GOLDEN GIRL

♡

in search of her tent, the one her grandpa planned to make Winky set up, and look after whilst he was busy working. She walks away from the larger group still annoyed, and faintly as she takes a different route to the Crouch pitch, she hears Fred's voice say, "What does she see in him?"

She grumbles to herself, loud enough to startle a couple of children playing next to their family's tent. They stare at her oddly, and she thinks to herself, Malecrit, Briar, you don't even look like a monster and you're still scaring little children. She repositions her bag on her shoulder, feeling awkward and embarrassed, as she walks the rest of the way to the tent. Her eyes glance down at the map she had been given by her grandad before she left yesterday, and she follows the path to the x.

But then, she hears her inner eye tell her, slow down. Confused, Briar does, coming to a full halt, as she turns around. Fred's standing there, looking a little sheepish. "I'm sorry for being a dick," he says.

She crosses her arms. "Hm."

"Honestly, Bri, I don't know what came over me—"

"You were jealous," says Briar, frowning.

Fred pauses, before he sighs. "OK, yeah, I was... You're my best friend and I haven't seen you in a year and I think it just annoyed me that you walked off with him... But I was being a dick about it, because he hasn't seen you in a year either, so it was wrong of me to react like I had more of a right to... I dunno, talk to you... And I'm sorry," he says. Briar nods. He looks sincere? And, to be fair, she knows he gets hot-heated easily, and he's always had a bit of a thing whenever she brought up her old crush on Cedric. "But," he says, and he tries to take hold of her hands, unfolding her arms to do so. He smiles slightly. "It's your birthday and I don't want you to have a shitty day because of me."

Briar looks up at him, her brows furrowing for a minute, before she shakes her head. "Just don't do it again, yeah?" she says.

He nods. "Promise."

She smiles at him.

"Now," says Fred, holding onto her hands still. She feels awkward, letting go. She hopes she can start walking to her tent again, so that she can find a natural way to let go of his hands. She feels wrong, doing it. Her mind thinks he wouldn't do that if he knew the truth, and she feels sick, the idea that he's holding her hands and he doesn't know who he's really holding hands with. "I was gonna ask if you want to spend the rest of the day with us, because I'm guessing Livvy's gonna be with Malfoy and your grandpa's gonna be busy?"

Briar grins. "I'd love to," she tells him. "I just need to leave my bag in my tent, then I'll be good to go."

It's then that she lets go of his hands, walking towards the Crouches' tent. She feels relieved, if anything, that she found the opportunity that easily, and softly, she lets out a breath of relief.

"How come George didn't come with you?" says Briar.

Fred shrugs. "Didn't want to get involved."

"Fair enough," she says, with a laugh.

They reach the tent, just as Briar explains that her grandpa arrived a couple days earlier than herself and the Weasleys so that he could help out with preparations. She checks with her inner eye that her grandpa won't turn up whilst they're in the tent, knowing his reaction to (a) her friendship, in general, with the twins, and (b) the fact that she's in the tent, alone, with Fred. There's a reason Briar wouldn't dare mention that she slept in the same room as them last night. He's convinced the entire world will end if she has a boyfriend, let alone has sex... It's not like she's got more pressing matters. You know, like being a fucking werewolf.

"I think you're right about Livvy fucking off with Draco," says Briar as she walks into the tent, everywhere dead silent. The inside of the tent is enormous, a holiday home version of her actual house. There's a massive area acting as the living quarters, with a small corridor leading towards three bedrooms and a bathroom. In the part housing the sofas and fireplace, the mantlepiece is covered with framed photos. Half of them are of Briar's mother when she was a teenager, with her two brothers, Aster, the eldest, and Barty Jr., the youngest. Briar walks past them quickly.

"Briar! Happy birthday!" says Winky's voice, and a couple seconds later, the house-elf appears from the kitchen, looking happy. Briar grins back at her. "Master says he'll be back soon... Are you staying?"

"I was going to go back with Fred," says Briar carefully, glancing over her shoulder at Fred, who looks a little weirded out by Winky. He isn't used to house-elves, apart from the ones at Hogwarts, but even then, it's different to how Briar grew up playing dolls with Winky. "Uh, Winky? Could you do me a favour?"

"Of course, of course!" says Winky. "That's what I live for!"

"Could you not tell my grandparents about Fred being here?" says Briar. Winky looks a little scared, like she always does whenever Briar asks her to keep something from her grandpa, but she nods anyway... She has to, though, doesn't she? Briar feels herself begin to worry, at the idea of Winky feeling nervous. "It's just that Grandpa will get really annoyed if he finds out and—and I really don't want to get into any trouble."

Winky nods. "I won't say anything."

"You're brilliant," says Briar, grinning. She glances over her shoulder again at Fred, before turning back to Winky. "We'll be a couple minutes and we'll be gone, all right? And then I'll be back here later on."

Winky nods. "OK, Briar," she says.

"Cool," says Briar, smiling softly. She leads Fred out of the living area and to her bedroom, the first door in the corridor.

He scratches the back of his neck. "Will he really be pissed off if he knows I've been here?" he asks.

