■ Unfortunate Soul ■ Fred Weasley ■

The Moments of Truth for one Gwendolyn Hamilton

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Gwen wished that she could say that she didn't expect this to happen, but she would be lying. She wanted things to be different, but instead there she was, locked into a bathroom stall while crying into her hands, drying her tears in her hair only for her to be drenched in tears a minute later.

She was supposed to be in Transfiguration, their second to last Transfiguration lesson before she started the O.W.L.s. She had to excuse herself mid-lesson as she felt herself about to burst in tears.

"I'm not supposed to be in here, so please tell me you're in one of these stalls Gwen." Gwen instantly stopped whimpering at the sound of Fred's voice. "I'm here," Gwen replied lamely. "Good. I was feeling scared that it was Moaning Myrtle, not you." Fred replied with a chuckle.

Gwen laughed slightly and wiped some tears from under her eyes. "Are you, alright?" Fred asked. She heard a slight creak and assumed that Fred had leant against the wood of the bathroom stall. "Not at all."

"Do you wanna talk about it or do you want a hug?" Fred offered. Gwen shrugged, even though he couldn't see her doing it. "Is both okay?" She asked after clearing her voice. "Both is great."

"I feel that I'm doubting myself more and more. I keep forgetting things and, it's making me panic." Gwen admitted. "There's nothing wrong with that Gwen. Everyone who gives a damn about these exams goes through it, I'm sure they do." Fred assured. He couldn't exactly speak on his behalf as both he and Gwen knew that the exams were not his and George's top priorities.

"I know that. But a lot of people seem to have it easier than me. And I know that that's not true because a lot of people have to work so hard to do well but, I still can't help but feel this way. It also doesn't help that my brain doesn't work like it's supposed to. Whenever I look at the words written down, they seem to mush together as one and, it takes me a while to understand what it says and means. It makes me feel-"

"-Helpless?" Fred suggested when Gwen didn't respond immediately. Gwen shook her head. "Stupid. It makes me feel stupid."

"Gwen, you're not stupid. You're far from it." Fred said as his heart broke slightly by the tone of her voice. "Maybe I'm not but, that doesn't mean that I don't feel like I'm not." Her voice was barely above a whisper and, Fred felt thankful that he can even catch what she was saying. "I feel as if I'm failing and letting people down."

"That's so not true, Gwen. You're not letting anyone down. All the teachers say that you're doing so exceptionally well." Fred reassured. Gwen fell silent for a few seconds, knowing full well what her response was but wasn't sure if she should say it.

"Gwen?"

"I don't mean the professors. I feel like I'm letting my family down. My parents, my brothers, they're all remarkable people who were all so good at being Aurors. I want to be like them. That way I am the closest to ever knowing if I made them proud." Gwen admitted. She started toying with the sleeve of her robe. She usually preferred fiddling with her wand but, she left it in the classroom in her haste to leave.

"You know that you don't need to be like them to be good, right? I'm not saying that I know how your parents were- I never met them after all-but I'm sure they would be more than proud of you." Fred said. He was now leaning against the stall, not sure which position to put his long legs in.

"I'm crying in the bathroom. I practically turned myself into Moaning Myrtle, I don't see what's to be proud of." Gwen said. Fred let out a laugh at her comment. "You're nothing like Moaning Myrtle, Gwen. You work so hard and don't let anything stop you and, you have the best humour I've ever witnessed. Not only that but you're amazing as a person and, you're one of the sweetest and most caring people in the world. It's no wonder why I- why everyone loves you."