Fred always tried to make the best of everything, and even though he hated having Charley around, he was finding it quite easy to have good time. The match had been absolutely exhilarating. He couldn't believe he and George had actually called the match so perfectly. Betting their savings wasn't as stupid as their father thought.
"With our winnings we'll be half way to our own shop." George said excitedly, as they walked back to camp.
The others were all talking so loud and animatedly about the match, that Fred wasn't worried about their dad over hearing them.
"Yep George, we're on our way." Fred replied draping his arm over his brother's shoulder.
"Alright all, it's a bit late." Mr. Weasley started as they all entered the tent.
"Oh, c'mon Dad, no one's going to be able to sleep after all that excitement." Bill scoffed.
"Not to mention the noise levels will make it impossible to even try." Percy said disapprovingly.
Mr. Weasley considered the room for a moment. He couldn't deny that he himself was going to have a hard time sleeping after watch such an exciting game.
"Alright, we'll have one cup of coco, but just one." he beamed.
The group gathered around the table as Bill and Mr. Weasley went to work conjuring mugs of steaming hot chocolate for everyone. The table burst into heated conversation about the match. Fred watched as Charley joined an argument with his dad and Charlie. He was grateful that Charlie had been taking up most of Charley's attention.
"So George, you jealous?" Fred asked nodding his head towards the two Charlie's.
George looked at him utterly baffled.
"Chuck doesn't like Charlie, Charlie likes Chuck." he replied. "Besides, George doesn't like Chuck!" George said shaking his head.
"Fred doesn't like her either." Fred sighed.
"Well, we all know that." George laughed, "Mate, this year is going to be dreadful for you."
"What why?"
"If Chuck's in Gryffindor, she'll be hanging out with us all the time." George said leaning back in his chair.
"Right, too bad snakes belong in Slytherin." said Fred.
"She's not a snake Fred." George sighed.
"Besides, she's a charming girl, she can make all sorts of new friends." Fred said taking a sip of his coco.
Fred couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts. There was no way Charley was going to be a Gryffindor. Being in separate houses would cause her and George to drift, especially if she was in Slytherin, and Fred wouldn't have to deal with her any longer. She laughed loudly at something Ron said, making Fred cringe. She was so loud.
"You know why you don't like her right?" George asked.
"Yeah, because she's loud and obnoxious. She always wants to be the center of attention, she's moody, sarcastic, and she thinks she so funny." Fred listed. George laughed and shook his head.
"Talking about yourself?" Ginny asked leaning into their conversation.
"I don't think I'm funny, I know I'm funny." Fred winked.
"Did you mention the fact that she was cocky?" George asked with a smirk.
"Oi! She is cocky isn't she?" Fred shouted excitedly.
He looked from Ginny to George as both of them shook with laughter. He narrowed his eyes at the two of them and leaned in, resting his arms on the table.
"What are you getting at?" he asked.
"You don't like her, because you sort of both have a lot in common, personality wise anyways." George explained.
"But-what?" Fred stuttered, completely baffled.
Fred stared at his twin and sister bewildered. They were both still laughing. Ginny took a sip of her hot chocolate. She propped her elbow up on the table and rested her head on her hand, letting her eyes close.
"I'm nothing like Charley." Fred said bitterly.
"Alright you aren't." George shrugged.
"We aren't alike." Fred said firmly.
"She's stubborn too you know." George pointed out. He yawned and stretched out in his chair grinning.
The sleeping Ginny's arm slipped off the table knocking her hot chocolate to the floor. She woke with a start.
"Alright, well I think that our cue for bed." Mr. Weasley said clapping his hands together.
Fred changed quickly and hopped on the top bunk of the bunk bed he was sharing with George. He couldn't sleep, even after the soft snores and deep breathing of his sleeping family filled the tent. After George and Ginny had mentioned it, it was hard for Fred to deny the similarities he and Charley shared. But there was something he didn't trust about her. Nothing about her was real, except maybe the waterworks she had pulled out the previous night, but Fred still wasn't fully convinced. As far as Fred knew she hadn't had an actual conversation with anyone. She hid behind her sarcasm and humor.
He cursed silently, as he thought of what George would say to that observation. George would make some joke about that making the two of them even more alike. But it would be just that, a joke. They both knew that Fred wasn't the type to hide behind anything. He was sure George would end up agreeing with him on the fact that sarcasm and humor were a part of Fred, not something he hid behind.
He wasn't sure when he had finally nodded off. Somewhere between the imaginary conversation he was having with George and him recounting the quidditch match. All he knew was he wasn't asleep for very long, when he felt someone shaking him awake. He sat up groggily and looked down at his twin.
"C'mon Fred, we've gotta go." he said tossing a jacket up to his brother.
Fred climbed down the bunk ladder, not quite comprehending. Something wasn't right, the singing had stopped and had been replaced by screams.
He, George, Harry, and Ron joined the girls outside, where they watched a group of masked wizards marching towards them. They had begun levitating muggles in the air, Fred turned towards his father for instruction.
