Chapter 8 – The New Fred
Yes, yes, it's been a while, I know. In my defense, I was traveling for three weeks, and when I got back I was really lazy... anyway, this is an especially long chapter, and it's crucial to the advancement of the story... don't forget to review!
Fred did show up for dinner, as he had said. He seemed withdrawn though, lost in his thoughts. This was unnatural, as normally he was loudly discussing his thoughts with George.
George was also a bit lost. He kept glancing at Angelina and then at Katie as if waiting for something to happen. Well, he was waiting for something to happen, but he shouldn't have been acting so suspiciously.
There was thick tension in the air between the six friends as they picked at their food. The atmosphere was so suffocating, that Katie didn't have much of an appetite. She glanced up from her nearly full plate and saw George giving her a meaningful look.
"I'll do it later George, it has to be done at the right time," Katie said loudly, her voice breaking through the silence that had settled. George's eyes widened and he glared at Katie. That was understandable.
"Do what later?" Alicia asked, curiosity piqued.
"Well, George here wanted me to-"
"Have some more potatoes!" George broke in cheerily, pouring some onto Katie's already full plate. "They're seasoned quite well. For you, Alicia?"
"Er… no thanks," Alicia said politely. "I'm not too hungry… actually, I'm feeling a bit unwell. I think I'll go up to the Common Room and turn in early."
"Mind if I come?" Angelina said, pushing away her own plate. "It's rather stuffy in here."
Katie watched as the two girls walked out of the Great Hall, away from the uncomfortable environment.
"How 'bout you Katie? Not feeling sick, are you?" Lee said with a great deal of concern. Fake concern, though it sounded very real.
"No, I'm fine."
"Hey, Lee, what classes have we got tomorrow?" George asked suddenly. Katie turned to look at him.
"One would think you would have learned your schedule by now," she said in an imitation of Professor McGonagall. George just shrugged.
"Well, one thinks wrong then. Perhaps two will have a better idea." Katie rolled her eyes at the bad joke.
"We have Potions," Lee began, but he didn't get any further.
"Potions?" George shouted. "I haven't finished that essay yet!" At this announcement, Lee's eyes widened.
"Finished? I haven't even started yet!" And then they were both half walking, half running out of the Great Hall to avoid Snape's wrath the next day.
"Aren't you going to join them?" Katie asked, looking over at Fred who was sitting right across from her. His plate was also full, which didn't match his Weasley appetite.
"No, I finished my essay during lunchtime, like a responsible person," Fred said proudly. "See? I am a good student."
"The essay may be finished, but I doubt it's any good," Katie pointed out.
"Well, you see, that's another matter all together," Fred said, taking a drink from his goblet of pumpkin juice. "We were talking about getting it done. Now, quality, that's another story…"
"I really don't see how you and George manage to get away with stuff like this at school," Katie said with a hint of admiration. "Don't you two ever worry about the future?"
"Katie, you know we want to open a joke shop. We don't need O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s to do that, we just need our creative brains, our pranking natures, and a bit of start-up money."
"But still-"
"And it's not like we don't know the material," Fred continued. "We just learn the stuff that's useful. Potions, for instance; I'm brilliant at brewing. I don't feel the need to write an essay about the various ingredients, but I do know them, very well in fact. I know them well enough to be able to combine them to make potions and antidotes which will be needed in the joke shop. It's not that I'm not smart, I just use my intelligence in other ways."
"Alright, alright, I never said you weren't smart, Fred, I know you are. But how do you get away with it? Don't your parents get on your case about it?"
"They try," Fred said with a shrug, "but they really can't do much. I mean, seven kids, they can't really spend all of their energy trying to get us to focus in school. They tried once, but Ron and Ginny got into loads of trouble while their attention was on us."
"Howlers? Why don't they just send Howlers? I know your mother is more than capable of it after she sent Ron one for flying to Hogwarts in a car."
"They probably just think George and I are dumb. They can't really scold us for not being smart," Fred said, finally picking up his fork and stabbing at a roast potato.
