prospicere futurum | fred weasley | cedric diggory

26

"Don't ask him anything about any of that now. You should have heard the screaming match I walked in on last night, Seamus basically called him a lying prat." Ron hissed, the group falling silent as Harry dropped into place beside the Weasley's, handing over Ron's time table without looking up.

"Bloody Hell," Ron groaned, "Look at today!" He flashed his schedule towards the twins who echoed back a chuckle through a grimace.

"Bad luck, huh." Fred muttered, eyes trailing towards the doorway. It had been a long time since he'd beaten Corinne down for breakfast, and even though George had suggested he give her some time, he couldn't help the sinking feeling in his gut as each minute passed by with no sight of the blonde.

"You two'd better get those Skiving Snackboxes sorted out quick." Ron's voice continued in the back of Fred's mind.

"We're on it, Ronnie." George teased, looking to Fred who had spotted Corinne at last, wandering in slowly beside Ella and Taylor, eyes latched to the floor and looking just as exhausted, if not more, as she had when she'd left dinner the night before.

"I'll be back." Fred said, pushing his now empty plate away, jumping from his seat before George could even try to talk him out of it and rushing towards McGonagall near the front of the hall.

"Ah, Mr. Weasley." She offered him a thin smile. "I hope you had a good summer?"

Fred nodded, smiling back at his head of house. McGonagall knew of course just how dull the summer had been, as she had been one of the many order members popping in and out of Grimmauld place over the last few weeks.

"Oh, you know, Professor, a big ball of fun." He joked, holding back a laugh as he watched her smile deepen.

"I've got your timetable here..." She muttered as she flipped through the many papers in her hands before holding one out for him.

"Uh, Professor, would it be alright if I brought Corinne Baker's to her?" He asked, his voice dropping low, though he knew none of the surrounding tables already bustling with conversation over their breakfasts were paying him any attention. McGonagall's eyes narrowed, looking over the boy for a few seconds before flashing away to where Fred knew Corinne and her friends would have found their seats. "I'm sure she's not really up to getting it herself... You know..."

"Yes," McGonagall agreed, searching quickly before passing three more time tables into Fred's waiting hands. "Very thoughtful of you, Mr. Weasley."

"That's me." He raised his hands up in a dramatic shrug. "It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it."

"That will be all now." She nodded, dismissively, and Fred did not need to be told twice. He spun on his heel, racing past his siblings further down the table before he finally reached the girls. He tapped Corinne's timetable on her head twice before tossing it onto the wood in front of her, passing Ella and Taylor theirs as well, their eyes lighting up with matching smiles.

"Thanks, Weasley." Ella mumbled, her eyes flicking between Fred and Corinne apprehensively.

Corinne finally looked up, though she didn't smile, nodding as she began to rip into her timetable, scanning over the parchment.

"Thanks." She mumbled, practically beneath her breath as Fred lingered at their side, knowing better than to sit down at her side again. While Ella and Taylor's plates were noticeably worked over, Corinne appeared to have managed a few bites into a muffin and was now swirling her spoon through half a mug of milky coffee.

"If you're done eating, I could walk you to class. What've you got first?" Fred asked, Ella's eyes going wide as they waited for Corinne's response.

"I'm alright, thanks." She answered, still quiet.