Leaning casually against the doorframe, you slowly surveyed the area. You weren't just observing. You were scanning for signs of unease or duplicity, studying body language and tracking glances. You’d done this a hundred times before.
You weren’t loyal to V0Idemort. But you weren’t fully with the Order either.
And yet... your heart skipped a beat.
Fred stood near the fireplace with George, arms crossed and lips curled into a half-smile, as he chatted quietly with his twin. He wasn’t like the others.
Fred turned, as if pulled by some invisible thread, and locked eyes with you.
He froze.
George nudged him, raising an eyebrow. “Mate?”
Fred blinked, his gaze still locked on yours. He spoke softly, almost dreamily. “Her eyes…”
George followed his gaze, and his face changed. His smile faded. “She’s on the dark side, Fred.”
Before George could stop him, Fred strode across the room.
You tensed. Was he onto you? Had you slipped up? You were about to look away, to become cold, reserved and calculating again, but then...
“Hey,” he said, standing just a foot from you, his voice low and disarmingly warm. “I’m Fred.”
He smiled as though you were the only real thing in the room. As if he weren't afraid of you. And somehow, you smiled back.
“I know who you are,” you said.
“Oh, good,” he grinned. “That saves me the trouble of listing my charming qualities.”
Against your better judgment, you gave a quiet laugh.
“You’re always watching people,” he said. “Not in a creepy way. Just… like you’re measuring them. Why’s that?”
You swallowed. “Habit.”
He tilted his head. “Soldier habit?”
You hesitated. “Something like that.”
His smile didn’t waver. “Well, whoever you are, and whatever side you think you’re on…” he said, softer now, “…you’re kind of beautiful when you’re pretending not to care.”
Fred held a piece of parchment in his hands – your parchment. “Tell me it’s fake.”
“Fred—”
He turned then, slowly, his face pale. “Tell me it’s not your handwriting. That this isn’t you feeding information to both sides.”
You opened your mouth, but no sound came out. The silence was louder than anything you could have said.
He dropped the parchment.
“I was careful,” you said finally, your voice trembling. “I only gave V0Idemort just enough to keep his trust. I never betrayed the Order—”
Fred's face twisted and his voice rose. “You think that makes it better? You walked into headquarters, sat at our table, laughed with my family… all while playing both sides?”
“I had to!” you snapped, taking a step forward. “I’ve been holding this whole thing together — feeding them lies, filtering truths, risking everything!”
“Don’t give me noble.” His voice was like ice. “You lied to me.”
Your breath caught. “But I didn’t lie about us.”
He looked at you then. “Did you ever mean it?” he asked quietly. “Any of it?”
You stepped forward again. “Every second. Every look. Every time I chose you when I could’ve chosen silence.”
Fred looked away, his jaw clenched. “You were the one person I thought I didn’t have to question.”
Your voice broke. “I thought you loved me.”
He froze.
“I did,” he said after a long pause. “That’s the worst part.”
Tears slipped down your cheeks, unchecked. “I didn’t do this to hurt you. I did it to survive.”
He looked back at you. “Then I hope you survive it.”