Fred stared intently at his sister's and Annie's reunion. Both were smiling, laughing and hugging each other, oblivious to his watchful eye. How could Roxy betray him like that, he thought angrily. She of all people knew what Annie had done. Mind you that was part of the problem, that no one believed him, they all thought that he was just trying to make excuses for being so upset about Annie leaving him to go to France. He knew that she took it; she was the only one that knew where it was kept apart from his family, and she of all people knew how important it was to him.
Fred glared at the blond gossiping with his sister. Today had been an absolute nightmare because of her, he hadn't been able to escape her presence; seeing as she and Niamh were so chummy.
Walking into that train compartment earlier had been horrendous. As soon as he set eyes on her relief, joy and happiness had overwhelmed him, before he'd realised with a sinking feeling in his stomach how her return to Hogwarts would affect him and what she had done all those years ago.
While all his friends had been busy falling at her feet he could barely look at her.
He contemplated the unwelcoming thought that he would not be able to escape her presence, especially as they seemed to share all the same lessons. It would be interesting though to see how she fared at the Quidditch tryouts, she would undoubtedly be there as Fred wasn't sure that Niamh would let her escape it.
She had changed. But at the same time she hadn't. She was still the same Annie that had teased him with sparkling blue eyes as they ran through the orchard at the burrow. Still the same Annie that had spotted two muggle children through a hedge making mud pies before running off to find the gloopiest mud for themselves. And yet, she was quieter now, her eyes didn't sparkle enthusiastically, if anything she hid behind her long blonde hair, seeming to shield herself. Rather than standing up for herself at dinner she had just quietly let things slide. He wondered what had made her change.
Fred shook himself out of his thoughts, careful not to let himself feel any sympathy for her. If anything the new Annie aggravated him more than the old one.
I'll just have to ignore her, he mused, whilst subconsciously making his way up to Gryffindor tower, following the others slowly, careful not to end up walking with her.
Fred paused as he reached the fat lady, slowly mulling over how tomorrow was a new day, and with it would bring the old cheerful Freddie who would be inconspicuously ignoring anything that bothered him.
"Kneezle bubbet" He said thoughtfully as the portrait hole swung open, and as he stepped inside all he saw was a swish of blonde hair and a pair of blue eyes lock with his.