#oc: Aracely Mirabel

[saiilorstars]

Before Me

☼ Fandom: Harry Potter ☼ Pairing: Fred x OFC ☼ Summary: Arlet and Fred have been friends for years never knowing each other's real feelings towards one another. Fred thinks he can't fit into Arlet's important world while Arlet swears she's the only girl Fred wouldn't look at twice. So instead, they choose to watch each other from afar, resigning themselves to a future without one another. ☼ Arlet’s Masterlist ☼ Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​ @stareyedplanet​​ @foxesandmagic​ @caplanbuckybarnes​​

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!

In retrospect, perhaps it could have all been avoided if one or the other had just spoken earlier. It wasn't like they were silent around each other, far from it. First of all, Arlet fully believed that it was impossible for Fred Weasley to be quiet around anyone — it was impossible for him to be quiet at all.

"I take full offense of that, Arly-kins," Fred had said when she joked about it. All their other friends seemed to agree with Arlet as they laughed together.

"Do you? Do you really take offense to that?" Fred's own brother was probably laughing the hardest out of everyone.

"Shut it, George," Fred muttered and grabbed a handful of jelly beans from their shared bowl on the table. He flicked a few jelly beans at those closest to him. "You're all terrible friends," he declared.

Arlet was in a giggling state, even when one of the jellybeans hit her forehead. "C'mon Fred, you're one of the loudest people I've met." She got up from her spot on the floor and plopped down beside him on the couch.

"Am not," he insisted. Still grumbling, he offered her a jelly bean from the pool in his hand.

"Oh, are too." Arlet reached for a jelly bean and popped it into her mouth. She didn't think one simple comment would cause all this. It wasn't often she got to Fred, and even more that she made others laugh. She wasn't very good at jokes. "I'm sorry—"

But someone had called Fred at that moment. Fred looked over the couch, grinning on the spot.

It was Willow Jade, easily one of the prettiest Gryffindor girls — prettiest girl in school altogether. She was a bright redhead — go figure — and had soft hazel eyes. Her word was like law. If she called you, you went to her, no questions asked. It seemed like she could put any boy under a trance.

It was hard admitting that beyond petty jealousy, there was actually nothing wrong with Willow. She was kind, a bit of a jokester herself, and very lively, not to mention smart. But if anyone asked Arlet, she could not stand her. And she knew exactly why. She knew it when Willow called Fred away from their group each time.

"You need to say something," Arlet's younger sister, Aracely, told her later in the evening when the girls had retired to their dorm. "It does no one good when you simmer with jealousy."

Arlet was pulling her covers down, huffing and puffing, but saying absolutely nothing. Aracely rolled her eyes; this wasn't a new conversation, not by a long shot.

~0~

When Arlet and her sister Aracely transferred to Hogwarts, the sisters quickly befriended the Weasley twins. Arlet's situation, although common with the September 1st rule, brought a bit of extra attention when she started. Her birthday was past the cut off the date which meant she had to start school one year later which meant she started along with her younger sister. How could the twins not go poke at that? They were the self appointed welcoming committee of Hogwarts. Their first act was to play the welcoming pranks, only that when the fireworks went off and Arlet fell quite literally in Fred's arms, the latter felt awful for frightening her like that…and thinking she looked just a tad cute.

Arlet had bright blue eyes and plump cheeks. Those quickly became Fred's favorite things about her. When he had caught her from behind, she blinked at him with those blue eyes of hers, wide as could be. The apology tumbled out of him on the spot.

George still hadn't forgiven him for that one. They pulled pranks, they never apologized. It's how it went.

"Oh, but sure, one look from the new pretty girl and you're like fucking jello." George smacked his twin upside the head. "Absolutely pathetic. I will be holding onto this information for future usage."

Fred rolled his eyes, trying to act like nothing but he knew that his brother wasn't lying. One look from Arlet Mirabel and he was a fucking goner.

He never played a prank on her after the first one, instead choosing a different avenue when it came to her. He showed her around the school, making sure to tell her about all the secret ways she could sneak around for, say, a midnight snack.

He learned that Arlet was a very friendly girl, a dancer — she loved ballet — and an avid seeker of building relationships and networks with others. She used to participate in foreign exchange programs before settling in Hogwarts for their 6th year. Fred knew that when Arlet graduated, she would become someone very important. Professional, important Arlet Mirabel.

He didn't see himself fitting in that picture, not by a long shot. He had different ideas for his future, and almost none of them involved academics. It took him a while to settle down and realize that Arlet was just too out of his reach. The first of that reality hit him when she started dating some other highly academic boy — Alex? — for a while. They were identical in their personalities and aspirations.

Fred tried various things to help him remember this reality too. Pranks here, pranks there, joking just about everything, and maybe a little bit of flirting.

If anyone asked Arlet, she would say that Fred Weasley was an excessive flirt. He flirted with everyone. It irked her. Even when she was with her own boyfriend, she constantly found it incredibly irritating hearing all these girls giggling and batting their eyes at Fred. It was even more irritating seeing him return the favor.

When she broke up with Alex, Fred started going out with a pretty Hufflepuff girl. She was fantastic, from an unbiased perspective. Arlet was well aware that she was not an unbiased party. And she was well aware that the annoyance she felt was actually more along the lines of hurt. It hurt seeing Fred with someone else. That was the first time Arlet realized just how deep her feelings went for Fred. She didn't know what constant ache was until he started going out with that girl.

When they broke up, Arlet was guilty of feeling a tiny bit of relief. It didn't last long because from there on out, all Fred did was flirt. All. The. Time.

Enter Willow Jade.

Fred flirted with just about anyone, but more so with Willow. Perhaps it was that they were very much alike, or that Willow actually came up with her own ideas for pranks — they just seemed to gravitate towards each other. It was no secret that Willow liked him…a lot.

Arlet heard Willow giggling with a group of her friends about the latest prank she and Fred had discussed. She was a giggling mess — why did she have to giggle so much?

"Easy there," Aracely startled her sister in the hallway, "You look like you're going to self combust."

Arlet gripped the strap of her bag and stared at Willow across from them. She was still giggling — go figure — and showing her friends something on her hand. There was Fred's name on the back of her hand with a heart drawn around it.

"Well that's just pathetic," Aracely remarked once she saw the same thing. She looked at her sister, raising an eyebrow. "You know that's just from Willow, right? Not from Fred. He wouldn't do that in a million years. Not unless the medium was fireworks."

Arlet still felt pretty upset. "I don't get it, Ara. I like him. I like him so much and he doesn't even look my way. What does Willow have that I don't?"

Aracely snorted. "You're joking, right?"

Arlet met her sister's glance. "What?"

"You're such a dumbass, Arlet. Fred does like you."

"Then why is he always flirting with others? Especially with Willow over there…"

"Because that's just Fred. And besides, the only reason he started that stuff up is because you were going out with Alex!" Aracely flicked her sister on the side of the head. "I told you that was a bad idea! Other than that, Fred's just one stupid flirt! Does it all the time with you too, plus way more stuff to show he cares but you're just too dunce to see."

Arlet argued that never happened so, from that point on, Aracely was happy to point out the moments where it did.

The opportunity arose one day when Arlet found herself in an accident. One simple misshapen in Potions left her with a burned hand and many, many, (embarrassing) tears. She was rushed up to the hospital wing so Madame Pomfrey could heal her and within the hour, the rest of her friends started coming up to see her.

When Fred showed up, Arlet's hand was already bandaged up and she was just waiting out the hours of observation Madame Pomfrey requested. "Arly-kins, what happened?" He had rushed up to her bedside, practically pushing their friends out of the way to get through.

"It's no big deal, just a miscalculation in Potions," Arlet said, pursing her lips together. "An accident."

Fred gingerly held her bandaged hand, trying to see for himself how bad it was. "I've been in that position many times. I know that it hurts."

"Not right now," Arlet said in vain.

"Arlet, baby, I can see the strain in your eyes. It hurts. It definitely hurts."

Arlet's face was blushed for various reasons — from the care Fred showed her, to his words. Her eyes flickered to her sister; Aracely was smirking.

"You're not going to get over that one," Aracely laughed at her sister when it was just them. "'Baby'?"

"Shut up," Arlet promptly said.

But Aracely would gain more fuel when Fred took it upon himself to look after Arlet while her hand healed. He would open doors for her, help carry her books, even try to write for her.

"Fred," Arlet laughed, "I'm right handed. It's my left hand that's hurt, remember?"

"Doesn't matter, let me do it!" He murmured and started copying down the notes McGonagall was lecturing about. He was very focused on keeping up. His tongue poked out on the side as he wrote quicker and quicker.

