Enemies - Fred Weasley X OC

Blame.

I could have laughed at how fake Zephy's voice sounded but Walburga was drinking it up. All around the others were standing quietly, watching the interaction in awe. 

Walburga smiled - actually smiled - and nodded. "I understand," she said, "I won't breath a word."

"Thank you, ma'am. It's been a pleasure talking to you," she said with an elegant smile and ducked her head. The portrait nodded formally and Zephy reached up and tugged the curtains around the portrait closed. 

As she turned back to face us she made a fake retching noise as if the interaction made her sick, and I could have kissed her. I actually did let out a chuckle then and I saw Sirius throw his arm around her, beaming.

"I didn't think anyone could charm that old wart," Professor Lupin said, "I've wanted to shut her up for years."

"Nice to see my years of courtesy training weren't for nothing," she joked, rolling her eyes.

"Fucking amazing," Sirius said.

"Language," interjected mum.

"English, Molly." He raised his brow in amusement. 

"How long do you think it will take for the bat to start yelling again," interrupted Ron, preventing mum's angry retort.

Zephy shrugged, "a few days maybe. But I think we can make noise around her now and she won't jump out. I'll think of something for when she rears her ugly head again."

"This is exactly why we need her in the Order," said Sirius emphatically. I watched Professor Lupin throw him a warning look. 

"That's not up to you, Sirius," grumbled Moody, walking through to the dining room, "and you should know better than to talk about it." 

Sirius glared at Moody as he walked past but didn't say anything more.

"Come. Lunch will get cold," mum said, which wasn't strictly true, since mum always casts warming charms on everything to stop them becoming cold. 

Zephy paused, waiting for me, George, Ginny and Ron. 

"What do we think," she said, "about The Order."

"Sounds menacing," said Ginny.

"Yes," agreed Ron, "as if they like putting things in rows."

George and I cracked up, gasping and holding my ribs. I thought we'd stopped but George snorted and set me off again.

"Rows!" I said eventually. "Merlin Ron, you make me laugh."

"Mmm," agreed George, "in a laugh at you, rather than with you sort of way."

"Oi!" Ron complained, poking me in the arm. 

"Anyway, clearly the Order is like some kind of secret force that opposes you-know-who," Zephy said, and I once again noticed that she didn't say his name.

George nodded. "This is pretty much the perfect place to host meetings since this house is impossible to find without knowing how."

"Yes, well, we've got to get into those meetings," Ron said. 

Everyone nodded and we started heading through to the dinning room. Zephy, George and I were at the back.

"What were you talking to Professor Lupin about?" I asked.

"Oh," she hesitated and then looked me in my eyes again, the same look of forcing herself to speak truthfully over her face. "I was just - apologising on behalf of my father, since it was him who had him fired from teaching." She looked away from me.

"That's not your fault though," George said and I nodded in agreement. 

She let out a dry laugh, "doesn't mean I don't feel like a dick about it though."

"Not everything in the world is your fault, you know, Zeph. You should stop putting everything on you," George said.

"And what, piss about like you two instead," she said, smirking.

I gasped dramatically. "Ugh! We do not piss about," I said. 

"No," agreed George, "our pissing is very precise, thank you very much."

Zephy snorted a laugh and I found myself grinning stupidly. Making her laugh suddenly felt very important, and it filled me with an unfathomable warmth.

Lunch was a vibrant affair. Mum sat on the opposite end of the table to Zephy and I knew I would have to address that some time with them both, since the ice between them was uncomfortable whenever they were in a room together.

I watched Zephy charm her napkin into a paper airplane and fly it at Ron who looked up as if it fell from the sky with a look of pure bafflement. Professor Lupin and Sirius were laughing in their spots next to her and I kind of wished she'd sent it at me just so I'd have her attention. 

But then she was giving me attention. I noticed her staring, her fork hovering over her plate as she looked me up and down. Sirius bumped her and she startled. I raised an eyebrow at her accusingly and she blushed as she caught my eye. I took a swig from the pumpkin juice in front of me and she traced the line of my throat as I swallowed. Still blushing she looked back to where Sirius and Lupin were engaged in conversation.

I turned back to my food with a grin.

Hi all, I've had some good ideas of where to go with this story so make sure to keep reading

xx Wordmaj