I Know The End {Fred Weasley, ACT I}

Chapter 19- Let The Games Begin

Eleanor,

I hope your first week is going well. Try to enjoy it as much as you can. School feels exhausting when you're in it, but I would give just about anything to go back now.

No real news to report, although Moony has decided to stay a little longer. Thank Merlin because it is rather boring here with you gone. He says he overheard you talking about Assassins with Fred and George. Do they still do that? If they do, you better win. Represent my legacy well.

Let us know if there's any issues. Maybe we can find a way to talk to you soon, little fawn.

Much love,

Padfoot

Eleanor folded the small piece of parchment carefully into a square. Her fingers caressed the edges of the paper gently as though it were a prized possession. She wanted to read over her godfather's words again, but she wouldn't risk it now that Montague had situated himself next to her. Tracing the edging one more time, she pocketing it in her robes. Her eyes raised to scour the plentiful crowd of students sitting in front of her, taking a deep breath before regaining her composure to appear more official.

She was standing in the middle of the Quidditch pitch with the eyes of every seventh year upon her. Montague was standing next to her, a large bag of books placed between them. She scanned the crowd for Fred, but he was no where to be found. George was lounging in the grass, his elbows supporting his upper body so he could look at Lee while they spoke. Alfie was a few yards away with his legs crossed as he watched Iris explain something to Angelina. Eleanor could tell she was enthusiastic about the topic because of her exaggerated hand gestures. She spotted Alicia last, next to Isabella Hart, nodding at whatever she was saying. Still no sign of Fred.

She checked her watch. It was six-thirty. She had hoped Fred would have managed to squirm his way out of Umbridge's detention by six. She wasn't sure if she could hold the meeting off much longer.

"What exactly are we waiting for?" Montague asked her, looking annoyed.

"Not everyone is here yet," she responded with a frown, "Fred's still in detention."

Montague rolled his eyes. "We can't wait on Fred, most everyone else is here. We might as well get on with it."

"It isn't fair to start the game if not everyone is here yet," she argued hotly. "Just... give it five more minutes. He'll be here."

Montague looked as though he were going to argue, but stopped abruptly, squinting over her head. Eleanor turned to see Fred jogging toward them from the locker room. She smiled triumphantly at Montague and he rolled his eyes once more. As Fred moved closer, she could immediately tell something was wrong. He looked disgruntled, clutching his hand awkwardly in front of him as he walked. When he made his way to the group of students sitting in front of Eleanor and Montague, he sat in the back of the group, away from Lee and George. Eleanor tried to catch his eye, but he was looking determinedly down at the grass, his nostrils flaring in what she could assume was anger.

Eleanor wanted to go to him. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but she had a job to do. She stuffed her concern for Fred to the back of her mind with the contents of Sirius's letter. It was finally time to start Assassins, and this was something she was actually looking forward to for once.

"Alright," Montague said, clapping his hands together, "is everyone here?"

There was a slight murmur amongst the crowd, as heads turned to look for friends and classmates. George looked in Fred's direction, confused as to why his brother was sitting off by himself. He glanced over to Eleanor, his eyebrows raised in confusion but she could only shrug in response, staring once more at Fred. He was still picking at the grass.