"What? You just said that-"
"I know what I said. I know we're smart, George knows we're smart, you know we're smart, but mum and dad… they don't know that." He popped the potato in his mouth and chewed it experimentally. "Georgie was right… these are seasoned quite well." Katie rolled her eyes, though she was grateful that the tense atmosphere had dissipated. She felt her appetite starting to return and looked down to the mound of potatoes on her plate. She began shoveling them into her mouth in an 'unladylike' fashion.
"Slow down, you're eating like a Weasley," Fred commented with a grin. Katie almost choked on her food from the laughter that bubbled up inside of her.
"Stop that," she scolded, once she had taken a long drink of pumpkin juice.
"Stop what?"
"Making me laugh when I'm eating! You'll be the death of me Fred Weasley." Fred smiled charmingly.
"Hello Katie." She looked up and saw Hermione sliding into the seat next to her. Harry and Ron sat across from her.
"Looks like the Trio is here," Fred said playfully. "Any reason you're late for dinner? Were you off fighting monsters in the Forbidden Forest?"
"Something like that," Ron said moodily, filling his plate. "Hermione made us work on our History of Magic essay. She wouldn't let us go until she was satisfied, and she has the highest standards."
"Well, excuse me for trying to keep you from failing," Hermione said waspishly. "Honestly Ronald, you ought to focus more on your schoolwork."
"I'd rather have fun, like a normal person," Ron retorted with his mouth full.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth, it's repulsive," Hermione chided. "Learn some manners."
"Well at least I know how to have fun."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"All you ever do is work. Do you ever think about anything other than school and learning and books?"
"I do, in fact, but I would rather not fail Fourth Year because I'm off playing silly games and pulling pointless pranks."
"Who's pranks are you calling pointless?" Fred broke in. "I'll have you know, our pranks do have a point."
"And that point would be?" Hermione prompted.
"Causing as much havoc to the school as possible, obviously." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"You Weasley boys are all the same."
Fred gave an exaggerated gasp. "How dare you. I'm nothing like Percy, he's a prat and I'm not." Ron snorted.
"That's a fair point. You'd have to be mad to call Fred and George similar to Percy. Speaking of which, where is George?"
"He's working on the Potions essay that's due tomorrow," Katie answered.
"And why aren't you working on it, Fred?" Hermione asked in a manner very similar to Professor McGonagall.
"Because I, like a good student, finished it earlier today," Fred said proudly. "Why so quiet Harry?" The last comment was directed at Harry, who was staring blankly at his plate. He looked up the minute he heard his name.
"Sorry, didn't catch that," he said, looking out of sync.
"You're spacing out mate."
"Just a bit tired," Harry answered.
"Alright then. I'll leave Harry to his mourning and the two of you to your bickering. Try not to kill each other? Mum would have a fit. You coming Katie?"
Katie looked down at her plate that was still laden with food and gazed at it for a while before nodding and getting up, not before shoving some more potatoes in her mouth, however. She walked with Fred out of the Great Hall.
"Ron and Hermione argue like an old married couple," Fred said conversationally as they walked through the school towards the Common Room.
"It's sweet."
"Sweet? Poor Harry! Must get irritating, hearing them bickering all the time! Don't know how he does it."
"He doesn't exactly do much with it. He just blanks out," Katie pointed out.
"True, true." There was silence as they reached the bottom of a staircase and stood waiting for it to stop moving. "So, how are things going with Lee?" Fred said as they stepped up.
"What d'you mean?"
"You guys like each other. Where do you stand at this point?"
"Well…" Katie began, unsure of where to go with this.
"Well what?" Fred prompted.
"He asked me to be his girlfriend, so we're a couple now," Katie finally blurted out. Fred just nodded.
"Congratulations, I guess. Are you happy?"
"Yes," Katie answered, though she really wasn't. Fred nodded again, with a satisfied look. He looked so calm and peaceful, it scared Katie a little. What happened to the prankster Fred? This Fred was oozing compassion. That was not normal. And it had happened so suddenly.
"Well, I think I'll head up to bed."
"So early?" Katie said, startled. Fred was not an early sleeper. He slept late and woke up late. That was just the way he was.
"I'm thinking of discarding my bad habits in favor of a more peaceful lifestyle," he said with a completely straight face.
"You're joking, right?"
