You Shouldn't Be Here
Hufflepuff!Reader x Fred Weasley
Summary: After a rough night, you sneak into Gryffindor Tower to bug your sleepy boyfriend.
Content: Fluff, mild angst, mild cursing, and Umbridge hate
Cross-posted on Ao3
"Bloody hell- what in Merlin's name-"
You quickly covered his mouth with your hand, grinning lopsidedly.
"Shhh, Freddie," You hush with a small giggle, "You'll wake the others."
You'd ensured the crimson curtains were drawn tight around Fred's fourposter, but there was only so much privacy fabric could provide.
Fred grabbed hold of your wrist and effortlessly pulled it away from his mouth. He pressed a quick kiss to your knuckles before giving you an incredulous look.
"What time is it, love?" He grumbled.
"Oh, not long after one o'clock," You replied casually.
"And you're in Gryffindor Tower."
You nodded, looking quite pleased with yourself, "Yes."
"...But you're Hufflepuff."
"And?"
"You shouldn't be here."
You raised a single eyebrow which probably couldn't be seen well in the gloom. "Are you, Fred Weasley, complaining about me breaking school rules?"
He huffed and shifted his weight, so he's sitting up just a little on the headboard while you straddled lap. His hands rested casually on your hips, thumbs mindlessly stroking the curve of the bone and your own arms slung across his shoulders.
"No, not at all, love, it's just-" He sighed, "With that foul Umbridge woman running amok, consequences are a lot more... permanent."
Even in the low light of his dorm room, you could see the worry that shone in his eyes. Fred was always one for mischief, but he was hesitant to string you along in it. He had no issue whatsoever with throwing himself headfirst into danger, him and George, because they'd be the only ones to suffer the consequences. With you involved? ...He never wanted you hurt. He had this intense urge to keep you protected at all times. So, while he certainly enjoyed the fact that you were willing to bend the rules to be with him and get yourself in trouble just to cause mischief with him, he always found himself personally responsible whenever you got hurt.
Your expression darkened slightly at the mention of the Professor. Your hands tightened behind his head, and the scars you'd kept hidden there burning like they had when they'd been freshly etched onto your skin.
"Believe me, Freddie, I'm intimately acquainted with Umbridge's definition of consequences," You muttered, turning your face away slightly.
Fred tensed beneath you, sitting up a little straighter. "What haven't you told me?" He demanded quietly but firmly.
You shook your head. "It's nothing important-"
He cut you off and grabbed your chin to force you to look at him. "Bullshit," he said with careful calm. "Don't tell me what I do and don't find important."
The callouses of his hands scraped gently against the skin of your chin, and though his grip was firm, he's always made sure to be gentle. He'd never admit it to your face, but he treated you like the most precious, fragile thing. He'd probably die from the sheer guilt alone if he ever hurt you.
You swallowed and, staring into his warm brown eyes which reflected the moonlight like stars across his pupils, found yourself unable to lie to him further.
"...I had detention with her today..." You admitted quietly, looking down.
Fred let out a stream of colorful, and arguably creative, curses, dropping your chin and returning his hand to your hip. "When?" He asked stiffly, the muscles in his jaw working
"I got off and came straight here."
He cursed again. "She kept you there until one in the morning?!"
You shrugged. "I suppose I have thicker skin than she anticipated," you mumbled with forced casualty.
"I'm going to kill that woman." A shiver passed up your spine at the sheer conviction with which he spoke. "What was the reason for it?"
"She caught me consoling a second-year student about his own detention. I was trying to use magic to take away the pain. And, as you well know, all magic is now banned in the halls."
Fred looked downright outraged. "She threw you in detention for comforting a child?"
Another shrug. "You know Umbridge," You muttered, though it was of little comfort. "I wonder if she's somehow part dementor. She sucks the soul out of everything."
Fred scoffed lightly. Then, he lifted one of his large hands and set it gently on your arm. "Let me see," He asked softly.
You knew exactly what he was referring to, and withdrew your hand from behind his neck, angling it so the fresh, angry scars caught in the moonlight. They read I must not set a bad example.
Fred gently rubbed his thumb across the words, a few locks of his ginger hair falling in front of his eyes. Despite the situation, you smiled, loving the sight. With your spare hand, you gently brushed his hair off his forehead, and he glanced at you, his gaze briefly softening.
"...This is some bloody bullshit," He muttered finally, intertwining your fingers.
You chuckled softly. You knew he was upset and angry on your behalf, but you couldn't help but find his inability to adequately express it endearing.
"It's alright, love," you murmured, running your fingers through his hair, "I'm alright."
He looked at you like he seriously doubted this but chose not to say anything.
There're a few moments of comfortable silence, before you take a breath. "...Can I stay?" You asked hesitantly.
He once again looked as if he was about to say something then decided against it. He sighed, "You want to?"
You nodded.
"Alright. You can stay. But I'm not covering your ass if Professor Sprout gets mad at you for breaking curfew." Despite his words, you knew deep down that he would, in fact, try to cover your ass if it came to it.
You smiled gleefully and quickly shucked off your robe and pulled off your yellow and black tie, tossing them to the ground. You both knew George and Lee wouldn't say anything if they saw your clothes on the ground. They'd probably choose to actively avoid the topic.
Fred reached over to his dresser and grabbed a spare jumper, handing it to you. It was so oversized that, if you stood, it'd reach to your knees. The extra room in the jumper allowed you to unbutton and slide off your school shirt without ever having to be actually shirtless.
After the white fabric joined the pile on the floor, you leaned forward and settled against Fred's chest as he, too, laid back down, one arm behind his head, and the other wrapped securely around your waist. You lifted your face to smile at him and found him already grinning down at you. Propping yourself up slightly by your forearms, you planted a gentle kiss to his lips, one he happily returned.
"Goodnight, Freddie," You whispered as you laid your head back down, closing your eyes and listening to his heartbeat.
"Goodnight, love," He murmured back softly.
He rubbed his thumb back and forth soothingly against the small of your back, just to let you know that he was still there, still with you. You knew the moment he started losing consciousness, because it was the same moment the reassuring motion ceased.
It didn't matter much, however, because it wasn't long after that the sound of his soft breathing, and the quiet, comforting strength of his arm around you sent you into a blissful sleep.