He was glued to her side, basically.

Even at meal times they sat together. Arlet joked that the last thing she needed was for him to spoon feed her. He was on his way to do that when she smacked his hand away.

"Stop it, you idiot!" She laughed.

"Oh c'mon, Arly, let me. You gotta eat!" Fred said as he once again grabbed the spoon.

"Which I can perfectly do on my own," Arlet said and made a motion of her picking up her own spoon to feed herself. She ate contently beside him, meeting his eye on occasion, and sharing smiles. At the end of the meal, Fred surprised her with a soft peach wrapped in a napkin.

"Thought you might want a snack later," he said as he handed it to her.

"Oh, thanks Fred!" Arlet loved it. Peaches were her favorite fruit!

"He's been treating you better than everyone else," Aracely remarked later in the evening, "Well, that's not quite new, isn't it? Always treats you so nicely, like a lady. Didn't even know he was capable of that."

Arlet rolled her eyes at her sister. "Fred is many things, not just a jokester." She often found that many people, if not everyone, had the misconception that Fred was just a jokester and nothing else. "He's a gentleman, first of all. And he's kind, helpful, and a total sweetheart. That's why I lo—"

Aracely raised an eyebrow at her sister. A smirk started tugging at her lips.

Arlet didn't say anything else for the rest of that night.

~0~

There were rumors that Fred had asked Willow out on a date. Then, a few days later, there were rumors that they were an official couple.

Arlet wasn't that surprised. It was the kind of thing she expected to happen. It happened various times before and she supposed it would happen again sooner or later. And no she was not looking forward to that. She didn't wish any pain on Fred, none whatsoever. He didn't deserve that. He deserved only the best.

"Were that true, he wouldn't be wasting his time with Willow," Aracely had said about the matter. She and Arlet were working on homework in the common room, she on the couch and Arlet at the coffee table. "Not when he so clearly loves you."

"Aracely," Arlet hushed her sister, or at least tried to. Aracely was about twice as loud as Arlet.

"What?" Aracely shrugged. "It's true."

"No, it's not!"

"Yes, it is!"

"Aracely!"

"What? It is," Aracely said.

"Hello there ladies," one of the twins strolled to their study area and plopped down on the couch beside Aracely. "Oh, is that the Astronomy homework?" He leaned impossibly close to Aracely to take a peek at her essay.

"Move!" Aracely shoved him away.

Arlet's eyes briefly flickered up from her work on the table. It was George. Fred always had something about his smile.

"Agh, you don't have to be so rude, Aracely!" George exclaimed. "Can't you help a dear friend out?"

Aracely rolled her eyes. "How about you help me settle something with my sister instead?"

Arlet startled. She better not.

"I'm always interested in your sisterly quarrels," George said and leaned back on the couch, resting his head against his hands. He then propped up his feet on the table that Arlet was working on.

Arlet put her quill down to poke George's foot off her Potions essay.

"Is it true that Fred's going out with Willow?" asked Aracely.

"Eh, more or less. You know Freddie, it lasts for about a month."

"But does he like Willow?"

"Aracely," Arlet shot her sister a glare.

"No," George didn't hesitate to answer.

"Because who does he actually love?"

Arlet wanted to kill her sister. "Aracely."

"Why, our dear Arlet, of course," George said without missing a beat and shot a wink at Arlet who'd frozen on the spot. Her face went bright as well.

"That's not — you're not funny!"

"This is one of the rare moments where I wasn't trying to be funny," George said, smirking, "Yeah, I can have those moments."

Arlet started gathering her things together. "Neither of you are funny!"

"C'mon Arlet, it's so fucking obvious!" Aracely exclaimed.

"It really is," George nodded, remaining completely calm in the situation. He found it funny more than anything.

Arlet grew angrier by the minute. She was stuffing her things inside her back, forgetting that none of her teachers wanted wrinkled parchment turned in as assignments. "Shut it! Both of you! As far as everyone knows, Fred loves Willow! Just like he's loved plenty of girls before her!"

"Arlet," Aracely looked at her sister as the latter started storming away, "You really don't have to do this."

Arlet turned around to say that she did in fact have to be like this because they were complete idiots. However, the entrance door opened and in came the man of the hour himself.

"Hey Arly-kins!" Fred waved with his usual grin. "How are — what's wrong?" Arlet seemed like she would burst into tears. Fred didn't like it one bit. "Hey, what's going on? Are you okay?" He made a step towards her only for Arlet to shout.

"Don't come closer!" She snapped.

"But Arly—"

"Don't call me that!" Arlet stormed up the staircase to the girls' dorm.

Fred stood there for a couple minutes, so lost. Then he set his sights on his brother and Aracely. "What just happened?"

"No idea," went George and Aracely.

Fred scoffed. "What did you two do to her!?"

"Nothing," Aracely looked over the couch, "My sister is just stuck in her blind ways."

"Kind of like someone else I know," George said, leading Aracely to hum in agreement.

~0~

Fred had no idea what George and Aracely had said to Arlet but all he knew was that Arlet wouldn't speak to him beyond a few words. Every time he got near her, she had to be somewhere else. He didn't get it.

"Seriously, what did you two do?" Fred sat at the meal table opposite of George and Aracely. "Arly's not talking to me."

Aracely scoffed. "So? Why don't you go talk to your little girlfriend, Willow?"

George smirked behind his goblet.

Fred didn't appreciate the question. "That's not what I'm talking about."

"That's what I'm talking about," Aracely said, meeting Fred's eye with a grin. "According to her, you're ever so in love." She and George shared a snicker.

"You two are not helping," Fred frowned.

"Sorry Freddie, but you're not helping yourself," George said, "Willow's hot, yeah, but she's no Arlet — sorry, Arly," he dramatically held his hands to his cheek and sighed.

Fred reached for a biscuit from the platter and threw it at George's face. With that, he got up and left.

George reached for the biscuit that had fallen on his plate and ripped it in two. He offered one of the halves to Aracely.

"They're idiots, you know," Aracely said, taking the half and biting into it.

"Mhm, the biggest." George bit into his half as well.

~0~

In the following weeks, Fred saw the situation with Arlet not getting any better. She avoided him at all costs and it agitated him. He didn't know what he did, or rather what his brother and Aracely had done. With no answers from anywhere, Fred was agitated pretty much all of the time. Nothing pleased him, not even the jokes he would typically play. Willow would try to coax him into playing a little something but it never worked. She got mad at him most of the time. They got mad at each other most of the time.

Before Fred knew it, he had cut things off with Willow. It was not the easiest of break ups but it was a break up in the end. He spent most of his time being angry and he knew exactly why. He couldn't talk to Arlet, couldn't see her, be close to her. He missed her so much.

Willow did not take well to the sudden break up. Rumors started to fly around school about what she thought really happened and not one of them was nice. Fred didn't particularly care about rumors pertaining to him. He lived with them anyways but the one thing he wouldn't let slide was if they—

One rumor dragged Arlet's name through the mud.

Of course Arlet heard it. Even when she kept her head down low in books and parchments and dancing, she heard it.

"Fred broke up with Willow because Arlet got to him."

"While they were still together?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

It was impossible not to hear the same conversations happening around her. She didn't address it, she didn't even glance in anyone's direction. Her resolution was to ignore it. Ignore it and hope that it wouldn't last long.

When Fred heard it, he went ballistic.

He found Willow and told her off right in the middle of a crowded hallway. Yelled in her face, and maybe said a word here and there that he wouldn't usually say in the middle of a crowd. He earned himself detention for the commotion and a new enemy in Willow and her friends. Apparently, none of that mattered to McGonagall when she assigned him detention for two nights.

It didn't matter to Fred either. He'd do them (grumbling) if it meant clearing Ar—

The door creaked open and someone cried out: "Oh, dammit!"

Fred would recognize the voice anywhere but not the words. Arlet wasn't one to curse all that much, not even use simple words like those. He looked over the couch and saw her stumbling in with a few books in her arms, and a splatter of ink on the floor. She had dropped her ink bottle…

Arlet muttered and grumbled under her breath until she spotted Fred across the room. Even from where he sat, he could see the pink dusting her cheeks. She had not meant to say those words in front of anyone.

"Are…you okay?" Fred knew it was a stupid question. To Arlet, anything academic was sacred…including the ink bottles. She was cute like that.

"Mhm, yeah," Arlet said quickly, deciding to abandon the ink splatter and bottle on the ground to make her way straight to the staircase.

