Chapter Text
Fuck Fred Weasley. You thought to yourself. He so casually let you know that he has been seeing Angelina like it wasn’t the greatest betrayal in the world. You had been in a relationship for close to 6 months and, although you’ll admit it wasn’t perfect, you really liked him. You had grown up together; your mother was best friends with Molly Weasley and you spent every holiday at their home. You and your mom were even invited to join them every Sunday for family dinner. Although you were Ron’s age, you always had a crush on his older brothers. When you were 5, you favoured Bill as he was older and quite handsome, but by the time you hit puberty you started seeing the twins in a new light. George and Fred looked the same but were also completely different. George was kind and shy, where Fred was outgoing and always brought everyone into his mischief. It’s why you were drawn to him. You loved how he could make you feel like the most important person in the world by including you in his life. When he finally asked you out, you were ecstatic. Ron was mad at you, but only for a day or two before he came around. He has a huge crush on your best friend, Hermione, anyway so he didn’t have a leg to stand on being mad at you for liking his brother.
It was a bit of an awkward transition dating Fred. Going from friends to more was more difficult than you thought it would be. Molly and your mother were excited for you, but when you kissed for the first time it felt more like mashing teeth together rather than the romantic softness that you expected. Although it was a rough start getting your bearings in the relationship, it got better.
It was easier at Hogwarts, you would hangout in the evenings, and support him when he played quidditch, it seemed like the pressure and expectations from your families dissipated when you were at school.
During the summer after your fifth year, you were at the Weasley house for Sunday dinner and noticed that Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell were invited over. You kindly greeted the girls. You always liked them. They were both intelligent and kind, not to mention, amazing quidditch players. George mentioned having a crush on Katie, so you were happy to see them getting closer.
After a quiet dinner, Fred asked to see you in his room for a minute and you were happy to have a bit of alone time with him.
You walked in the room and he told you to sit on the bed. Something was up with him, he was picking at his fingernails, the thing he does when he’s nervous.
“Is everything okay?” you asked.
“Um, actually I wanted to talk to you about something” he said, sitting on his brother’s bed across the room.
Your stomach dropped. You knew what was coming.
“Go on” you said quietly.
“Well, I think we can both agree that this isn’t working the way we thought it would” he gestured between the two of you. “And honestly, I really like Angelina, and she really likes me. I want to pursue things with her. Besides, you’ll be returning to Hogwarts in the fall, we won’t, it just makes sense that we take a break” he began rambling but you blocked out everything he was saying.
“Okay” you said simply.
“Okay?” He asked, surprised.
“Okay” you said, getting up from the bed and walking to the door. You made your way through the house, ignoring everyone on your way out. When you got outside, Ron had followed you.
“Y/n, are you okay? What happened?” He asked, panting from running after you.
“Fred has decided he is going to start seeing Angelina” you said, trying to keep emotion out of your voice.
“What the fuck? I’ll kill him” Ron said, drawing his wand.
“No need” you just shook your head and sighed. “I should go, can you just go inside and make sure he isn’t near the floo so I can slip out in peace?”
Ron nodded, he looked sad. You hated that he looked at you with pity, but you didn’t care enough at the moment to put up a fight.
He walked inside. You took a moment to gather yourself and followed after him.
No one was in the kitchen, he must have cleared the room completely for you.
“Please don’t let this ruin our friendship” you heard Ron say behind you as you grabbed a handful of floo powder.
“You’re family, Ron, we’ve grown up together, nothing could ruin that.” You said with a smile.
He returned a hopeful smile.
You stepped in the fireplace and called out for grimmauld place.
Your body twisted and turned until you felt the hard surface beneath your feet. The familiar sitting room came into view and you stepped into the warmth of the house.
You willed yourself to not cry as you brushed the dust from your shoulders.
“You’re back early” you heard Sirius as he walked into the sitting room. “What’s wrong?” He asked.
You couldn’t hide anything from your uncle. You immediately burst into tears “Fred broke up with me for Angelina” you breathed out.
“That bastard” he said seriously, crossing the room to pull you into a hug.
“I'm so sorry, sweetheart” he rubbed your back as you gathered yourself.
“It’s okay, it’s probably for the best,” you said.
“You were always better than him, much smarter and prettier anyway,” he said, and you knew he meant it.
You mustered a small smile “Thanks… I think I’m going to go read for a while and take my mind off of it. Could you tell mum when she is back from work? I don’t want to have to keep telling people.” You asked.
“Of course, and if you need me to curse that boy, I’d be more than happy to, no one would know,” he said with a wink.
You laughed “I’ll keep that in mind” and you went up to your room.
You grew close to your uncle as soon as he was released from Azkaban. He showed up on the doorstep to grimmauld place a week after the news of his breakout went public. Your mother trained her wand on him immediately, but he explained everything.
Regulus Black was your father, he died before you were born. Your mother and him were school sweethearts, shortly after you were born, and Sirius was arrested, she moved into grimmauld place as it was safe. Your mother didn’t work for the first 12 years of your life. She always told you about the amount of work she put into cleaning up the home, as it was filled with all kinds of dark magic. The Black family fortune was left to you so neither of you would ever have to work again, but as you started going to Hogwarts, she grew bored and took on an assistant job at the ministry. Being the ministers assistant takes her on many business trips, so Sirius was happy to step into a parental role. Although it is an unconventional family, you grew up a happy child with your mother reinventing the Black family name, abolishing the pureblood ideologies, and teaching you acceptance and tolerance. From the stories you’ve heard, you knew Sirius’s mother would be rolling in her grave.
