Daisy

Concrete Wall - Zee Avi

As September came and went, the students of Hogwarts were falling into a rhythm of classes, homework, extracurricular, and leisure time. And James was falling for Gabriella, despite his friends’ protests. He spent all of his free time with her, and if he was given a choice between his friends and her, they were all certain he would choose Gabriella. It had gotten to the point where he was fighting with Violetta, something they almost never did. The last time Violetta had even spoken to James was a week prior. “I don’t get what the big deal is, V,” James had said, already sounding angry.
“Come on guys, let’s not fight,” Cormac tried.
“The big deal, James, is that you’re shoving us all aside for this bloody girl you barely know!” Violetta retorted completely ignoring their friend. “Who, not to mention gets just a grand kick out of making my life a living hell!”
“You’re just being dramatic, Violetta.”
“Who are you?!” She was beyond angry now. “The James I know would have at least enough brain power to figure out that the last thing I’m being is dramatic!”
“James!” Gabriella called then as she walked down the hall happily, with Sicily and Scorpius trailing behind. But her smile turned to a scowl when she looked at Violetta. She rolled her eyes and looked at James who seemed to have completely checked out, and only saw Gabriella.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…” Gabriella kissed James on the cheek with a smile then looked to Violetta once again.
“Don’t you have someone to fuck? Run along.” Gabriella said and then turned back to James, who seemed to have ignored the comment completely.
“You did not!” Violetta dropped her bag and lunged at her, but Cormac caught her by the waist.
“Okay, time to go!” he said while holding her back. With her in his arms, he grabbed her bag and left, knowing that if Violetta stayed around them any longer, someone might end up in the hospital wing.
So when Violetta, Fred, Cormac, Millie, and Lysander, along with Lysander’s twin brother Lorcan, decided to go into Hogsmead for Butterbeer, they weren’t surprised that he chose to hang around with Gabriella and her Slytherin friends.
The group of six wandered down the path leading to the small town near Hogwarts in the autumn air. Millie clung to Lysander lovingly while Violetta walked unintentionally close to Fred, and Cormac joked around with Lorcan. As they walked, Violetta fought the urge to think about James. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get the incident from a few weeks ago out of her mind. She didn’t know what to make of it, but since James was now hanging all over Gabriella, she assumed whatever may or may not have been between them was never meant to mean something. But it did. And then when she thought about him, she couldn’t help herself to think about the incident just a few days ago in the hallway; one in which would have ended very badly had Cormac not been there. As Violetta thought, Fred looked over at him. Her eyes were glassy, and looked as though she was going to cry. “Hey,” he said softly as his fingers intertwined with hers at their sides.
She came out of her thoughts and looked at him, slightly confused. “Yeah?”
“Are you alright?” he questioned. She nodded lightly.
“I’m fine,” she replied with a sigh. It was shaky, like she was fighting tears, making it blatantly obvious to Fred that she was upset over something. He assumed it was James. It was obvious to all of them that James was pulling away from them, but it was hardest for Violetta. Fred studied her features, and decided not to push the issue anymore. Violetta was the type of person who would tell you what was wrong if she wanted you to know, and to pry was the worst thing to do with her. They walked the rest of the way hand in hand to Hogsmead, which was surprisingly comfortable.
Violetta had never looked at Fred in any way other than a friend, but now, as they sat across from each other at the Three Broomsticks, she couldn’t help but notice how attractive he really was. His smile made her want to smile and his eyes were an intoxicating blue-green. As their friends talked and joked around, Fred and Violetta found themselves stealing glances of each other. She felt like she was playing a flirtatious game, and wanted to know what would happen if it continued. He was giving her butterflies. They were nothing like the ones she experienced with James but she liked it, but then again that might be the Butterbeer talking.
When they had arrived, feeling like she needed it, Violetta had downed a whole glass, and the one sitting in front of her was actually her second one, while her friends were still on their first. “I wish you were in Gryffindor,” Violetta heard Millie say to Lysander as she tuned back into the conversation. “Both of you.” She looked between he twins. “Then you could come to our Halloween party.” They both laughed a little. They had always wanted to be able to have a Halloween party, but Ravenclaws as a whole, weren’t a group of party people.
“That reminds me,” Fred said as he looked at Violetta. “V, before we leave we have to pick up the refreshments.” She smiled at the thought. A few weeks before, the sixth and seventh year Gryffindors had gathered money from their housemates, to go toward the Halloween party, which was something that happened every year. They kept it on the low from the first through fourth years, and every year waited until they went to sleep to start the party. This year, like nearly every year, most of the money had gone towards Fire Whiskey, an age-old Gryffindor favorite, and Fred and Violetta were tasked with moving it from the passageway in Honeydukes, back to the common room.
After one more round of Butterbeer, the friends finally decided to head to Honeydukes where they would part ways with Violetta and Fred. The two snuck downstairs quickly without anyone seeing. It was an easy task for the troublemakers. Fred had gone through this passageway multiple times, just like his father and uncle had. He was just like them. He knew exactly which floorboards covered the passageway, and he quickly descended to the ground before helping Violetta down, and closing it back up. Inside the tunnel, their “guy” had already placed the two cases of Fire Whiskey there. They each took a box and began to walk. “I’m so excited for this party,” Violetta spilled.
“Me too, it will be epic as usual,” Fred laughed as he glanced at her. “So what’s going on between you and James?”
“What are you on about,” she asked, feeling everything get serious in a moment.
“Cormac told me you got into a fight a few days ago.”
“He was being thick. And Gabriella showing up didn’t help any.”
“Why don’t you just tell James how you feel?”
“That ship has sailed,” she said as she repositioned the box in her arms. “He’s off with Gabriella. We kissed once, and obviously it meant nothing to him, so I’m moving on.”
“But it meant something to you, V.”
“A relationship is a two way street, my dear Weasley. If it meant nothing to James, it meant nothing to me. Simple as that.”
“Whatever keeps you smiling,” Fred said in a singsong voice as they continued on. For the rest of the walk they talked about mundane things, and Violetta did everything in her power to avoid talking about James again.