Fred expected as much and with a sigh turned back on the couch, facing the fireplace. Arlet stopped at the base of the stairs hearing that one sigh. She looked back at him, biting on her bottom lip.

You should at least say thank you. The guilt gnawed at her head since she found out. It's not his fault.

And so, with a shuffle of her books in her arms, she turned back down. "Hey, Fred?"

By that point, Fred expected her to have been gone. He was mighty surprised when she walked around the couch to see him.

"Um, I know what happened with Willow…" she said, hoisting her books on one hip. "And I know that she said some stuff about me…thanks for standing up for me. But I'm sorry it cost you your relationship. And detention."

"Oh, no, no, Arly, that wasn't — it's not your fault," Fred said immediately, shaking his head. "Nobody should be saying anything about you, not on my watch."

Arlet half smiled at him. There may have been a warmth creeping up her face too. "Still, sorry."

"Seriously, don't worry about it. It was never going to work out," Fred said, a bit too certain over the fact. "All Willow wanted to do was joke around and, yes, I know that's my style," he smiled, "but I do have other interests as well."

Arlet chuckled. "Right."

"Of course nothing like you, though," Fred motioned to the stack of books resting on Arlet's hip, "Merlin, Arly, did you leave anything for the library? The stack's bigger than you although" — he raised a finger in the air — "that's not saying much considering almost everything's bigger than you."

"Hey!"

"Here, let's unload the stack, shall we?" Fred reached over but stopped halfway to gauge Arlet's reaction. If she pulled away, or frowned, she still didn't want him near her.

Arlet was no Legilimens but she swore that she could read Fred's thoughts most of the time. It was an uncanny sync they shared, getting each other without having to say anything.

Right now she could tell he was wondering if now would be the moment she would actually want to be with him, be friends like they used to be. "I'm a lousy friend," she sighed and planted her books on the coffee table.

Fred blinked. "What? No, you're—"

"A very lousy friend," Arlet reiterated and, with another sigh, came to sit on the couch with him. "That stuff the last time we talked, it was not your fault. George and Aracely really pissed me off and, well, you look a heck of lot like George so…"

"You know, lots of people say that about us," Fred said thoughtfully, causing a chuckle between them.

Arlet touched his arm and even though he knew there were several layers on him, Fred swore he could still feel Arlet's soft fingers on his skin. They were wizards but��that was real magic to him.

"I'm sorry," Arlet said again, "I don't like being away from you." Her confession brought a moment of silence between the two, one where she was sure her face grew redder and redder.

Luckily, this was Fred she was talking to. He was so easy to talk to…

"Me neither, Arly-kins," he said with his typical grin. "You know how many pranks I've had to go through on my own because I didn't have your knowledgeable input?"

Arlet chuckled. "I would've figured Willow could've helped you there. She's way better at that stuff than me."

"Two of me don't make a good combination," Fred said, "Even George is a bit different from me. No, I need my Arly-kins to pull me down every once in a while."

Arlet smiled softly. "Unfortunately, we won't be here forever, you know."

Fred lost his grin little by little when he thought about the gloomy future to come. That was very true. He was sure that as soon as Arlet graduated from Hogwarts, she would have a job waiting for her. Important duties and all that stuff.

"Just promise me that you won't forget me," he said quietly, resigning himself.

Arlet looked at him strangely. "What?"

"You know, you'll be someone important as soon as you get out of here. I, personally, don't do well in confined places like the Ministry and academics. Man, I hate academics."

"And you think I'll stop, what, talking to you or something?"

"Maybe you won't have time."

Arlet stated at him inquisitively. "Fred Weasley, I hope that you're not implying that I'll feel like I'm better than you. Because that would be so wrong."

Fred flushed on the spot and could barely meet Arlet's gaze, pretty much answering her words.

Arlet never thought they would be touching this subject. "Fred!" She jumped up from the couch, turning in front of him, with her hands on her hips. "Who do you think I am!?"

"Honestly?" Fred looked up at her.

Arlet's eyebrows rose, surprised with that kind of turn. "Uh, yeah?"

"You're Arlet Mirabel, the smartest girl in our year — smartest girl I've ever met — and you're easily the prettiest and Merlin knows the kindest and friendliest! Everyone loves you!" I love you. Fred could only hold his truth for so long and right now it felt like he was going to lose.

Arlet blushed under so many compliments, especially coming from Fred. "Uhm…thank you…" She cleared her throat, "But I don't get what that has to do with what you think is going to happen to us after we leave Hogwarts."

"Arly," Fred looked at her again, smiling sadly at her, "You're amazing. You always have been. I know that when you leave this place, you're going to turn into an important figure. I don't where or when but I know it'll happen. You're always building relationships with people, encouraging networking. You've got a bright future."

"Fred, so do you," Arlet said, very confused when he shook his head.

"I have a very different future in mind for myself," Fred said, "George and I, actually."

"Are you talking about the joke shop?" Arlet smirked at his startled reaction. "George mentioned it to me a couple days ago. I think it's great! Who else to shape the future prankster generations than the experts, right?"

Fred's smile was weak at best. "I'm happy with what I want, but it's very different from your plans. We're very different, aren't we?"

Arlet nodded. "I think so, yeah. And yet somehow we're always drawn to each other in the end. Kind of funny if you ask me. I mean, by all logic, you should get along better with my sister. She's way more like you and George. I'm pretty boring."

"Aracely is great and all but you're even better," Fred said, "And I think you should remember that."

Arlet chuckled. "Don't let her hear that. So, Fred, I hope the gist of this conversation has taught you that even though we have very different ideas in mind for our futures, it doesn't mean we won't be together." As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them for how it sounded. "Not that — of course I meant — friends! As friends!"

Fred loved her stammering reactions. She got frazzled over the littlest of things and thought she offended half the world. "Arly, I know," he assured, "Course I know that we're just friends."

"Okay, yeah, okay…" It took Arlet a moment to really take in the tone of voice Fred had used and even when she still had a doubt, all she had to do was look at his face. "No, wait, hold on," she sighed, "I've missed something else, haven't I?"

Fred chuckled. "No, Arly, you're fine. Just don't forget me, that's all I ask."

Arlet drew in a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest, and just about every part of her brain screaming at her not to say anything. "So in this future…um, obviously you'll be working at the joke shop and I'll be working, er, I don't know—"

"It's the Ministry, I'm sure of it," Fred said without missing a beat.

"Uh, okay. Well, maybe we could plan little get togethers. Actually, maybe we could start planning then right now…"

"Right now…?" Fred looked at her for a moment, confused. Arlet was blushing red enough to match his hair. And then he got it. "Arlet, are you…talking about—"

"Going on a date together? Yes, yes, I am unless-unless you think that I'm-I'm too boring for your taste—"

Fred laughed. He grabbed her hands and yanked her down on his lap. Her eyes went wide, her blush intensified to an astronomical level.

"Oh, Arly-kins, you've no idea how much time I've spent thinking about that," Fred admitted. He passed a hand down her long hair, taking in every last feature of hers.

"You have?" Arlet swallowed hard. One of his hands held her by the waist and the other continued to stroke her hair.

Fred nodded. "All the time."

"Why didn't — why didn't you say something? I was right here!"

"Dating Alex, of course."

"You dated so much more than me!"

"And then there's the matter of our futures. You'll be important and I don't think I can fit in that picture with you. I don't want to drag you down with me."

Arlet looked at him like he was crazy, and maybe he was. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Fred dropped his other hand down on her waist. "You've got all this stuff going on always. I bet tonight you were in one of your clubs planning for the future."

"Well, yeah, but—"

"And I don't want to take any of that away from you but my reputation precedes me and I don't want that besmirching your name."

"My name is my name, and nothing can dirty it up unless I do something wrong, not you," Arlet said, "Look, this is partly my fault for not saying anything before but you always looked so happy flirting with half the world except for me."

"If I flirted with you it would be for real and I would lose control," Fred said, "I know that when I flirt with, say, Angelina, she doesn't take it seriously and I don't take it seriously either. I can be as stupid as I want. But if it was with you, I'd run my mouth until something slips out that shouldn't be said."

"Like what?" Arlet asked him, tilting her head at him. "What would you say to me?"

"Uh…well…" Fred's mouth had gone dry, something that never happened unless it was for—

"I love you." The words fell out from his mouth and there was no taking it back.

Arlet had frozen altogether, her already wide eyes looking like they would pop from her head.

"Dammit," Fred dropped his head, cursing himself under his breath. One thing. One thing he shouldn't say and there it was.

He felt warm hands sliding over his cheeks, gently raising his head. Arlet was smiling again.

