Getting Closer

Fred guarded his cousin. He hadn't left her side since she was carried out of the arena into the tent. Four hot water bottles were in the bed with her, a hot cloth rested on her head with another by the fire prepared to take on the task of soothing her freezing body and the velvet blue covers had been doubled up. Bandages had been wrapped around her body to cover the wounds on her back and side, her arm had been put in a cast while the nurse focussed on her sprained ankle and scratches attempted to ruin the smooth skin of her cheeks, neck and chest. The only way he had helped was by helping to clean the mix of blood, ash and small rocks from her skin and handing the nurse the things she needed. The task carried on with Alodie being next to face her dragon, but to Fred, everything had come to a halt. He knew she was going to wake up and be as good as new within a couple of days, but the fact she was suffering so much pain took a heavy toll on his heart. She had begun to phase in and out of consciousness, crying in agony when she was awake and shaking when she was asleep. If this was the price of the tournament, Fred needed her to give it up and accept she was amazing with or without the Triwizard cup- like that would ever happen.

"That's our best friend, you could at least let one of us in," Fred heard Brea's voice at the entrance of the tent.

He turned to look see the headmaster of Durmstrang standing at the entrance, blocking Brea, Aaron and Lucas as they peered over his shoulder. Fred honestly wanted to be alone with his cousin, but he couldn't deny them not seeing their injured best friend.

"One of you should stay with Ravenclaw and another should contact Teddy," he suggested,

"Okay, well I ain't no Ravenclaw and Teddy doesn't like me, so I'll stay here," Lucas insisted.

There was an agreement as Brea and Aaron reluctantly left and Lucas was let into the tent. His stride was less bouncy with his steps becoming softer and his chin not reaching the heights it used to. His black puffer jacket was zipped to the top, covering his mouth and he tied up his golden waves as he approached Victoire's bed. Fred felt his breaths shorten slightly as Lucas pulled up a chair next to him and put his hand on his shoulder.

"She was amazing," Lucas's strong Scottish accent carried a weakness,

"Yeah, she was," Fred wanted to put cheeriness in his words, but there was nothing but the trembling of his worry,

"I couldn't pull off that water spell the way she did."

Fred's eyes followed Lucas's rugged hand as it adjusted the covers shielding Victoire from the cold, pushed back her hair, stroked her scratched cheek and went back to his pocket. The compulsion to say something that could lift their spirits was defeated by Fred's inability to find the right words amongst the distress. Shivering, Victoire briefly woke up, wincing in pain as she attempted to see the state of her body.

"Don't move okay, just, just stay calm," the softness of Lucas's words was entrancing, "you're going to be okay. Rest, Victoire."

Nodding feebly, Victoire let her head lower back into the pillows and Fred moved the hot water bottles around in the bed to different parts of her body. Lucas changed the hot cloth that lay on her head with the one that was warming by the fire and kissed her cheek as he sat back down. It was no surprise when she fell unconscious again.

"I forget how small she is sometimes," Lucas muttered,

"You're just ridiculously tall," Fred smiled weakly,

"I mean you're not wrong."

There was another silence.

This time, Lucas shuffled around in his pockets for a moment, before revealing Fred's favourite toffee with a chocolate centre and placing it in his hand. Unwrapping the toffee, Fred found himself smiling at the gesture and Lucas sturdily put his hand on his thigh, sending a welcome uplifting warmth through him. He popped the toffee in his mouth, nodding in approval at its creamy velvety texture and its soothing taste.

"I knew that would cheer you up," Lucas said as he unwrapped his toffee,

"When I was a second year, I got beaten up for the first time and despite them being the biggest of the final years, Victoire defended me. She helped me walk since I felt so dizzy and on the way to the bathroom, the room of requirement revealed itself. There was a bed for me to lie on, music to stop me from panicking, ice packs for my black eye, but the best thing in the room wasn't even created by it," Fred fiddled with the wrapper, "she said that whenever a situation gets bleak, a chocolate filled toffee will put a smile on anyone's face and teach you to appreciate the smallest glimpse of light."

