"Kiara Riddle."
Chapter 18: Sweet Dreams
Percy Weasley stormed out of the Burrow after Christmas lunch, his horn-rimmed glasses covered in mashed parsnips. George and Ginny claimed full credit for the violent act but Fred fortunately managed to pour gravy over his head as Percy thundered out. As Fred and George recounted the story to Kiara the day where Mrs Weasley couldn't overhear without breaking into tears, she lapsed into giggles.
Luckily, after their conversation in the pantry, Fred and Kiara's friendship returned back to normal. The two spoke, laughed and joked with each other. George was ecstatic, watching his two best friends finally getting along again like they did for many years. Kiara was beginning to dread the day that Fred and George would return back to work and not long after that, she would be back at Hogwarts without her two best friends.
On Boxing Day, Kiara spent the day in the winter snow with Fred and George, participating in their traditional post-Christmas snowball fight. She dodged a snowball from Fred and directly threw one at George which successfully made contact.
"You're going to get it, Kiara," George bellowed, glaring at her as he rolled a large snowball. Kiara's eyes widened, bending down to prepare herself with one in defence but it was too late. George's snowball was in the air and pummelling dangerously towards her face.
"Kiara, get down!" Fred yelled, appearing with a crack next to her and pushing her down to the snow safely to avoid the incoming snowball. Kiara fell to the ground softly, the snow cushioning her fall and she gasped in surprise. Unfortunately for Fred, the snow struck directly with his face. "Ooft!" Fred fell to the ground dramatically from the impact, faking a groan.
"Fred, are you okay?" Kiara cried, crawling to Fred's side and helping him brush the snow out of his face and hair. He smiled slightly as her soft fingertips moved across his skin, concern written across her face.
"Get him back," Fred muttered, blinking feebly. "Avenge my... Death..." he gasped out dramatically, sighing raggedly.
Kiara giggled but nodded affirmatively, tightening her beanie. She picked up a pile of snow and began rolling a large snowball. As she concentrated on its iciness and coolness, aiming at where George's head will appear in seconds, the snowball began to slowly grow in size.
"Kiara?" Fred questioned slowly, lifting his head and staring at Kiara curiously. "Your snowball..."
But George's face suddenly appeared behind a tree and Kiara launched the snowball powerfully. She gasped as it travelled mid-air, noticing that it resembled a large boulder, rather than the small melon that she prepared for it to look like. "Oh Merlin..."
George screamed like a ten-year-old girl which was abruptly cut off by the painful smack of the snowball.
"George, I'm so sorry!" Kiara cried, pulling up Fred from the ground quickly who discreetly hid his smile as she held his hand and they ran to George who was lying on the ground, moaning in agony. "I don't know what happened!"
"Do you think it was your powers?" Fred asked quietly while Kiara fussed over George.
"I only have the elements of water and fire," Kiara replied, rubbing the lump on George's forehead.
"Water can be ice though," George groaned, sitting up slowly and touching his face gingerly. "It just needs to be cold."
"So, if I concentrate for it to be like snow... I can conjure, ice?" Kiara questioned, staring at the palms of her hands. "Maybe I should speak with Dumbledore when I get back to Hogwarts."
"NO!" She was suddenly tackled to the snow by both twins, begging and pleading.
"Please, don't leave us!"
"Don't go back to Hogwarts!"
Kiara gasped out, the two boys crushing her lungs with their combined weight. "You... You both go back to w-w-work tomorrow anyway."
"Actually, Lee and Verity are looking after the store until you return to Hogwarts," Fred explained, nuzzling his head into her neck.
"We didn't want to leave you," George piped up, tightening his arms around her waist.
With great strength, Kiara managed to push the two boys off her body, breathing deeply. Fred outstretched his hand and pulled her to her feet, smiling slightly as she fell slightly into his body, losing her balance in the heavy snow. "You're both staying at the Burrow?"
