I Know The End {Fred Weasley, ACT I}

Chapter 34- The Truth

December 25th, 1994. 10:12 PM.

Well, that was fun, she thought to herself as Percy slammed the door behind him. And in the strangest turn of events, she began to laugh. Not chuckle, not giggle, but laugh. Like a mad-man. She finally understood why Sirius was found laughing over Peter's severed finger. It was funny, the absurdity of it all. She might have been the punch line of the joke but at least she could admire the ingenuity of it all.

Fuck Fred and fuck Percy. That was enough for one day. Honestly, it was enough for a whole week. She wished she had stayed in Gryffindor Tower and never let Ron, nor George, convince her into going to a stupid party that wasn't even serving alcohol. No alcohol, no Eleanor. That would have to be her new rule.

Eleanor wiped the remaining tears from her face, heaved a breath, and decided to make a break for her room. Maybe Alicia would be there, and she'd recount Percy's odd confession. The person she really wanted to tell was Fred, but she wouldn't dare. He'd kill Percy. Percy had insulted the both of them too much throughout his tirade for Fred to ever know what had been said.

The corridor had cleared a great deal since she'd first entered the classroom, which was perfect. She knew she looked a mess. Iris would be heartbroken to see the makeup they'd worked so hard to perfect smeared across Eleanor's face. She'd almost made it without being seen, only a few meters from the stairs, when Fred exited the Great Hall.

Eleanor felt her heart stop. Of all the people to be leaving the dance right now, why did it have to be him? Hoping he hadn't seen her, she turned on the spot and hurried back the way she'd come. He probably wouldn't chase after her, not after seeming so irritated with her at the dance.

"Eleanor!"

Well fuck it all.

She stopped walking but refused to turn and face him. She knew her eyes were blazing red, knew mascara was streaked down her face, knew she had a rash down her neck from getting so worked up. It was all too embarrassing.

"What?" she answered weakly, staring at the wall. "What do you want?"

"It's stupid of you to leave the ball just because I'm not going to dance with you," he snapped. She rolled her eyes in response, although it had no effect; he couldn't see her face.

"I'm tired and would like to go to bed," Eleanor stated simply.

"No, you're trying to make me feel bad!" Fred shot back. "I can't have fun knowing you're off pouting-"

Eleanor forgot all about being embarrassed. Rage coursed through her veins as she turned to face Fred. He appeared pretty angry himself. Until he saw her face that is. His face fell slightly then, concern filling his eyes.

"Oh, I ruined your night, did I?" She shouted. "Merlin, Fred you can be so fucking stupid! I did everything, everything, to make sure I didn't ruin anything for you! You think I like it, watching you dance with her all night long! But I sucked it up! I didn't even want to come to this stupid dance so don't for one second blame me if you're having a bad time. That's on you!"

He took a step back as though she'd physically slapped him. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I'm tired, Fred. Of this," she gestured between the two of them, "of fighting with you. Of wishing we..." Eleanor sighed. She didn't think she could finish that sentence no matter how angry she was. "You know, I actually thought we were going to this thing together. I didn't tell you that because I didn't want you to feel guilty about me not having a date, but I genuinely thought we were. And I let it go. Like I always do! I didn't want to come because I didn't want to go with anyone if it wasn't you!"