Christmas break had finally arrived, and the castle buzzed with excitement. Students hurried through the corridors, laughing and chatting about their plans for the holiday. Fred leaned against the wall outside their shared room, watching as Addie meticulously folded the last of her robes into her trunk.
"You sure you don't want to come home with me?" he asked for what felt like the hundredth time, his voice light but hopeful.
Addie glanced up at him, a small, almost apologetic smile on her face. "It's not a good idea, Fred," she said softly.
"You keep saying that," he pressed, though his tone stayed gentle. "But you're not telling me why."
She sighed, closing the lid of her trunk and locking it with a wave of her wand. "There's just... too much going on at my house. My family would be furious if I didn't come home, and it's better for everyone if I just... deal with it."
Fred wanted to push further, to ask what exactly was "going on" at her house, but the look in her icy blue eyes stopped him. There was a kind of weariness there, one that didn't invite questions. So instead, he nodded, forcing a smile. "Alright. But if they give you any trouble, just send me an owl. I'll hex them into next week."
That earned him a faint smirk, and she shook her head. "I'll keep that in mind, Weasley."
As they made their way to the train station, the first snow of the season began to fall, blanketing the grounds in a soft, glistening white. Fred dragged both their trunks along the path, grumbling as the wheels caught on the uneven ground.
Meanwhile, Addie walked ahead of him, her head tilted back to catch snowflakes on her face. For the first time in what felt like forever, she looked... carefree. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and there was a lightness in her step that Fred had never seen before.
He watched her with a mix of amusement and something warmer, deeper. "You look happy," he called out, dodging a particularly large snowball she enchanted to fly at him.
She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "I love the snow," she said simply, spinning in place as more snowflakes danced down around her.
Fred chuckled, shaking his head as he loaded her trunk onto the train. "Well, enjoy it while it lasts, princess," he teased, brushing the snow off his hands.
Addie rolled her eyes but didn't bother with a retort. As the whistle blew, signaling the train's impending departure, Fred turned to her.
"Merry Christmas, Addie," he said, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her cheek.
She blinked, caught off guard, but didn't pull away. "Merry Christmas, Weasley," she replied, her voice quieter than usual.
With that, Fred gave her one last grin and jogged off to find George and the rest of his friends, leaving Addie standing by her compartment. She reached up, her fingers brushing the spot where his lips had been, and for the briefest moment, a genuine smile crossed her face before she stepped onto the train.
Christmas at Number 12 Grimmauld Place was nothing like Fred had expected. The festive cheer that usually filled the Burrow during the holidays was absent, replaced by an air of unease and worry. When he arrived, he learned that his dad had been attacked at work—something to do with a snake, though no one seemed keen to go into detail around him. The news hit Fred hard, but thankfully, Arthur Weasley was alive and recovering at St. Mungo's. Still, the incident left a heavy weight hanging over the household.
The Weasley family wasn't whole this year. Bill and Charlie stayed away due to work, and Percy's estrangement left a sour note that no one dared mention. So it was just Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Harry, their parents, and Sirius, with Angelina tagging along as George's guest.
Fred tried to enjoy Christmas. He really did. He helped Sirius and George hang garlands and enchanted mistletoe around the house, played Wizard's Chess with Ron (and lost spectacularly), and spent hours laughing at Sirius's stories about his Hogwarts days. On Christmas morning, there were presents—socks from Mum, a new set of Quidditch gloves, and some sweets. But none of it felt quite right.
Through it all, Fred found his mind drifting to Addie. She hadn't wanted him to write over the break, saying it would "cause too much drama." He didn't know what that meant, but the thought of not hearing from her for an entire month left him restless. She was always so mysterious, always hiding something, and it frustrated him that he couldn't figure her out.
But what frustrated him more was the realization that he missed her. He missed her sharp wit and the way her lips twitched when she tried not to smile. He missed sitting next to her in class, passing her notes just to make her roll her eyes at him. He even missed her stubborn insistence that she was fine when he could clearly see otherwise.
Fred had never been one to look forward to school. But now, as he sat in the dimly lit kitchen of Grimmauld Place, nursing a butterbeer and half-listening to George and Angelina bicker about Quidditch strategy, he realized he couldn't wait to get back.
"Fred, you alright?" George's voice broke through his thoughts.
Fred blinked, looking up to see his twin watching him with a raised brow. "Yeah, yeah. Just thinking," he said, brushing it off.
George smirked. "About the Slytherin, I bet."
Fred opened his mouth to protest but quickly closed it again. What was the point? George knew him too well.
