Ethereal ✭Fred Weasley✭

32.

Sophia woke up the next morning with a stiff neck, groaning as she pulled her head up from Fred's shoulder. The fire that was once lit had been extinguished and the morning Sun lit up the common room through the large windows. Looking to her left, she saw Fred was still asleep with his head back against the sofa. Thinking about yesterday, she had to conceal her own giggles while she got up from her place to stretch out her stiff limbs. She was stopped in her actions when she heard a tapping sound come from one of the large windows nearby. Sophia looked to see that Pigwidgeon, Ron's miniature owl, was sitting on the window sill with a letter in its beak.

The owl went berzerk as soon as she opened the window to retrieve the letter. It flew into the room and started circling around the top of Fred's sleeping head, the constant hoots and chirps causing him to stir awake. Fred groaned aloud and pulled his head up to rub his eyes from their state of sleep and haziness.

"Shut that bloody bird up," his voice was croaky and made Sophia grin to herself from her spot at the window. The owl had flown back towards her and perched itself on her shoulder, excitedly still hooting and fidgeting about. Once Fred noticed she was standing there, he stood up from the sofa with a lazy grin now on his tired face. "Morning lovely Lupin."

"Morning bed-head Fred," she motioned towards his long hair that looked ruffled and dishevelled from his sleep. He grumbled while attempting to flatten some of it, but soon gave up once he made to stand in front of her. Sophia's attention went down to the letter into her hands and she pulled open the wax seal that was on the back. Pulling out the letter, Fred leaned over her shoulder to look at the small writing that was addressed to her.

Sophia,

I heard about Harry being entered into the tournament. This is horrible news, but I know of the circumstances set by Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman. I do hope that you will be guiding Harry along the way, as I suspect he won't be having many friends at the moment. And you are a Lupin after all, it would be sinful not to be.

Yes I do remember Miss Delacour. A very charming character I seem to remember. Especially when she attempted to show me to the caretakers' cupboard in order to have me start mopping up the hallways. I heard she is the Beauxbatons champion for the tournament too, as well as Viktor Krum. Harry's got a lot on his hands is all I can say.

As for what you've seen in your map, I'm sure you've worked out some of the readings already. The supposed important woman it was referring to must be about Bertha Jerkins, a woman from the Ministry who's disappeared suddenly. As for the other two, I assume it was hinting towards Harry's name being put into the goblet. Whoever it was that did it wants him dead. And I regret to say that that isn't a very short list of people. Sirius is dead worried about him, but he can't do much at the moment. He's not allowed to leave his house in London for the time being.

On an equally as depressing subject, yes I have been taking the potion. I have been able to make up a new batch too, and I have been keeping in contact with Molly and Arthur Weasley for some guidance and company.

I hope you are well, and that you're staying out of trouble. Stay safe Soph.

Love, Dad.

P.S: I'm sure Fred isn't too happy about that.

Sophia went through a range of emotions while reading her father's letter but ended on a depressed note. He hadn't mention at all about getting any more successful job interviews or a job at all. He did say about Mr and Mrs Weasley giving him some support, making her think that he was eating at their house every night. Had their financial situation gotten that bad?

"What won't I be happy about?" Sophia jumped in her place at Fred's voice from behind her. She had forgotten he was standing there, making her now embarrassed at the fact that he had read the letter also. Thankfully, he hadn't read the letter she had sent to her father which meant Fred wouldn't know what she had been talking about in the first place.