It was finally Halloween, and the feast was in full swing. Everyone loved Halloween, Fred, on the other hand liked any holiday that resulted in a massive feast. His friends on the other hand, loved that Head Mistress McGonagall allowed the students and teachers to dress up if they wished. The group joked around, and all but ignored James who was yet again just staring longingly at Gabriella. It was like he wasn’t even there anymore. “Guys, look at Teddy. He’s dressed up as Hagrid!” Fred pointed out through mouthfuls of food. “I’m so taking a picture and sending it to Clary.” Fred pulled his phone out then and aimed it at his brother-in-law and transfiguration teacher. Teddy noticed his actions, as he was not very far away, and pulled a funny face. They all laughed in response. Normally, Clary, Fred’s older sister would be there. She was the Potions Professor at Hogwarts for their fourth and fifth year, but when she got pregnant with hers and Teddy’s son, Remus, she left, and decided not to come back, because she didn’t want to be away from her small child all school year. For the rest of dinner, they all ignored James and enjoyed the feast, but the thing every single one of them was looking forward to was the party that would begin in just a few hours.

Once dinner finished, the fifth and sixth years worked to get Gryffindor tower ready for the festivities. As Violetta and Millie hung up cobwebs, both of them couldn’t help but get excited for next year because they wouldn’t have to do anything for the party, and just get to enjoy everything. It was a rule that when they had parties, the fifth and sixth years were virtually in charge of everything, and the seventh years just got to enjoy everything. It was like when you reached the top, you were royalty.
As Violetta paid no attention at all to her surroundings, Fred took the opportunity to do what he did best. Flirt with Violetta, play a funny prank, and still end up as “the best friend.” He grabbed a clown mask he had found in old decorations and put it on, then crept up behind her. He placed his hands on her hips, which made her jump slightly, and then giggle. “Freddy, what are you…” she began as she turned her head and the moment she saw the clown mask, she screamed. Cormac, who was setting out a strange, smoking drink began to crack up. “Fuck you, Fred,” Violetta said as she held her chest. Clowns were probably the only thing that truly scared Violetta, and her friends knew that, meaning every year on Halloween they would do anything and everything they could to scare her.
“C’mon, V,” he said. “You know you love me!”
“I just don’t like you sometimes,” she responded.

At ten, anyone under fifth year, was to be in their dormitory. They were never allowed to participate in parties like these. The older kids would just feel bad to allow anyone fourteen years old or younger to take part in a party where the center of attention was alcohol. Once they were sure the younger kids had gone away, the party began, and Gryffindor goes hard right out of the gate. Violetta and her friends gathered around a small table and placed six shot glasses on the table and they all stood in front of one. Cormac picked his up first, and the rest followed suit. “To sixth year!” he toasted. “And next year, we live like kings!” They cheered and all downed their first shots of many that night. They took at least four more shots together, before they decided to really join the party.
Two hours later, Violetta was wasted. Her heels had disappeared, and she was struggling to keep her dress in place. When her favorite party song came on, she found herself running up to Fred to dance. “Freddy!” she called with a giggle. He looked at her and though he was rather drunk himself, knew what she was asking. He went over to her, and they joined the numerous other people dancing to the song. They danced together; well what they thought was dancing, for the song. When it ended Fred pulled her closer to him, deciding to take a chance, and blame it on the alcohol later if it backfired.
“Freddy, what are you doing?” Violetta asked with a giggle. He placed his hands on her hips and looked down at her.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to do, ever since the other day in Hogsmead,” he said in a hushed tone as he moved closer to her. Though Violetta was drunker than a house Elf with an addiction to Butterbeer, she knew what Fred wanted to do, and she couldn’t help but want to do the same thing, but if her want to do so was the alcohol, she didn’t know. So she leaned up and kissed him before he got the chance to do or say anything else. He smiled as she kissed him, and when they pulled apart, both of them were smiling the same smile, that said to everyone around them they were happy.