"Shut it," Fred muttered, though his tone lacked any real bite.
George just laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "You've got it bad, mate."
Fred didn't respond, instead taking another swig of his butterbeer. He wasn't about to admit it aloud, but George was right. And for the first time in his life, Fred Weasley was looking forward to returning to Hogwarts—not for the Quidditch, the pranks, or even the classes, but for her.
The return to Hogwarts felt off from the moment Fred stepped onto Platform 9 . As the steam from the Hogwarts Express billowed around him, he scanned the bustling crowd, searching for Addie. She was nowhere to be found.
He checked every compartment on the train, peering in on his classmates and even brushing off George's teasing about "stalking his Slytherin girlfriend." But Addie wasn't there. His worry only grew when they reached Hogsmeade station, and he scanned the throng of students climbing into carriages. Still nothing.
By the time he trudged into the Great Hall for the feast, Fred's chest was tight with concern. He slumped into a seat next to George, barely paying attention as the Sorting Hat did its thing. Then, finally, he spotted her.
Addie was at the Slytherin table, but she didn't look like herself. Her usual sharp, confident demeanor was gone, replaced by something haunting. Her skin was paler then normal, her eyes red and bloodshot, and she seemed smaller, like the fire in her had been extinguished. She barely touched the food on her plate, instead pushing it around listlessly with her fork.
Fred couldn't tear his eyes away. Something was very, very wrong.
When the feast ended, Fred made his way to their shared room, his stomach knotted with worry. He found her sitting on the edge of her bed, wrapped in a thick sweater and wearing gloves, even though the fireplace was roaring. Sweat glistened on her brow, but she didn't seem to care.
"Addie," Fred said softly, stepping toward her.
She flinched. Not subtly, but visibly, like she was bracing for a blow. Fred froze, his heart sinking.
"Addie, what's going on?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
She shook her head, refusing to look at him. "I'm fine, Fred. Just leave it."
"No," Fred said firmly, his worry bubbling into frustration. "You're not fine. You look like hell, you won't let me near you, and now you're sitting here in a bloody sweater and gloves when its a million degrees in here! What the hell happened over break?"
Addie still wouldn't look at him.
Fred's frustration boiled over. "If you don't tell me, I swear I'll go find your brother and hex the truth out of him myself!"
That did it. Addie's shoulders began to shake, and she let out a strangled sob. The sound shattered Fred's heart.
"Addie…" he said, his tone softening as he took a step closer.
"No!" she cried, holding up a hand to stop him. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at him, her usually icy composure completely gone. "You'll hate me, Fred. I know you will."
"I could never hate you," Fred said immediately, his voice steady despite the worry gnawing at him. "Whatever it is, just tell me."
She stared at him for a long moment, tears still falling, before taking a shaky breath. "You have to promise me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Promise me you won't freak out."
Fred's chest tightened. "I promise."
Addie hesitated, then, with trembling hands, she pulled off her sweater and gloves. Fred's breath caught in his throat as she held out her arm.
The Dark Mark.
It was raw and freshly branded, the black skull and serpent standing stark against her pale skin.
Fred stared, his promise not to freak out the only thing keeping him from exploding. "Addie…" was the only word he could manage.
Her voice cracked as she quickly tried to explain herself. "I didn't want it. I don't believe in it. But I didn't have a choice."
She began to recount her break, her voice trembling as she described meeting Voldemort for the first time. How she had resisted, only to be hit with the Cruciatus Curse. How she was eventually tied to the kitchen table and held down as the Dark Mark was burned into her skin.
Fred's fists clenched, but he stayed quiet, letting her speak. When she finished, she broke down again, sobbing uncontrollably.
This time, Fred didn't hesitate. He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. She didn't push him away. Instead, she leaned into him, clutching his shirt as she cried into his chest.
"I don't believe in any of it," she choked out between sobs. "I hate him, Fred. I hate everything my family stands for. I just… I just play along to survive."
Fred tightened his arms around her. "You're not alone, Addie. I'm here, okay? I've got you."
She looked up at him, her tear-streaked face full of disbelief. "Why are you doing this? Why do you care?"
Fred gave her a small, lopsided smile. "Because you're worth it. And because someone has to take care of you when you won't take care of yourself."
For the first time that night, Addie let out a soft, broken laugh. She shook her head, leaning back against him. "You're an enigma, Fred Weasley."
He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And proud of it."
For the first time since they met, Addie allowed herself to let down her walls. And for the first time, she let Fred in.
