the baby project — act one
" almost like a pregnancy "
﹙ 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗥. ﹚

     GIA MEADOWES INSISTED THAT ALL OF HER FRIENDS, BAR QUINN (for obvious reasons), sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast on Thursday morning because apparently, they were all going to be Lion supporters for the day and Ravenclaw were going to eat shit.

     "What if I preferred Quinn over you?" Clayton asked, his silver fork poised as a pointer. "Why doesn't she qualify for my support? She's very outnumbered right now."

     Addie thought Clayton made a good point. Gia doesn't play Quidditch. In fact, she barely understands the rules of the game. But one thing she does understand is house pride. And she'd do anything for her friends to join her in the stands and cheer alongside her for the house that she is very much proud of. Today, Gia Meadowes and Quinn Erwin are not friends. Quinn does not know this because the girl is sweetly oblivious to how Gia is very serious about their day-long feud. Merlin-forbid Ravenclaw win ─ Quinn may never hear from Gia again.

     Gia's lips parted slightly, but after a moment of gawking while looking offended, she let out a long breath, ignored Clayton's statement and instead, addressed the rest of the table, "Well, we're going to win today, so it's your decision," she said her chin peaking.

     Addie's eyes pierced Gia's, "You say we as if you are on the team?" she questioned, her face then falling flat. "Which you're not."

     Gia could only do as much as crease her forehead before she was cut off by two ginger twins sitting down on either side of Addie and Laurie. "Good morning ladies and Clayton."

     George studied Addie's Gryffindor attire, a red and gold scarf, and smirked, nodding his head approvingly as he snatched a pastry from the middle. "Supporting the right team, I see?"

     Addie sighed, tilting her head in Gia's direction, "We were held at wand-point."

     George looked disapprovingly at both Gia and Addie. "Well, that was unnecessary," he said, poking his pointer finger into Addie's shoulder. "You should be supporting Gryffindor anyway. Besides, I thought we were friends, Sweeney?"

     Addie pursed her lips, stared at him blankly, said the word "Okay" and focused her attention elsewhere. Her gaze trailed over to a laughing dark-haired Slytherin, sitting opposite her, besides Gia.

     George had noticed Jazz's amusement too, "I'm not quite sure why you're laughing, Sanderson," he said, tearing the pastry in two. "Addie and I shared a lovely evening together last night, didn't we?"

     Addie swayed to the side when George jabbed his elbow into her side. Laurie's gasp probably could have been heard from the Astronomy tower. "Oh my God, you did not," Laurie clutched Addie's hand as if the younger one was about to drop dead any second.

     Addie was more shocked than Laurie. At the fact that her sister had taken George Weasley's word over how well she knew Addie. Because that would not happen on this planet. "Ah yes because I would most definitely put aside every single one of my morals for this idiotic buffoon," Addie said sarcastically, rolling her eyes, before deciding to eat her breakfast in silence as to avoid any further comment on the subject of her and George sleeping together.

     The truth was that he had found her asleep in the library ─ he was stalking her, and she knew it ─ where he had then pretended that the library was locked, thus terrifying Addie as she believed they would be trapped there all night before he revealed to her it was a joke and they both went their separate ways to their separate common rooms. 

     "Harsh," George muttered, for only Addie to hear.

     "Fair," she replied back.

     Laurie nudged her sister and Addie believes she mouthed the words Did you really? with dents as deep as a canyon breaking out across Laurie's forehead. Addie shook her head in disgust and mouthed back the words No, of course not and she hoped that would be the end of that. And it was, Fred started up a discussion of today's game, and soon, everyone in their group became emerged at the tactics Gryffindor were going to battle the Slytherins with.

     Except for George. George was still set on bothering Addie. "How did your cursing-me-to-the-devil go last night then?" he said, his head angled down to her ear. 

     Addie smiled sickly-sweetly. "Fantastic," she grinned. "He's banished you to hell. My request."

     George cracked a smirk, still leaning in, "Could you imagine if we'd actually been locked in?"

     "I'd rather not."

     "Wood would have crucified me," George told her, staring straight ahead as he pondered the possibility. He winced and said, "The match is today and we had an early practice first thing."

     Addie had a ponder herself, chewing the inside of her mouth. Finally, she turned her head to look at him, and she became instantly uncomfortable at how close his face was to hers. She tried to ignore the proxemics. "I think Oliver's got the right idea," she said.

     George cocked an eyebrow, "What, about overworking his teammates?" he asked.

     "No," she said simply. "About murdering you."

     The redhead's face was washed over with relaxed amusement, as he took no offence to her violent remark. He concluded that joking with Addie meant he was friends with Addie. George straightened out and took a sip from his goblet. "Charming," he said, still only for her to hear. "You're definitely stalking me."

