Fred was starting to get frustrated.

Elara was now avoiding him at every chance she got, and he never got another opportunity to sit next to her in Potions class. Daphne Greengrass was back to sitting next to Elara, and Fred had seen the dark haired girl glaring at him more than once.

He couldn't get Elara out of his mind, and even George was starting to worry for him.

"Freddie, maybe you should stop," cautioned George, staring at his brother who was intensely focusing on his newest drawing of the serpent princess. "I'm a bit worried about you, mate."

"George, I'll say this once more, and not again," Fred didn't take his eyes off his drawing, adding in the flecks of green and blue he now knew very well. "If I were able to stop, I would. But she's.. Different."

"You're right, she's different!" George shouted, startling Fred with his intensity. "Did'ja forget we're in a war, mate? And she's a bloody Malfoy!"

"She isn't evil, George," Fred shook his head, annoyed at his twin. "I can feel it."

"You sure she didn't slip you a love potion?" badgered George, worry for his twin clear in his tone. "I've never seen you act like this, not even over Angie."

"I'm going to make her mine, Georgie," declared Fred, snapping his book shut. "Even if she resists it."

Fred got off his bed then, and George eyed him with caution.

"Freddie where-"

"I'll see you later, Georgie." Fred slipped out of their dorm room, heading out of the Gryffindor Common room.

Although he wasn't quite sure where to find her, he did have a pretty educated guess as to where she could be. After all, this was the girl Fred had pined over for years. He may have grown out of his admittedly stalkerish fourth year phase, but he still kept tabs over the silver haired beauty. Old habits die hard.

Fred passed by a few Hufflepuffs as he made his way to the astronomy tower, starting with the least likely place he would find her. Perhaps he should have asked Harry to borrow the Marauders Map for this, but the idea had occurred rather too late for that.

To his dissatisfaction, the astronomy tower was empty safe for a Ravenclaw and Slytherin fifth year couple that were getting more than a little handsy. Fred had quickly left after that, shouting over his shoulder about the contraceptive spell. The red faced Slytherin boy had sent a hex after him, which Fred narrowly dodged.

A smirk on his face, Fred checked the library next. He then ventured out to the grounds, even the hall outside the Slytherin common room, but no luck. He admitted his defeat, and sullenly made his way back to his common room.

It wasn't until the Slytherin versus Gryffindor match that he got to see the girl that invaded his every thoughts.

Elara shook Angelina's hand before the match, keeping her eyes narrowed on the dark haired girl. She seemed to shake with more force than usual, a slight curl to her lip. Fred found that odd, as she was always much more composed than the rest of her house. Particularly, her brother.

Speaking of her brother, he seemed to have thought himself quite the song writer. He, along with the other Slytherin's on the field, began singing Weasley is Our King. Fred saw Elara giving her brother several sharp looks, although she did not say anything to him. She didn't sing the song either, so that was the only brightside to the situation. As much as Fred wanted to watch Elara's every move, he had a game to play. And, unfortunately, Ron wasn't the best addition to the team. Thankfully, Harry caught the snitch rather quickly, and the game was over. Gryffindor had won.

Fred was shaking Harry's hand after the match when he heard his annoying voice saying something out of the ordinary. He turned then, to where Draco was drawling something out to Ron, and paid attention this time when he spoke.

"-We couldn't fit in useless loser either, for his father, you know."

Fred stiffened, as did George. He realized that Malfoy had just called his mother fat. And his father a useless loser. He began to see red.

"Leave it," Angelina said at once, taking Fred by the arm.

Draco said more, this time speaking down on their house, his family fucking home, and it took the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia, and Katie to hold Fred back. George was being held back by Harry. Draco was laughing openly, not seeing his sister coming up behind him with a dark look on her face.

"Shall I be writing father, and letting him know how you gloat after winning?" Elara slapped Draco upside the back of his head, causing Draco to flush and turn around to sneer at her. "Perhaps I should let mother know about your foul mouth."

"Shut it, Elara," fumed Draco, raising his eyebrows at her. "Father would agree with me." He turned his attention back to Harry, a nasty smirk on his face. "We were talking about it, father and I. We think the reason you like the Weasleys so much is because the stink reminds you of your mothers place, a reminder-"

Fred watched as Harry let go of George, both of them running to the younger Malfoy. Harry sank his fist into Malfoy's stomach, and George began attacking his face. Fred strained against the girls holding him back, wanting desperately to have his go at the git.

"Stupefy!" shouted Elara, aiming at Harry and George. The spell hit them instantly, knocking them on their feet. Draco lay on the ground, clutching his bloody nose.

Madam Hooch came over then, and set everyone straight. George and Harry were herded to McGonagall's office, and Elara had hoisted Draco off the ground, a passive look on her face.

"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes," Elara reprimanded her brother, who was moaning on about his nose. "Dunno what else you expected."

"Bugger off," Draco snapped out, his hand still holding his face.

The two left the field, and finally Fred was released from the three girls hold. He glared at the girls, and stormed off the field. He planned on confronting Draco himself.

He could just barely catch the glimpse of Elara's long hair swishing around a corner, and he hurried after her. It seemed odd to him, that she was heading towards the Gryffindor common room rather than the nurses office.

Fred was even more surprised to see it was just her, and she was approaching McGonagall's office. The words that came from her mouth shocked him even more, especially when he realized she was standing up for them to Umbridge.