"Only if he knows," says Briar quietly, and she opens the door into her bedroom. She closes the door behind him, mostly because she doesn't want Winky to overhear anything and have to restrain herself telling Briar's grandpa it. Briar then steps past Fred, placing her bag on the foot of the bed.

It's a fairly small room, really, but it's cosy. The bed and wardrobe are made of the same warm wood, and the walls are all painted a golden colour. It's a stark contrast to her actual bedroom at home, what with it's light pink walls and posters and such stuck to the walls. There's also a rocking chair in the corner, with an old teddy bear sitting in it... The room hasn't exactly changed since she was little, save the colour of the bed sheets.

"Why doesn't he like us?" asks Fred. "If it's all right, me asking—"

"He, uh, thinks you're a bad influence," says Briar, wincing as she speaks. She smiles weakly at him. "But what does he know? He didn't say a word when both of my uncles became Death Eaters... He was more upset my mum ran off with a werewolf... I think he worries I'll fuck up, too, and he won't see me again, until I turn up dead."

"Oh," says Fred. "Cheery."

"Definitely," says Briar. "But it doesn't matter, really. I mean, it is a little weird that we've been friends since first year and you've never seen my bedroom, but I've seen yours loads, but I guess this one will do for now?" She gestures to the one they're standing in, and Fred smiles at her. "Maybe I'll draw you a picture, in that thing you got me for my birthday... What's it called?"

"I'd tell you if I knew," says Fred with a shrug.

"Well, I'm going to call it the parchment," says Briar. She looks up at him, smirking slightly. "Maybe, when you get super-duper successful, you can name it after me. Like, a play on 'inner eye,' or something." The two of them walk out of her bedroom as she continues. "Because, like, it's sort of like an inner eye, because it tells you things about the other person, only it's because they're telling you... And then, when you get even more successful you can make hair scrunchies—"

"How are scrunchies joke products?" he asks.

"Maybe they're enchanted to keep your hair curly, but like, perfectly curly," says Briar, and they step out of the tent, just as she says goodbye to Winky. "I don't know. Aren't you meant to be the inventor of this stuff?"

"You know what," says Fred, as he leads the way to the Weasley tent. "If Wheezes is successful—"

"When," she corrects.

"You angel," he says with a grin, and she feels her face burn up, having to turn away so he doesn't see. "But, anyway... If Wheezes is successful, then there'll be a whole section for you and your scrunchies."

"I'd marry you on the spot," she remarks, and immediately she thinks, why the fuck would you say that, Briar? Why, why, why, why—?

"Well, now you love me even more..." he says, trailing off. He keeps on smiling, only it isn't exactly a cheeky grin anymore, but rather, he looks happy. "So, any ideas of what's gonna happen at the match tonight?"

Briar gives him a knowing look as she nods, smirking up at him. Seers aren't exactly supposed to tell people what's going to happen in the future, but, sometimes, Briar feels as if it helps. Especially when she sees Ludo Bagman arriving at the Weasleys' tent shortly. So, Briar glances around, to make sure no one can overhear, and quietly tells him—

"Ireland wins — but Viktor Krum gets the Snitch," says Fred, a few minutes later, to Bagman, who's standing by the Weasley's tent like Briar predicted. His eyes widen at the amount of money Fred and George are offering to bet on the unlikely odds, and just like that he laughs, thinking he's made a quick buck.

Fred looks back at Briar, who's sitting next to George, and grins at her. She winks back at him, pleased with herself.

♡

"I CANNOT STRESS HOW much I love you, Briar Crouch," says Fred a few hours later, as they walk up the steps to the top of the stadium. Briar grins back at him, and she glances across at George, who rolls his eyes.

"Merlin, Fred, we all know, will you shut up?" says George.

Briar lets out a laugh. "I think you can say how much you love me as much as you'd like," she says, looking over at Fred. He smiles back at her.

They reach the top box, a couple minutes after everyone else. Briar instantly spots Winky in one of the seats, Harry standing next to her, and she picks up her pace to get to them.

"Winky? Why are you here?" asks Briar, frowning.

"Master wants me to save him a seat," says Winky.

Briar looks over her shoulder, at the massive drop past the railing. "But, Winky... Aren't you scared of heights?"

"But Master says—" Winky begins, and already Briar knows that there's no use in trying to dispute this. Hell will freeze over before Briar can get Winky to get against Briar's grandpa's orders. There's a difference between Briar finding a loophole — getting Winky to not mention Fred being in their tent earlier — and Briar straight-up trying to get Winky to go against orders.

"I understand," says Briar weakly. "Let me know if you need me."

By this point, Fudge recognises Briar as Crouch's granddaughter, and he goes to shake her hand. He then moves onto Harry, and Briar slips past, the twins having saved the seat between them for her.

"I'm back," she says. She glances behind her shoulder, checking on Winky. "I hope she'll be OK—"

"Ah, Fudge..." Someone else's voice takes her off guard, even if her inner eye was already counting down the seconds. Lucius Malfoy shakes the Minister's hand. Next to him, stands his wife Narcissa, and, next to her, stands Livvy — who must've spent the day with them, like Briar's done with the Weasleys — and Draco. And, beside Draco, stands a pretty girl with ice-white hair.

