GREEN-EYED MONSTER
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"Lilith, our training will be in an hour," Khaleelah announced to me while I was watching the start of the first match of the day. "I already know who will be our opponent."
"Really? Who?"
"The Falmouth Falcons."
I whistled surprised. "They're known for playing rough, aren't they?"
Khaleelah smiled slightly. "Yes, I've got a bit of rivalry with their captain, he almost broke my leg last season. But the Ballycastle Bats are almost as hard as them and we're playing against the week after, so we better win the Falcons."
I did remember reading in the Prophet about Khaleelah's lesion, fortunately for the team, they could heal her on time.
"Guess I'll have to get rough as well," I smirked while giving a quick gaze at the team all formed by boys who were watching the other match in their training clothes.
"All of us will, but don't worry, I have the perfect technique developed. I only need Gwenog to approve it and that game will be ours," she murmured, winking at me and walking next to Aileen McDonald who waved at us, smiley.
My eyes went back to the game and the terraces and I almost melted when I saw him.
Fred had his eyes on the match, looking really concentrated like a kid watching their favourite cartoons in the telly. I had to train with the whole team before next week's match and while I convinced Liv and Pauline to stay in bed because the training wasn't as important as the proper match when Fred heard me from his kitchen he insisted on coming with me. Apparently, the shop on Wednesdays wasn't as busy as the rest of the week.
His ginger hair was moving a little bit because of the morning wind and he was playing with the rings in his fingers as his curious brown eyes moved following the players.
Fuck, I loved him so much.
"Hello, Lilith," a deep voice spoke behind me. Before I could turn around, Devyan Khan walked slowly, getting by my side.
"Morning, Devyan," I gave him a kind smile. "Watching the match?"
He nodded leaning his elbows on the rail that didn't allow the crowd to enter on the pitch. "We are playing against the Appleby Arrows next week. Need to observe and learn their techniques and way of playing."
"To find their weakness and know how to beat them?" I narrowed my eyes, amused.
"Of course."
"So Slytherin of you."
"You leave Slytherin but Slytherin never leaves you."
"Touché. Just waiting to know how you will study the Harpies."
"Oh, dear," he snickered with an ironic sweet tone. "We have them deeply analysed. The only one who sneaks off our study is you, because of your newness, of course. Give us a week."
"Good, now I know I have to tell Khaleelah to change the strategy once we're playing against you lot."
Devyan's smile widened. "Probably. I still have a little faith in you to make the match funnier than usual."
"Bet," I said taking off my pocket my pack of cigs and my lightener. I put a cigarette on my lips and offered the pack to the boy but he shook his head.
"I'm an athlete, mate. No alcohol or smoking."
I rolled my eyes, lightening mine and putting back the pack. "Oh, yes, I remember. The pretentious boy whose only addiction is the poshest brand of tea in Britain."
He snorted amused, "You know? When I saw you last time I thought you looked quite different from the last time we saw each other at Hogwarts but I'm glad to see that you keep being the same."
"We barely talked at Hogwarts, Devyan! You were 'too old and too cool ' to hang out with me," I messed with him, watching how he clicked his tongue.
"Bah!" he shook his head without erasing the little smile. "But what surprised me the most was watching you stand next to Weasley without killing each other. Last time I checked, you two were declared enemies."
I took a deep breath. Shit, that sound ages ago. My eyes focused on Fred in the distance for a moment, he was still concentrated on the match. He was so handsome it was almost painful.
"We were," I whispered, and then shook my head getting out of my own daydream. "But I suppose people change. Lots of things happened and we're on good terms now." I shrugged, watching how Devyan raised his eyebrows, smirking.
"Yeah, I could tell you two are on really good terms now," he drawled, like sweet poison, making me roll my eyes again and chuckle. "Who would have told? Little Arambella being friends with her Gryffindor biggest opponent..."
"I know - fuck, it sounds like if it was a long time ago, doesn't it? But don't act as if you two didn't have a rivalry as well, Khan. I still remember how you used to smash the whole Gryffindor team at the pitch."
The arrogance brightened in his face.
"In case you've forgotten, I used to have a rivalry with the whole Gryffindor house. You can't imagine how glad I am of not playing against them while Potter was in the team. I can't even imagine myself losing against Wood."
"Tell me about it! We barely won them any match."
"Well, as far as I know, you had a really shitty team, mate. The best players in Slytherin during those years after me and the boys left were probably you, Pucey, and Montague every once in a while. Besides, the Potter boy has Quidditch in his blood and the Gryffindor team was already acceptable during my time."
Couldn't argue that.
The black-haired boy gave a quick look to the terraces and clenched his jaw, making his smirk wilder and devilish. He looked like a snake plotting an evil plan.
"Your ginger is looking at us," Devyan whispered amused, coming closer and looking back at me. I felt my eyes slightly opening more and my eyebrows raising. "Shall we give him a bit of fun?"
