Confident | Fred Weasley

Chapter 121 | Slumber

It was late in the afternoon when the group departed from the ruins of Hogwarts Castle. The last of the adrenaline left their bodies, leaving them more exhausted than they had ever been. Sarah struggled not to drag her feet as they stepped around piles of bricks and uneven ground, waved off by Professor McGonagall.

Grasping each other's hands, Fred and Sarah sluggishly made their way to the gates, the path leading towards Hogsmeade. The others were similarly silent, and this was only punctuated by yawns and the crunch of gravel underfoot.

Upon reaching the gates, its wrought iron twisted and scorched, Sarah said to the others, "See you in a bit."

Fred twisted on the spot, and with a deafening crack, the couple were zipped away. The sight of Hogsmeade, small in the distance, melted away into an inky void. A moment of breathlessness passed, and Sarah's trainers landed on the familiar grass of her home. Ahead stood Wisteria Cottage, thankfully as in tact as it had been the night prior. Yet, approaching it now, everything felt completely different.

Around them, the cracks and pops of apparition echoed in a series until everyone was there; Mr and Mrs Weasley, Remus and Tonks, Capri and George, Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny. Mad-eye and Kingsley would be returning later as they had been put in charge of fixing all the mess left behind in the Ministry. Bill and Fleur, Charlie and Halcyon, and Percy had returned to their own homes.

"I think I could sleep for days," Ginny sighed as they trudged toward the front door.

"I know, dear," Mrs Weasley said, blinking away the exhaustion, "but you need to pack so we can go home."

Yawning as he unlocked the door with the jingle of his keys, Fred said, "You know...we don't mind you staying."

"Yes, but I do miss my own bed," Mr Weasley answered with a tired smile.

Upon entering the house, Moose burst from the kitchen, pelting into Sarah's knees at full speed. Her heart melted at the sight of the dog, and she crouched so that she could scrub at his fur affectionately. Fred knelt beside her, scratching behind Moose's ears.

The commotion caused Andromeda and Muriel to hurry from the living room.

"Thank Merlin!" Andromeda gasped, wrapping her daughter into a bear-like embrace, "Oh, I was so worried."

"S'alright, Mum," Tonks answered quietly. With her head nuzzled comfortably into her mother's shoulder, Tonks seemed to be fighting falling asleep right there.

"Alright, come on, everyone," Mrs Weasley commanded, "Let's get our things together."

The Weasleys who had been residing at Wisteria Cottage headed off upstairs to their respective rooms. Even Tonks and Remus trudged above, sharing quiet mutters about remembering to pack things for Teddy. This left Andromeda, Harry, Ron and Hermione in the hallway with Fred and Sarah.

Sarah rose to her feet, albeit unsteadily, and asked, "You can sit in the living room, if you want. I'll make you lot tea?"

Andromeda raised a brow, assessing Sarah's dusty complexion, "You look dead on your feet. You ought to have a shower and rest. Both of you."

Sarah and Fred shared a look. His eyes were half-closed, forcefully blinking. Sarah could feel the way her own world was spinning somewhat, and decided that Andromeda was right. She didn't think she could make anyone tea in this condition.

"Okay," Fred noted the resignation on Sarah's face and turned back to the others, "but make sure someone locks the door, and put more food in the dog bowl-"

Andromeda practically pushed Fred towards the stairs, "Yes, dear. Now go."

Sarah headed straight for the shower, hoping the hot water would loosen the aches in her bones. Fred joined her, although nothing unforseen happened. They were far too tired for that. He helped Sarah scrub all the dust from her hair, and she helped him remove the dry blood from his legs.