I Know The End {Fred Weasley, ACT I}

Chapter 18- Feels Like a Coming of Age

Warning- *Chapter contains nudity*

Eleanor slept through Transfiguration that morning. And Charms. And halfway through lunch. If it wasn't for Alicia, she probably would have slept until two in the afternoon.

"Eleanor, wake up." Alicia's voice was gentle, but it caused Eleanor to jolt awake.

Alicia was standing at the side of Eleanor's bed, pulling the bed hangings back and allowing the sun a direct path to Eleanor's eyes. Eleanor squinted, putting her hand in front of her face to let her eyes adjust to the sudden light. Her mind was playing catch up as it slowly unraveled itself from the grogginess of sleep. She had been sleeping so deeply that she was having trouble remembering what day of the week it was.

"Wus happenin?" Eleanor grumbled.

"Potions is what's happening. Come on, get dressed, quickly so we won't be late," Alicia replied, moving to Eleanor's trunk to pull out her school uniform for her.

"Potions," Eleanor repeated, jumping up into a sitting position on her bed. The sudden movement made her slightly dizzy.

"We thought we'd let you sleep in after everything yesterday," Alicia said, throwing Eleanor undergarments, a red and gold tie, a pleated black skirt, a white button down, and her robes. "Iris told McGonagall you were ill and while she seemed irritated, she let you off the hook. The twins told Flitwick what Umbridge said to you yesterday and he was really understanding. We collected your work for you, but there's nothing we can say to make Snape okay with you skipping Potions. Honestly, I thought you'd be awake by the start of lunch."

"Shit, shit, shit," Eleanor said, pushing herself out of bed and undressing as fast as she could out of her nightgown. She threw on her white button down, her fingers slipping on the buttons as she tried to fasten them quickly. "I thought I'd be up by Charms."

"It's okay, don't fret," Alicia consoled, "both classes were doable. If you had to pick any day this week to skip, today was a good day for it."

Eleanor smiled weakly as she pulled her skirt up and tucked in her shirt. She ran into the bathroom attached to their dormitory, looking into the mirror only to realize she looked a mess. She had forgotten to take her mascara off the night before and it smudged under her eyes and onto her cheeks. She groaned, wetting a towel to wash it off.

"We still have like eight minutes, so I think you'll be good," Alicia called.

Once most of the mascara mess had been rubbed off her face, leaving a rough red mark from scrubbing in its place, she ran a brush through her strawberry blonde hair. This act only made it more staticky, so she threw her head under the sink, letting the water soak her hair. She squeezed it out with a towel, letting her hair lay in strings down her back. What she really needed was a shower.

She brushed her teeth quickly and ran back out to where Alicia was waiting for her, leaning on her bed post. She pulled her shoes on, tripping over her own feet as she did so, grabbed her tie and her schoolbag, and the two girls made their way down the dormitory stairs.

"You look like a wet rat," Alicia noted, surveying Eleanor with amusement.

Eleanor flipped her off as she tightened her tie, laughing as she did so.

"Thanks for waking me up," she said as they made their way to potions, "I'm sure Snape would have given me detention if I slept through his class."

"He definitely would have," Alicia agreed.

They made it to the dungeons with a few minutes to spare. Alfie was standing with the other students queuing outside the classroom, but she was surprised to see Fred leaning against the wall next to him. She raised her eyebrows at him as she grew nearer. When he noticed her, he smiled and held out his hands. He was holding something, but she couldn't quite make it out.