"You only want to mess with him," I gave the boy in front of me an arrogant smile that he imitated.
"Clearly," he murmured as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That's exactly what fun means, Lilith."
I finished my cig and stepped on the fag-end.
"He seems quite pissed off, you see. Actually jealous."
I felt the butterflies in my stomach as I chuckled. Was it true? Was Fred jealous?
"Bah, don't mess with me, Khan."
"Look at it yourself!" the boy giggled, pointing discreetly with his head to where the ginger was, without putting his gaze off me.
I obeyed Devyan and found Fred's piercing eyes on us two. He didn't seem concentrated anymore, at least not in the match, he was looking fierce and, even in the distance, I saw him breathing slowly and deeply. He was trying to keep playing with his rings as if he didn't care but the slight frown of his eyebrows and the sharpness in his stare said otherwise.
Devyan giggled by my side.
"Should have known you two would take the 'getting along' part too far."
I clicked my tongue smiling, but before I could reply to him, a boy from his team whistled in the distance, calling his attention.
"Well, s'pose we will have to leave our entertaining chat for another day." Devyan smiled at me, slightly arching one of his eyebrows. "It was nice to use you to bother Weasley, Lilith."
"Go off, Khan!" I snickered, shaking my head. He turned around, grinning, and went to the encounter of his team, putting an arm around the boy who called him's shoulders.
My eyes went straight back to Fred, who followed Devyan's path glaring at him and then going back to me. Once our looks met, he raised a little bit his chin in an arrogant way reminding me of our dark past but softening a bit the bonfire in his eyes. I swallowed hard but didn't flinch.
"Lilith! Time to train!" Khaleelah called me from already inside of the pitch. I didn't even notice the match had finished.
During the whole time the training lasted, I felt Fred's eyes piercing me and following every little movement I did but with a deadpan expression on his face. An hour later, we were done.
"Fine, girls. We'll see each other two days previous to the match, a' right?" Khaleelah spoke while picking up her towel from the grass and making sure her hijab was as perfect as usual. "Remember to give a little glimpse of the game strategy we will use against the Falcons."
We all nodded at the same time.
"Great, cheers, girls."
"Cheers!" I waved at them while walking to the terraces to meet Fred.
When I got in front of him, slightly unsure, he immediately stood up and started to walk to leave the field.
"Freddie?" I called him, trying to follow the velocity of his steps.
"Huh?"
"You good?"
"Perfectly fine," he replied a bit too dry and fast to be true.
"Don't lie to my face, Weasley," I spoke with a soft tone but firmly, catching his hand and making him turn around to face me. His cold stare relaxed a bit and he let out a long sigh.
"Didn't know you were so close to Khan," he tried to sound amused, reminding me way too much to when he used to mess with me with the same coldness in his tone and daggers in his eyes.
No, love, don't look at me like that, please.
"We were just talking."
"A bit too close, don't you think?"
"He was the one who approached me."
"Yeah, I could tell, Lilith."
I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Don't talk to me like that, watch your tone," I spat, very serious and he seemed to calm down. "Last time I checked, I can chat with whoever the fuck I want. It's not my fault nor his that you are jealous."
"I'm not jealous," he quickly replied, shrugging. "I just don't like Khan."
"Well, I do. He hasn't done anything to me, and you can call him Devyan. That stupid rivalry at Hogwarts was ages ago."
Fred snorted, "Yes, I bet you like him a lot," he sarcastically said, "He's a prick."
"At least he doesn't behave like a fucking wanker!" I burst, exhausted of his attitude. "Your friend Sienna was way worse with me and I've never told you anything about her, have I?"
"It's not the same," he rolled his eyes.
"Aha, whatever," I muttered, starting to walk away from him. I can love him so much that my heart feels like exploding but no one speaks to me like that, not even Fred.
"Lilith, wait," Fred murmured with a softer tone while trying to grab my hand but I slapped his. "Darling-"
"Fuck off," I took my wand and made myself disappear in front of his puppy eyes, feeling the rage covering me.
✵ ✵ ✵
I felt terrible the next day. I couldn't help but overthink Fred's words. He probably didn't love me but if there was once thing I could have sworn, it was that he was jealous. And watching it from his perspective, I could understand why he was so pissed off about Devyan. When I saw the ginger from my window, I only wanted to jump into his flat and fill his cheeks with kisses, tell him I'm sorry and hearing him apologising as well. I just wanted to make peace with him because if I knew something, it definitely was that I didn't want to lose Fred. I couldn't lose Fred.
During the morning, Liv and Pauline joined together to help me prepare some biscuits and crumpets to take to Fred's office as a ceasefire offer. I made them strawberry, cinnamon and honey flavoured, his favourites.
"Damn, Lilith, if that tool doesn't, at least, eat you out after trying these sweets then you should consider your love for him," Liv murmured, enjoying the crumpet I gave her to try.
"Putain! This is pure good!" Pauline licked her lips after trying the biscuits.
