Fred Weasley x Reader (slow and Steady)

Ch 45: Sorrows

The nerves were beginning to get to me, my heart beat quickening and my chest tightening as the anxiety rose. The very moment I had been preparing for for the past couple of years had finally arrived. It was time to take my N.E.W.T.S. The very test that would decide the fate of my future, whether I'd fail or pass, my very plans for the coming years clung to the edge of this. I had taken notes before, Merlin, my O.W.L.S. Weren't even this stressful.

Having the toad as our headmistress hadn't been any help either during the coming weeks after she gained the position. She knew full well the seventh years would be taking them soon and took it seriously, more than I could manage honestly. There had been talk about the tests being changed to suit the ministry's desire for the school, with how Defense Against the Dark Arts went, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Fudge agreed to that idea. Conform us to their image, to how they wanted us to act and look like.

Not long after she became headmistress I did get a letter from Nikolaus, apparently his father had wanted to congratulate me on gaining such a competent headmistress, and maybe she'd whip us into being proper ladies and men. I scoffed at the idea. Although, while his father felt that way, he had expressed his concerns and wished me all the luck in my upcoming exams. I had appreciated it, he had been a good friend.

Looking around the common room that morning, I scanned every head trying to find the twins. I had hoped to find them before the test, to see about doing something to ease my mind off of the test. Do a prank possibly. None of the twins had been in sight, and according to a lot of students, they hadn't seen them all morning, this made the concerns rise. They never disappeared without a word, especially if it had been about pranking someone, they always made sure to tell me, or even include me.

"You're sure you haven't seen them?"

"I'm sure, is everything alright?" Hermione replied to me, her head tilted in confusion.

"Today is when I take my N.E.W.T.S. And I'm a little nervous. I was hoping to find the twins beforehand, but it seems no one has seen them" I continued to look around the common room.

"I'm sure they're alright, probably up to no good and accidentally forgot to let you know. Or maybe they're putting on a surprise?" Hermione suggested, attempting to calm me down.

"You might be right" I spoke absentmindedly, my mind still whirling with nerves.

Her hands gripped my shoulders, pulling my attention to her. "You're going to be alright, you have studied for this very moment for a long time. I know you can do this"

I nodded my head firmly, she had been right. Countless hours I had spent in the library all for the desire to pass this major test, to get high marks. Countless hours that she and I spent leaning over mountains of books, aimlessly searching and studying for any possible question. It had been the main reason that I paid extra attention in class, studying my homework. I'd have no idea if the test even had previous things I would have learned in my classes. I would pass, I was sure of it.

"How's Harry doing?" I asked, changing the subject. After we had gotten caught by Umbridge, his demeanor had shrunken.

Releasing my shoulders, she let out a sigh. "It's hit him really hard, he feels all of this is his fault."

"But we all took the responsibility of it when we signed the paper" I defended.

"Which is true, plus, it had been Ron and I's idea in the first place. We were the ones that persuaded him" she agreed.

"Let me guess, he's still wanting to take the brunt of it?" I placed my hand on my hip.

"Yes! He feels it's still all his fault because he continued it, he had been the teacher" she shook her head, "he even felt it'd be better to go at everything else alone  thinking he'd destroy everything he loved if he kept caring"