Chapter 24: Letters

It had come to our attention that Hermione was not very popular among the female readers of the Daily Prophet. Rita Skeeter had written a few scathing articles about how she was in love with Harry and cheating on him with Viktor Krum. Hermione, who hadn't read any of these remarks for herself, took out a subscription to read firsthand what that nasty woman was saying about her. I had thought she was crazy when seven owls swooped down in front of her. It wasn't like she needed seven of the same newspaper. But none of them were the news. They were hate mail. One, composed of letters cut from the Daily Prophet, called Hermione wicked and a Muggle. One stated that Harry could do much better (Hermione snorted at that one). She was criticized and told she should "boil in frog spawn" in another letter. The last letter landed her in the hospital wing. It was filled with undiluted bubotuber pus. Painful sores had covered her hands as she ran off.

Hate mail kept pouring in for Hermione. There was nothing we could do except tell her not to open them. The Howlers though, those were hard to ignore. When left unopened, they burst into pieces, screaming insults. The Harry-Hermione-Viktor Krum love triangle started to become an annoying topic. What's worse: Skeeter found out that Viktor had asked Hermione to visit him over the summer. He confessed to her that he had never felt for anyone else the way he did for Hermione. My friend was livid when these facts were written for all to see. How was that Skeeter woman getting private information like that when she was banned from the grounds?

It was early morning when I borrowed the Marauder's Map to sneak to the Owlery. The grounds were misty and the chill biting. I was still a little tired from staying up all night listening to Harry talk about Barty Crouch. Something had happened to him. Harry had been near the Dark Forest for Tri-Wizard stuff when he ran into Crouch who had definitely seen better days. Harry explained that Crouch looked scared and was completely out of his mind. But he kept saying he needed to warn Dumbledore. He also said that Voldemort was getting stronger. This echoed what my dad had told us when we saw him on our Hogsmeade trip. Hermione had suggested we send a letter to dad. I volunteered to go.

This is how I found myself at the Owlery at the ass-crack of dawn. It was almost empty, save for an owl coming back from a hunt every now and then. I found Solo perched near one of the open windows with his head down and feathers puffed. He was sleeping soundly, even as other owls started making more noise.

"Hey there, you scoundrel," I whispered affectionately as I stroked one of Solo's wings. He shook, neck extending as he opened his eyes. My owl gave a hoot of recognition. "I've got a note for you to send. It's to dad." Solo twittered grumpily. "I know you don't like Buckbeak. But this is very important. You remember where he's staying, right?" Solo stared at me, unblinking. "Good boy. There's an extra treat in it for you when you return!"

If birds could roll their eyes, Solo would have done just that. He suddenly flapped his wings wildly and hooted hurriedly. Voices were coming up the stairs. I remained quiet as I listened to them argue about blackmail and the Ministry. The door to the Owlery burst open. The twins walked inside, freezing when they saw me.

"What are you doing here," Fred and I said at the same time.

"Sending a letter," I crossed my arms as George and I replied together.

Fred looked at his twin and then grinned at me. There was a sealed letter in his hands. Before I could get a glimpse of the name written on it, Fred stuck the envelope inside his cloak. I snorted and attached the letter to dad to Solo's outstretched leg. He lightly pecked my hand impatiently.

"Be on your way then," Fred Weasley commanded. I heard George shift uncomfortably.

I pursed my lips, stopping in my tracks. No he did not! I clicked my tongue on the roof of my mouth as I spun around. I narrowed my eyes at Fred who was staring me down. "You know," I breathed after a moment of silence. "I wasn't even going to ask. But now… Who are you blackmailing, boys?"

The twins shared a glance. "I was only joking," Fred said smoothly. Oh, could I see right through that little lie.

"Don't play with me, Fred Weasley. I am not your brother."

