CHAPTER 9 - WRATH OF A WEASLEY
A week had passed since my encounter with George and my situation with Fred had gone no further forward. In fact I had barely seen Fred at all, it's like the guy had done a complete disappearing act! The only times I had seen him were brief and always at a distance. The only clue I had to his resentment and loathing of me was the way he would look at me, it was etched across his face as his eyes bore into mine. But he never came anywhere near; it was like he was avoiding me completely!
Where was this revenge?
Contrary to what George had said….he had not been on the war path at all. What was Fred Weasley up to? His behaviour didn't come as a relief, it made me more nervous…it was now a guessing game as to what was going on inside that calculating mind of his, guaranteed he was planning something. I still believed George's warning and I knew at some point Fred was bound to follow through.
I never told Sophie about George, I don't know why? I guess I thought things would be simpler for me if I left that part out, I had told her though all about Ernie to whom she was ecstatic about, maybe a little too excited. The success of her matchmaking plan had worked out perfectly, she had only wanted me to have someone in my life and the fact Ernie and I were moving forward with such momentum she had almost forgotten about Fred completely.
I wish I could forget about Fred also, I should be forgetting about him.
Things with Ernie were going really well, we were definitely a couple now and every time I was with him I could never understand why he liked me but I threw myself into the relationship with no reservations, I never hid my affection from Ernie but was I doing it for the wrong reasons? Was I just doing this to get that red head out of my life for good; to forget him?
I'm sure part of the reason for Fred's avoidance of me was due to the fact that Ernie was ever present fixture by my side.
It was 4pm. Ernie was walking with me hand in hand along one of the old stone passageways in the castle. Topic of conversation was Quidditch and the upcoming match this weekend. Ernie was just buzzing about it, excited about the game; he was a Beater for the Hufflepuff team and had been attending practices all week.
"We're going to win! I just know it! We've been playing so well lately and I'm telling you Claudia that 'Gryffindor' are in for some shock" he said hurriedly
"Gryffindor"
Catching my attention
"Yep, they've got such a skilful reputation but I've got a good feeling about Saturday"
Ernie was going to be playing Gryffindor on Saturday and with Fred Weasley in the team; a Beater like Ernie, this was surely going to be a disaster! I hope Fred's not going to give Ernie a hard time during the match just to get at me. Fred was pretty ruthless and the thought of Ernie being at the receiving end was not at all comforting. I frowned at the thought.
"What's the matter Claudia?" Ernie noticing
"Oh, nothing…..it's just"
Think of something Claudia! Change the subject
"I'm just missing you is all, thinking of you going to all those practices. I just want you all to myself"
"Awe, you're so sweet" he cooed
He stopped to face me and grabbed both my hands whilst pushing me back toward the hard stone wall. Lowering his mouth he began to kiss my neck tenderly while whispering to me.
"I want you all to myself too….your all mine!" he said softly.
"That tickles" I giggled like a little girl.
He began kissing me gently on my lips before his tongue pushed past them to deepen the kiss. We would have remained kissing for a while if it hadn't been for the loud footsteps echoing up the passageway towards us. Ernie broke away from me turning his head to see who was coming, I was too busy fascinated with his full lips which were now damp and swollen to pay attention to anything else, but wish I had when I head Ernie's next words….
"Hey Fred, how's it going?" Ernie greeted cheerfully.
Horrified, I turned my head to see Fred standing only a few feet away.
He said nothing in return and glared at me before focusing acutely on Ernie.
"Shouldn't you be at your practice Ernie, you don't want distractions affecting your game" he said bluntly.
Ernie just laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, but some distractions are worth it!" was his response.
I just stood in complete silence transfixed with Fred. This was the closest I'd been to him since last week, since the library. My stomach flipped as I tried to look indifferent but my hands began sweating and a rush of goose bumps crawled over my skin.
"You think?" Fred asked bitterly.
This was so awkward and I was just cringing, wanting it to be over as soon as possible.
"I'll be seeing you around then" Fred grunted, sounding more like a threat.
He was looking at me when he said it but Ernie was oblivious.
"See you Fred!" Ernie called back as Fred brushed past and stomped steadily along the passageway out of sight.
"Not a happy bunny" laughed Ernie "Did you see that?"
"Um…" I gulped. "What do you mean?" I asked….slightly shaky.
"Have you not heard Claudia?"
"Heard what?"
"Fred's punishment!" he laughed
I think my face turned a paler shade of white at Ernie's words.
"Um, what are you talking about?" I panicked.
"Fred's apparently been banned from playing in the next two Quidditch matches!"
"Why?" I was shocked.
"McGonagall did it! Can you believe it? He's so pissed off! Seemingly he's known since last week but only told the Gryffindor team today and everyone went nuts. There's no way in hell Gryffindors going to win on Saturday, not even with their golden Harry Potter. They need Fred Weasley!"
"Err…Ernie, why's Fred been punished?"
"That's the best part, nobody knows and he won't tell anyone! He's such an idiot, he probably played a prank on old McGonagall and she caught him and flipped out"
"Oh right" I practically squeaked; desperately trying to hide my guilty knowledge.
"Hey" he shrugged. "I kind of do have to run off now to practice"
"Okay" I said dazedly
"Sorry to kiss and run again, I'll catch up with you later in the common room"
A quick peck and off was Ernie, racing down the passageway late for Quidditch Practice again.
'Great' I thought. Why'd McGonagall have to punish Fred with a Quidditch ban! He's definitely planning some kind of a revenge on me, there's no way he's going to take all that flack from his friends and team mates and let me off the hook. I'm definitely going to suffer the wrath of a Weasley!
I decided the only thing to do for now would be to get back to the common room and lie low. I hurried along the stone floor staring at my feet lost in my thoughts, turning a corner I walked straight into something very hard and very solid. Slightly dazed I glanced up to be faced with red fiery hair hanging around features laced in bitterness and loathing.
I gasped.
He grabbed hold of my shoulder with one hand keeping me in place, his fingers curled around and dug into my skin.
"I think this is long overdue Claudia...would you agree?" growled Fred.
