STUPID CUPID
I usually don't advocate writing two stories at once, and I'm not done with Under My Spell yet, but I HAD to start this. It was gnawing at my mind and I had to write it. This is a Fred/Angelina fic, set in their seventh year. I think it will be about four chaps, depending on how long each is. Read, and always review! Enjoy!
CHAPTER ONE: KING OF JOKERS
Angelina was running in the twilight. The crescent moon hung in the sky while daylight struggled to stay longer. The horizon was like a painting, colors splashing over the trees and swirling into the clouds. The wind whipped through her hair, and her robes fluttered back. Then she stopped. Across the lake was a tall figure, silhouetted in the moonlight. But she knew him. It was Fred. He looked like an ordinary boy, but she knew better. He was gazing up at the star studded sky, and she wondered what sort of mischief he was planning. She knew the moment he spotted her. There was a prickle at the back of her neck, and awareness in her nerves. Each stood on end, and it was almost painful when he tossed her that glance. She began to run again, and he started toward her as well. She saw his fiery hair getting closer, closer, and she could almost feel him…and then…
"Angelina! Wake up!" Katie shouted.
"Look at her, gripping the pillow like that. You think she's all right, Kate?" Alicia asked.
"Of course she's all right. Well, except for the fact that she's simply pining for Fred Weasley."
"I am not," Angelina mumbled, half awake. She pulled her mind from the foggy depths of sleep and sat up in bed. Sheepishly, she untangled the poor pillow from her fierce grip. "Well, even if I am, he certainly doesn't pine for me," she added dejectedly.
Katie surveyed her friend, and sat next to her on the four poster. "Come on, Angelina. He took you to the Yule Ball last year."
"Yes, but, well…That was it. Up until last year, he'd made no sign of being interested in me. Then there was the incident in the locker room…and the ball…but since then, nothing. He pulled away. He hardly talks to me in class this year. Even if he's not interested in me that way, I'm still his friend."
Katie rubbed her hand on Angelina's back while Alicia sat on her other side. "Now then, I know he likes you. The whole of Gryffindor knows it."
"Boys are just dense," Alicia added.
"Especially the Weasley boys. Dense as they come. It's just too bad they're so good looking."
Angelina sighed. Katie was right, of course. Fred liked her. It was painfully obvious. Were her feelings that transparent too? It didn't matter. This was her last year at Hogwarts, and after this, who knew where she'd end up? She could be in a different country and never see Fred again. She didn't think she could stand the thought. Something had to be done. The only way to overcome any Weasley was to fight fire with fire. Or as the case may be, prank for prank, hilarious jibe for hilarious jibe. Slightly mollified, she got out of bed and prepared for the day.
Professor McGonagall's voice washed over Angelina, and even though she heard bits and pieces of the lesson, most of it was focused on a certain Weasley boy. Oh, did he boil her blood. The good way (which was half the problem) and the bad, but it was the bad way that had her worried.
They'd been friends from the first day of their first year. She walked into his and George's compartment, and they were planning the first of many legendary pranks. She was sure they would have told her to get lost if it wasn't for the fact that they needed someone to stand guard. The position had fallen to her, and the rest was history. Once they had gotten settled in school, she'd made friends with Katie and Alicia, and the twins had befriended Lee Jordan. They'd gone out for the Quiddich team together, trained and practiced together. The twins had even roped her and her friends into more jokes. She liked the boys very much, but for some reason, it had always been Fred that sent a shock through her system, put stars in her eyes. She had waited for him to make a move for three years, and finally there had been that…interesting moment in the locker rooms last year.
It brought a blush to her cheeks whenever she thought about it, and she looked around the classroom to make sure everyone else's mind was on the professor. It was just after a rainstorm, and Angelina had been itching to fly. The damp, cool air called her name, and she simply had to get on a broom. The Quiddich season had been canceled due to the Triwizard Tournament, but Angelina had kept her broom in the broom shed anyway.
She slipped from the shed and headed down to the locker rooms to get a Quaffle to toss around. She'd found Fred sitting on one of the benches, his head resting against the side of a locker. His eyes were closed, and he was singing.
It was the most touching thing she'd ever seen. The memory was as clear a year later as it had been the day after, and she could just see his foot tapping in time with his lovely voice. She'd stopped short when she heard that voice, and peered around the corner. She'd put her hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing, but the impulse stopped quickly. He was singing some Muggle song that she vaguely recognized. Her cousins were Muggles, and she was sure she'd heard this on their—what was it called?—oh yes, CD player.
Go and close
The curtains
Cause all we need is candle light
You and me
And a bottle of wine
And I'll hold you tonight
Well we know
That I'm going away
And how I wish
I wish it weren't so
So take this wine
And drink with me
Let's delay our misery
Save tonight
And fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
Tomorrow I'll be gone
Save tonight
And fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
Tomorrow I'll be gone
There's a log
On the fire
And it burns
Like me for you
Tomorrow comes
With one desire
To take me away
It's true
Well it ain't easy
To say good-bye
Darling please
Don't start to cry
Cause girl you know I got to go
Oh, and Lord, I wish it wasn't so
He opened his eyes for a split second, but it he saw her. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't meant to spy on him. "Oh, Fred," she breathed.
