AN: A massive thank you to everyone who has followed and or favorited this fic, it really means a lot to little ole me :D Also, it's getting closer to Potter cannon, but with a little twist *hides from rotten tomato*

Disclaimer: I own nothing or no one. Both Harry Potter and Fairy Tail are owned by their respective creators and any affiliated studios.

Into the Abyss

Chapter Fifteen

A little understanding

Blue eyes peered round the corridor with caution, the hallway was empty as the sixth-year prefect bounded past without noticing the him. The prefect was the only person blocking the group of Gryffindor's from their secret exit out of the castle. Only those from third year and up could leave the school to visit the small village of Hogsmeade. It was, in Fred's opinion very unfair as there was only so much entertainment a young wizard or witch could make for themselves in school.

As the light clack of the prefect's heels disappeared along with her, Fred released a sigh of relief, and the Gryffindor allowed himself to relax as he turned back to his group of friends hidden behind him. His housemates and closest friends (minus George of course) consisted of Lee Jordan, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson.

"All clear?" Lee asked in a hushed whisper. Fred nodded the affirmative causing Lee to grin.

"Where's George?" Alicia asked.

"Well he isn't in my pocket" Fred said with a chuckle "Cheeky bugger said he had to get something or other- hell be here soon"

"He better hurry up, I have a sugar addicted brother back home who's been driving my mum crazy" Angelina muttered.

"Maybe you should get him a leash" Lee chuckled. Angelina scowled at the boy which instantly caused Lee to smile all too sweetly at her.

"- thanks for waiting for us!" George's voice cried out in a loud whisper. Fred smiled at his twin's voice, his mind not registering the 'us' in George's words. Just who could George have possibly dragged along and why did he not say anything about it? Fred's internal questions were quickly answered once Fred noticed the head of blonde hair peeking behind George's back.

No, he didn't-

Liquid mercury orbs blinked owlishly, and Fred found himself feeling awfully exposed to the very person he was so actively trying to ignore. He turned to face his twin with a look of annoyance however, George merely smiled in response.

The little sneak knows exactly what he is doing…

"You lot remember Celeste, right?" George asked, his question erupting a series of nods from the Gryffindors. "She's so kindly offered to join us" The blonde smiled at this as a light giggle fell past her lips.

"George is...awfully persuasive" Celeste responded. This got the others chuckling, but Fred stood tight lipped as he watched the blonde effortlessly interact with the group as if she had always been there. Even as they walked through the tunnel Fred could feel his gaze wandering towards the girl who had fallen into step beside George. The two of them laughing and giggling amongst themselves at something or other. The boy was not sure why, but he felt something…

He had been the one to notice Celeste first, he had been the one who was curious first- so why was she so close with George and why did Fred even care?

"- well she is quite pretty" Alicia's light voice said in a quiet whisper.

"That doesn't mean he likes her- maybe they're just friends" Angelina piped up.

"What's all the aggro about?" Fred asked with slight interest. Both girls whirled round the face him, Alicia looking rather red faced whilst Angelina looked visibly rattled.

"Alicia thinks George has a thing for Malfoy-" Angelina paused to pointedly glare at the other girl before continuing "I think they're just friends"

Fred paused; he never had thought of that before. Could that be the reason why George had gone behind his back to invite Celeste along- could George really be harbouring a secret crush on Celeste?

"Maybe he could bring her round more often" Lee commented with a smirk.

"Leave the poor girl alone" Alicia chuckled.

The group exited the tunnel, coming out into Honeydukes where they quickly walked out of the storeroom and into the main shop. They were careful to blend into the groups of students already milling about the store to avoid detection. Fred pretended not to notice as George gently carted Celeste off to the side, and the blonde happily let his brother usher around.

Fred quickly tore his gaze away from the pair and busied himself with keeping Angelina from killing Lee. It worked for a few moments but every so often he could hear Celeste's light giggles drift across the crowded room. It had been so easy to ignore her before; they were in separate houses and the classes that they did share together were minimal. But now she was right here, and it was all hanks to George. It was impossible not to look at her.