"I'm not. I don't think I'll be joking as much anymore. It communicates rowdiness and a need to fill a hole in one's life. No, joking is not an act I will be partaking in anymore." Katie stared at him, dumbstruck.
"Since when do you use such big words, and since when are you peaceful? Fred, what's wrong with you? Is this some prank?"
"I file pranking in the same category as joking."
"So, what, the old Fred is gone?"
"Replaced with a new and improved Fred. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed." He smiled though it wasn't even a ghost of his usual charming smile. When Katie just stared at him, he nodded his head slightly and turned to walk to his room. Katie noticed with disgust that his hands were clasped behind his back and he was walking with slow and even strides. A second year bounded down the steps and Fred gave him a quick "Hello." Fred didn't make a habit of greeting second years. Even the second year looked a bit startled by that fact that the school prankster/legend Fred Weasley had just spoken to him.
Katie stayed up late that night, reading The Polyjuice Problems. It was about this witch, Piper, who fell in love with a wizard named Leo. Piper was beautiful and popular, though she hated the spotlight, and was dating Jason, another wizard. Leo was a class clown who hit on every girl he saw.
That's all Katie figured out until she finally decided to sleep, near one in the morning.
She dreamed that she was in a circus, and then suddenly the juggler dropped to the floor and began to sort through his balls. The tiger that had been roaring sat down and began licking its paws, like a kitten. The clowns stopped running in circles and sat down to meditate. The tightrope walker turned and her face was placid. Then a dark mist descended and everything went black.
The rest of her night was sleepless.
"KATIE BELL, GET OUT OF BED!" Katie nearly fell out of bed hearing the loud order. That had to be Angelina.
"What time is it?" she asked, groggily sitting up and trying to rub the sleep from her eyes. She saw Angelina running around looking for her jumper. Her white buttoned shirt was crumpled and her tie hung loosely, flying behind her like a shrunken cape.
"Too late, that's what time it is," Angelina answered wildly. At this point, Alicia came out of the bathroom, rubbing her wet hair with a towel. "Merlin, you took forever in there. Katie get in there now and get ready or we'll miss breakfast."
Getting ready wasn't very enjoyable with Angelina constantly yelling through the door. When she finally emerged, Angelina grabbed her arm and started pulling her to the door.
"OI! Let me get my robe!" Katie protested.
"Alicia, grab the girl's robe and follow us," Angelina ordered, not loosening her grip on Katie. She pulled her down the stairs quickly and Katie had a vision of herself loosing her footing and tumbling down on the hard stone steps. She couldn't stop the sigh of relief that escaped her once her feet were on even ground again. Alicia handed her the robe and Katie quickly slipped it on.
"You ladies take forever getting ready," George said the minute he spotted them. "Come on now, fast, or we won't get anything to eat!" Lee and him started towards the Portrait Hole but Katie stopped and glanced at Fred, who was sitting straight up on an armchair looking at a… book? Strange, Fred Weasley didn't read.
"You coming Fred?"
"Oh, no, I already ate," Fred said gently. "Early this morning, before any of you were awake."
"But you never wake up early," Katie said, not wanting to believe that he was still putting on the peaceful act.
"Well I slept early, I'll obviously wake up early. Besides, rising from bed early is the start to a peaceful and healthy lifestyle. You get so much more done. Now look, I don't have to get caught in the hustle and bustle of the late risers rushing to get ready. I got ready slowly and in my own time, had a nice, peaceful breakfast, and now I have a chance to do some light reading before class starts."
"Light reading?" Katie repeated incredulously. "You hate to read Fred. Wouldn't you rather plan a prank or come up with a new joke product?"
"Those are silly things, and I believe in them no longer," Fred said calmly. "You should hurry to breakfast before it ends."
Katie opened her mouth to make a scathing remark, but Angelina caught her arm and started pulling her out of the Common Room.
"Leave it Katie, or we'll miss breakfast," she said once they were walking down the stairs. "We'll deal with it later."
The rest of the day passed in a blur. During lunch, Katie took great care to sit as far away from Peaceful Fred as possible. If she had to sit near him, her lunch wouldn't stay down for long. She didn't see him again until she walked into the Common Room after Transfiguration, her last class of the day. Throwing her schoolbag into a corner, she sank onto her favorite armchair, not noticing that Fred was sitting across from her.