"We want to stay with our favourite girl," Fred wrapped his arm around Kiara's shoulder. Kiara's cheeks heated at the closeness of contact between the two. Suddenly, George lifted Kiara and threw her over his shoulder, causing her to scream.
"George!"
"Not a moment to waste!" George exclaimed, marching to the Burrow with Fred chortling behind. Kiara glared at Fred.
"Can't you do something?"
"Why would I? The view is perfect from where I am," Fred laughed and Kiara blushed again, failing to meet Fred's eyes. Fred however, managed to catch a glimpse of the pink and his smile widened.
"What are we doing anyway?" Kiara huffed as George carried her through the back garden.
"We're going to play Exploding Snap while drinking mum's hot cocoa. Whoever wins, gets to lead with a prank on Ron," Fred explained in quiet voice as they walked through the kitchen, taking a tray of three steaming mugs from Mrs Weasley gratefully.
"Take off your shoes, you're trekking snow into the house! George! Put Kiara down this instance!"
George rolled his eyes but dropped Kiara graciously, who removed her shoes immediately, placing them next to the back door. "Let's go sit by the fire."
The three sat around a table in the loungeroom, next to the burning fire which emitted a strong warmth. Fred summoned the pack of cards and they began playing. The rules of Exploding Snap are simple: when you see two identical pictures, a player must hit the card with the top of their wand to earn a point. The player with the most points wins the game. The hardest part is, however, the cards shuffle faster and faster and if you hit the wrong card, it explodes.
To begin, Fred played a match with George. Fred beat George with ease, allowing George to win the first few points deliberately but then, he began snatching points as the cards shuffled quickly. In pure desperation, George attempted to regain his lead but ended up burning the tip of his fringe.
"You got lucky," George grumbled, patting his singed hair.
Fred turned to Kiara, grinning. "You're up against the future champion."
Kiara rolled her eyes but focused as they began playing. They were point-for-point, not allowing either player to get the best of the other. In the last round however, Fred was quicker by milliseconds and Kiara's wand landed on top of Fred's.
"No," Kiara muttered in frustration, groaning as she lay back into her chair.
"I'm in the finals!" Fred cheered, jumping to his feet and dancing around the room.
"Get out of it," George grumbled, throwing a pillow as Fred did a ballerina twirl. The cards were reshuffled and Kiara began to play George; both determined to win so they could verse Fred in the final round.
Kiara won effortlessly, picking up the first few points as the deck moved slowly but then allowed George to pick up some when the cards began shuffling faster. His reflexes weren't as quick as hers, burning his eyebrows this time.
"I hate this game," George moaned, patting his smoking eyebrows. Fred smirked at Kiara who stared back with determination. The deck of cards reshuffled as Fred sat across from Kiara.
"You ready to lose?"
"Not at all," Kiara grinned, taking the first point while Fred was distracted. His smirk faded as he directed his attention to the game.
The points were close as the deck of cards began to shrink, until there was only one point difference between Kiara drawing with Fred.
"Got it!" Kiara cried, tapping the deck quicker than Fred. Fred groaned, realising that there was a tie with one potential pair left to claim the victory.
"Kiara, don't you think you should take your jacket and jumper off?" Ginny suggested, who had entered the room midway through their final. She was smiling cheekily at Kiara who stared at her, perplexed. Fred nodded at Kiara, indicating that he would wait until she was ready.
"Er... Yeah, it is a bit warm in here now," Kiara said quietly, removing her winter jacket, followed by her Weasley jumper, revealing a tight cami top underneath. She mentally thanked Ginny, feeling less restricted with her movement. Ginny however, was playfully staring at Fred with raised eyebrows. "Okay, I'm ready."
Fred nodded, his eyes flicking towards Kiara for a split second. She was chewing her bottom lip in concentration with her messy short hair was tucked behind her ear. Her cami top hugged her figure, slightly revealing her cleavage as she lent forward, poised with her wand to win her winning point. Fred's eyes widened, freezing for a moment.