"I'm no expert but that didn't sound like much flirting to me," she said, her thumbs stroking his skin. "I thought that was your expertise."

"I lose all my expertise with you," Fred said, sighing, "And I am very good at not saying things like that. Never said it to anyone, actually."

"I might feel a little special, then," Arlet said.

"Always feel special, please. Because to me, you're the best girl in the whole school. Cliche, I know."

Arlet started giggling. "I didn't know you could be a romantic. Last time I heard, that was more of George. You've got the temper."

"Me? I would never…"

"Aha," Arlet rolled her eyes, "So it wasn't you who got Zacharias Smith back for saying something about your prank for Valentine's day?"

"He had that one coming!"

Arlet dropped her head and laughed. "Oh Fred, what am I going to do with you?"

"I've got some ideas…" Fred took in a breath and inadvertently smelled the shampoo off her hair. Peaches. That was her favorite fruit, it only made sense it was in her shampoo as well.

Arlet stopped laughing suddenly and lifted her head to meet his eye. The silent sync flickered on like a switch. They knew they were in a serious moment now.

"I do love you, Arly. That wasn't a joke," Fred said, "And it's out of nowhere to you but to me it's been like this for years."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Arlet sighed. "Yes, I know I dated Alex but after that? You started going out with these girls and...I know it never lasted but it hurt that you kept choosing someone else."

"Like I said, I didn't think I was in your eyesight," Fred said, "You're so pretty, Arly. I don't want to be the one who—"

Arlet pressed a finger against his lips. "I think you're perfect," she said with absolutely no hesitancy. "I think you'd be the one to light the dark days that are sure to come. And you're funny, so funny, and so kind too. How could someone like that drag me down?"

"You'd be surprised at how quickly I wreck things…" Fred mumbled.

Arlet felt a little jolt of courage. It wasn't often that she was the bold one out of her and Fred. Actually, that had never really happened.

Arlet's hands cupped Fred's face again. She looked at him for a moment, absolutely adoring him, and kissed him.

The surprise wore off really quickly for Fred. It couldn't last long when he'd imagined it for so long. His hands went around her back, pressing her body flush against his. His lips meshed with hers, immediately taking a nip of her bottom lip. It was impossible not to smirk when he heard Arlet's little gasp. She was too adorable.

Arlet felt incredibly guilty for breaking such a slow, sensual kiss but she needed some air. It sounded like Fred was in the same position since they both panted for air.

"I love you too," Arlet said, "In case that wasn't clear."

"It's…it's clear…" Fred looked at her fondly, "Wish it would've been clear ages ago but better late than never, right?"

"Right," Arlet nodded, "So do you think we'll last then? All the way into that future you're so afraid of?"

"I'm hoping," Fred said, still clinging to that dreadful idea.

"Ah, you have no idea how much I love you," Arlet said, draping her arms over his shoulders, "All those girls before me have nothing on me. I love you more than they ever could."

Fred felt his heart do some sort of dance in his chest. He would say it was impossible but stuff like that usually happened whenever Arlet was around. "Well, you're never wrong so who am I to start arguing that now?" Arlet laughed. Fred bopped her nose and kissed her.

[queenbirdnerd]

Can't pay attention in class anymore lmao

[saiilorstars]

When the Night Came

Pairing: Fred Weasley x OFC

Summary: Arlet keeps having nightmares over the Tri-Wizard tournament and a reluctant Fred is volunteered to help her. The only reason he’s reluctant about helping is because he’s been pushed inside Arlet’s room uninvited and without a plan.

Arlet’s Masterlist 

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​@arrthurpendragon​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​ @stareyedplanet​ @foxesandmagic​ @caplanbuckybarnes

(If you’d like to be added to this OC’s fics/edits, let me know!)

Arlet Mirabel had always been a good sleeper. She slept soundly and peacefully. Of course, that was all before the Tri-Wizard tournament happened. Ever since the damn tournament finished with Cedric Diggory's tragic death and the claims that Voldemort was back, Arlet found that her old sleeping habits were no more.

She woke up almost every night screaming in terror. To say, she'd taken to putting a silencing charm in her room to spare her family the trouble of finding out about her night problems. It wasn't too long ago that her parents had warned her that entering the tournament would bring her unnecessary problems in her life. It wasn't that she didn't want to leave every night, she was more concerned with disturbing sleeping. It was her fault, after all. She chose to enter the tournament and apart from the fact that you lost, she was also privy to the horrors that had come with the last challenge.

So, Arlet resolved that it was only fair that she managed this problem on her own. She entered the tournament so she had to suffer the consequences. Period.

It was easy to trick her parents when they were at home, in Mexico, but when her father announced that because of the growing troubles with Voldemort rising, their family would have to move back to England for a while. Her father and her mother were part of the secret Order of the Phoenix and as such, they were needed in England with the rest of their colleagues.

The only upside through all of this was that Arlet, and even her younger sister Aracely, would see the friends they had made in Hogwarts during the previous year. Aracely couldn't stop babbling about the fact. It was never a secret that she had thoroughly enjoyed her stay at Hogwarts the previous year. Now, she didn't have to say goodbye to them—at least for the summer.

Arlet shared the same sentiment. She didn't have to say goodbye to anyone, specifically a certain redhead, but her current sleeping problems were making it hard to be as happy as Aracely.

You'll just excuse yourself for an early bedtime, she thought. They were coming inside the secret headquarters and she was going crazy coming up with ideas. You're Arlet, nobody would question a timely bedtime for you. It sounds like something you would do.

"Stay here," Arlet's father warned the two girls in the hallway.

Their mother came around both Arlet and Aracely, warning them of the same thing and not to touch anything. "This isn't our house," she reminded them as if they truly needed it. "Don't touch nothing."

"What are we supposed to do here?" Aracely made a face. "Just stand awkwardly in the hallway while you have a secret meeting behind that door?" She pointed a finger at the only door up ahead of them.

Arlet gently elbowed her sister to stay quiet. "We'll stay put." They were guests, and they had a duty to make this transition as easy as possible for their parents. After all, they were going to be dealing with very dangerous things and people. The least she and Aracely could do was not complain about meager things.

Aracely groaned as their parents disappeared behind the locked door. "Now what?" She turned to her sister, demanding to hear what Arlet had planned for them during their sure to be boring stay.

Arlet had no such plan except to do what their parents asked. "It's not our house," she reminded. "We stay here until they come out."

"That could be hours!" Aracely exclaimed. "I'm not standing here for hours!"

There was a sudden pop! behind the sisters followed by a yell in their ears. Arlet and Aracely screamed, turning in the process to see George Weasley grinning wickedly at them. Before either sister could catch their breath, there was another pop! and both girls screamed and jumped again to see Fred Weasley on the other side.

"STOP DOING THAT!" Aracely exploded into a series of shouts as she repeatedly smacked both twins. She looked pretty amusing to the twins turning back and forth.

Aracely, on the other, was more calm despite still feeling her heart racing from the scare. She gave the twins a reprimanding look but her smile in the end diminished any sort of attempt to actually reprimand anyone.

"Welcome back, ladies!" George exclaimed and did a mock bow. "Thought you were well across the ocean by now."

"But we are nevertheless content to have you here again," Fred said, shooting a smile at Arlet. The brunette in question half-smiled in return.

Aracely rolled her eyes at the two. They were beyond obvious. "Hi Fred, I'm also here." She wiggled her fingers at him.

"Yeah, I know you are," Fred shot her a disdainful look and rubbed his arm she had smacked one too many times. He had no doubt there would be a bruise later on. Aracely was always rougher than Arlet.

"So are you two going to stand here with us or are you going to tell us where the hell we can put our stuff in the meantime?" Aracely crossed her arms and waited expectantly for either brother to answer.

"But of course," George continued with his dramatics as he quickly took Aracely's suitcase and rolled it to the wall. "Where are our manners?"

"Under the ocean," Aracely muttered. "Or nonexistent, take your pick."

"Right now, you're being rude, Aracely," Arlet remarked. "Thanks, boys." She moved her suitcase in the same direction as Aracely's but Fred swooped in to take it from her. "Thanks," Arlet said with another half smile.

"No problem. I assume you're staying with us for the rest of summer," Fred's remark had Arlet panicking within the minute.

"What? Here?" Arlet looked around the house.

Fred chuckled. "Don't worry, it's a big house. George and I already went exploring."

"Oh, I'm sure you did," Arlet mused. The pair had no doubt gotten themselves into trouble during their "exploring".

