred!" he panted
"don't be a dickhead Weasley, for once in your life"
You rolled your eyes at him and checked that Lee was okay. Fred was sweating slightly, a few hairs stuck to his forehead and his breaths were heavy, a smirk growing on his face.
"you having fun Mary? can't wait for you to get out on the pitch"
He knew that you were desperate to get some time to play quidditch, not just sit and babysit Lee Jordan. You faked a laugh at his joke and continued to help Lee, Fred still hovered by your both silently with his bat on his shoulder.
That was when he noticed a figure running up to the three of you on the pitch, still in his uniform, crossbody bag over his shoulder. The rest of the players were messing about with the quaffle, somewhat playing the game but mostly not.
You stayed still on your broom with your hand still on Lee and looked from him to the figure, who was slowly focusing on your vision. You always played with your glasses on because without them there would be absolutely no chance of you seeing any other players, let alone the quaffle. However, it proved to be more of a problem having them on when it was raining, as you couldn’t stop flying to wipe them clean every two seconds.
As he ran closer you notice that the Hufflepuff boy with his tie hanging around his neck was Cedric Diggory, and he was coming right towards you.
“shit shit shit” You turned around and let go of Jordan, causing him to wobble slightly. You made sure that you were facing away from Cedric, and began quickly fixing your hair, and wiping underneath your eyes for any smudges of mascara. You looked down and fixed your top, but Fred had been looking at you the entire time, a smirk on his face and a look that said
‘you will never get away with this’
You rolled your eyes and quickly turned back around, just as he slowed down.
“Hey guys, I heard you were playing a game, wondered if I could join?”
You and Fred both spoke up at the same time.
“Yes”
“No”
You turned to glare at him but he didn’t see you, his eyes were on Cedric and Cedric only, staring him down. Lee looked between both of you and only groaned, knowing that this was not going to end well. He knew that Cedric playing would piss Fred off, and not just because of their quidditch dispute.
Fred held his bat over both his shoulders, one hand on each end.
“We already have enough players Diggory, go play somewhere else.”
You let out a completely fake laugh and flew closer to Cedric, not even glancing at Fred.
“haha, ignore him he’s totally joking” shooting a glare at the beater behind you “of course you can, Lee’s out”
“Hey! I was just getting the hang of it Bel!”
“I know Lee, but I can’t babysit you the whole game! I want to play too..”
“fine alright, I guess-”
“Jordan’s playing and Diggory is going to fuck off somewhere else because I’m team captain and I said so”
“Well I don’t care, Ced is in”
Fred flew closer to you, his bat in the same position while he looked you in the eyes. He seemed mad but he enjoyed that all your attention was on him and not on Cedric’s, although he wasn’t exactly sure why. Cedric stood still and watch you two bicker as usual, but he just stood confused.
“guys listen I don’t have to-”
You turned to him
“No!” you breathed out. “ignore Fred he’s being a complete twat, you can play”
his smile warmed your heart, and you had almost forgotten about Fred, who only sat there in silence momentarily before opening his mouth again.
“Well, I’m team captain, so tough luck sweetheart, he’s not playing for our team.” You knew he only called you sweetheart, something he had never done before, to tease you in front of Cedric, and keep your attention on him for longer.
“listen, Weasley, he’s going to play, and you’re going to shut the fuck up and swing your little bat around like a good boy”
He only scoffed and smirked, thinking to himself that he could sit here and argue for hours with you, and happily know that Cedric was watching.
“Good boy hm? I don’t think-”
Lee flew down, or fell, from where he was flying, and after being safely on the ground, he handed the broom over to Cedric.
“Being on the ground is definitely more my thing mate, have fun with these two” He gave Cedric a worried look and nodded his head to you and Fred, with a small chuckle. He then jogged over to the stands, where Annie sat and watched the group that was already playing.
After being interrupted by Lee, Fred started a new argument “You don't get a say in this, I told you already, I'm team captain and so it's up to me” He didn't move and you knew that arguing with him would be a complete waste of time, you'd be stuck here forever going back and fourth.
“Learn to grow up Weasley, I don't give a fuck about you being captain”
You turned away from him and flew down to Cedric, who was still on the ground standing with the broom in his hand. He placed his bag down on the grass and rolled up the sleeves of his jumper. Fred stayed still and silent watching you fly down to him and scowled, he didn't know why Cedric pissed him off so much, but Merlin when your attention was on Diggory he wanted to hex him, and badly.
“So it's all cool? I can play?” Cedric looked into your eyes with hope.
“As long as you don't mind playing keeper” You grinned
“It's no problem, Bel, I'm happy to”
you jumped slightly with joy, something you did as a reflex, to which he chuckled at, and looked downward, feeling his heartbeat quicken when he looked at you.
“Great! okay, let's play then” You got back on your broom and he flew by your side up to the rest of the group, Fred stayed still with his bat spinning in his hands, and George flew to his side.
“Mate I know we're pissed that Hufflepuff beat us last year, but anyone is better than Lee.”
Fred scoffed and his face stayed in that same straight line it had been in since you flew down to talk to Cedric.
“who does he even think he is? some-” He paused trying to think of the word “I don't fucking know but he thinks he's better than us!”
George listened to the small rant and looked from Fred to where you and Cedric hovered talking. He watched you laugh at something he said and throw both your plaits over your shoulders all flirty.
“I'd take it the game isn't the only reason we hate Diggory?”
“what? yeah, it is, that and he's a bloody prick.”
Fred looked at George and shut down whatever accusation he was trying to incincuate.
“swap teams with me”
“what why? you've got good players”
“yes, but if I'm on his team I can't beat him with a bludger can I?”
George grinned at the response, he disliked Cedric as well maybe not as much but it was definitely clear. However much he loved his twin, he couldn't go without a bet. Cedric pissed both the twins off and George wasn't going to go to this game without having any fun.
“one sickle you can throw him off the broom”
“Deal”
“And I’m expecting that galleon from earlier”
“yeah yeah, I’m not going to forget”
“Yeah you won’t, I’ll be there to remind you”
“Piss off George”
They finally shook hands, agreeing to the bet, and gave each other identical grins, flying in opposite directions to their teams.