"Yes!" Kiara cried, tapping the card deck with her wand. Fred was milliseconds too late. "I won!" Fred groaned, realising that he was captivated by Kiara's beauty momentarily.
"Fred is a loser!" George shouted, lifting Kiara on his shoulder and she screamed with delight. Fred shook his head, watching Kiara's eyes as they shined a bright yellow. She smiled brightly, throwing her hands in the air in triumph.
"I let you win," Fred teased but Kiara shook her head, ignoring his excuses.
"Just admit that you lost."
Fred was about to repeat that he let Kiara win but her smile was so bright and made his heart ache. His playful exterior faltered and he smiled. "I lost," Fred admitted quietly. Everyone's eyes widened in surprise. Kiara's in particular, turned pink once more.
Fred on the other hand, he couldn't help but watch her, unable to prevent his grin. For a moment, Fred remembered the dream that his Sweet Dream Serum gave him the night before. For the first time ever, he drank the potion that Kiara gave him for Christmas. Within minutes, he fell into a peaceful sleep.
He was standing at an altar in a suit underneath an archway full of roses, a tie uncomfortably fastened around his neck. He was wearing a black tux with a rose carnation pinned to it.
He was facing a crowd of people, his family sitting in the front row with his friends and distant relatives filling the rows of chairs behind him. George stood at his side, a grin on his face in a similar suit with Ron next to him. He noticed his mum at the edge of the row, dabbing the tears that fell down her face with her handkerchief.
"Are you ready?" George nudged Fred.
"Ready as I will ever be," Fred said nervously, breathing deeply.
An assortment of white and pink-roses covered the aisle between the two sections of chairs. A gentle song began playing tenderly in the distance. First, Ginny walked in the building, wearing a simple nude-coloured dress. She was smiling at Fred knowingly, winking at him when she caught his eye. Hermione was next, wearing an identical dress and walking softly in Ginny's wake.
Everyone rose to their feet and faced the beginning of the aisle as the wedding march began playing. Fred's heart stopped as a figure appeared at the doorway. Her eyes were glistening and they were focused on Fred, unable to stop smiling. She walked gracefully, her long, white dress accentuating her beautiful figure. In her hands was a bouquet of pink and white lilies. Fred couldn't breathe, unable to stare elsewhere. He took her hand, squeezing it when she stepped towards him.
A priest stood in front of us and went through the ceremony beautiful. Fred wasn't paying attention though, he wanted the whole event over so he could finally hold the woman that he loved in his arms. His mouth moved as he recited his vows, unable to stop grinning. His grin didn't disappear as he slid the gold wedding ring on her slim finger. The priest smiled happily and said, "I now pronounce you man and wife. Fred, you may now kiss the bride."
And as Fred turned to face her, her eyes were bright pink. Her blonde hair was softly curled around her face but he was captured by her perfect smile that almost sparkled. Fred leant forwards, ready to kiss his wife.
And that was when Fred woke up. He dreamt about his wedding day, with the girl that he still considered to be the love of his life. Whenever Fred began to think that his feelings for Kiara was starting to disappear, her smile resurfaced his feelings deeper and more intently.
"Fred?" Her soft voice called. He looked up quickly, realising that the room was empty except for Kiara who was waiting at the doorway, meeting her curious green eyes. "Are you coming? We're going to subtly vanish Ron's objects over the course of the day." She laughed, the sound of it making Fred smile.
"Of course," he replied, following the girl who was recounting her plan in detail. As she spoke, she didn't notice the way that Fred watched her. If she did, maybe she would've realised that there was no one else that he would ever want.
It was her. It will always be her.
*****
WHAT DO WE THINK? Fred's sweet dream gave me so many chills! And he just loves her so much.
I apologise that I haven't uploaded lately. I've been caught up with my exams!
Please vote and comment if you loved this chapter!
~FredWeasleyIsMyKing