The Unbreakable Vow: wisps of Black | Fred Weasley [1] ✔

14: FRED

It was getting late at this point, Fred barely saw the time fly by. It was mostly Fred's ramblings that got the better of him, but he was actually enjoying listening to Beth talk to him like a human being as well rather than swooping in and out of the stores and glancing around at things she and he didn't necessarily need (well, he couldn't speak for her), but it was nice to hear Beth talk about things she liked too. And what she didn't like.

"I'm still amazed that you never come to Hogsmeade," Fred said with light scoff. "And that you don't like coconut ice. It's coconut ice!"

"Exactly," Beth frowned, the redness of her nose looking more obvious as she scrunched her nose up. It was getting cooler as the day darkened, and they would have to return to the castle soon before the Dementors began patrolling the streets. "Coconut ice makes me want to vomit just thinking about it."

"You're crazy, woman. I thought girls were supposed to like coconut - like coconut is a part of their DNA. It's in pretty much every womanly product you can think of. Your hair probably smells like coconuts. Let me take a whiff -"

"Fred Weasley, if you dare try and come that close to me -"

Fred couldn't help but laugh as soon as Beth leaned back with her arms up in front of her, considering he never made any move to sniff at her head. A couple girls in their seventh year were shuffling past in the direction of the castle and leaned in close when their eyes caught sight of Beth.

"Quickly now, you never know where Black could be lurking . . ."

"The Dementors patrol by night but for all we know, Black patrols by day . . ."

They gave Beth a rather disgusted scowl before turning their heads away and disappearing into the setting sun. Fred wanted to say something to them but . . . Beth might've been insulted by it, even though the gesture would've been sweet - him defending her honour. Which is exactly why she may be insulted. She was quite the unpredictable lass.

He took his time to catch sight of her face. Her eyes were cast downwards at the concrete, and she looked like she was also biting her tongue. Fred felt his stomach turn as she bit her lip, closed her eyes completely, and moved her face away from him. He saw the water in her eyes before she closed them, and now he was completely lost. What was he supposed to say? What was he supposed to do? This was Beth Black . . . she was always the opposite of what he would expect . . .

He just kept quiet. He wanted to reach over towards her shoulder and ask her the stupid question are you okay. But she clearly didn't want him to know that she wanted to cry. So he wasn't supposed to ask if she was okay because she didn't want him to know that she wanted to cry, but it would just make him feel worse if he asked if she wanted to get going.

"Beth?" he said stupidly, biting the inside of his cheek. She didn't say anything, just inhaled shakily, like she was losing the battle of trying to hold in her tears. He didn't realise just how bad things like that actually bothered her - she always kept a stone cold face, always wanted to give off to everyone that she didn't care what they had to say. If he had known today would be the day that she couldn't keep it up any longer, he would have prepared. "Beth, I don't really . . . know what I'm supposed to say. I mean, I know I talk a lot, but not usually in situations like the one we're in right now . . ."

He inwardly winced, awaiting for her to explode at him, or glare at him, but all she did was hold one side of her face and unleash the tears she was holding back. And she began to sob as quietly as she could, and it broke Fred Weasley's heart.

Crap.

He didn't care what she did, he walked over and pulled her into his chest. She could shove him away, she could spit profanity at him, she could hate him for it, she could feel the fast thumping of his nervous heart, but he needed to do it. He wrapped his arms around her as she held her face in her hands against his chest, crying. He was deep in it now; he never imagined the day he would see or hear Beth crying. She would definitely make empty threats because he was simply witnessing it, and he was okay with that. Fred couldn't help but lower his chin and mouth against the top of her head.

Coconut. I knew it.

Rubbing her back and listening to her cry -- definitely something Pukey hadn't done before.

"Everyone hates me," she suddenly sobbed, and it snapped Fred out of his thoughts.

What do I say? "That's not true."

"Yes, it is!"

"No, love, it's not," Fred said softly. "I don't hate you. Adrian Pukey definitely doesn't hate you."

"He just wants to get in my pants," Beth sniffled, lowering her hands from her face and hiding it in his chest. "That's all he wants, especially now that he thinks Sirius Black's my father. Imagine how much attention he assumes he'll get after sleeping with me, and telling all the dunderheads who also think I'm his daughter."

Fred was mind blown. This was definitely the reason she was so against him being friendly with her. Now he feels even worse about the whole Unbreakable Vow thing, even if it's just for love from Beth. Everyone was in on something when it came to her and now that he realised it, it broke his heart even more.

"Wait . . . you're really not his daughter?" Fred whispered to her. Her head moved slightly against his mouth. His arms tightened slightly around her as he prayed she wouldn't hate him for asking. She felt so small in his arms. "Don't hate me for asking, please, I know we've kind of established this . . . it's the last thing I want . . ."

He hadn't meant to say the last bit, but it came flying out anyway. Beth pulled away from him slightly and looked up at him with red, watery eyes, and her cheeks tear-stained.

"No," she said simply. Tears were still falling down her face. "He's my Uncle."

"Uncle? But I always thought --"

"Yeah, so did everyone else. They all hated me before, but now they hate me even more. Not a lot of the students knew why he was locked up, they just knew he was locked up. Why do you think I've never had any friends? People knew I would be going to school with their children and warned them to keep away from me," Beth finished, her face and voice breaking with every sentence. "Whether they think I'm his daughter or not, I'm a Black."

Fred had no idea how much all of this nonsense really hurt Beth . . . she hid it so well. But he was a fool for thinking any human being could take such hate and neglect and actually be fine with it. He just wished he'd have talked to her sooner. The only reason he didn't was because she's a Slytherin, and he didn't normally talk to Slytherins unless it was to tell them they smell or to go away.

"My parents never told me to stay away from you," Fred told her, and it was the truth. Beth reluctantly looked up at him. He sighed and reached up to her face, tucking away wet strands of hair behind her ear and using his thumbs to gently wipe away her tears. "Come with me to The Three Broomsticks . . . we could use a Butterbeer before we head back."

He waited until Beth nodded, and wrapped an arm around her back as they headed towards the inn without any resistance or disgust.

_________

A/N: Not sure how to feel about this chapter :o ... I don't want to develop Beth's character too quickly, but clearly that ship has sailed haha. Oh well :)