"Hello. Had a long day?" Hearing his voice, Katie nearly jumped in her seat. When she saw him, she groaned.
"Fred, please stop this stupid peaceful thing. It's ridiculous. I want my Fred back! Where did this whole thing even come from?" Fred only smiled serenely, which Katie found disgusting.
"You are angry, but there is no need to take your anger out on me. I think I'll head to my room now, do a bit of reading."
"No, no, no!" Katie shouted like a little girl having a tantrum. "You're Fred Weasley, you don't bloody read!"
"You don't like reading?" Fred said, looking confused. Katie glared at him.
"I do, but you don't, and you're not supposed to read, because you're supposed to be the one making fun of me for reading and then I get mad at you even though I'm really not mad because I like it when you tease me and I like it because it means I have your attention! I want my Fred back, and I need him back right now!" For a moment she saw a spark of something in Fred's eyes, but then it was gone.
"Making fun of people is bad. I do not partake in it anymore."
"But I want you to make fun of me. I like it!"
"I'm going to read." And with that, Fred spun around and walked to his room, with the same clasped hands and even strides.
Things continued like that for a few days. Fred acted 'peaceful' and Katie avoided him whenever it was possible. She still acted with Lee when he was around, but other than that she barely saw him and her plot had nearly slipped her mind.
Things just weren't the same with only five of them. With Fred gone, everyone had lapsed into a silent, moody phase. Nobody talked much. George seemed to be dealing with it the worst. Fred acting so out-of-character must have been killing him inside. He barely spoke and spent a lot of time sitting in the Common Room just staring into the fire.
"This has to stop!" Angelina finally said one day. "Everyone is falling apart!"
"Think I haven't noticed that?" Katie said irritably. "Thanks for the newsflash Captain Obvious."
"George is so upset. I've been talking to him a lot lately. In fact, the two of us have never been closer. I love spending time with George, it's what I've wanted and dreamt about for so long now, but he's not the same. Fred has really affected him."
"So?" Katie snapped. "What do you want me to do about it?" Angelina looked hurt.
"Nothing. I was just telling you. I know you're frustrated, but there's no reason to take it out on anyone who talks to you." Katie didn't answer, she just rolled her eyes. "And in case it happens to even slightly matter to you, Alicia and Lee seem a bit down too. But, no, we don't expect you to do anything about it."
Katie felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she watched Angelina storm out of the room. Things were really falling apart. Was it really all because of her? The thought made her feel sick, and she slumped onto her bed feeling miserable. At some point she fell asleep.
Katie woke up an hour later. After scrambling around to see the time (2:30 in the afternoon) she realized she had missed lunch. Perfect. Her stomach growled angrily at her.
"As if things weren't bad enough already." Oh great, now I'm talking to myself. Merlin, I really need food. I'll just sneak down to the kitchens and get something to eat…
After fixing her hair, which had turned into a nest during her nap, Katie headed out of the dormitory. The Common Room was mostly empty as she passed through it. Everyone was probably outside, considering it was such a nice day.
The hallways were empty too, and Katie's footsteps echoed eerily. She wasn't used to walking through the school alone. Either they were bustling with people heading to class, or she was with her friends. She realized now how much she missed them. Things really needed to be fixed.
She was greeted warmly by the house-elves, as she always was. One with especially large ears and a forest green sack as clothing rushed forward.
"Miss Bell! May Tolly get you anything?"
"Yes, I missed lunch, I need something to eat," Katie explained, looking around at the big eyes watching her.
"Of course Miss Bell! Shall Tolly prepare some roast beef sandwiches with the leftover roast beef from lunch?"
"That would be wonderful, Tolly."
"Would Miss Bell like this for here or to go?"
"To go would be fine, thank you." Tolly bowed low so his pointy nose nearly touched the floor, then scurried off. Another house-elf – this one wearing a teabag – stepped forward.
"May Bippy get you anything to drink, Miss Bell?"
"No thank you," Katie said politely. She felt tugging on her clothing and turned to look at another house-elf, smaller than the rest with very big eyes.
