Ethereal ✭Fred Weasley✭

82.

"Were we really this annoying with magic when we turned seventeen?" George questioned as he pulled on his suit jacket while coming out of the hallway.

"Yes. Still are," Sophia shrugged and ignored the offended look the twins threw at her. "Have a good day at work!"

---

Sophia hadn't read the Daily Prophet at all since living with Fred and George. She always found that the news always contained depressing disappearances and freak 'accidents' that are now the norm in the Wizarding world. Plus, she hated seeing her picture constantly moving somewhere within the pages with the same caption of 'MISSING' over the top. Not only did it remind her that everyone was under the impression that she was dead, but the picture was awful. Even though Fred constantly insisted it was a cute photograph, Sophia hated how awkwardly she smiled for the photographer on school picture day.

But this particular morning was different. As soon as Sophia woke up, something didn't quite feel right. She sat up in bed to find that Fred had already left and was most likely downstairs in the shop, so she had no one to ask about today's oddness. She sat up on her knees and peaked behind the curtains that covered the window looking on to Diagon Alley. They always kept the curtains shut in case somehow someone got a peak of Sophia. But none the less, she looked out on to the street and found it deserted. It was usually similar to this everyday because of the looming fear of the disappearances and accidents, but you would at least see children coming in and out of the only shop open. And that was Weasley Wizard Wheezes. This confused Sophia, so she decided to finally act upon her curiosity.

She rolled out of bed and made her way towards the door, surprised to walk out into the hallway and hear the unmistakable voices of Fred and George in the kitchen. She followed the conversation and appeared in the archway that opened into the kitchen, spotting the twins dressed in their usual brown suits and standing at the kitchen counter. The two stopped their talking when they noticed Sophia's entrance and looked up quickly, their faces showing no sign of anything other than concern and despair. She silently looked between the two with a confused expression before looking down to the counter, seeing the Daily Prophet open and pictures moving on the page as they usually did.

"What is it?" she finally asked in a quiet voice.

Fred and George said nothing but stood up straight from their hunched over positions in order to back away from the counter. Sophia saw that she wasn't going to get any answers so she decided to look for herself, taking long strides towards the counter and slipping in front of Fred and George to study the newspaper.

Her eyes immediately went to the picture that showed a photo of Albus Dumbledore standing with his kind smile in what could only be his office at Hogwarts. He smiled warmly at the camera and occasionally blinked, ever so slightly fidgeting and swaying as he posed for the photo. The title that was displayed across the top of the picture was what really made Sophia's heart drop.

'Albus Dumbledore found dead. Death Eaters have taken Hogwarts'.

The article went on to describe what the Daily Prophet thought they knew about one of the greatest of Wizards of time. It explained how he was found laying in the courtyard after being killed from the killing curse, presumably from one of You Know Who's most trusted followers. Hogwarts was now deemed unsafe as its new Headmaster was Severus Snape, who is now deemed as a traitor to the Wizarding world. The article then went on to describe Dumbledore's legacy and his contribution to the imprisonment of Gellert Grindelwald.

Sophia took a shaky step back from the counter and felt Fred and George's presence behind her. She let out an unrelieving breath and felt her vision turn black for a split second, as if she had stood up too fast after a deep sleep. Her vision cleared immediately but the article was still there and Dumbledore continued to smile up at her as if reassuring her. But she didn't feel reassured. She felt cold and exposed.