George suddenly had his arms around both Arlet and Aracely. He put most of his weight on them, causing the sisters to hunch forwards a bit. "You'll never guess what we found?" George said, smirking at the girls.

"A good punishment from your mother?" Aracely retorted with another question.

"More like a good hold of the ears," Arlet made a pinching motion, easily making George lean away from her. She had been known to do that sort of stuff.

"Nothing like that, Arly," Fred promised and reached over for Arlet. He tugged her to his side and completely ignored his brother's smirk.

Arlet was busy smiling up at Fred and the fact that he had used the nickname he appropriated on her only a few days after meeting her.

"Well then, what did you find?" Aracely curiously asked.

"Follow me, ladies," George said with a smile that didn't exactly encourage Arlet to follow.

Aracely was always eager to see what new shenanigans the twins were pulled. She let George pull her arm in the direction of said shenanigan and motioned Arlet to follow.

Almost as if he had read Arlet's mind, Fred grabbed onto her wrist and kept her back with him. At her questioning look, he whispered, "You won't like it."

Arlet's brow furrowed, almost offended that he would think she wouldn't be as into whatever they found like Aracely. It was no secret that out of the two sisters, Aracely was more like the twins.

But then Arlet heard a horrible screaming woman from a distance and they were very horrible words.

"GEORGE!" Aracely was soon yelling as well. "I FUCKING HATE YOU!"

George's bellow of a laugh echoed.

"Told you," Fred said to Arlet with a knowing look on his face. "Didn't want you getting scared by that thing."

"What is it?" Arlet looked in the direction of the screaming. She didn't want to outright admit that Fred had been right and that the stranger's screams would've scared her a bit.

"It's a portrait of Sirius' mother," Fred said, "The old hag hates anybody not of 'pureblood' status in her house." He rolled his eyes heavily at the notion.

"Oh…" Arlet knew now why the woman was screaming her head off. She and her sister were halfbloods. "She thinks we're invading her house."

By the way of her soft voice, Fred assumed she was actually feeling like she was intruding. "Don't go thinking that, Arlet," he warned her. "This isn't her house anymore, it's Sirius' now and he doesn't care about that stupid stuff."

"Yeah, well, the reason we're here is because there's still a lot of people who do care about that 'stupid stuff'," sighed Arlet.

Fred brought a hand to rest on Arlet's back and as soon as she felt his warmth, she stiffened. She could feel his fingers gently, and subtly, rub against her blouse. She inevitably met his smiling gaze.

"How are you doing?" He asked her. "It's been a couple weeks since we last saw each other."

Arlet's mind flashed with the scenes of the last task. Fred felt her light shudder and became concerned. Arlet stepped away from him and his hand.

"Arly?" He called her ever so gently and lowered his head to meet her eyes. He was decently taller than her but who wasn't? Being closer to her, Fred could now see the bags under her eyes and the simple fact that she looked so tired. Her blue eyes were always so bright and filled with life. The Arlet he came to know was anything but tired. She was a source of life within her groups. Her personality could draw in even the modest of people.

Fred often wondered how it was she managed to balance the tournament, the club she was in, and all the work they had to do in their classes. He would ask her all the time and she would just laugh it off and say that she had "mad skills". He thought she was absolutely amazing being able to manage all that and still look crazy beautiful all the time.

But right now, Arlet looked nothing like her usual self. (She was still pretty—she was always pretty). She didn't want to look at him, the floor was more interesting apparently, and her fingers kept wrangling in front of her. Her posture was off and that was one thing Arlet was crazy over.

'If you hunch over all the time, you're going to stay like that' was one of her common warnings. Sometimes she would pull the twins up and set them straight herself. Right now, it seemed like Arlet didn't even remember anything about posture.

Fred grew even more concerned. This wasn't his Arlet—

She's not even yours. The voice inside his head may have been right but he was still going to figure out what was wrong with her and he would help her.

"Arlet?" He called again. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Arlet shrugged. She pushed away her long mane of hair behind her shoulders and presented herself as best as possible. "Nothing, just jetlagged. México is a long way, remember? Deja de ser chismoso, no?"

Her beautiful Spanish voice still gave Fred a hard time breathing. The words just slipped so easily from Arlet's mouth—and why wouldn't it considering she's lived in Mexico all her life? He was pretty sure that she had just called him nosy (her various Spanish lessons paid off somewhere along the way).

"Now Arly, is that any way to talk to somebody?" He gave her a smirk. "You of all people know that, right?"

Arlet couldn't keep herself from rolling her eyes and smiling. Fred always made her smile no matter what. "You are very right," she gave in. "But I'm really okay. Just jetlagged."

Fred knew there was something else she didn't want to say. He would take it as a challenge and eventually get her to tell him. After all, to his luck, they would be living under the same roof for the whole summer. Some (primarily George) would say that it was a dream come true. Fred didn't exactly keep it a secret that he had fallen for Arlet. In fact, the only one who didn't seem to understand was Arlet herself but Fred wanted to believe it was because of the Tournament she had participated in. She had wanted to win so badly that anything else didn't seem all that important to her.

That was fine. Fred understood that it was a goal of hers, something she really wanted and it would make her beyond happy to get it. He would've liked to see her win but they all saw something very different happen in the end.

Now, though, if Arlet was going to be staying for a while, he had all the opportunities to finally make her see him. And he was pretty good at that.

He just had to start slow, as much as it pained him. Arlet wasn't the fast-paced kind of girl and she probably wouldn't like him being so upfront and forwards.

"Well, if you need to say something, I'm here okay?" He set a hand on Arlet's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. She awarded him another smile, this one bigger.

"I know you are," she moved her hand over his outstretched arm. "You always are. Don't think I've forgotten how much you helped me during the Tournament. I owe you some serious money for that."

Fred laughed. "I didn't do it for money, Arlet! You don't have to give me anything!"

"It would be fair," Arlet said, "Lo justo."

"What's fair?" Fred tried his hand at the translation and beamed when Arlet said he was right. He flicked the collars of his shirt proudly. "I'm getting this stuff!"

For the first time, Arlet chuckled. There was a brief glimpse of his Arlet.

He would get more. Definitely more.

~0~

The meeting between the adults had taken well into the evening. By the time dinner came around, only Mrs. Weasley had come out to feed the children that were there. Arlet had, to no one's surprise, taken charge as the eldest of the group and volunteered to help with the cooking and the dinner table preparation.

It was then that Fred had found an opportunity to ask Aracely if there was something that Arlet was dealing with.

"She doesn't look like herself," he told the younger sister.

"Yeah and you can take it from him because he knows exactly what Arlet looks like," George called from the opposite side of the room. His mock kisses to the air were silenced when Ginny threw a couch pillow at him.

Fred thanked her with a thumb and then waited for Aracely to give him something to work with.

"Honestly, I have no idea," she disappointed him with the answer. " And, to be honest, I'm pretty sure she hasn't been sleeping. I'm also pretty sure she put up with violence and charm in her room. That to me can only be because of nightmares. And that's weird because Arlet doesn't really have nightmares."

No, that didn't sound like Arlet to Fred either. What could be bothering her so much that she wouldn't even tell her own sister about it?

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Hermiome suddenly chirped in. Everyone stared at her like hawks. She almost shrunk in her seat. "Seriously? No one can think of a good reason why she would be having nightmares?" Hermione's eyes flickered over to Harry sitting at the opposite end of the couch with her. " You said that Krum had been bewitched to fight the other contestants, right?" Harry nodded. "Well, he didn't just get Fleur Delacour did he?"

Fred could have claimed with all the honesty in the world that he had heard his own heart stop for a moment. Hermione was right. It wasn't just Fleur who had been surprise-attacked by Viktor Krum in that dark maze full of God knows what. Arlet had been there too. She had been there and she had also been attacked.

"Hey!" Arlet's call startled the whole group.

Fred spun around to see her under the threshold of the living room. "Arlet—"

"Dinner's ready," Arlet announced, "For anyone's sweet tooth, I managed to make buñuelos."

"Oh! Those are my favorites! MOVE!" Aracely eagerly dashed for the kitchen and promptly led the others to do the same thing.

Arlet noticed Fred remained behind and took her chance to inch closer to him. "Hey, you're not hungry?" She asked him.

"Um, yeah, but…" Fred stopped when Arlet's hand dropped over his arm. She seemed excited about something and since it was the first real grin on her face, Fred forgot everything he was going to say.

"I hope you like the dessert I made," she said, rising on her toes, "You said not to give you money so I settled on something sweet for your stomach."

Fred could have forgotten his whole name with that look in Arlet's eyes. That, and the grip she had on his arm. "What—what did you make again?"