"Professor Umbridge, I assure you that Draco instigated the fight," her voice was firm, poised. "There's no need for you to ban those three from playing Quidditch. Draco should not have been such a poor sport."

"Now now, Miss Malfoy," simpered Umbridge, and Fred had to resist the urge to punch the woman. "How lovely of you to apologize on your brothers behalf. Yet another example of why violence is not needed. No, my decision still stands. However, it is very noble of you to be the bigger person. Ten points to Slytherin."

"That wasn't what I wanted, Professor," Elara began, but was promptly cut off.

"My decision is final, Miss Malfoy," Umbridge's voice was sickly sweet. "Now, perhaps you should go check on your brother."

"Yes, ma'am." replied Elara, a hint of frustration in her tone.

She turned then, catching eyes with Fred who was standing there stone faced. She bit down on her plump lip, and Fred was reminded of how it felt when he kissed her that day.

Elara walked over to Fred, motioning for him to follow her. He did, of course. He thought that he might follow her anywhere.

Fred followed her all the way to the astronomy tower, surprised that she had brought him to the place they had fucked. He crossed his arms, watching as she walked over to the railing, looking out into the night sky. Walking across the room, he stood next to her, leaning against the railing, waiting for her to say something.

"I apologize about Draco," Elara started, her eyes still on the twinkling sky. "He's a prat, I know, he has a big head, but he's still my brother. Unfortunately."

"I don't want an apology from you," Fred shook his head, his fingers clenching the metal railing as Draco's words floated through his head again. "And I don't expect one from your brother, either."

"What do you expect, then?" asked Elara, tilting her head to look at him.

In the dying light of evening, she looked ethereal. It made his breath catch in his throat, and he suddenly felt angry at her. Angry that her brother was an ass, angry that her family was who they were, angry that she had just walked away after they had sex.

Angry that he thought he might love her.

"I don't expect anything from you," scowled Fred, raising an eyebrow and sucking in his cheek. "You've made it clear that it won't get me anywhere."

"Excuse me?" snapped Elara, facing Fred and crossing her arms. Her Quidditch uniform swayed in the wind, her hair swishing behind her.

"I can't expect anything from you," repeated Fred, shrugging his shoulders. He, too, crossed his arms. "You fucked me, and then you left. You ignored me."

"Course I did," Elara retorted, her nails digging into her arms. "You got what you wanted. You got to fuck Elara Malfoy, unattainable Slytherin. Then, you got to go run and tell your friends. That's all you wanted from me. I knew not to expect anything more from you."

Fred openly gaped at her in disbelief. How had she gotten that in her head? "What the bloody hell gave you that impression?"

"Daphne told me," sneered Elara, swinging her arms down and balling her fists up at her sides. "I told her what happened, that I might have feelings for- anyways, she told me that would be the only reason you would fuck me. As a trophy."

"Blimey, you're impossible," Fred tossed his hands in the air. "I never once said that! Or did that! I want something more with you. Can't you see that?"

Elara was silent. So was Fred. He studied her reaction, the clench in her jaw, the tensed way she kept digging her nails into her palms. He saw when she decided to leave and run away again, and he caught her arm before she could.

"Let go of me-" Elara began, but was cut off as Fred pulled her into him. He looked down at her, and pressed his lips to hers.

He gave Elara plenty of opportunity to pull away, but to his happiness she didn't. Instead, she melted into his arms, her soft lips moving in sync with his. She parted her mouth, and Fred licked into hers, feeling himself begin to be aroused when she moaned softly into his mouth.

Fred pulled away then, unwilling to go further until they were both on the same page. He watched as Elara slowly opened her eyes, staring at him with an unreadable expression.

"Elara.." Fred trailed off, clearing his throat. He kept her in his arms, his hands entangled in her soft hair. "I want you, if you'll have me."

"Fred," Elara paused, biting down on her lip again, distracting Fred for a moment. "My family wouldn't approve."

That stung, he had to admit. Had he known she would say that? Of course, he wasn't daft. "I'm not asking about your family's opinion, love. I'm asking for yours."

"I can't," Elara shook her head, and Fred felt his heart break then. "I care for you, but I can't."

"Can't we just try?" pleaded Fred, his grip on her tightening. He didn't want to lose her before he got her.

"We can't," Elara gently broke out of Fred's embrace, and he felt colder. "My family wouldn't approve. I can't say yours would, either, honestly. My brother has made it his life mission to torment Ron and Harry."

"Mine would just want for me to be happy," Fred responded quickly, shaking his head. "Malfoy or not. Aren't yours the same?"

She looked away from him then, biting her lip again as tears formed in her eyes. "Not really, no. Look, I'm going to go now. I hope you find someone, Fred. Someone good."

For the second time, Fred watched as the girl who held his heart left him alone in the astronomy tower. He wondered why, exactly, she didn't think she was good for him. He wondered what exactly it was like to be a Malfoy.

He found that he pitied the thought.

However, he knew now, that she did have feelings for him. He had caught her slip up. He would do whatever it took now, to get her to be with him. Perhaps, he had to begin a more... unconventional approach. He just hoped Angelina would be on board.

hello! let me know any thoughts on this story. hope everyone is doing well!

-TheFlyingGraysons