After that night, the chemistry and realtionship between Fred and Addie because real. What had started as a charade for the Ministry was now true feelings between teo unlikely individuals. With her walls down, Addie's true self shone through, and Fred found himself completely captivated.
The sarcasm and wit that had always intrigued him were just the tip of the iceberg. Addie was downright hilarious, her sharp humor catching even George and Lee off guard during classes. One day during Charms, George laughed so hard he nearly fell out of his chair, earning a glare from Professor Flitwick. Alicia joined in the laughter, while Angelina smirked but kept her distance, still wary of Addie despite her clear integration into their group.
Fred and Addie started holding hands openly around the castle, their easy banter making it clear to anyone who saw them that they were more than just a Ministry-mandated couple. Slowly but surely, Addie became a part of his tight-knit circle of friends.
One cold January afternoon, as they were walking back from the library, Fred turned to Addie with a grin.
"So, I was thinking," he began casually, "we've been doing this whole fake-dating thing for a while now. But how about we try the real thing? You know, like a proper date. Hogsmeade, this weekend."
Addie raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips. "Are you asking me out, Weasley?"
Fred rubbed the back of his neck, feigning nervousness. "I don't know, Malfoy. Are you saying yes?"
She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Fine. I'll go. But only because I know the Three Broomsticks makes an excellent butterbeer."
That Saturday, they walked to Hogsmeade together, snow crunching beneath their feet. Addie's cheeks were pink from the cold, and Fred couldn't stop glancing at her. They wandered through Honeydukes, filling their bags with sweets, before heading outside into the snow-covered streets.
What started as a playful shove from Fred turned into an all-out snowball fight. Addie was quick on her feet, dodging most of Fred's attacks and pelting him with snowballs in return. But Fred had the advantage of surprise.
When she stopped to catch her breath, he tackled her into the snow, pinning her beneath him. Addie laughed, breathless and flushed, her hair dusted with snowflakes. Fred opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, she leaned up and kissed him.
For a moment, Fred was too stunned to respond, but then he melted into the kiss, his arms bracing on either side of her. The world around them seemed to fade, the cold forgotten as they lost themselves in each other.
When they finally pulled away, Fred grinned down at her. "You, Addie Malfoy, are full of surprises."
"You're not so bad yourself, Weasley," she replied, smiling.
They spent the rest of the day wandering through the snowy village, talking, laughing, and sharing shy but affectionate touches. When the sun began to set, George appeared to fetch them, his expression somewhere between teasing and serious.
They were just started to head back toward the castle, when George pulled Fred aside. "Do you trust her?" he asked, his voice low.
Fred didn't hesitate. "With my whole heart."
George nodded, his jaw tight, and turned to Addie who was watching him with a curious glare. "Alright, Malfoy. Let's get something straight. Are you with Voldemort or against him?"
Addie stiffened, her expression guarded, but she met George's gaze. "Voldemort thinks I am. My family forces me to act like I am. But I'm not. I'll fight him any way I can."
George studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Good. Let's go."
He led them both to the Hog's Head, where Hermione and Harry had called a meeting to talk about the abysmal education they were receiving.
The dingy room above the Hog's Head was packed with students, all of them murmuring excitedly as Harry and Hermione stood at the front, explaining their plan. Addie hung back, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes on her.
When Harry finished his speech, Fred nudged her forward. "Go on," he whispered.
Addie cleared her throat, drawing the room's attention. The chatter quieted as everyone turned to her.
"I know most of you don't trust me," she began, her voice steady despite the nerves twisting in her stomach. "And I get it. I'm a Slytherin. A Malfoy. And to be completely candid, I was forced to revieve the Dark Mark."
The room erupted in gasps and whispers at this revelation. Addie held up a hand, silencing them.
"But I'm not my family. And I'm not my name. Voldemort is a monster. I've seen what he's capable of, and I want to fight him just as much as any of you."
She hesitated, glancing at Fred, who gave her an encouraging nod.
"I've had dark magic used on me more times than I can count," she continued. "I know how it works. And I know how to fight it. I can help Harry teach you. If you'll let me."
The room was silent for a moment, the tension palpable. Then, to Addie's surprise, it was Neville who spoke up.
"I think we should give her a chance," he said, his voice firm.
One by one, the others began to nod in agreement. Hermione handed out a piece of parchment, charmed to bind everyone to secrecy.
Addie hesitated as the parchment reached her. For a moment, she considered walking away, the weight of their stares too much to bear. But then she felt Fred's hand on her shoulder, steady and reassuring.
Taking a deep breath, she signed her name.
She was the only Slytherin in the group, but for the first time in years, she felt a little hope.