"Why is Miss Bell without her friends?" he squeaked. There was a loud gasp from somewhere in the back, and another house-elf pushed through the crowd.
"Linny! You must not ask questions like that!" the house-elf scolded.
"Oh, no, it's fine," Katie said quickly. She turned to Linny and knelt down on one knee. There was a collective gasp from the other elves. "Well Linny, things aren't going too well with my friends, and… well it's my fault actually. I've really messed things up, and I need to fix them."
"Linny wishes you good luck Miss Bell." Katie smiled at the small house-elf, then turned as Tolly came running towards her with a stack of sandwiches wrapped in a napkin.
"Oh, thank you Tolly," Katie said as she took it, "but I really didn't need this much. I only needed one. How many are in here anyway?"
"Three, Miss Bell. Tolly is insisting that you take them, in case you get hungry later."
"Thank you. All of you," Katie said, smiling around.
"Come again soon Miss Bell!" the house-elves called as she exited the kitchens. She turned around the corner and started towards the doors leading out of the castle. Once she was outside, she spotted her favorite tree. She always went there when she wanted to be alone, which believe it or not did happen.
Most people preferred trees near the lake, but Katie's tree was in a corner created by the castle. It was away from everyone else, and the tall stone walls provided excellent shade. Sitting down on a soft patch of grass, Katie carefully unwrapped the sandwiches.
She ended up eating two, not one, but she was still left with a sandwich that she was too full to even look at. Pushing herself up from her spot, she started back towards the castle, thinking of ways to get rid of the sandwich. She found her answer in a first year sitting on the steps, reading a thick book.
"Oi, kid." The little Ravenclaw looked up quickly. "You want a sandwich?"
"Oh, um, no thank you…"
"Great," Katie said, dropping it on his lap. "Enjoy kid."
"Oh, uh, thanks, but-"
"Yeah, yeah, great story kid," Katie said, walking away.
"But, ma'am!"
Katie almost choked. Ma'am? That was a new one. Was she really that intimidating? Probably… oh whatever. Not wanting to go back to the Common Room just yet, Katie decided to head up to the Astronomy Tower. It was nice up there, breezy and cool and nice.
As she walked up the many stairs to get to the tower, she thought about how she could fix the mess she had gotten herself into. No inspirational ideas came. Maybe the breeze would help? Probably not.
Once she got to the doorway of the Astronomy Tower, Katie froze. She could hear quiet voices talking, though she couldn't make out any words. Guess the Astronomy Tower is taken, she thought glumly as she turned to leave. Then she heard her name, spoken softly and just barely distinguishable. Naturally, as anyone would after hearing their name spoken by others, she began to listen. She couldn't make out anything, so she scooted a little closer so she could hear better. This also put the speakers in her view.
It was Angelina and George. They were sitting with their backs to her, but she could still recognize them. And she knew it was George and not Fred, because Fred kept mostly to the Common Room these days.
"It's bugging me Angie…" George was saying. "Fred and I… we've never had this kind of tension between us. He's acting calm and peaceful and I can't stand it! I'm thinking of telling him everything."
"What? No! George, you can't!" Angelina said, sounding shocked. Katie grimaced. Despite her rude behavior, Angelina was still defending her.
"Well what am I supposed to do?" George snapped. Angelina didn't answer, and a tense silence settled over the two like a fog. "Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you… it's just, it's starting to get to me. Anyway, there's a reason why you called me up here. D'you plan on telling me what that reason is?"
"Well… I sort of had something to tell you..." Angelina said shyly. Katie blinked hard. She had never heard Angelina sound shy.
"Go on," George prompted.
"I don't really know how though. It's one of those things that are really awkward to put into words. I don't know how to say it."
"Just tell me."
"Alright then. George, lately, I've been feeling like… I might… um… I might…" Angelina never stuttered. She must have been very nervous.
"While we're still young Angie."
"Fine! It's just… whenever I'm around you, I feel really self-conscious and my heart speeds up and… and…"
"And?"
"I think I might like you!"
"You think you might like me?"
"No..."
"No?"
"I know I like you, alright!"
"Like? Well I kind of hoped you liked me, considering we're friends…"
"No, not that kind of like. The other like…"
"The other like?"
