Confident | Fred Weasley

Chapter 115 | High-stakes

Fred and Sarah were the last to take seats at the dining table, elongated by magic, for breakfast. The pair, tangled together in their duvet, had been woken up by George pounding his fist on their bedroom door.

"Morning," Sarah greeted. She reached forwards to the platter of scrambled eggs, and began spooning some onto her plate.

A chorus of 'Morning's were returned by the occupants of the table, some wide-awake, and some bleary-eyed.

"How did everyone sleep?" Fred asked, pouring himself a glass of pumpkin juice.

Ginny looked up from her breakfast plate, her eyes narrowed, "Why? Did you put something in my bed?"

Fred inclined his head as he reached for the baked beans, "No, I didn't put anything in your bed..."

The others bristled at that, whilst Sarah giggled, somewhat obscured by her slice of toast. Based on a cough echoing from beside her, George had stifled a snicker too.

Breakfast passed with little to note, and so after cleaning up, Sarah managed to get Tonks on her own. She caught the woman in the mud room leading to the back garden. What little privacy they would have had was ruined by the large archway that led into the kitchen, but it would have to do.

"I owe you an apology," Sarah said earnestly, "about how I acted yesterday. I really do want to help you with the birth and the baby, if you'll still have me?"

Tonks, whose heart-shaped face had been pinched with concern, brightened up immediately. She tugged Sarah into a hug, made difficult by the size of her bump.

"Of course I will!" Tonks said jovially, "What made you come around?"

Pulling away, Sarah scratched the back of her neck, "Uh, well-"

Sarah was saved by the arrival of Mrs Weasley, who hurried into the room to join them.

"Ah, good, I was looking for the pair of you," Mrs Weasley began. She was smiling, but her eyebrows were drawn in concentration. "I thought we ought to get together and make arrangements for the birth."

"That's a great idea," Sarah immediately agreed, "Shall we head to the living room, then?"

Mrs Weasley huffed, "I'd like to, but the boys are in there, discussing Merlin knows what-"

Sarah shrugged, sliding past Mrs Weasley, "S'alright, I'll kick 'em out. Meet me there in five minutes."

Sarah headed into the hallway, where she bumped into Capri and Ginny. The pair were headed upstairs.

"Oh, hey, you," Capri greeted, "Ginny and I are going for a pamper session in my room. You wanna join?"

Sarah would have loved a pamper session more than anything, and if she caught her reflection in the mirror, she probably needed one. Alas, she had already pledged to help Tonks.

"Can't," Sarah replied, "I have to help make arrangements for the new baby."

"Join us later if you can," Ginny said, patting her shoulder, "It won't be the same without you."

Sarah smiled, "We'll see."

It was easy enough to kick the boys out of the living room. Perhaps they didn't argue because she had only just got back, or that she still looked so frail. Either way, the room was empty within seconds. Sarah waited for a few moments, and then Mrs Weasley and Tonks joined her.

"Right," Sarah said, scratching her nose, "Who is it that's bringing us all our supplies?"

"There's a rotation," Mrs Weasley answered, settling into a seat on the sofa. "This week, it's your friend, Angelina."