Arlet's smile widened. "Buñuelos."

"Bunny—"

Arlet laughed again and shook her head. "Not bunny you idiot! I'm not feeding you bunnies!"

"That's what you said!" Fred exclaimed, deciding to keep the game going if only to hear more of her laughter.

"I did not!"

"Yes, you did!"

"I said buñuelos!"

"That's what I said!"

Arlet playfully whacked his arm. "It's pronounced boo-ñwe-los."

"Arlet, what the hell are you saying?" Fred groaned and let his head hang low. "I think we might need to pick up on our Spanish lessons again."

"It's not that hard, Fred. But c'mon, we can discuss that while we're eating buñuelos. After dinner, of course. Your mother wouldn't have it any other way."

Fred knew that was a fact. "Yeah, alright, but what are those things anyways?"

Arlet was happy to explain that buñuelos were sugary fried dough flattened like a circle. The amount of sugar had Fred pulling her towards the kitchen. For a moment, he forgot that his mother really would have his head if he ate the dessert first and yet...when she wasn't looking, he took a bite. It was beyond delicious.

He loved the excitement in Arlet's face when he told her that he loved her dessert. They were sitting next to each other near one of the table's corners. Throughout the whole dinner, Fred made sure to publicly declare it was by far his favorite dinner. The mere reminder that Arlet had helped make said dinner was the only reason for the whole show. And he repeated it even more when it came time to eat dessert. Everyone else fully agreed that Arlet had made a really good piece of dessert and made it quite clear that she should make it again tomorrow morning. As much of a compliment that it was, the reminder that she would have to sleep in the same house as the rest of them took the brief spark of happiness from Arlet for the rest of the evening.

When Mrs. Weasley returned to help the new visitors get settled, Arlet specifically sought out the room farthest from the others, at least from the twins and her sister. She was lucky that Mrs. Weasley didn't question it, she probably had way too many things on her mind to wonder why the girl would want the smallest of the rooms and away from her sister.

"Goodnight," Arlet had said sharply to Aracely before slamming the door on her.

Aracely wasn't at all surprised. Arlet had done similar things back home too but her parents were too busy to notice anything was wrong with one of their daughters, especially it being Arlet. Arlet was never the kind to have problems.

Aracely was also the kind to sleep very late. She was also a snacker which was why she found others in the kitchen who were just like her.

"Do you two ever stop eating?" Aracely shook her head at the twins who were neck deep into the fridge.

George stuck his head up over the fridge door and shot Aracely a smirk. "And why are you here again?"

Aracely scrunched her face. "Shut up. So, what do we have?" She inched closer to the fridge.

"Not much," Fred reported with a lamenting sigh.

Aracely looked around the kitchen and grinned when she saw a plate covering another. "Oh, I think there's leftover buñuelos over there!"

"What? Where!?" Fred zoomed past them, nearly knocking Aracely along the way. By the time Aracely gathered her bearings, Fred was already biting into a pastry.

"Jesus, Fred, you just gave up the whole idea of being subtle, huh?" Aracely raised an eyebrow at him. Behind her, George shut the fridge door and snorted.

"When did he ever try being subtle, Aracely?"

"You're right," Aracely agreed. "My sister's just too thick to see it."

"Hey," Fred pointed at her, "Watch what you say about her." Aracely rolled her eyes. "Your sister is too nice if you ask me."

"Oh but with her guard dog — that's you by the way — she'll be just fine," Aracely said. "You're ridiculous."

"To be fair, he was ridiculous before we met you guys," George said, "But she's right, Freddie. You should just say something already. Surprised you haven't already."

"What, because of his big mouth?" Aracely said and soon she and Heorge were snickering. Fred mocked them with his own laugh before throwing a nearby pear at them.

George caught it with ease and took a bite of it. "Not wrong," he said in-between chews.

"I can't say anything until I know she's okay," Fred said, eyes flickering to Aracely, "What is wrong with her?"

"I told you that I don't know but to me it sounds like Hermione could be right," Aracely sighed, "You know Arlet has never talked about what she saw in the maze—she's never talked about the tournament, actually. And with everything that happened...no wonder she's having nightmares."

Fred did not like what he was hearing. "She's having nightmares?"

Aracely nodded. "I'm pretty sure she is. She always kicks me out of her room now. Sometimes we'd sneak into each other's room just to talk at night but ever since we got back home, she doesn't like anyone in her room anymore. In fact, I get I'd we were to sneak into her room right now, she'd be having one right now."

Fred lowered his half eaten pastry and looked up. He'd want nothing more than to—

"You want to go upstairs?" Aracely wagged her eyebrows. "I know what room she picked out."

"Aracely, why ask if you already know the answer," George said as he swung an arm around Aracely's shoulders.

"Shut it you two," Fred muttered. Of course he would want to go upstairs and check on Arlet, if only to make sure she was sleeping peacefully like she deserved to. It wasn't like he hadn't fantasized getting to hold her during the nights and getting to sleep right next to her, but that was an idea beyond its years if he ever managed to get Arlet to be his girlfriend.

"I mean if you don't want to, I'd be more than happy to peek inside," George smirked knowing how his brother would react to the idea.

"Don't you fucking dare, George!" Fred exclaimed, pushing the pastries away from him. He didn't even realize what he was doing until he'd apparated to the second floor.

Downstairs, Aracely stared at the spot where Fred had just been. "He's an idiot," she said plainly.

"Yup." George took another bite of his pear.

"...he doesn't even know which room is Arlet's."

"Yeah, that's my brother."

Aracely let out a sigh and walked to grab the plate of pastries left behind. She headed out the kitchen, tip-toeing past the room where the meetings were still being held, and hurried up the stairs. Sure enough, she found Fred lingering in the hallway.

"Hey," she whispered, "You don't even know where she is!"

"I realize that now, yeah," Fred said, scratching the back of his head. "But I also realize I can't exactly go into her room either."

"Yes you can!"

"No, I can't! I'd freak her out!"

"Trust me, whatever nightmares she's having is freaking her out even more! Here!" Aracely pushed the plate of pastries to Fred. "Share a midnight snack with her or something."

"Aracely, thanks for helping me out but I can't do this." Fred tried giving the plate back but Aracely wouldn't take it.

"Fred, you literally do the worst of things sometimes for a fucking prank. How is this any different?"

"Because your sister is very important to me and I know how she thinks, okay? She tolerates many of my pranks because she's nice but sneaking into her room without her knowing is something I know she wouldn't take well! I don't want to push her away by doing something stupid!"

The only reason Aracely didn't snap is because of the genuine fear she could see in Fred's face. He wasn't afraid of anything and yet here he was confessing to that fact. "Arlet doesn't 'tolerate' your pranks, she likes them. She's told me that, okay? You make her laugh and trust me when I say that is what she needs right now. She needs to smile and laugh and you're very good at that." Aracely turned Fred around and walked him down the hallway. "I'm actually surprised you can do that because as much as I love my sister, she's not exactly the life of the party. Kinda boring, if you asked me."

"Watch it," Fred warned. "She just has different interests." Sure most of Arlet's interests didn't involve exploding things or sneaking around but that was fine. She carried her own kind of life and many people seemed to love it. She had a classic kind of personality and it was endearing. There was no one else like her.

Aracely rolled her eyes. "Oh god, you're blind." She stopped at the last door in the hallway and announced it was Arlet's room. "Silencing charm is probably on." She tried the doorknob and found it was open.

"My mother probably unlocked it when she checked in on us," Fred said, "Does that all the time back at home."

"Surprised she didn't find Arlet yelling then," Aracely said.

"Maybe because she is sleeping and we're about to disturb her!" Fred said, already making a move to leave.

Aracely grabbed onto his arm. "I guarantee you she's not! God! Who knew all it took was a 5'0 girl to take you down! She doesn't even like Quidditch, by the way!"

"She's 5'5, by the way," Fred mimicked Aracely's voice, "And she's told me that she likes watching me play."

"She's never said that she likes watching me play," Aracely huffed indignantly.

Fred smirked at her. "That's because I'm a good player."

"And because she's in love with you! That's a big advantage and an unfair one!" Aracely crossed her arms and looked away with another huff. She missed the effect her words took on Fred.

He knew exactly what he felt for Arlet. He'd come to terms with it a long time ago. He loved Arlet Mirabel. He loved all her timidness, he loved her knack for taking charge, he loved her caring nature—he loved everything about her and every part of her. She had the best smiles; her timid ones were Fred's favorite because she was always just slightly afraid of what would happen next. She waited with anticipation but was still cautious about what could happen. She had the prettiest blue eyes and the plumpest cheeks he loved to pinch (it was often the way he greeted her and she would always smack his fingers away).