     Addie mirrored him and lifted her goblet of orange juice to her mouth. George smiled at the gesture, the rim of the glass resting against his lips. "You have my confession, Weasley."

༺༻

     WHILE THE SEPTEMBER SUN BEAT DOWN ON THE PITCH BELOW, Addie still kept her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck, as the subtle heat came accompanied by a nipping breeze, that had turned her ears red an hour into the match.

     The score had been even for most of that hour until the Gryffindor Chasers had gained an edge, of which the blues had yet to even out.

     "How much longer does this go on for?"

     Gia Meadowes' three friends turned to look at her in disbelief. Was this the same girl who had dragged them all into Gryffindor house pride, when not one of them is a Gryffindor, who is now wondering how much longer the Gryffindor match is going to go on for?

     "I thought you were utterly passionate about Quidditch, Gia?" Addie questioned curiously. "What changed?"

     Almost the entire school had gathered to watch the Lions vs Eagles match, and there was a positive buzz in the air. While the players whizzed about on brooms, the ringing of the bell by Lee Jordan sending one side of the stadium into fists of cheers every now and then, the rest of the stands were roaring with laughter and plaudits. It appears the cold wasn't getting to all of them

     Gia's neck jutted out, "My body's optimal temperature?"

     Clayton's forehead creased, "In order to enjoy the sport, Gee," he said, "you have to be prepared to withstand the varying conditions."

     "It's September?" Addie scoffed, stopping Gia from replying to Clayton's statement first. Addie crossed her arms, and refocused on the match, as she said: "Grow a pair."

     Gia's mouth fell open, "Harsh."

     It took a second for Addie to realise that all of her friends were staring at her, "What?" she said with a short shrug.

     Laurie pushed down her growing grin, as she looked at Gia, "Let's not lose the house pride just because of a little breeze, shall we?" she said, turning to look at the game once more. "I even think you could win this thing."

     The events of the next few seconds happened very fast. Too fast. A mix of Addie seeing her life flash before her eyes, and an infuriating sense of deja vu.

     A Bludger soared at her face, at a speed she couldn't even comprehend, causing her hair to fly up at the sides. She squeezed her eyes shut and heard it swoop, as it swerved to the side, just dodging her by an inch. Several hushed cries created a wave around the stands, and Addie could feel her heart stop. How is it that this has happened again? 

     She gave the startle but a mere few seconds to settle in the pit of her stomach before she opened her eyes again. Her friends were are staring at her, just as astounded as she, but Addie could only think of one single thing.

     She made sure to find the source, at the first chance that was presented to her. To uncover who had been at the other end of the bat when the ball had launched at her face. And she couldn't quite believe who her eyes focused on at the far end of the pitch. His bat was still held in the air, while he remained frozen, hovering in the air. Addie didn't need to squint her eyes, nor even think about it for a second longer to identify who it was that had swung the ball at her face.

     Her eyes remained fixed on the player on the pitch when she addressed her friends, "Do you all agree to be my witnesses when I accuse him of attempted murder on two accounts?" she asked, her face contorted with an anger that was threatening to boil over. It was an exaggeration of course, but none of her friends were going to question it ─ they too were scared.

     There was very little clarification of who Addie was talking about, due to the sheer speed the multiple players were flying at, and yet, they all had their predictions. And they all had the same one ─ George Weasley.

     Clayton cautiously placed a hand on Addie's shoulder, in an attempt at calming her down. The girl was practically panting with rage, although they could all still see the shock in her eyes. "I think we might have to testify against you for successful murder, honey," Clayton said, wincing, now rubbing his hand along her back. 

     Although she was shaking with fury, Addie still found her words. "So be it."

༺༻

     STILL WANTING TO KILL GEORGE WEASLEY FOR "ACCIDENTALLY" whacking a Bludger in her direction, Addie described herself to be "suffering" when she was forced to cheer for the red team when Harry Potter caught the Golden Snitch. She was well aware that she was wearing what she was, and sitting where she was because she was supposed to be supporting the Gryffindor team today, but that all changed when one particular Beater decided to try and kill her for a second time in one week. Addie's friends had tried to convince her that George obviously didn't do it on purpose, but Addie hated the idea that it was all just a "coincidence". She decided to temporarily stop talking about it so Gia could enjoy marvelling in her house's victory against Ravenclaw.

     After the initial celebrating was done, Clayton suggested that it was only fair that as a group they all locate Quinn somewhere on the other side of the stands just to check in. Gia reluctantly agreed, on the condition that Quinn is "not allowed to ruin the victory for me" and that they all must "attend the celebrations" that will be taking place in the Gryffindor common room later that night, courtesy of the Weasley twins. 

     Gia ─ who was currently trying her best not to smile too much for the benefit of Quinn when they located her ─ nudged the latter's side, hoping to cheer her up just a little. "Good game."