"This is my niece, Holliday," says Malfoy to the Minister, motioning towards the girl. Briar looks at her properly, remembering what her brother said about how she was sobbing to her father, saying how much she hated Durmstrang. Another thing clicks as well — it was Holliday Malfoy that was in her dream last night.

And then Briar gets it, the feeling she always does when she meets someone important. Suddenly Briar sees multiple possibilities, all centred around this girl and, weirdly, Harry. Every possibility ends up in them getting along and... getting together? Briar finds it weird, Harry even daring to fancy someone related to Draco, but as she snaps out of it, and glances across at Harry, she can already see it. He already looks awe-struck, hearts practically jumping out of his eyes.

"Merlin's beard," says Fred, under his breath.

"Stop it," says Briar, frowning. "It's sweet."

"It is?" says George.

"Yes!" she says. "Maybe this is why no one has fallen in love with either of you... I don't see you two look at someone like the whole fucking universe revolves around them."

George snorts. "I know I haven't," he says, and then he leans back, to look at Fred, who's on the other side of Briar. "What do you think, mate?"

"Piss off," says Fred.

Briar raises an eyebrow. "You still fancy Angelina, then—?"

Both of the twins whirl around and go, "What?"

"I just thought..."

♡

"I JUST THOUGHT I'D ASK," Harry had said as they all walked out of the stadium, spirits high as the Ireland supporters celebrate their success. Briar digs her hands into the pockets of her denim jacket, the weather turning a little colder now that the sun's set. Livvy's already disappeared, having managed to talk their grandpa into letting him stay with the Malfoys tonight. Briar's planning to leave the Weasleys and go back to her tent... Like, sure, it's her birthday, but her grandpa did promise he'd be back shortly...

"So," says Briar, glancing across at him. "This is just what Liv's told me. But... Her parents are Margo and Atticus Malfoy. Both supported Voldemort, but when he... went away, they pretended that they were under some spell the whole time." Briar spots the look on Harry's face. "Yeah, slight issue there, if her parents are actually evil. Anyway... She went to Durmstrang, but—"

"Are you sure you don't want to stay any longer, Briar?" says George, the Weasleys standing outside of their tent. "We've got hot chocolate...?"

"I should make sure Winky's all right," says Briar. "But, uh, I'll see you soon?"

Both Fred and George give her a hug. Again, the same thing happens, only this time, Briar notices it, as it's happening. George hugs her like you'd expect, but Fred holds her, like he doesn't want to let go. Part of her feels like she's just making it up, because for some reason her brain's picking out everything attractive about him, because why, why, would this happen? She's a literal monster.

"You need to visit again, before school starts," says Fred.

Briar nods. "Oh, definitely," she says. "I'll—I'll talk to Grandpa the second he gets back."

"Are you sure you're all right, walking back on your own?" says George.

"I'll be fine," says Briar, nodding again. She smiles weakly. "I've dealt with far worse, Georgie." She looks at both of them, the happiness that had filled the majority of the past day leaving the air, just like that. She feels just like she did when she realised she wouldn't see them every day anymore. "I'll see you soon."

"See you soon," both of them say, sounding a little miserable.

Briar feels exactly the same, as she walks back to her tent. Everyone around her is smiling, laughing, cheering, and all Briar wants to do is curl up in a ball and feel like shit. Part of her wishes she had just come out and told them the truth, what she is, because for the past day there were so many times where she felt disconnected to them, because they don't know who she is. She knows she'd never find the courage to tell them, but she wishes she could. Because now, there's this massive disconnect. They look at her and see Briar, their best friend, the Seer, was in Gryffindor. But that isn't the Briar standing next to them... Next to them, stands Briar, the werewolf.

Her takeaway from all of it is this — Briar needs Fleur. She never would've thought she'd rely so heavily on a girl she's barely known for a year, but look, Fleur's the person that's known everything about Briar for the longest time. Fleur looks at Briar and sees everything. The twins don't. Even her dad, who now knows the truth, doesn't see everything like Fleur does, because seriously, her dad doesn't see Briar complaining about her quill having a nib that's too thick, or see her after a party in the town next to Beauxbatons, very drunk and very giggly. Briar needs to write all of this down, now, see what Fleur thinks.

And that's what she does.

Fleur, the LOVE of my LIFE, she writes, the second she gets back to her tent. And she pours everything out into this letter. She doesn't mention the word werewolf, of course she doesn't, but she calls it her problem, and she knows Fleur will understand her, because that's always been the code for, well, Briar's problem. Briar writes about everything, from how different she feels around Fred, to how she feels disconnected because of the problem, to how she misses the twins so much. She makes it clear that it isn't Hogwarts she misses, because Hogwarts doesn't have my guardian angel called Fleur Delacour and like, no offence but I cannot survive without you, Fleur. Like you're the one reading this letter because I am STRUGGLING because I'm not with you every waking moment of the day.