He blushed as deep as his hair. "I, um, well that is to say…aw jeez…"
"No, it was lovely," she assured him. "Don't be embarrassed. There isn't anything wrong with singing."
The blush stayed in place. "Be that as it may, I don't think it needs to spread around school that Fred Weasley was singing the a capella version of Eagle-Eye Cherry's Save Tonight in the locker rooms. Okay?"
"You got it, Weasley. Care for a game of one on one Quiddich?"
He started to laugh, and jumped up and pulled her into his arms. It took her by surprise, and her breath caught in her throat. He kissed her, and the world turned upside-down.
"Miss Johnson, are you paying attention?" Professor McGonagall's voice cut through her daydream and brought her back to the present.
She jumped. "Oh, uh, yes Professor."
The class chuckled, and she turned to see George's head shaking with laughter he was trying to suppress. She saw immediately what he was laughing about. Not her being scolded, but something much better.
Fred's wand was pointed at the nape of Lee's neck, and neon green goo was sliding out of the end of it. Lee didn't seem to notice for a minute, but then his neck twitched, and then it twitched again. The goo got past his ears before he jumped halfway to the ceiling, screaming and flailing his arms. Fred drew his wand away like lightning. He was such a trouble maker. She laughed as a thought ran through her head. How could she be in love with him?
After class had ended and Fred and George had been assigned their first detentions of the year, she pushed past people in the congested hallway to catch up with them.
"How did you manage that one?" She asked, falling into step beside Fred.
"Easy spell I found in some old magic book of dad's. Don't worry, we have plenty more where that came from."
"Stop giving away valuable information, Forge," George scolded good naturedly.
"Trust me, I'm not going to sit in front of you in any class. I'll not risk being gooed."
Fred laughed. Angelina marveled at how even his laugh got to her. It was deep, a from-the-back-of-the-throat, hearty laugh. Perfect. Ugh, what was wrong with her? Something had to be done.
Back in the common room that night, Angelina looked up from a nasty potions essay assigned by and equally nasty potions teacher. She peered around the room, wracking her brain for an answer, and spotted Fred and George playing chess on the other side of the room.
Why did her thoughts wander to Fred so much recently? Was she going crazy? Did he put some sort of spell on her? She crossed the room on the pretence of asking for his advice on the essay.
"Fred?" She asked casually.
"Hmm?" he muttered without looking up.
"Do you have any idea what measurement of Pixie dust is required for a sleeping potion?"
"Nope." Again, he didn't look at her. "Ask Hermione." He said shortly.
George glanced up from the board to study his brother and friend. Why was Fred being so choppy with Angelina lately? Half the time he was at ease, like his old self, then others he was clipped and hostile. Angelina chanced a glance at him, and he shrugged slightly. George watched her cross back to her chair, and then cleared his throat.
"What?" Fred asked. "It's your move."
"I know. But apparently you don't."
"What are you talking about?"
"Angelina. It's your move, bro. Get it?"
Fred just shrugged. He knew his brother was right. He really did like Angelina. She was smart, funny, a hell of a Quiddich player, and pretty. Heck, gorgeous. He dark skin, her fluffy hair…He mentally shook himself. Get a grip, Weasley. She's your friend. But then why was he in love with her?
"What is it, Angelina?" Katie asked when her friend plopped down on the chair next to her, fire seeping from her eyes.
Oooh, that Fred Weasley was just asking for it. "I hate Fred."
Katie rolled her eyes. This had to stop. It was getting ridiculous. "You just have to tell him how you feel."
"Do you think he'd listen? No, he never does. If I were to go up and bite him in the butt, he still wouldn't notice."
"Oh, I think even he'd catch that one," Katie said mischievously.
Angelina rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. I need a plan. Something so cunning, so devious, so perfect, even the King of Jokers couldn't pull it off. Fred has been the only thing on my mind. Cupid is a real mean guy, you know? I just want to…clip his wings or something. I can't do my homework, and I can't think straight. Stupid Cupid," she sighed.
Her eyes scanned the common room again. Ron was sitting near the fire with Harry and Hermione. Ginny wasn't far away, and she was deep in conversation with Colin Creevey. But Angelina noticed that her eyes flickered over to Harry every now and then. She saw Lee trying to magic the goo out of his hair, and then her eyes landed once again on the twins. Fred looked uneasy, contemplating his next move, she imagined. George looked calm, and it looked as though he was going to win, just by the smug look on his face. Her eyes went from Fred to George, and back again. A plan was forming in her head. It was complicated, but if Katie and Alicia helped…It would be perfect. Just the thing to get Fred's attention. If she could only pull it off…
This chapter turned out so differently than how I pictured it. Oh well. I was listening to "Ordinary Day" by Vanessa Carlton when I wrote Angelina's dream. Big surprise. And you obviously recognized the Eagle-Eye Cherry song. And the title is taken from Stupid Cupid by Mandy Moore. I think we'll be seeing some more quotes from that song in later chaps. Hope you like it!