He knew what he felt but he couldn't be sure what Arlet thought of him. It didn't matter if anybody else assured him, swore to him, that Arlet loved him. Nobody could swear to him that what they said was true because only Arlet could tell him that. He only wanted her to tell him that. Now that was something he often fantasized about; hearing Arlet say that she loved him would be a literal dream come true.

But right now it was Aracely saying it to him. It wasn't the same, not even close.

"I mean it, Fred!" She groaned. "She's my sister, of course I know if she loves someone! It's you! Now get in there!" She reached for the doorknob and this time Fred wasn't quick enough to stop her. She shoved him inside and with a stern look, told him to make sure her sister was alright.

Fred had every intention of leaving the room at once. He couldn't, and didn't want to, imagine what Arlet would say if she found him in his room at this hour. It would send him 10 steps back!

But then he heard her whimpering.

It went against every instinct to leave the room; Fred didn't spend much time debating. He hurried towards Arlet, setting the plate of pastries on the bedside table, then sought out the problem.

Arlet was sleeping but she seemed to be in the middle of a nightmare. She tossed and turned, her shut eyes squeezing in near pain, and kept mumbling incoherently.

If you wake her up, she'll know you're there but if you don't, you're going to let her stay in her nightmare. Fred failed to see another option. He had to suck it up. If Arlet got angry with him for being in her room uninvited, so be it. At least she wouldn't be in her nightmare.

He leaned down enough to call her name in a whisper. "Arlet," he gently tugged her arm. "You're having a bad dream, wake up. Arlet—"

The girl bolted up and collided with Fred's face, knocking him down on the ground. It took Arlet a few seconds to realize she was awake now and that there was someone in the room with her.

"Fuck, this hurts!" Despite the pain Fred felt in the left corner of his forehead, he was in a mixture of groans and laughter.

"Who the—Fred, is that you!?" Arlet scrambled off her bed and got on her knees on the floor. "What are you doing here!?"

"You were having a bad dream and I...oh, never mind," Fred sat up and rubbed what was sure to become a bruise in a matter of hours. "Guess I deserved that for coming in uninvited."

Arlet had no idea how to react given the situation and the fact he was correct. She had a terrible nightmare. "I'm sorry," her frail apology made Fred forget all about the searing pain in his forehead.

"Hey now, wait a second, it's not your fault. I got too close. It's all better now, see?" Fred knew the darkness wouldn't let Arlet see anything on his forehead right now.

Arlet didn't care. She knew she'd crashed into him, she still felt an echo of pain on her own forehead. She reached out and gingerly grazed a thumb over Fred's forehead. It froze the redhead right where he was. Arlet seemed focused trying to feel for a bump or even to try and see said bump or bruise.

It gave Fred a hard time breathing but he didn't mind one bit. This was as close as they'd ever gotten and he wouldn't trade it for anything else.

"I should get you some ice," Arlet decided and started getting up.

"N-n-n-no!" Fred sprung up and stopped Arlet from moving.

"Fred, your forehead—"

"It's fine! I'm fine! I'm always fine!" Fred grabbed Arlet by her arms just to make sure she wouldn't disappear on him. "You're not fine right now. That was a really bad dream, wasn't it?"

Arlet lowered her gaze to the floor. "It was okay."

"Arly, don't go lying to me," Fred's playful warning didn't bring out any smile from Arlet, yet another alarm she wasn't fine. "Aracely said you haven't been sleeping well."

"Aracely should keep her mouth shut," Arlet huffed. "My sister's so nosy! You shouldn't be here. You should be sleeping, not worrying over me!"

"I'm where I want to be," Fred clarified, squeezing Arlet's arms a bit, "And it sort of looks like you need someone right now."

"I'm not bothering anyone with my stuff," Arlet said with a sigh. "I chose to participate in the Tournament so it's my problem."

So Hermione was right. Fred let Arlet go but sat them down on the side of her bed. "You're having nightmares about the tournament, the tasks?" Arlet nodded silently. "Oh Arly, why didn't you say anything?"

"Because it's my problem! Because...because right now the world has bigger problems than my silly nightmares. My parents are far too busy with these meetings and my friends are all scared to death about what's coming! I can't tell them anything!" Arlet's eyes filled with tears by the end of her ramble. She was taking it all on her own for the simple fact of not bothering anyone else.

That sounded like Arlet, alright. She took charge whenever she could and when she did, she made sure to handle everything on her own.

Fred pulled her into a tight hug. He should've figured this out a lot earlier. Arlet couldn't afford to keep hiding her feelings. She retreated deep within Fred's arms and buried her head in his chest.

Arlet didn't care if they were breaking rules being in the same room. She didn't care if she was in pajamas looking god knows how terrible. Fred didn't care about any of that stuff. All he knew was that Arlet was shaking in his arms, sniffling and crying about the terrors of the Tournament.

"Arlet, you can always tell me anything," Fred said, dropping a kiss on Arlet's head. "I'm all ears."

Arlet sniffed and pulled back enough to look at him. Her face was stained with tears. "You've got a lot of things going on too. You and George have all those plans, I remember."

Because of course Fred had confided in Arlet what Harry had done for them at the end of the Tournament. They had the funds to start their plans for a joke shop. Fred had been so excited that he kept writing to Arlet even when she'd left England, detailing their advances so far.

"I'm never busy for you, Arly," Fred assured, his soft smile bringing fluttering butterflies to Arlet's stomach. It only intensified when he touched her face to clear off some of her tears. His fingers were so soft and addictive. She would give anything to have him touch her like that for hours.

"It's about the tasks," Arlet confessed, letting her eyes fall shut while Fred continued stroking her face. "Sometimes the dragon burns me. Other times I can't save Aracely under the lake or I run out of time and drown. And-and the last one...the maze…" Aracely shuddered. She wasn't ready to talk about that one yet.

"That's okay," Fred said as if he'd read her mind. "We can talk about those later. I'm glad you're telling me some things, though. You need to say something."

Arlet nodded dutifully. "I'll try."

"You want to try and sleep now?"

Arlet cast a fearful glance at her bed. The idea of falling asleep to succumb to the nightmares again wasn't very appealing. It was frightening.

"I...can stay with you if you'd like?" Fred made his offer slow and full of caution. He didn't want Arlet taking his intentions in the wrong way.

Arlet bit her bottom lip. "You'd do that?"

Fred nodded. "Yeah, of course. Do you want me to?"

Arlet found herself nodding in a second. She didn't care about the possibility of getting caught, not if it meant having Fred right beside her.

The two climbed on the bed, Arlet taking her spot on the right and leaving Fred to make himself comfortable on the other side. He pulled the covers over Arlet only, purposely putting a barrier between them to help Arlet feel more comfortable with him. She still scooted closer to him until she was snuggling up to him.

"Sleep well, Arly," Fred whispered as he pressed another kiss on her hair. Arlet nodded and felt his arm drape over her waist.

She would genuinely try to sleep this time. If she had another nightmare, Fred would be there to wake her up. She trusted him not to let her fall deep in the horrors again.

Before she knew it, she fell asleep. The next time she opened her eyes, the sun was illuminating her room. To her luck, Fred was still beside her. She'd kicked down the blanket around and now it was threatening to fall over the foot of the bed. Fred's arm was still around hers and their legs had somehow gotten tangled together. They were a snuggled-up mess, such an odd way to wake up for Arlet but she wasn't complaining. In fact, complaining was the last thing on her mind right now. For the first time in a long time, she'd slept perfectly and it was all thanks to one nosy little (not so little) redhead laying beside her.

Said redhead was now sporting a bruise on the corner of his forehead. Arlet felt a ping in her heart. She touched it without even thinking and felt the slight bump underneath.

My fault, she knew it was. She started making mental notes to take care of that once they were up but for now she wanted things to stay exactly how they were.

Fred was fast asleep, perhaps the only times where he was calm and still. Arlet always saw him moving and bouncing from one place to another. He had to be exhausted from it each night. She would be.

And he still came to check up on me. Arlet felt a different kind of warmth blossom in her chest, one that had nothing to do with today's temperature. It was hard not to feel special around Fred. He always treated her like she was something different, something that deserved undivided attention. No one else did that for her. And truth be told, even if they did, she probably wouldn't notice it. She often found herself thinking about Fred anyways.

Arlet ran her fingers through Fred's hair, fixing its morning messiness. (And maybe she just wanted to touch him). She kept doing it until he started stirring awake.

