MATILDA - fred weasley

Chapter 14

Matilda found her parents and Cedric on Platform 9 ¾ with ease. Her mother was making a scene about how much Cedric had grown and her father was heralding him like a saint for beating Harry Potter. She slowly made her way through the crowd, praying for someone to sweep in and save her from another horrible Christmas.

She approached her family far quicker than she would have liked, and her parents stopped doting over Cedric to look at her. Matilda held her head high as they judged her appearance, deciding which faults they would pick on for the next two weeks.

"Hi," Matilda said, smiling forcefully.

Catherine stepped forward and placed a hand on her cheek, running it over her new scar, "That's rather unfortunate. Your face was the best thing going for you."

Matilda fought the urge to say something rude back, "I think I'll cope."

"Matilda, good to see you," Amos said, pushing Catherine out of the way and wrapping Matilda in a hug. It felt quite formal, the type of hug you would give an acquaintance whom you haven't seen in a while, not at all the way a hug between two family members should be. He pulled back and rubbed her shoulders, "Cedric was just saying he beat Harry Potter! Can you believe it?!"

Matilda looked at Cedric, who smiled with embarrassment. "No way! Did he really?"

"Yes, I'm very proud of my boy," Amos said, looking at Cedric with pride. "Too bad he couldn't keep it up against Ravenclaw, though."

"Dad..." Cedric said, shoulders deflating. "I told you we had to use a fill-in Keeper."

"Never mind it, Ced," Matilda grabbed his hand and squeezed it, "you'll do great next match."

Matilda and Cedric side-apparated with their parents back to their home, a cottage a little ways out of Ottery St. Catchpole. As her feet squelched in the mud upon landing, the smell of shepherd's pie filled her nose. It was particularly strong, considering the full moon was approaching which meant her senses were dialed up.

"Shepherds pie for dinner," Matilda said aloud.

"How do you do that?" Cedric marvelled, sniffing and trying to get a whiff of what she smelled. "I can't smell anything!"

She tapped her nose, "One of my wicked talents."

The family of four entered the home, where the smell of dinner could reach all of their noses. Cedric nodded, now, and breathed it in.

"I love shepherd's pie," he said.

Catherine ruffled his hair, "I know you do, love. That's why I made it."

Matilda excused herself and hauled her bag up the stairs and to her room. It looked the same as it always did, messy and chaotic. She grinned.

"Home shite home."

She walked over to her bed, laying down on it. Her eyes flitted over to the town outside her window, roughly an hour's walk away. She wondered if any other teenagers were dreading being home for the holidays. Perhaps they could bond over their mutual hate for their parents.

There was a knock on her door and Matilda sat up, "Come in."

Catherine poked her head in through the door, "Your father and I have done some thinking."

Matilda didn't know they were capable of that.

"Yes?"

"Since you're nearly of age, we feel it would be good for you and Cedric to start pulling your weight in this family," Catherine said. Then, after running her eyes up and down Matilda's body, added, "Though you may need to pull a lot more considering you wouldn't be pulling much."