"You know, you could stop ignoring her"

Fred knew it was George who had spoken from behind him, however he could not hide the surprise clouding his features as he turned to face his twin.

"Aren't you doing that right now?" Fred asked with a quirked brow. George smiled in disbelief, leaning against the shelf stacking fizzing whizzbies as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Touchy, aren't we?"

"No" Fred pouted. He quickly averted his gaze from George and ignored the way his twin continued to grin at him.

"I found these um tongue twisters and they look rather dangerous" Celeste said giddily. The excitement in her voice was enough to lift Fred's mood and as he turned to face her, the redhead took in the picture that the blonde witch made. Celeste looked like a happy child; arms stock full of packaged sweets and a wide smile stretched on her lips.

"Gave one of em to our brother Ron once" George said with his eyes twinkling. Fred knew that George was reimagining the scene as if it was happening right there and then. "His tongue almost fell off- they're that sour"

The blonde's eyes widened as she slowly turned to the offending sweet in her hands with nervous eyes. It was rather cute.

Wait, did I just-

"Look, we're gonna head down to Tomes and Scrolls-" George started.

"Tomes and Scrolls!" Celeste gushed, eyes twinkling at the mere mention of books.

"Maybe Fred can go with you and we can meet you later," George suggested.

Fred gaped, he whirled round to face his twin who grinned back at him. Celeste, however, did not seem to notice the conflict between the twins- she was in her own little world dreaming about the possible books.

"Really- Fred that's amazing" The girl gushed. She moved about on the spot, shifting eagerly as if unable to contain her excitement and Fred suddenly did not have the heart to utter the words on his tongue "Let me just pay for these and then we can go"

"Fred'll be waiting for you~" George sung out and ignoring Fred's pointed glare.

Once the blonde was out of earshot, Fred grasped his twin by the sleeve and instantly pulled him off to one of the secluded areas of the store.

"George…" Fred growled out in warning. The other redhead quickly raised his hands in a planting manner as he released a light and nervous laugh.

"Before you blast me to oblivion, just know that what I did was from a place of love"

"Oh really?"

"Er...yeah- you've been ignoring poor Celeste for a while now...and well the girls been thinking she's done something wrong"

"But she hasn't done anything" Fred exclaimed.

"Then tell her that" George cried out, his arms flailing as he released an exasperated sigh "Merlin, Fred, do I have to spell everything out for you"

"Shut it" Fred snapped. His eyes momentarily turned back to the blonde and as if sensing she was being watched, she tossed her head back and flashed him a smile.

Merlin he was doomed.

Celeste had thought herself good at reading people.

As Lucy, she had led a rather sheltered life until joining Fairy Tail and the only people she had ever conversed with had been the staff of the Heartfilia manor. Even here as Celeste Malfoy, the blonde had a similar problem, only this time, she was saddled with equally socially stunted children acting as the perfect heirs and heiresses that any pure-blooded wizarding family could wish for. Alas, Celeste's interactions with 'normal' people had been rather limited- something which the blonde was used to.

Her family of Fairy Tail were prone to strange tendencies and mood swings, and trying discern a happy Erza from an irate one was the difference between a happy day and one ending with a visit to the guild infirmary.

This time, Celeste was not dealing with the Queen of the Fairies but rather her friend, Fred Weasley.

The boy's posture was rigid, his eyes staring straight ahead as if she could not even bare to look at her. It confused and hurt her inside trying to figure out why Fred was acting this way.

Did…. I do something?

"Thank you for accompanying me, Fred" Celeste spoke quietly. In the spring breeze her voice was almost lost to the wind but standing so close to the other boy, she was certain that there was no way that he could not have heard her.

"No problem" Fred responded curtly. Again, he did not look at her.

