Songbird ; Fred Weasley

Twenty-six

My fingers tapped against the table, and I slowly bopped my head to the music pouring out of my earbuds and into my ears.

Look, boy, don't check on your watch, not another glance.
I'm not leaving now, honey, not a chance.

My eyes fluttered open as someone ripped one earbud out of my ear. I looked at dad as he slid into the seat next to me, putting the earbud in his ear to see what I was listening to.

"I don't believe I know that one." He told me and removed it from my ear again, dropping it. "What's it called?"

"Kids in America." I told him, pausing my tape. "It was released in eighty-one, so before I was even born, but it's good."

"I don't doubt it." Dad smiled as he placed an envelope in front of me. "This just arrived for you. I'm thinking it might be an answer to your auror training application."

Instantly, my focus was on the envelope. I pushed my Walkman away along with my headset, and I just stared down at the small envelope.

This was my entire future. It had been everything I dreamed about since I was a little girl, but what if I didn't get in? Or what if I got in but couldn't get through it?

What if I got kicked out or didn't pass the tests?

What if I wasn't auror material?

"Are you going to open it?" Dad asked. I looked at him for a moment, and then looked at the envelope as I picked it up.

"I'm going to need Max for this." I said and stood up, pushing the chair back.

I left the room in a rush, hurrying upstairs to Flynn's room where I knew he and Max would be.

I barged into their room, hearing Flynn's complaints, but I went straight for the sofa at the far end of the room where Max was sitting.

"We could've been in the middle of sex!" Flynn said, standing by his dresser, wearing a pair of sweatpants but no shirt.

"The door wasn't locked." I said before turning to look at Max who had already snatched the envelope from my hands.

"Is this what I think it is?" He asked, and I nodded, rubbing my hands together.

"Will you read it?"

"Of course." He said, already trying to get it open.

"But don't read it out loud. Read it to yourself and then tell me if I got in or not."

Max pulled out the folded piece of parchment, his eyes slightly wide as he read each word written in it.

His lips moved as he was silently reading it, and I glanced around the room.

Flynn was looking at Max with adoration, smiling slightly while fidgeting with a shirt in his hands.

"What am I supposed to do if I don't get in?" I asked, snapping Flynn out of whatever world he was in.

His eyes flicked to mine, and he pulled on his shirt, then brushed his hand through his hair.

"Why wouldn't you get in?"

"I don't know, but they rarely accept anyone. They haven't accepted anyone in over two years, so why would I be the exception?"

Flynn cocked an eyebrow and shook his head.

"Didn't Harry Potter and Ron Weasley get accepted two years ago?" He asked.

"No. They were offered jobs as Aurors right away as a thanks for saving the wizarding world, but guess what Flynn, I can't exactly save the world when there is no one to save it from!"