"Sorry," she said as soon as his eyes blinked open. "Te levanté…" Arlet never knew that someone groaning could have such an effect on her, but Fred Wwasley was making rethink a lot of things.

He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed a hand down his face. "You sound about ten times hotter right now." Arlet's face blushed a bright red at the comment. "When are we picking up those spanish lessons again?"

Arlet managed a smile that she really hoped didn't come off as awkward. "Whenever you want," she answered him.

Fred finally opened his eyes again and was more awake. "Well, since I'm pretty sure you just asked me if you woke me up, I have to say I'm not doing that bad."

Arlet nodded. "I woke you up."

"I will never get upset walking up with you beside me, Arly," Fred said, smiling cheerfully.

And let the bouncing begin. Arlet couldn't help her chuckle at her own thoughts.

"You're in a better mood now," Fred said, truly feeling relieved to see it. Arlet nodded again. "Any more nightmares?"

"Nope," Arlet was happy to report.

"So I did manage to help," Fred said proudly. His grin faltered for a second when Arlet's hand fell over his cheek. "R-right?"

It wasn't often that Arlet heard him be uncertain. "Of course. You always seem to be around when I need help. Giving me all this special attention like you don't have other things to do."

"You'd be surprised how very little I have to do if you need me. I'll drop everything."

Once again, Arlet felt her face flush. "You...shouldn't have to...I mean, I know you're busy and—"

Fred placed a finger over Arlet's lips. "Don't go through that again. Is it that hard to believe I'll help you anytime you need me? Am I that unreliable, hm?"

Arlet gently pulled his finger from her and watched him curl his hand around hers. "A little bit odd, that's all. You don't have to do any of that stuff for me."

"Why do you think I do it, then?" Fred challenged her. It was early in the morning but if he waited until they were properly awake, he might not have the opportunity nor the courage to do it anymore.

Arlet chewed on the inside of her cheek. "Because…"

Fred squeezed her hand in encouragement. He wanted her to finish it; she knew the answer.

"You, um, for some reason you think I'm worth the trouble," Arlet answered, swallowing hard with fear. Fred's soft laugh made her relax a bit. If anything, he was overtly kind.

"You're worth everything, Arly. You're a special girl and I'm lucky that you let me be this close to you." Fred brought their interlocked hands to his lips. Arlet had to focus very hard on her breathing when his lips pressed against her skin.

"I can't trust anyone else like I trust you," the words tumbled out of Arlet's mouth like an instinct. She blinked at herself after catching what she said.

You can't take that back, she realized. It was out in the open now and taking it back would mean that she would hurt Fred. He had taken her response with a bright smile—how could she take that away?

"You trust me, Arly?" Fred asked, scooting closer to her until they were pressing foreheads. He may have scrunched his face for a moment when his bruise felt the pressure of foreign skin against it.

"Yes," Arlet said, bringing her hand out of his to touch that bruise on his forehead. "Look at you,��ya te va doler. It's going to hurt more."

"I have had much worse, I promise," Fred said. Arlet had no doubt about that. "Would you like some of your bunnies?"

Arlet made a face of confusion. "What?"

Fred laughed and pointed past her to the bedside table. "Your bunnies."

Arlet turned around enough to see her buñuelos sitting on a plate. "What are my buñuelos doing here?"

"I was bringing you a midnight snack," Fred explained, sitting upright then helping Arlet do the same. "Your bunnies."

Arlet chuckled. "Fred, they're not called bunnies. I am not feeding you fried bunnies."

"Well, I can't pronounce it so I'm calling them bunnies. Plus, think of the looks I'll get. It'll be hilarious!" Fred reached past her to grab one of the pastries.

"They're not stale?" Arlet asked as he chewed his first bite.

"Nope," he answered. Two bites later and his chin was covered in sugar.

Arlet laughed at him. "Look at you, can't take you anywhere!" She wiped off the sugar from his face.

"Where do you want to take me?" Fred was ready to go wherever she wanted.

Arlet took what remained of the buñuelo in his hand and dropped it into her mouth. "The question is, where can we go with this mess going on outside? Our parents aren't letting us out of their sights."

Fred knew that was true. It was why they were cooped up in the house in the first place. It was the only place where nobody could get into except for them. "How about downstairs for breakfast, just you and me?"

Arlet's eyebrows raised. "You and me?"

Fred nodded, a smirk working it's way across his face. "You can make more bunnies!"

Arlet whacked his chest. "Those are not bunnies!"

"I'm telling everybody you're making bunny desserts!"

"No you're not!"

The glint in Fred's eyes told her otherwise.

"Fred, don't you dare!" Arlet barely finished the warning when Fred made the attempt to get out of bed. Arlet managed to tackle him down near the foot of the bed. He was left half dangling from the bed.

"Arlet, this is hardly a position anyone should be in," Fred said in a mock stern voice. "Now you pull me up right now."

"You're like twice my size and weight!" Arlet said, and promptly let go of Fred's leg.

He went toppling down in a matter of seconds. All Arlet heard was the thud of his body hitting the ground. "Ow…"

"Fred!" Arlet crawled to the foot and looked down at the lanky body below. "Are you alright?"

He had a pout on his face when he looked up at her. "You pushed me."

"I didn't," Arlet's voice went soft, making Fred smile mischievously. She was a complete sweetheart. "Fred, are you alright?" Arlet reached a hand down for him.

Fred grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her. She yelped as she went down and heard Fred's groan from the weight of her body. "Never better," he still answered her.

Arlet raised her head off his chest to see him grinning up at her. "A veces, eres demasiado."

Fred still grinned at her. "I'm pretty sure you just insulted me but you just sound so damn good, I don't bloody care."

Arlet rolled her eyes at him. "I said you were too much sometimes."

"Very true, Arly. So, are you good then?"

"How could I not be?" Arlet's voice went soft again. She got off him and sat on her knees. "Thank you."

Fred sat up and smiled at her. "Anytime. I can come in whenever you need me, okay? Don't hesitate to ask me."

"Even if I crash into you again?" Arlet didn't like the way his forehead looked. The bump was more visible now. She laid a gentle finger over it, making a face as she touched it. "I am so sorry about that."

"I swear that I'm okay but I won't lie, a kiss might make it even better," Fred had said in a completely jokeful manner. Of course he didn't expect Arlet to actually do any of that, but it was fair to dream.

Arlet just smiled at him in her usual sweet way. "That sounds fair," she surprised him with her answer. She leaned over and pressed a light kiss over his forehead, right over his bump. Fred was frozen for a second, his eyes wide in shock as Arlet pulled back. Her smile widened with his reaction—for once, she left him speechless. "Better?" she asked almost tauntingly.

"Y-yeah," Fred barely managed to say.

Arlet passed a hand over his hair, pushing back any loose strands from his forehead. Each stroke had Fred feeling fire.

'What are you doing to me, Arly?' Fred gulped.

It was like Arlet was reading his mind. She raised an eyebrow at Fred. "Are you okay, Fred?" she asked ever so sweetly.

"Mhm," Fred nodded shakily. No, no he was not okay.

Arlet was biting her bottom lip while her eyes looked at him a certain way. Fred wished he could see what she was thinking.

"If I asked you to come back to my room tonight, would you?" She asked so suddenly that it took Fred a moment to understand she'd actually spoken.

"Of course I would," Fred nodded quickly. "I told you, Arly, I'll come whenever you need me."

"Whenever?"

"Yes."

Arlet drew in a light breath. "You'd always come?"

Fred couldn't see why she kept asking the same thing but even then, he reiterated that he would. "Always," he promised.

Arlet had what she needed. Her thumb grazed the corner of Fred's mouth, brushing off a couple dots of sugar from his skin. She leaned forwards slowly, pausing midway for a second to check Fred's reaction. Her heart beat faster catching his smirk. He knew what was coming.

"Oh, shut up," Arlet said with a small smile. She leaned the rest of the way and kissed him.

Fred's hand slid over Arlet's neck, half of his fingers splaying over her jaw. It could perhaps be the most cliche of thoughts to think that she tasted as sweet as she was but right now it was the only thing in his mind.

Arlet pulled back only to ask a question. "Will you come tonight for real?" she whispered, barely resisting the urge to miss Fred's answer in favor of kissing him again. Even then, she had left only a tiny gap between them for the same reason.

Fred had absolutely no problem reassuring her. He would do it anytime, anywhere, if it made Arlet happy. "Of course," he promised her. He pushed a few strands of her hair from her face. Soon, he was kissing her again.

There was an unspoken excitement over the thought of when the night came again today, they would be together again.