     "Yeah sure," Quinn responded. The girl had never been that enamoured by Quidditch but it didn't feel nice to be the only Ravenclaw in their group experiencing this loss. "Can we move on, please? I don't think I can take Gia's terrible attempt at hiding her excitement anymore."

     "I have a new topic of conversation," Addie quickly piped up since she was desperate to unearth the fury that was buried deep inside of her and needed to be let out. "Apparently, Bludgers are George Weasley's weapon of choice."

     Laurie turned to her sister, and bent down patronisingly, "Okay, let's drop it now, shall we?" While she didn't complain about the incident to her friends, Addie happily told her sister all about it in secret.

     "What's she sulking about?" Quinn asked.

     All five of them opened their mouths to stop Addie from answering Quinn's question herself to save them all from yet another dramatised retelling of what happened earlier, but they all were in vain. Addie scoffed, and said, "Weasley's second  attempt on my life."

     Quinn tried to suppress her laughter as she draped a comforting arm over Addie's shoulder. "In that case, how about we all enjoy a lovely warm cup of tea together?"

      The rest of the group descended into awkward silence.

     Quinn was a smart girl. It didn't take her long to conclude what was happening here. She slowly removed her arm from Addie's shoulder. "So you're all attending the celebrations in the Gryffindor common room then tonight?" She poked the inside of her mouth with her tongue.

     The air suddenly got very stuffy and Addie no longer wanted to rant further about George Weasley.

     "Well...," Laurie was trying to stifle a grimace.

     Jazz was too. "Not exactly."

     "You're welcome to join us!" Clayton added hastily.

     As out of place as she might feel, Quinn had craved her best friends when standing in the stands with her dormmates. It would be strange if Gryffindor had lost but she would just be there as a non-bitter non-Gryffindor. It's not like she was the only non-Gryffindor going.

      "That would be nice actually," Quinn responded. "Might take the edge off losing a bit."

     Jazz lightly punched Quinn in the shoulder. "That's the spirit."

     "We best be off then," Gia said, careful not to sound too eager, heading to the exit. The rest of them followed but when they reached the bottom of the stairs and rounded the corner towards the path up to the castle, Addie stopped and turned. Fred and George were heading right her way.

     Gia stopped at the door when she noticed the Hufflepuff not moving, "Addie?" she prompted.

     Addie dismissed them with a hand, "I'll see you guys later," she said.

     The four friends nodded and/or shrugged leaving Addie in the middle of the walkway just as George reached her side. She could already tell how enlarged his ego had become since the final whistle was blown.

     Pleasureful delight washed over George's face at the sight of her, while he swung a towel over his shoulder, "Ah, Sweeney," he cocked his head to the side. "Bet you're glad you ended up rooting for Gryffindor today, huh?"

     George slipped his hands into his Quidditch robes' pockets as he followed Addie out. "Here to congratulate us on our remarkable victory?" His eyebrows twitched.

     Addie ignored the question ─ he of all people knew that wasn't the reason she was here ─ and took a step forward, her eyes locked onto George's as if Fred ceased to exist. "You better watch that Bludger of yours, Weasley," she said.

     Fred's fist to the mouth to stifle his cackle irked her, but George's smirk infuriated her. "Not mine," George leaned down to match her height. "Out of my control."

     The lack of an apology made her blood boil. "Try to murder me again, and I will-"

     "What?" George's head tilted again. "Have me expelled? Stalk my family like you do me? Give me a kiss?"

     She could have slapped him. She wanted to, she thought she was going to, but she landed back on earth where she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "Only in your wildest dreams would I kiss you, Weaslebee," she smiled sickly-sweetly.

     George didn't let the Malfoy nickname get to him, instead, his sneer broadened, and his eyes pierced hers deeper. "Actually," he said, "I think you'll find I'm in your dreams, Sweeney." The wink that followed almost threw her off the edge.

     As a final goodbye, George angled his words right to her ear, and her whole body tensed, "We'll see you at our celebrations."

     She hated the way he said our as if it just belonged to them. As if the rest of the team hadn't a hand in their victory. She hated the way he stalked off, with the worst kind of self-righteousness possible, and how he and his brother laughed about the tumble of a Slytherin player mid-match. But most of all, Addie hated him. In all of his holier than thou act and his red hair, and his ever-present grin, that wasn't funny, nor comforting, nor amusing, just irritating ─ she hated him. She hated George Weasley with every fibre of her being. And she hoped it would stay that way until her dying day.

𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗘'𝗦 𝗧𝗜𝗣 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬 ━━

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yes, yes, well aware the first match of the season happens later and is G v S but this is future connie writing and she fucked up so i had to come back and change this. if you read the original, no you didn't x