"Get into the woods and stick together!" his father shouted, "I'll come get you as soon as we've sorted this all out."
Fred looked at the others. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and George were all looking at the muggles utterly horrified. Charley's attention was focused on the masked group coming there way. She turned and began to run.
"C'mon." Fred said grabbing Ginny's hand and pulling her after Charley.
As they ran through the crowd of people it became harder and harder to keep and eye on everyone. They had already lost Ron, Harry, and Hermione, and Ginny's hand had slipped from his. He kept his eyes ahead on Charley, making sure he could still hear Ginny and George's footsteps beside him.
In hindsight he probably should've been paying a bit more attention to where he was stepping. It would've helped considerably had he seen the rock he was about to trip over. His foot caught against the rock and he fell flat on his stomach. George and Ginny tried to stop, but they were shuffled along by the mob. Charley wasn't too far ahead, if he stood up, he could still catch up to her. It was no use, however. There was a sharp pain in his ankle, and he knew he wouldn't be able to stand.
"Charley!" he yelled trying to get her attention.
Charley stopped and turned to look at him. She stood frozen as people pushed past her, but she was no longer looking at Fred. Her eyes were fixed with terror at the masked men behind her. She backed up slowly. Fred couldn't believe it, she was going to leave him. Charley glanced at him and shook her head as if shaking herself back to reality, then raced towards him.
"C'mon Fred." she said grabbing his arm and hoisting him up.
They made their way into the deep forest.
"I think we're in far enough." Fred panted, the pain of his ankle taking a toll on him.
Charley nodded and helped Fred sit against the trunk of a tree. He watched as Charley paced around, her arms wrapped around her stomach.
"You almost ran." Fred said.
She stopped and looked at him angrily.
"I came back didn't I?" she snapped.
"Yeah, it sure took you long enough." Fred sighed resting his head against the tree.
"You have no idea Fred." Charley murmured "Oh, I'm going to be sick." she groaned.
A second later Fred listened as she retched into the bushes. When she came back up she was shaking and tears were streaming down her face. Fred slid over to her.
"Charley? What happened?" he asked her softly.
"Do you know who those people were? With the masks?" Charley asked nervously.
"Arseholes." said Fred.
"Deatheaters Fred, followers of You-Know-Who." Charley said.
Fred looked at her, completely baffled.
"Charley?" Fred said gently. "I don't understand."
"Fred, my last name isn't Rook." she said looking up at him. "It's Rookwood, I shorten it so people wouldn't know."
Rookwood? Fred had never heard the name before. Or maybe he had, in passing. The more he thought about it the more he was sure his father had probably said that name before.
"Know what?" Fred asked.
"My father was a deatheater. After the fall of You-Know-Who he was caught and sent to Azkaban, but my mother still has the mask." Charley explained. She was shaking more than ever.
Fred looked at her stunned. He didn't like her, but he would never had expected this. This was what she had been hiding the whole time. She wasn't sneaky, she was scared.
"I-I'm not sure what to say." Fred said. He put a hand on her knee.
"What if he was with them?" she asked in a small voice.
"Charley, if there had been a mass breakout from Azkaban, everyone would know about it." Fred assured her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her into him. She nodded her head against his chest.
He held for a few moments as she cried softly. He couldn't believe it. No wonder she had acted so strange around Harry. And if her mother still had the mask, what would she think if Charley had befriended the boy who had put her husband behind bars?
"Listen, Chuck, I think we should tell my parents, I think they can help." Fred said stroking her hair.
"As long as my dad is locked away, I won't need any help. But I'll tell them, I want them to know who I am." Charley nodded.
"Charley you aren't your father, you're a good person." Fred said quickly.
She looked up at him and smiled sadly.
"No, you're right, I'm not my father. But I am his daughter."
Fred squeezed her tightly.
Arthur Weasley sighed as he crawled in bed next to his wife. Tomorrow was going to be a rough day at work, he knew it. On top of all that, Fred and Charley had told him about Charley's father as soon as they'd got back.
"Molly," Arthur sighed, knowing he was going to have to tell her eventually.
"Yes dear?" she asked.
"Her father's a death eater." he said forlorn.
Molly looked up at him slightly alarmed.
"Charley I mean. Her father is Augustus Rookwood, he's been in Azkaban since the fall of You-Know-Who." Arthur explained.
"I see." Molly nodded, "And what are your thoughts on the situation?"
"I don't know Mol," he groaned, "she seems like a nice enough girl, but what if she's just playing us? I mean, is it so far-fetched to think that she isn't to be trusted?"
"Arthur I'm surprised at you." said Molly in an angry whisper, " Charley is a sweet girl, who's got a rotten lot in life."
"No, I know. You're right." Arthur nodded.
"Oh Arthur dear, I know its just your job to be suspicious, but Charley is a good girl. I can tell." Molly said patting his hand.
He knew Molly was right, she usually was about these things. She was after all an excellent judge of character.
Thank you for reading! Sorry if the stuff about Charley's dad came out a bit weird, it was different in my head. :)