"Ugh, George Weasley you are impossible. Why do you have to complicate this so much? I'm trying to tell you that I love you!"
"You love me?"
"Just forget it… forget I ever said anything." She got up to leave, but George reached out and caught her wrist.
"I love you too."
"You… what?"
Katie clamped a hand over her mouth to conceal the gasp that had almost escaped her. Angelina and George just confessed their love for each other, and Katie had been eavesdropping. She felt a little guilty, but also a little giddy. It was a very sweet moment. She took deep breaths to calm herself down, and then tuned herself back into the conversation.
"-heard me," George was saying.
"Well, yes, but-"
"I wasn't joking or playing with you, before you ask. I'm serious."
"You love me?" George didn't answer. Katie watched as he closed the space between him and Angelina. Not wanting to stay and watch their little make-out session, Katie quietly slipped away.
This was really hitting George hard, which meant it was also affecting Angelina. Maybe the whole thing should just be ended. Katie was conflicted as she started down another hallway. She froze when she heard whispers coming from behind a door. Curiosity got the better of her. She pressed her ear against the wood of the door and strained to make out the voices.
"Alicia, you know I love you."
"I know, Lee, it's just…"
Alicia and Lee. Now Katie had to stay and listen. Since when did they have a thing going on? How was Katie not aware of this?
"What's wrong?" Lee said.
"I hate having to keep this a secret. I hate having to sneak away to see you. I want to be able to hold your hand while walking through the halls. I want to be able to snuggle up next to you in the Common Room, but I can't because of this whole drama going on."
There was a silence, and Katie assumed they were doing something intimate that she really didn't want to know about.
"I know, and I'm sorry. It's not right for you to have to go through this."
"Why are you sorry? You didn't want to do this; I'm the one who pushed you into it. And now, we're at some sort of standstill… when is it going to end?"
Now, Katie thought determinedly. She wasn't going to let her friends suffer any longer.
"I want it to end too. Pretending to be in love with Katie is just horrid."
Well that hurt…
"Oh, she's not so bad." Thank you, Alicia. "Most of the time." I take that back.
"Shall we depart then?"
Katie didn't hear an answer, and the idea of leaving didn't register in her head until the door swung open and she fell through it.
"Katie!" Alicia shrieked. "What are you doing here?"
Katie groaned and peeled herself off of the stone floor. Lee offered her a hand which she gratefully took. Once she was standing again, she realized that she was in a very compromising situation.
"What exactly were you doing, leaning on the door?" Lee asked casually.
"I may or may not have been listening in on your conversation," Katie answered in the same casual tone. "And, by the way, pretending to be in love with you isn't a joyride either."
"That's because you're pretending," Lee said with a wink.
"Did you hear about… us?" Alicia asked, looking worried.
"Yes, I did, in fact. And I have a few choice words for you," Katie said, turning. Alicia swallowed nervously. "I can't believe you didn't tell me before!" Alicia became visibly relieved.
"I know, I know, I should have. I was just worried that you would get mad."
"Get mad? Are you mad? Come on Al, why on earth would I be mad? It's not like I have an actual thing for Lee! You'll have to tell me everything, when it started, how it started, everything!" Katie was practically squealing.
"I know, I know, shocking, isn't it? I'll tell you everything."
"Great, but first, I need to talk to you guys," Katie said, looking around at Alicia and Lee. "Angelina and George too."
"I'll get them," Lee offered. "Where do we meet?"
"This room is fine," Katie said, glancing over it. It was a large broom closet that could easily fit the five of them, and there were lots of buckets to sit on. "As long as you two didn't dirty it," she added playfully.
"You never know," said Lee as he walked out of the room. Katie pulled Alicia to an overturned bucket and made her sit down before sitting next to her.
"So, what is this mystery meeting about?"
"You'll see," Katie replied.
A lot was about to happen.
Bad ending, I know. Sorry, it's like, 3 in the morning, brains kind of on shut down mode... oops.
I decided to keep this in Katie's point of view. Fred will explain himself later.
I HAVE BIG PLANS FOR THIS STORY! I HAD A WAVE OF IDEAS RIGHT BEFORE LEAVING FOR MY TRIP!
Review so I have more incentive to update!
I'm going to bed now...
