Unreal

Chp 66 Don't Need Rescuing

Dinner in the Great Hall was louder than usual.

Golden light shimmered off the plates and goblets as students bustled in from the cold, robes dusted with snowflakes, voices rising with laughter and chatter. I was already settled at the Gryffindor table between Hermione and Ginny, picking at a roll and half-listening to some third-years argue about who could take more Bertie Bott's without gagging.

There was an open spot on my left.

And of course—because the universe had a sense of humor—Fred plopped into it with zero hesitation, nudging my arm like he'd claimed the space ages ago.

George and Angelina followed right after, taking the spots across from us. George gave me a quick smirk and raised a goblet in a mock-toast. Fred? He just leaned over like we were in the middle of a conversation.

"So," he said, voice low, "what are the odds Diggory leads you into the library and turns into a giant book?"

I rolled my eyes and nudged him back. "About the same odds you stop being annoying."

"Oof. Brutal." He clutched his chest. "Straight to the heart."

Angelina leaned in. "Can you two not flirt while I'm trying to enjoy my roast potatoes?"

"We're not—" I started, but she was already shaking her head.

"You're sitting close enough to share a plate."

George grinned. "Romantic."

"Shut it," I muttered, cheeks warm.

Ginny snorted beside me. "So are you actually going to the library later?"

I hesitated for half a second too long.

"Maybe," I said. "Thinking about it."

"Thinking?" Fred repeated. "Sounds like a trap. Bet he's setting up a fake book fort and a surprise attack."

"Right," I said dryly. "Cedric Diggory, known for his extensive prank history."

"You never know," Fred said with a shrug. "It's always the charming ones."

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. "You're ridiculous."

"Thank you."

Ginny grinned. "She's going. Look at her face."

"I hate it here," I muttered.

We dug into our food after that—talking about nothing in particular. Classes. Snow. Something Peeves did with the suits of armor. It was warm and noisy and ordinary.

And I didn't mind Fred sitting beside me.

Not one bit.

By the time I set my fork down, my plate looked like I'd actually eaten like a normal human. I wiped my hands and stood up, casually brushing imaginary crumbs off my robes.

"I'm gonna head back to the common room," I said lightly. Innocently. As if I wasn't absolutely lying through my teeth.

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Right. The common room."

Hermione tilted her head. "Straight to bed, yeah?"

"Of course," I said, feigning offense. "Where else would I go?"

"She's not going to the common room," Fred muttered loud enough to hear, leaning back and nudging me with his elbow. "She's got... plans."

I shot him a look. "No, I don't."

Fred tilted his head, pretending to think. "Oh? So you're not heading to the library for your... top-secret meeting?"

His voice was playful, but there was something in the way he said top-secret—like it left a weird taste in his mouth.