The twins shared another look. Fred quickly transferred their envelope to George's hands, muttering something I couldn't hear. I watched as George attached the envelope to the leg of the nearest owl. As he carried to bird to the window it wriggled out of his hands and flew off. George flashed me a grin and left the Owlery. Smirking, Fred took a step forward. I shook my head. They could do whatever they wanted anyway. I finished tying Harry's note to my dad to Solo's leg and he darted off. I was watching him fly off into the distance when I felt Fred's breath near my ear.

"Not sending anything…illegal…are you, Cora?"

"Are you," I retorted. "You can get into a lot of trouble for blackmailing someone."

"I don't see how that's your –"

I turned around and was very aware how close he was to me. "I think it is my business if you're blackmailing someone or not."

"I told you –"

"You can get into serious trouble doing something like that," I pressed him forward. He grinned. Fred Weasley grinned. "This isn't a joke! This isn't some silly school rule you and your brother can break! This is the law!"

Fred stepped closer to me. "You're cute when you're worried about me, you know that?"

"You're – you –"

My back was suddenly pressed against the wall of the Owlery. Fred pressed a hasty kiss on my mouth. I was dazed when he backed away, smirking maddeningly. I grunted in frustration as I reached forward grabbing his cheeks and bringing his mouth back to mine, kissing him enthusiastically. Fred reacted just as eagerly. He wrapped his arms around my waist, walking us back until I hit the wall again. I moaned when my head made contact with the stone. Fred's tongue instantly found its way into my mouth. He had obviously done this kind of "French kissing" before. I had no idea what I was doing so I just went with the punches. God, it was invigorating. My hands went from his cheeks to the back of his neck. I remembered how he had reacted when I had tugged on his hair so I tried it again. Fred's kisses became harder, like he was fighting for some kind of dominance. I was completely willing to let him have it.

We made out in the Owlery for – I don't know how long. I was breathing hard when Fred sucked on my lower lip, pulling his head away from mine. His face was flushed and his hair was mussed up. I couldn't even imagine what I looked like. Fred gently flicked his nose against mine and pressed a soft kiss to my throbbing lips.

"If that's how we're always going to make up after an argument –" he chuckled.

"I don't mind that either," I exhaled.

"Cora," Fred smiled as we left the Owlery hand-in-hand. The castle was more alive with students roaming around the grounds before breakfast. In the distance, a few students were chasing each other on their brooms. "We should see each other more."

I laughed, "Fred, we see each other all the time."

"I meant more often." We were still holding hands as we stood in the doorway to the Great Hall. A few students were watching us as they passed, whispering frantically to each other. I looked over to the Gryffindor table to see George and Lee also watching us with big smiles on their faces. Ginny was smirking into her pumpkin juice. While I was looking around for my other friends I thought I heard Fred ask me a question. He gently gripped my chin, making me look at him. His eyes were wide with one eyebrow raised in amusement. "Cora…"

"Oh," I nervously chuckled. "What?"

"I asked if you wanted to be my girlfriend." Fred's voice was so soft. His tongue jut out to lick his lower lip. My head was spinning as my heart stopped beating. I felt the pit of my stomach grow warm and tingly as a slow smile stretched across my face. "Ever since the ball – I don't know. I want to make you laugh and smile all the time. It sounds cheesy and please just say you will…"

My brain disconnected to my mouth as I said yes. Yes I would.

The next day had come and gone faster than I had ever experienced. While I sat with my friends at breakfast, the whole table was whispering about the new relationship that was me and Fred. We hadn't had a chance to talk since yesterday afternoon, but I was still riding the high that came with being in a first relationship. I felt like nothing could bother me. It didn't bother me when Solo flew in, splattering me with eggs. It didn't bother me that the letter he had brought was addressed only to Harry when I had written one to my dad as well. It didn't bother me that dad made no mention of me in this letter to Harry. It also didn't bother me when Hermione insisted that dad was just worried more about Harry because of the tournament. It wasn't like I was his own flesh and blood or anything. But that didn't bother me at all. Not. One. Goddamn. Bit.