Sharing his emotions and memories was something Fred found impossible to do with anyone but Victoire and his mother, so why was it so easy for him to do it with Lucas? The two of them remained with Victoire even when she was moved to the infirmary in the castle and took turns to use the toilet, change their clothes and get food. They had created a feast of chicken drumsticks, potatoes, pasta and mixed vegetables in an indescribably delicious sauce, with a plate set aside for when Victoire woke up. They sat at the end table, watching over Victoire as they ate and played cards. This was a nerve-racking and emotional time, but somehow Lucas was ale to put those emotions on pause with just his grin and the way he pronounced Fred's name.

"You can't just keep making me pick up cards; it's mean," Fred jokingly whined as he picked up two cards for the fourth time in a row,

"I thought that's what you liked in a guy," Lucas's words made Fred pause and go quiet.

The big red target on his back for the bullying bulls was the fact that he was gay-something that started as a silly rumour and ended up being true. He refused to bring it up as he feared being picked on for it and his friends thankfully respected this, not bringing it up either. So why did Lucas? The uncontrollable blushing had begun, and Lucas's mischievous grin and deep husky chuckle only spurred the blushing on as Fred attempted to hide behind his fanned-out cards. Taking a bite of chicken was simply an excuse to not say anything and he wiped his hands with a napkin before place down five cards.

"I'm curious, what do you like in a guy, Fred. I mean everyone knows what I look for in girls, so why not know what gets you going?" Lucas wasn't going to drop this.

He had to think of something that could end the conversation before it had to go any further. Bringing up his favourite quidditch player wasn't going to help the situation, neither was simply talking about food or depressing the mood by mentioning Victoire's condition. Nothing good enough was coming to him. He had to answer.

"Erm, well, erm, I've never really been asked that question," he said innocently, "I guess, I like tall guys."

Lucas laughed at how general his answer was, "you're adorable."

Fred didn't have to look in a mirror to know his cheeks were as red as tomatoes by now and Lucas seemed to be enjoying it.

"Is there anyone in the school you have a crush on?"

That wasn't going to be revealed any time soon. Fred bit his bottom lip and looked down, hoping the he could avoid the question, go back to their pleasant game of cards and talk about anything other than his romantic interests. The guy he had a crush on was way out of his league, in fact, it was difficult for him to imagine them together because it seemed an impossible goal that would damage him when the reality of never achieving it set in. He'd do all the classic things- doddle their initials together in a heart and then watch as the heart sparkled on the page, adamantly say hello whenever they passed each other and be caught gazing in awe at him like he was an iconic sculpture to be marvelled at. He had sworn Victoire to secrecy over the matter. He wasn't even going to give Lucas a clue.

"No one," Fred's voice slid up an octave,

"Come on, tell me," Lucas turned in his chair to face Fred directly,

"No, you don't need to know,"

"But I do, come on!"

Like a persistent child, Lucas kept moaning that it wasn't fair that he wasn't being told such apparently vital information and like a stern parent, Fred kept by his decision of keeping it to himself. Two card games later and Lucas was still pestering him.

"Stop asking, I'm not gonna tell you," Fred insisted,

"If I kissed you, would you tell me?" Lucas raised one eyebrow in hopes it would support his cause,

"Oh, you'd love that wouldn't you?" Fred leaned in slightly as if he was accepting the offer, "but no."

Fred was becoming more at ease and confident the longer he was with Lucas. Being in control for once was entertaining and he enjoyed their uninterrupted time together. As he laughed, Fred stuck his fork in the pasta, but was stopped by Lucas grabbing his arm almost took firmly and snatching the fork of pasta from him.

"You can't eat that. It has mayonnaise in," Lucas warned, his breath quickening,

"Oh erm, thank you," Fred was stunned.

He looked at the bowls of food as Lucas let go of his arm and sat back in his chair. Lucas hadn't touched the potatoes, not even trying on of the crisp but fluffy golden jewels, when he usually would. He didn't even ask if Fred minded him taking one. Fred then looked at Lucas who was now eating the pasta he had saved Fred from. His golden brown hair had dried and was now let down into beautiful tumbling waves that brushed his shoulders, his tranquil blue eyes twinkled like gems in the dark room as they studied his cards and the way his burly hands glided smoothly through his hair was entrancing.

"What?" Lucas noticed that Fred had been staring a little too long,

Broken out of his trance, Fred began to look at his cards, "It's just, not a lot of people know I'm allergic to mayo,"

Lucas winked, "I know more about you than you think."