Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 10

Reasons

Fred waited outside of the Hospital Wing for twenty minutes before Professor Snape came out and told him that he would have to go to lunch on Dumbledore's orders. Fred opened his mouth to argue, but realized that it wouldn't help his friend at all, he slumped his shoulders and went down to the Great Hall. He took a seat near George, but remained silent and refusing to eat anything, the news that he had been banned from Quidditch hit him hard, but it still didn't compare to the sinking feeling he had when he though about Jade.

Looking up at the staff table, he saw that both Dumbledore and Snape's seats were empty, looking over he saw that McGonagall wasn't there either, he bit his lip. 'Something isn't right, why aren't they here?' The doors opened and the headmaster and the two teachers entered the Great Hall, McGonagall was unusually pale and Snape's mouth was shut tight as if he was afraid to open it. Professor Dumbledore walked up to the podium and the hall fell silent.

"Students and fellow staff members, I am afraid I have some bad news. Before today's Quidditch match, someone poisoned a fellow student, that student I am afraid is none other than Gryffindor's Jade Williams." The Gryffindor students looked shocked and Fred inhaled a sharp breath. "I have spoken with her head of house and we have agreed that it is time to let the students know that Miss Williams is a victim of a Blood Switching Curse, and that her mother's blood was switched with that of Lord Voldermort's."

The hall was still as stone, then suddenly Fred and George stood up and Fred abruptly yelled across the hall, "That is Jade's deepest secret! Why did you just tell everyone what it is when she worked so hard to not let them know?"

Dumbledore looked at Fred and George, he seemed unnerved by their sudden and abrupt interruption, it was almost as if he knew that they were going to jump up. Dumbledore's eyes were soft as he looked the twins in the eyes and said,

"I have told everyone because they have a right to know. I am sorry to say that the poison is a slow acting one and that there is currently no antidote that we can give her because of the curse. I am afraid that Miss Williams is going to die." George looked as if he had been petrified when this news hit him, and Fred sunk down into his seat and put his face in his hands, both were silent. After a moment George sat down still looking shocked and Dumbledore continued,

"Now I must say this, although I have told you about the curse, no one is to mention this to Miss Williams. No one is allowed to tell her that she is dying either, I have my sources and if I find out that any of you mentioned anything to her you will be expelled." He took a deep breath and then continued, "We must all continue as if nothing is wrong, I don't want Miss Williams to be upset, so not even the teachers will say anything and we won't tell her at all. This was decided by Miss Williams' guardians, they do not want her told." The silence was spooky, no one spoke even a whisper, Dumbledore penetrated the silence after a moment, "Now I know that Miss Williams is a clever girl, she might figure it out on her own, but until then we MUST remain silent about this. We expect her to live until sometime next year, to all of her friends and family, I am deeply sorry."

Dumbledore sat down and continued his unfinished meal, the silence of the hall suddenly became the buzz of students whispers. A few students looked at the twins, but didn't say anything, George looked stunned as the news began to sink in, Fred still had his face in his hands, he wasn't crying, but he was upset. After a moment he stood up and headed out of the Great Hall, no one said anything as he left, he didn't go to the Common Room, or even to the Hospital Wing, instead he went outside. He walked along the edge of the Dark Forest and before he knew it he was in a secluded area next to the lake.

Fred sat down where he could not be seen, he stared at the lake, it was a smooth as a piece of glass, the sun was still rather high in the air, so Fred guessed it to be about three o'clock. Fred sat mostly in silence thinking of things that had happened in the past years, truth be told he and George wouldn't have been so successful if Jade hadn't been there manipulating from the background.

Flashbacks of the past few years flew in front of his eyes, he couldn't help but remember all of the great times he, George and Jade had shared, but nothing topped the time last year when they had Yule Ball. He had taken Angelina to the ball and Jade had gone with Lee, halfway through the ball he and Lee and exchanged partners. Jade and Fred were dancing so well by the end of the ball that Dumbledore approached them and said if they had a trophy for best dancing they would have received it. Two weeks later in the mail both he and Jade received a golden trophy with a dancing pair on top, it was labeled Best Dancers at the Yule Ball. The trophy was dated, had their names on it and Dumbledore and McGonagall had signed it. Fred still had the trophy, it currently sat on his bedside table in his dormitory.

By the time the Fred pulled himself out of his thoughts the sun had begun to set. Fred knew he was going to miss dinner but he didn't care, he just wanted to sit here alone, for once this was something his twin couldn't help him with. As he watched the sun sink below the horizon, the effect of Dumbledore's words fully hit him. Fred began to cry, silent, hot, salty tears rolled down his face, he pulled his legs up to his chest, crossed his arms, and buried his face in his arms. He wasn't ashamed to cry, he had a reason to cry his best friend was dying. Fred looked up at the stars his face tear streaked, the occasional tear leaking out, it suddenly became clear to him, he knew why he overreacted when Jade was hurt, he knew why he got so flushed when she was around him.

As his and Jade's friendship grew, so had their emotions, they basically grew up together, Jade was over every summer, he saw her every year and they spent as much time as they could together. As they grew so did their feelings, deep in his heart a small spark of love had sprouted when he was just thirteen, during Jade's second year at Hogwarts he had fallen in love with Jade, during all these years he had never known. This emotion had hidden itself amongst his heart, and it wasn't until he found out that he best friend was going to die that this emotion decided to show itself, once again he buried his face in his arms and he let himself cry.