Songbird ; Fred Weasley

Seventeen

My dad walked out of the office, and Fred's eyes were focused on me while mine were focused on him.

We both knew we needed to figure something out, but right now neither of us said a word.

I was the first one to break the silence by laughing. Fred raised his eyebrows at me, but I just pressed a hand to my mouth, laughing into it.

Fred looked out of the office before he shut the door and then walked closer to the desk.

"Did you miss me since this morning?" I asked, pulling my legs out over the edge of the desk, making sure he was standing right between them.

He tilted his head at me, letting out a breathy laugh when I wrapped my legs around him and pulled him closer.

"Mavis..." he whispered, placing a hand on either side of my thighs. "We have to tell him."

And the mood is ruined.

I sighed, letting go of him.

"It's only fair." He said softly, pushing hair out of my face. "The longer we keep this secret, the angrier he'll get."

I shook my head, gently pushing him back so I could slide off the desk.

"We'll tell him together." He added, but I shook my head again, looking up at him.

"No."

"No?"

When I didn't answer, he took a deep breath, never taking his eyes off of me.

"We need to talk about this, properly. But not here when anyone from your family can walk in and catch us alone behind a closed door." He took a step back. "Can you meet at the old treehouse in the forest in fifteen minutes?"

At first I didn't answer, but then I gave a small nod and Fred left the study room.

I stayed in the room for a while, already hating whatever conversation we were about to have.

When the fifteen minutes passed, I started making my way through the house and out the door.

I walked around the house and eased my way into the forest. When I reached the tree house, he was leaning against the ladder, watching me approach.

"Why do you not want your brother to know?" He asked as he casually leaned on the ladder, hands resting on one of the steps. "Apart from the obvious, of course."

"There is no; apart from the obvious. That's the reason, Fred. He'll—"

"...kill me." He finished for me, rolling his eyes. "Are you ashamed? Do you not want to be seen around me? Is that it?"

"Ashamed?" I let out a laugh.

"Or is it because you are too scared to be on bad terms with him and the rest of your brothers?"

I frowned, because I had no idea where he got that from.

"If August finds out, the rest finds out and you just can't bare for all of them to be mad at you at the same time."

"Oh c'mon." I laughed. "I'm constantly fighting with them."

"But it would be different this time around, wouldn't it?"

"What are you talking about?" I laughed, running both hands through my hair out of frustration with this conversation.

"You never had a sister close to your age, growing up. All you had was your brothers and you like that they are protective of you. You feel loved because they would do anything for you. You're scared that if you piss them off just enough, you'll lose them. And you're scared that I'll be the reason for that, so tell me, Mavis... what are we doing here? Are you ever going to want for us to come clean to August?"