If This Isn't Love (Fred Weasley Sequel)

Chapter 25 | Cormac McLaggen, it's Time to Shine

Tuesday, October 31

Fred is finally speaking to me again.

It took him a week or so to say, "Is it true?"

"Excuse me?" I am outraged.

"That you've been all buddy-buddy with Snape?"

I give him a look. "Would you really hate me because of that?"

He pauses.

"Everyone here is so biased. I'm done," I announce and get up.

He watches me leave the common room without another word. Is he honestly surprised that I'm mad? He ignored me for more than a week and is angry at me for liking a certain teacher?

You know what? I don't even need his help for tonight. I can poison McLaggen all by myself.

It would be harder, but I'll manage.

The twins, no matter how distressing, have still convinced everyone to party tonight. Sure, I'm grateful for that, but I'm still mad at them.

~~~~
Percy doesn't even tell us to knock it off when the music starts and someone casts bats around the room. It's dark and spooky, just like a perfect Halloween night.

We all just came back from the Halloween feast. It was absolutely grand. So much good food and awesome holiday decorations. I enjoyed it... Even if it would've been better with Fred by my side.

I am hanging out with Hermione in the girls' dormitories. We take out one bottle of the potion and Hermione slips it into her bag. We decided that since I already rejected McLaggen, it would make sense if she were to flirt with him and sneak it into his cup.

I would still be around, though, just to make sure everything's going as planned.

For Halloween, I'm wearing a simple wine red wrap dress and some black shoes to match my spider earrings. Hermione says it looks great on me.

We go down the stares and I see Ginny. She has on a simple blouse and a skirt. She looks good in it, but I'm not going to admit that to her. Not after how awful she's been to me.

I also see the twins. Fred looks like he got more dressed up than usual. I don't go over to say hi. Hermione and I have a job to do. Speaking of it, Hermione is already finding her way to him. I follow her into the crowd.

McLaggen is sitting with his leg crossed on the sofa. He looks like he hasn't had anything to drink so I hand Hermione someone's cup. She nervously gives it to him.

"Why, hello there, Granger," he says. I stay back, engaging with crowd but keeping an eye on them.

They get into a conversation, Hermione more reluctantly. He starts to take sips of the drink and I wish we could have spiked it beforehand.

Hermione glances at me and points at her bag while he isn't looking. I shake my head and mouth "Wait." I want him to be drunk when we pour it in.

She shrugs and waves me off so she can deal with him.

"Hey."

I turn around. It's Fred. "Hey," I reply in a cool tone.

He scratches his head. "I know you like Snape as a teacher, and Potions as a class," he begins. I narrow my eyes and wait for him to continue. "I can't really hate you for that. I just don't want you to really be around him."

"Fred, you ignored me for over a week over something your kid sister told you," I remind him. "I don't think you have the right to govern my life. Besides, I only go over there occasionally to help him clean out cauldrons or sort jars. Nothing more, nothing less."

He bites his lip.

"What's gotten into you?" I ask. "Normally, you wouldn't act like this over something stupid."

"I don't know," he says.

"I think this Gryffindor vs. Slytherin thing is getting to you," I tell him.

"It's not just about me. The more you spend time in that classroom, the more people talk. I'm doing this for you."

"You ignoring me is purely for my benefit?" I glare at him.

"I'm trying to explain why I did."

"It was wrong. Don't ever do that again."

He sighs. "I know. I'm sorry. I didn't know how to deal with my emotions."

"Well, next time, just talk to me. Promise you will," I demand.

"I promise," he murmurs. I don't believe him one bit and I hope he knows that.

"I forgive you, but you have not earned my trust back." I wrap my arms around him. Oh, how I've missed him. He's still not completely off the hook, though.

"I understand."

"I'm glad you do," I mumble into his chest. "Just understand I'm not going to continue acting like this for a while. This is just a good-luck-getting-me-back hug."

We decide to dance while Hermione is trying to get McLaggen drunk. The music is just too enticing and I have missed him.

By the third time we've taken a rest from dancing, a shriek pierces our thoughts. Hermione is walking towards us and Fred understands that we have to go upstairs quickly and pretend to sleep. We don't want anyone to suspect us.

Fred takes George away from the crowd and we all go to our separate dormitories. Hermione and I undress quickly, take down our hair, and take off our makeup.

By the time we actually fall asleep, we hear some quiet giggles about McLaggen's face.

Katie is the first one to see McLaggen. It looks as if he has spots grown, perhaps even fungi, on his face. He's drunk, so does he even care?

By the time his friends take him upstairs, the whole Gryffindor house is talking about how McLaggen has mistakenly drunk Fungiface Potion.

In the morning, he is sent directly to the infirmary but it takes days for the spots to completely vanish.

At least all this waiting was worth it. Hopefully, he understood not to mess with me ever again.

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Published 5-12-20