CHAPTER FIFTEEN

James rounded the corner of the corridor, only to immediately stop in his tracks with an exaggerated groan. There they were again—Nimah and Fred—caught in the middle of yet another snogging session. Or, as James liked to put it, an unnecessary display of "swapping spittle." It was a term that had earned him a dual jinx from the couple the first time he'd said it aloud, and yet, it hadn't deterred his commentary.

"Merlin's beard, you two! Don't you ever get tired of snogging?" James complained loudly, his arms flailing for emphasis as he scrunched up his nose in mock disgust.

Nimah and Fred exchanged a look before sighing in unison, reluctantly stepping apart.

"James," Nimah began, her tone laced with exasperation, "you do realize that this only happens because you keep seeking us out, right? If you're so disgusted, maybe stop going out of your way to find us."

"And," she added with a sly grin, "given your own track record, consider this payback."

James gasped, clutching his chest as if wounded. "Payback? What is that supposed to mean?"

Fred cut in with a smirk, raising his hand to silence James before he could launch into a defence. "Trust me, mate, this is nothing compared to some of the things I've witnessed. You're getting off easy."

Nimah visibly cringed, shaking her head. "I don't even want to imagine what he's referring to." Then, with a teasing smile, she added, "Thank Merlin for Elodie. Honestly, she's the only one who's managed to whip you into shape."

Fred nodded solemnly. "Our saviour, no doubt."

James, meanwhile, stared at them in disbelief. "Wait a minute—how did this turn into an attack on me?"

Their laughter echoed through the corridor as Nimah and Fred turned on their heels, walking away arm in arm.

"Oh, James," Nimah called over her shoulder, her voice dripping with mock pity, "when will you ever learn?"

Elodie chose that moment to appear beside James, her arms crossed and a knowing smile on her lips. "Love, this is the tenth time you've interrupted them like this," she pointed out, nudging him playfully with her elbow.

"I'm not giving up," James grumbled, crossing his arms defiantly. "Not a chance."

Elodie tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "Did it ever occur to you that they might be doing this on purpose?"

James froze, her words sinking in. He tilted his head to one side, then the other, as if weighing the possibility. A dawning realization crossed his face, quickly followed by an exaggerated groan of frustration.

"Unbelievable! The nerve of those two!" he shouted, stomping his foot in mock indignation.

Around the corner, hidden behind a pillar, Nimah and Fred were struggling to hold in their laughter.

"It took him long enough," Fred whispered, shaking his head.

Nimah snorted. "Oh, please. If Elodie hadn't said something, he'd never have figured it out."

Fred shrugged, conceding the point, and turned to her with a playful grin. "Now, where were we? Why don't we pick up where we left off—"

Nimah placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back lightly. "Save it, Fred."

"Come on," Fred whined, his tone half-serious.

"Not a chance, Fredrick," she called over her shoulder as she began to walk away. "Try again, and I'll make you wait until graduation."

"You wouldn't!" he protested, trailing after her.

Nimah glanced back with a teasing grin. "Oh, I would. But don't worry, Fred Weasley. I'm not going anywhere." She ended with a wink before bursting into laughter, leaving Fred behind, shaking his head with an amused chuckle of his own.

"Merlin help me," Fred muttered under his breath, the faint grin tugging at his lips betraying the feigned exasperation in his tone. He watched Nimah stride ahead, her laughter ringing out like a melody in the quiet corridor. Shaking his head, he couldn't help but feel a familiar warmth spread through his chest.

Determined not to let her get too far, Fred quickened his pace, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor as he jogged to catch up.

"Oi, Nimah!" he called out, a teasing lilt in his voice. "Don't think you're off the hook that easily."

Without turning around, Nimah raised a hand in a dismissive wave. "Catch me first, Weasley, and then we'll talk!"

Fred chuckled, the challenge igniting a spark of playful competition. "Oh, you're going to regret that, Black!"

She only laughed louder, darting around a corner with surprising speed. Fred's grin widened as he broke into a proper sprint, the sound of her laughter guiding him like a beacon. At that moment, with her laughter filling the air and his heart racing not just from the chase but from the sheer joy of it, Fred realized something profound.

For all the chaos and teasing, all the moments of tension and laughter, there was nowhere else he'd rather be.

"Nimah Black," he shouted as he turned the corner, spotting her just ahead, "you've met your match!"

Nimah glanced back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We'll see about that, Fredrick Weasley!"

And as they vanished around the corner, their laughter trailing like a melody in the quiet corridor, it was evident to anyone who might have caught a glimpse of them that this wasn't merely a game. It was a testament to something far deeper—an unspoken connection forged through trials, triumphs, and the enduring strength of their shared history.

Their bond was built not only on the lighter moments, like the teasing and playful chases, but also on the quiet promises whispered when the world felt heavy. It was resilience shaped by mutual support, by leaning on one another through hardships and finding joy even in the smallest of moments.

This was no fleeting camaraderie or shallow affection. It was the kind of bond that could weather storms and still come out stronger, that carried the weight of dreams they'd crafted together and refused to let go of, no matter how challenging the path ahead might seem.

As the echoes of their voices faded, the stillness of the hallway was left behind, but the warmth they radiated lingered. Anyone who saw them, even for a fleeting moment, would know: this was a partnership that had been tested, had grown, and would continue to endure. It wasn't just about the chase, the banter, or the laughter—it was about two people who had chosen to walk through life, not perfectly, but steadfastly together.