I Know The End {Fred Weasley, ACT I}

Chapter 33- The End of the Façade

Eleanor had never waited for someone to die. It was always over within seconds. James. Lily. Cedric. They never stood a chance. But Mr. Weasley did. It felt slim, but it was there. Would the waiting make his death more painful if death were the consequence? Eleanor didn't want to find out.

They sat in petrified silence at the basement kitchen table of Grimmauld Place. She wanted to do something. There had to be something she could do to help. She could track down the snake. Fight it, perhaps? If the healers had the snake's venom could they produce the antidote in a more timely fashion? Anything would have been better than doing nothing.

But there was nothing to do and the Weasley children were in no mood for words of comfort. Fred had already bit Sirius's head off once for that. She wanted to scold him for speaking so rudely to her godfather, but she knew better. It wasn't about her right now. Not her, nor Sirius, nor Harry (although it still felt as though it had a lot to do with him being as he was the one who saw the whole thing take place). Those so well versed in death were watching as the Weasley's tested the waters of the experience.

Eleanor found herself pleading with some kind of higher power. If Mr. Weasley lives, I'll do anything! I'll donate half our savings to St. Mungo's. I'll stop with all the dark magic. I'll... I'll tell Fred the truth. Please!

George's head was in his hands as Eleanor rubbed his back. It was her best attempt at consoling her friend. She shared a fleeting look with Sirius before returning to stare at her Butterbeer. She hated being so useless. She wondered if that's how Sirius felt, locked up in Grimmauld Place day in and day out without a single task to help the Order with. It was enough to drive a man mad, especially one with the temper Eleanor and Sirius possessed.

Fred flipped through the letter his mother sent once more as though he would find a deeper meaning this time through. "Mum has probably made it to St. Mungo's by now. We could meet her there without raising suspicion-"

"Your mother ordered you to stay put," Sirius reminded him.

"I don't really give a damn what she wants," Fred yelled, "he's our father! We should be there."

"And what difference will it make?"

"If he's going to... then I want to be there when it happens."

Ron's face lost any hint of color. She worried he would be sick.

"You don't," Eleanor said without thinking, "it's not something anyone should have to witness."

"You don't know what I want!" Fred snapped.

"No, I guess I don't," Eleanor mumbled. She shouldn't have said anything at all.

Fred pushed himself from the table, muttering about needing to go to the bathroom before exiting the kitchen. George raised his head to watch his brother leave. He looked to Eleanor with worry in his tired eyes.

"I'll check on him," Eleanor assured George as she made to follow Fred.

"Don't let him leave," Sirius instructed, to which she rolled her eyes. That was the goal, after all. She hadn't gotten up to pack his bag for him. "I mean it."

She ran up the stairs just in time to see Fred's hand on the door handle of the front door. He had been too obvious. If he'd gotten up to go to the bathroom or to bed after having not said anything, he may have gotten away with it. But he'd caused a fuss and stormed off. Not smart. Fear can do that to an otherwise clever person.

"Fred," she hissed, "you can't leave George, Ron, and Ginny!"

"One of us needs to be with my mum. She shouldn't have to go through this alone."