The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

III.IX

Electra stood along the platform's edge, making sure she was within sight of the wrought iron gates of Platform 9¾ while she watched and waited, somewhat anxiously as the minutes stretched by, for Weasley and co. to walk through.

Electra had given her goodbyes and left Grimmauld Place far earlier than everyone else to first say goodbye to Fleur —who slipped her a new bottle of red nail polish and a premade face mask before kissing Electra full on the mouth goodbye (much to Bill's horror)— and then to the Diggory's.

It had come as a relief when Ophelia Diggory asked (more like demanded) to escort Electra to King's Cross. Dumbledore and Sirius had agreed so long as she had an Order member escort as well.

Electra looked behind her to where Kingsley Shacklebolt stood against the train with her luggage and Atlas in his cage. He spotted her, and gave her a steady nod, most likely to calm her nerves, but it didn't really help. Her attention was redirected back to Mrs Diggory as she once again began fidgeting with the Head Girl badge on Electra's chest for the seventh time. The younger witch scowled at the badge. What was Dumbledore thinking making her Head Girl?

Fred and George hadn't stopped laughing since receiving the stupid pin yesterday morning. She had to ditch them for Fleur's company the rest of the day to save herself from their jokes, which evidently was how she got roped into waking up extra early to say goodbye to Fleur this morning. Poor Tonks, she was half asleep as she said her goodbyes to Electra and not completely in control of her overflowing emotions. Remus had to peel her cousin off of her so Electra could leave the house.

The last two weeks at headquarters had passed in a blink of an eye. It seemed her father and her swapped depressive episodes since Harry's hearing. Of course Potter got off— and it was probably the only time she was relieved he didn't receive any consequences for his incredible knack for getting into trouble—, and while everyone was celebrating the outcome, Sirius was as surly as ever, locking himself in his room most of the day.

Electra, on the other hand, was trying. Day by day. But she was trying.

Fred, George, Tonks and even Ginny had put their very best efforts forward to keep things light and boost her spirits, but it was difficult for her to be around sometimes. She had good and bad days, the bad usually falling after dinner at the Diggorys where Cedric's memory clung to the very air.

She feared Hogwarts would be the same. Already she was feeling his absence. But she knew she wasn't the only one.

"When did they say they would be arriving?" Mrs Diggory asked quietly.

"Eight minutes ago."

The older witch pursed her lips. "That's not bad, perhaps they were running late leaving the house."

Electra nodded. The Weasley's did have a reputation of catching the Hogwarts Express just in the nick of time. With the one year Ron and Harry missed it all together.

She bit her bottom lip, nervously fiddling with the locket around her neck. Electra finally peeled her eyes away from the iron gates when Lee Jordan and his parents appeared through the barrier. Tonks always talked about how pessimistic Moody was, but it still didn't help calm her nerves one bit from thinking maybe the old nutter was right this time, and something had gone horribly wrong.

"I don't see why you should be late as well," sighed Mrs Diggory. She turned, looking up at the tall wizard behind them. "Do you mind helping us load Electra's trunk?"

Kingsley, who carried himself like a noble, nodded, in that unhurried sort of tranquil way of his. "Happily. I am here as a favour to your husband, Mrs Diggory," he said in a voice a bit too loudly.