"I'm gonna take them to him now, maybe he stops having that long face once and for all," I picked the platter and blew a kiss to the girls. "Cheers for helping me, dears."
Going down of my flat to get to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes carrying the full platter felt like an almost impossible task but I managed to get inside the shop without dropping any of the sweets.
"Oi, Georgie!" I called the ginger boy when I saw him at the counter. He immediately smiled at me.
"Morning, mate. Are those for me?" he smirked.
"You can have some if you want, but I'm actually looking for the fool of your brother. Need to apologise to him."
"Oh, Godric, yes, please! He's been with a long face since yesterday! He didn't want to tell me what happened but knowing my brother as I do, bet it has something to do with your new friend Khan."
I opened my eyes widely, leaving some of the crumpets and biscuits on the table for George to enjoy them.
"How did you know?"
"Again, I know my twin."
"Devyan is just an acquaintance. I don't even consider him my friend."
"I know, Lilith, you don't have to excuse yourself with me. I know what kind of nitwit I have for a twin. Just give him those sweets and watch him calm down."
"Sure," I smiled at George. "Where's he?"
"At his office. Second floor, right, first door."
"Thanks, mate."
I followed Georgie's instructions and soon I was in front of a dark red door. I knocked twice hearing the 'come in' from inside. Carefully, I opened the door, giving a quick look to see Fred's reaction.
He was sitting behind his desk full of papers and only raised his eyes when he noticed I didn't say a word. His expression didn't change but his eyebrows frowned, curiously.
"Good to see you," he simply said, leaning back on his seat.
"You've avoided me."
"Didn't want to piss you off more than I already did."
I sighed heavily, showing him the pastries. "I've come to bring you a truce offer."
His serious expression fell and a little tender smile covered his face as his stare relaxed.
"You didn't need to, darling. Actually, I was planning to look for you later night to apologise to you and have a cig together."
The tingles covered my body and I couldn't help but smile as well as I left the platter on his desk, careful not to ruin any of his papers.
"What are you doing?" I asked curiously.
He picked one of the crumpets and ate it almost in one single bite. He licked his lips, making me observe every single one of his movements. "Shit, Lilith, this is so bloody good," he wiped the corners of his lips slightly with the tips of his fingers. "I'm doing some of the accounting of the shop."
I snorted, "And you used to say you are not a smart-arse."
He snickered but when he was about to reply another knock was heard. "Come in!"
Verity entered carefully and gave us a surprised look, I had to restrain myself from arching my eyebrow.
"Good morning," she greeted softly at me.
"Morning," I said as polite as possible.
"Mr Weasley, an owl arrived for you."
"Who is it from?" Fred asked genuinely curious and I couldn't help but pay even more attention.
Verity looked for her glasses in the pocket of her robe, a bit clumsily. "Uhm... it says here it's from 'Ms. Plums."
Fucking shit, this is the last straw.
I crossed my arms in front of my chest looking at Fred, his eyes met mine for a brief moment and I could swear I saw a mischievous and amused smile on his face. Verity handed him the letter and discreetly left while I felt her scared look on my back. However, I couldn't care less.
The ginger opened the letter and started reading it with that silly smile on his face. I felt my guts burning and every single nerve on my body screaming in pure rage as the perfume of that Sienna bitch filled the air.
I wanted to rip that letter from his hands and throw it to Plums's face, I wanted to erase that smile from his face with my kisses, I wanted to mark him as mine.
He was mine.
No, he wasn't. That was why it not only angered me but hurt me.
I barely noticed when my breathing started to become deeper and when my blood began to boil in my veins.
"I'm still here, are you gonna look at me or do you prefer to keep reading that bitch's letter and filling the air with her nauseating smell?" I spoke with the coldest and most deadpan tone I could find.
Fred giggled and looked at me with that mischief shining in his eyes.
"It smells nice."
"Yeah, and Liv is straight."
He shook his head and stood up from his chair. With our looks still connected, he walked closer to me and leaned against his desk. Before I could notice, one of his hands surrounded my waist attracting me to him and glueing our bodies.
The only feel of him so near to me and his brown eyes going from mine to my lips sent quivers all over my body and made the fire of rage in my veins transform into another kind of fire.
Don't tempt me, Freddie.
"Are you jealous, darling?"
Fuck yes.
"No," I drawled, keeping eye contact with him.
He snickered and I felt myself slightly trembling in between his arms.
"Really? It looks like," he rasped, grazing his lips with mine. I craved him silently, managing to stay firm.
"Don't play with me, Fred."
"Or what, Lilith? What are you gonna do?"
The devilish part of my mind took control over me and I trapped his lips between mine in a slow, sinful and tempting kiss, like good poison, letting him feel me as much as he could over the clothes. I bit softly his lower lip as I separated from him, hearing a little pant escaping from his mouth.
I walked back to the door, still looking at him.
"You'll see, Freddie. You played the wrong card."