Songbird ; Fred Weasley

Eighty-four

"Mavis?"

Fred called for me somewhere in the room while I stood by the window, staring out at the pool.

All those memories of playing by or in the pool with Max. Him sending Flynn flirty eyes as Flynn sunbathed on one of the lounge chairs.

Ronan relaxing on one of the other lounge chairs while reading his book, then scolding Max and I whenever we would accidentally splash water on him and Flynn.

August bringing over his friends and me staring at Fred way too long, hoping he would notice me, but he never did because he was a teenager, and I was a child.

"Maves."

I hummed in response to Fred, but when he continued to speak, I didn't hear him. My eyes drifted to the bonfire and the chairs surrounding it, remembering all of the times my siblings and I lit the fire and sat around it, talking and laughing.

Remembering the summer where everything between Fred and I started. How I curled up against Max's chest while Fred sat in a chair next to us.

How I kept glancing at him, loving the way I caught him staring at me.

"Are you listening to me?" Fred asked, and now he stood right next to me.

"Uh-huh."

"Mavis." He placed a hand against my arm, and I flinched, then turned to look at him.

"Huh? I'm sorry..." I shook my head. "What's up?"

"Are you okay?" He asked, sliding his hand up my arm and over my shoulder until it rested against the side of my neck.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I shrugged. "What were you saying before? I zoned out."

He studied my face for a second, not believing me the slightest, but he didn't push it.

"I'm going to go down and get us an appointment for an ultrasound." He said. "Make sure everything is alright with the baby. Do you want to come or will you stay here?"

I turned my head and stared out into the garden again.

I hadn't left the house since we returned about three weeks ago.

"I'll stay here." I said quietly.

"Okay." His voice was soft as he nodded. "You want me to take the girls with me so you can rest? Or do you want them here?"

"You don't have to take them with you." I shook my head. "I enjoy their company. I'm their mother."

"Of course." Fred hurried to say, leaning in to kiss my forehead. "I just don't want you to get overwhelmed or anything."

"I won't."

"Okay." He said simply, giving me a hug, but I didn't hug back because I was too busy now staring towards the orangery.

My eighteenth birthday party happened there. My entire family was there. Eric too, and everything was normal. My favourite uncle who was always there for me, always wanted to spend time with me.

The uncle I could tell everything to.

If he had turned out to be like that, then how would I be able to trust the rest of my family? The rest of my dads siblings?

Aunt Christine?
Uncle Patrick?

What if they were like that too?

"Look at me, love." Fred's voice snapped me back to reality, and I looked up into his eyes. "Tell me what's on your mind. You keep zoning out."

I shook my head.

"Nothing. I'm tired, is all."

Fred frowned as I took a step back and out of reach from his hand.