Songbird ; Fred Weasley

Fifty-one

Rest in peace Robbie Coltrane

-

Two weeks later, we went home.

I went straight to Fred's flat with him, scared to go home and face what I had been running from.

I was almost twenty weeks pregnant which meant I was halfway there, and Fred and I had a scan next week.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and I had no idea what would happen. Would we celebrate it like a normal family? Would everything be weird and awkward?

I sighed as I walked down the hallway after having peed for the fifth time in the last two hours.

I ran my hands through my hair, scratching my scalp while entering the living room.

George was on the sofa with Angelina, the two cuddled up while Fred sat in the armchair.

He was telling them all about New York, smiling at me when he saw me. I walked over to him and he slid an arm around me, pulling me onto his lap.

"Have you thought about baby names yet?" Angelina asked, smiling widely and excitedly at me.

"Oh, no not— well, she won't come until the end of May. Five more months." I said. "We have time."

"She?" George's eyes widened. "I'm getting a niece?"

"Yep, but I'm getting a daughter." Fred said as he gave my thigh a squeeze.

Angelina groaned.

"You two are going to make George want children." She said, her arm resting over George's shoulder.

"You don't want children?" I asked.

"I do. Someday, but not now." She said and smiled at George who wrapped his arm around her.

"First step is to move in together." He said, before looking towards Fred. "By the way... Angie's moving in."

"I know." Fred nodded slightly. "The only reason you're so enthusiastic about Maves and I finding a place together, is so you two can get this place to yourselves."

The sound of a door opening had us all turn to see August walk through the back door.

"August, hi." Angie smiled. "You alright?"

August nodded, his eyes focused on me as I got off of Fred, leaning against the arm of the chair.

"Can I talk to you?" August asked me, gesturing for me to follow him outside.

"Uh... sure."

Fred found my hand and gave it a squeeze before I followed my brother outside, quickly slipping into a pair of shoes.

We walked down the stairs and I stayed at the bottom step while August turned around to face me.

"How was New York?" He asked as I took a seat on the stairs.

I shrugged.

"It was fine."

"Just fine?"

"What do you want, August?" I asked. "You didn't come here to make small talk."

"No, I didn't." He let out a sigh. "I want to apologise for the way I've treated you ever since finding out about you and Fred."

My eyes dropped to the ground as I waited for August to continue, because that was the vaguest apology in the world.

"I got jealous, because I didn't want to share my friend with you. Then I found out you were pregnant and I got even angrier, but this time because you're my little sister and he— he knocked you up."

"It takes two to tango." I muttered, causing August to snort at my use of words.

"I know." He told me. "And now I'm happy for you. Both of you. I see how much you care for each other, and I realise you both have been really mature and responsible about this entire situation."

"You were screaming at me as I was crying. I stood there and I was breaking in front of you but you just kept screaming at me." I said and looked up at him. "Screaming that I'd be a horrible mother. That I wouldn't be able to protect my child because I was being bullied."

"I know, I—"

"You told me my baby would be lucky if she hadn't dropped dead by the time she turns two."

"She?"

"Yes." I stood up. "I'm having a daughter, and you know what? I'll be an amazing mother and I'll prove you wrong."

"Maves, I don't think you'll be a horrible mother. I was just angry but that's not an excuse. I know that's not an excuse."

"Good." I said, shrugging. "Maybe you'll be nicer to Flora and Eliza if they ever find themselves in similar situations."

He didn't answer. After a moment of just looking at each other, I turned to walk back upstairs.

But August's voice stopped me.

"Will you come home?" He asked. "Mum's been a mess since you and dad left, and it's Christmas. We should all be together."

I turned back around to face him.

"Mum's a mess?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. "I'm sorry, but has she even told you what she did?"

August sighed and pushed his hands into the pockets of his trousers.

"Yes, and I think it's unfair you always take dads side. You've always done that. Whenever they had a fight, you'd take his side."

"I'm sorry?" I laughed. "What exactly has she told you?"

"The truth. She had an affair many years ago, but that's between her and dad. You're ruining her by choosing to get involved and choose dad—"

"She had the affair with Eric!" I screamed at him. "And he got her pregnant!"

August stared at me, his face paling.

"I'm the result of that pregnancy!" I was so angry, I could feel my face burning up. "It wasn't just some small affair that I decided to pick sides over! Mum cheated on dad and lied to him about who the father was! My entire life, my dad was my uncle and my uncle was my dad! I have four biological half-siblings who are also my cousins! Don't come here and act like you know everything when you really know nothing!"

I stopped yelling, and the air fell silent. It was about seven in the evening and it was already getting dark while people were in their homes, eating dinner.

"And please don't come here and ask me to go home so mum won't have to suffer, because right now, I can tell you that dad is suffering worse than she is, and so am I."

August took a step towards me, his face pained.

"I had no idea... I—" he shut his eyes for a moment. "Eric is your—"

"No." I shook my head. "He delivered the sperm, but I'm the daughter of Christopher Cahira, and I always will be."

"Maves?" Fred's voice carried through the air and I looked up to see him stand in the doorway to the flat. "You okay?"

"Yes." I said, staring at August. "I'm fine. August was just leaving."

"Mavis, c'mon." August begged. "I want us to go back to before all of this. We used to be good friends."

"Yeah, until you called me a whore, told me I'd be a horrible mother and that I would let my own child die before she got to turn two." I said, counting on my fingers. "Until you punched Fred in the eye and until you showed up here and acted like you knew everything!"

"I didn't know! I assumed mum had told me the entire thing!" He exclaimed. "It's not my fault she lied!"

"No, but it is your fault that you came here and simply assumed that I fled to New York because of an affair, and not because there was something more to it. You could've asked me instead of assuming."

Again, he didn't respond, so I walked up to Fred who made sure I was okay before letting me walk inside.

He shut the door, staying outside with August while I walked to the bedroom to take a small nap.