Celeste nodded dejectedly, his avoidance of her was beginning to sting and the blonde felt truly hurt at having someone she called a friend treat her this way. Cho's earlier words ran through her head 'friends don't make each other feel like crap' leaving Celeste to wonder if perhaps the two of them were even friends at all. She certainly did not feel like it.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"W-what?"

Celeste swallowed, she quickly side-stepped so that she was directly in front of Fred. Being this close, she could see the height difference between them, he was a head taller than her and Celeste considered herself to be a normal and average height for a girl her age.

"You were avoiding me" Celeste stated firmly, "Ever since we left the library you have been acting rather strange and I want- no demand to know why"

The boy was silent, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he swayed slightly on his heels. His blue eyes darted from the ground and finally landed on her however, Celeste was surprised to see what she found there.

Hurt.

"I…I'm sorry if I made you feel like I did something wrong"

"But why, Fred?" Celeste asked softly, she took a step closer towards him and a tentative hand rested on his forearm. "I thought we were friends"

"We were- we are" Fred replied "I just…I was a little embarrassed by what you said the other day"

She blinked owlishly; mercury eyes filled with understanding as a soft smile formed upon her lips.

"Freddie, I meant everything I said"

The boy sighed "I know…that's why it was embarrassing"

The girl giggled softly, "Well, it shouldn't" Her features contorted to a thoughtful expression, bottom lip worried between her two front teeth as Celeste craned her neck to get a better look at him,"I feel as if there is something you are not telling me…" She trailed off; her expression now pensive as those eyes stared straight through him as if trying to crack a puzzle, she could not quite crack. Fred felt exposed under her questing gaze and quickly, her averted his gaze and ignored the perplexed look Celeste sent towards him.

"It's nothing" Fred muttered with a grunt. His statement only piqued the curious blonde's interest further and once again she was standing directly in front of him with her head inclined in a silent request of him to look at her.

"Fred…"

The boy chuckled as he shook his head, he could not keep up the façade much longer- Celeste was too inquisitive, too stubborn and Fred was certain that if he did not indulge her then the blonde witch would only continue to pester him until he eventually gave in. After swallowing the nerves preventing his lips from parting, Fred released a sigh as he lifted his gaze to Celeste's. She stared back expectantly, like a patient adult waiting for a child to recount their tales of wonderous adventures for her eyes were not filled with judgment, but compassion.

"I um…I kind of liked it when you said all those nice things"

"You did?" She did not bother to hide the happiness the words brought her, from the smile on her lips to the light dancing in her eyes and it was enough to entice a small smile from Fred. His previous nerves were diminished, and a small part of the young wizard wondered why he was so nervous in the first place. Celeste was his friend, and probably one of the sincerest people he had ever met. Fred thought he owed it to her to return the favour, for the blonde seemed like the type to appreciate the kindness of others for she herself gave it out in tenfold.

"No one has said anything like that before"

Celeste's heart tightened; her eyes widened just a fraction as she looked at her friend.

"You should get used to it" Celeste told him with a grin. She skipped a few steps ahead and after tossing her head back over her shoulder, Fred promptly realised that the blonde expected him to follow. He chuckled lightly and allowed himself to fall into a comfortable step beside Celeste. After making a mental note to thank George for kicking him up the arse.

"Do you know the way to the bookshop?" Celeste inquired, and at the light shake of his head, Fred noted how the blonde visibly deflated.

"Guess we'll just have to make a little adventure out of it, then"

Celeste smiled back at him as the two fell into a comfortable step and Celeste felt that she understood her friend just a little bit better.

Next Chapter Preview…

Celeste smiled gratefully, she politely excused herself to find her brother and exiting the accessories section she entered the stores front where she noticed her younger brother conversing with another boy around his age. The boy was scrawny looking, if his clothes which were much too large for his small frame were any indication and the mop of dark hair hanging around a pert little face looked as if he had never seen a comb.

Question Time!

What's your favuorite class at Hogwarts? Pretty sure that mine would be Herbology as I love gardening ^^