Obsidian & Bronze {Fred Weasley}

17. The last day of the past

After the day Fred and I had decided we would go to the yule ball together 'platonically', no more had been said on the matter, and why would it? Because unbeknown to the others, who thought we were simply just two friends attending a party, nothing more, nothing less, it was so much more than that.

Was it so much more than that? Or were we simply two friends attending a party?

Fred and I were yet to discuss what we were or what going to the yule ball meant, and perhaps holding onto me was his best bet until a, no doubt, tall, beautiful, super model type sixth year came begging at his feet. Or maybe I was overthinking this entirely.

And whilst I found this issue to be one of a perfect, tortuous distraction, I couldn't escape the inevitable. It was December 2nd, and tomorrow Sirius was coming home.

I envisioned and re-envisioned his arrival on a tormenting kind of loop in my mind, questioning and re-questioning every possibility I could manage, and then some more.

Would we exchange heartfelt introductions? Would we hug? Where do you even start? With random hobbies and pathetic small talk about my favourite colour, "green", or just dive straight into the ever growing void of knowing the two people that are supposed to stay forever both managed to leave? I wasn't sure really.

I guessed this was the sort of thing you couldn't seek advice for, I don't suppose many teeangers who mum's died whne they were only one and dad's were wrongly convivted of murder weeks later, only to leave you with the title of his tarnished name, and the love of his life werewolf ex-boyfriend to raise you, were knocking about for me to confide in.

This seemed like the sort of thing you could only navigate once you were in the moment, and the anticipation was killing me, and it was clearly visible as I sat at the Gryffindor table, absentmindedly pushing my breakfast around my plate.

"Whatever you are picturing in your head, it won't be nearly as bad" Harry reassured me, upon noticing my reserved demeanor.

"He's right Ari, don't assume the worst before it has even happened" Fred added with a sympathetic grin, before sneakily dropping his hand below the table to rest on my thigh, giving it a gentle and encouraging squeeze.

I nodded with a thankful smile, and resumed the pointless exercise of pushing the uneaten food around my plate.

"Morning assholes" A familiar voice sounded as he approached the table, a mischievous grin spread from ear to ear.

"Good morning to you too Lee" Ginny chuckled as Lee sat himself down next to me.

"Just thought I'd come and share the news of a party" Lee exclaimed, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"A party?" George questioned, a sly smile creeping its way onto his face.

"Yeah, room of requirement, tonight" Lee confirmed.

"Wicked" The twins muttered in unison.

And I watched as Fred smiled from beside me, as he slowly started to sketch gentle patterns and shapes along the exposed skin of my thigh, his gaze however never leaving the conversation at hand.

He was good at that, I'd come to learn. Making the things on the surface appear ok, but upon further inspection, things deeper down were sometimes not as they seemed.

"Oi, potions in four minutes, get your asses up" Lee suddenly announced, glancing at his watch and motiong to the twins and Oliver, as the four of them stood up from the table.

But just before Fred left however, he subtly reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a small piece of parchment that he placed on my lap, before casually following the others out of the great hall.