Safe With Me ~ Fred Weasley

Black's Break in

"We'll take her from here Romeo." Bri appeared behind Fred, giving me a soft shove and nearly causing me to trip over the still sleeping George. Maddie and Hannah were at her heels, rubbing their eyes with sleep.

"Ladies, a pleasure as always." He gave us a playful bow and fell back to the floor next to the rest of the clan, his eyes still following us as we walked out.

I snuck a look back and tried to shoot him a last thank you, but was swept from the room too quickly by my apparently exhausted roommates.

"Sprout said," Hannah yawned from behind me, "They searched every floor, every class room, every suit of armor. Black's long gone."

"If he was even here." Maddie grumbled, shielding her face from the light as if once she woke up, she could never fall back to sleep.

"Oh, Maddie, even if it wasn't him, someone slashed the portrait. You're going to argue with Dumbledore?" Bri muttered, tapping the barrels and letting the three of us in with a few first years scampering behind us.

I watched the walls close, just in case, although I believed Dumbledore if he said Sirius Black wasn't in the castle. I hurried after my friends who were already halfway to our room and the four of us collapsed onto our beds the second they were in reach.

Against all odds, Dumbledore had given us Monday off from classes. I suppose having a mass murderer break into your school on arguably the spookiest night of the year had shaken some students up. As much as I welcomed the day off, it meant I hadn't seen Fred in days. Granted I had gotten up early for breakfast and spent the entire day working on our potions essay, so I really would have only gotten to see him for Dinner.

And what was I even going to say when I did see him. Any time the red head crossed my mind now I felt a jolt of panic in my stomach. What was happening to me?

The girls and I all woke up together on Tuesday, well rested from our nap-filled Sunday and our day off from classes. We dressed in our robes, waiting for Maddie to finally be "presentable" enough for her liking and started up for breakfast. I didn't even know why I bothered looking at this rate, no way either of the twins were up this early. But still, I spared a short glance towards their spot on the bench before we sat down to eat.

The cheering charms we had worked on in Charms had thankfully lasted us through Hagrid's hour long discussion of flobberworms and their diets, but was no match for the dread we all felt on our walk up to potions. Especially now as the weather grew colder every day, being down in the dungeons was nearly painful. Tuesdays and Thursdays always had me bundled in at least three layers before I pulled my robes on.

The four of us shuffled in, noting Snape's presence at his desk and staying silent as we took our seats. He didn't bother to look up when the stools scratched the ground, but I still grit my teeth nervously and waited a few seconds to make sure I hadn't cost Hufflepuff any points.

No sooner had I pulled out my potions book, Hermione rushed through the door and fell down into her chair beside mine, seeming as if she was ten minutes late rather than five minutes early.

"Slow down, Hermione, you're going to run yourself ragged!" I gave her a smile, noting the dark circles around her eyes which she hadn't bothered to hide. "You doing okay?"

"What? Yes, I'm fine, why?" She barely paused between words, her hair looking crazier today than her eyes.

"No reason." I finished softly as Snape stood from his desk.

"Today we will be brewing what is commonly referred to as the most dangerous potion ever discovered. This is one I typically do not include in the third year curriculum, but since we are out of mistletoe berries and nightshade, I had to get... creative." He drawled, and I could practically hear the wheels churning inside Hermione's head. "Who can tell me what Amortentia is?"