You spent the rest of your evening reading. It was one thing you and Hermione had in common, you could sit together for hours just reading, you would exchange books, and she even introduced you to muggle romance novels. You were shocked to find out she was reading that kind of stuff, but it quickly became a guilty pleasure of yours.
You spent the rest of the summer at Grimmauld place, avoiding the Weasleys as much as possible. Every Sunday Molly would send you an owl with an invitation, but Sirius would always come up with an excuse on your behalf.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry all came to visit over the summer. They all avoided the topic of Fred Weasley as you expected Ron filled them in on the situation. The only news you heard about him was when Ginny owled you to let you know she missed you, and that he moved and was a git, which made you laugh.
When the new term rolled around, you had pushed Fred out of your mind completely. You were excited to be back in diagon alley with your friends shopping for school supplies.
You were having a great day until you saw Fred Weasley’s giant stupid face on a statue tipping his hat 20 feet tall at the front of his new joke shop.
You saw Harry, Hermione, and Ron all get excited over the new shop and didn’t want to damper their moods.
“You guys go ahead, I need to get some new robes,” you smiled at them, encouraging them to go into the shop.
“I can come with you,” Hermione said.
“No, no, I’ll meet you with you guys in a little bit. Have fun!”
“Okay, we’ll see you later” Harry said.
You walked over to the robes shop, not wanting to lie to your friends. When you entered, you were immediately greeted by the kind shop woman.
“Miss. Black, how lovely to see you”
“Hello Madam Malkin” you said kindly.
“What can I help you with today?” She asked.
“Perhaps a new skirt for school, and some tops”
“Of course, why don’t you take a seat by the dressing room and I will bring some options for you” she said before scurrying off to get the items.
You sat in a plush velvet chair for only a minute before she returned with far too many options for you.
“The school has allowed me to sell both red and grey skirts this year as a part of the uniform. Very exciting.”
“Great, I’ll take one of each” you said.
You already had far too many options for school clothing, but you liked seeing the kind woman happy with making a sale.
“I also have these new blouses, but I think it would be best if you try one on, it looks like your bust may have grown since the last time I saw you”
You blushed at the comment. “Sure” you said, taking the shirt from the woman and heading into the changing room.
You tried on the shirt which fit nicely and exited the changing room to get Madam Malkin’s approval.
“Very nice fit” here let me measure you for your records.
Before you could protest, she had a tape measure wrapped around your waist, magically moving around your body as an enchanted feather quill took down the measurements.
As you were stuck being measured, you heard the bell to the shop ring, signaling that someone had entered.
You looked over toward the door and saw Theodore Nott enter, followed by a tall boy with curly black hair. You didn’t recognize him, but he looked to be about your age. He had angular features and bright green eyes. You had to admit he was attractive. Theodore was also exceptionally attractive, although you’d never admit it out loud. He was friends with Draco Malloy, who Harry deemed to be his mortal enemy, so by association, you had to hate Theodore Nott.
“Hello boys, what can I help with today?” Madam Malkin greeted them.
“We’re here to get my mate new robes for Hogwarts, he’s transferring over this year,” Theodore said.
“Wonderful, come over” the kind woman waved the boys over to where you were standing.
The measuring tape was still wrapping its way around different parts of your body, you were standing with your arms out in a T formation.
“Now as soon as I’m done with Miss. Black’s measurements, I will take yours”
Both boys looked at you and you blushed as your sleeve length was taken. You politely smiled at the boys, Theodore whispered something to the other boy and you were suddenly extremely self-conscious.
“Now what is your name?” Madam Malkin asked Theodore’s friend.
“Mattheo, ma’am,” the boy said.
“Mattheo, please stand here with your arms out,” the kind witch said.
Suddenly the tape measure flew from your arm over to his. You saw him startle a little as it started measuring.
“Miss Black, should I charge your new items to the Black account?” Madam Malkin asked.
“Yes, please, could you also have the items delivered to my dorm?” You asked.
“Of course, dear and if you need anything else this term, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Thank you” you nodded and walked out of the store.
You met up with Harry, Hermione, and Ron and finished your shopping in diagon alley as Harry rambled on about Draco Malfoy being a death eater.
You had a quiet train ride to Hogwarts. When you got to the great hall it was strange being there without the twins. After they left last year, there were only a few days left of school and you knew you would see them during the summer. Being back, without them, without Fred, felt like something was over. Not just your relationship, but some part of your life. It was both sad and freeing.
The welcome feast was more dark and ominous than usual. The hat sang a concerning song about an upcoming war and everyone seemed to be on edge.
As you ate your dinner, you looked toward the Slytherin table and noticed Mattheo. You looked at him with curiosity. He has to be in his fifth or sixth year. Why did he transfer now? and where did he transfer from? Who is he? Also, why is he suddenly in Slytherin? Did he get privately sorted?
You had so many questions that you wanted to ask but knew you never could. Him being a Slytherin and you being a Gryffindor, you were destined to be enemies.
Still, you were curious, not to mention he was easy on the eyes. You didn’t notice you were staring, too lost in your thoughts until you made direct eye contact. Your face flushed and you looked down at your food, doing your best to not look back up.
Before the feast ended you risked glancing over to see him already looking at you with furrowed brows.
You immediately looked away and got up from the table to follow your classmates to your dorm.