Confident | Fred Weasley

Chapter 23 | Resolution

The prospect of 1995 had finally settled upon most of the residents of Hogwarts.

For starters, Professor McGonagall.

Sarah entered Transfiguration with Fred, a little later than the rest of the class, which was when the pair noticed Professor McGonagall's new outlook.

"Where have you two been?" Professor McGonagall demanded, round the desk with such ferocity that Fred shuffled back. Her eyes were narrowed and lips pressed together in a fine line.

"We were coming from the Hospital Wing, Professor," Sarah replied politely. For once, she wasn't lying.

"Hospital Wing? Why?" McGonagall inquired, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I was in pain, Professor," Sarah said bluntly.

"Pain? What pain?"

"Labour pains," A student at the front of the class joked.

"That's not even funny, shut up," Sarah sneered at them, before turning back to Professor McGonagall.

"I had a headache," Sarah told her, before shuffling past to find her seat. Fred followed suit, avoiding the Professor's harsh gaze.

"Well, now that you're all here -" Professor McGonagall clasped her hand together, glancing at Sarah and Fred passive-agressively, "I must have an important talk with you."

McGonagall leaned back on her desk slightly. With her wand, she effortlessly wrote the word 'N.E.WTs' on the chalkboard. She grimaced when sighs went like a Mexican wave around the classroom.

"It's a new year, which means a new attitude. For the past term, we've all been so caught up in the Tri-wizard tournament, that we've forgotten to think about ourselves, and more importantly our grades. Here on forth, we will no longer be late, we will be early," McGonagall finished, shooting a careful glare at Sarah and Fred, who both looked rather uncomfortable.

The lesson continued on and Sarah was attempting to transfigure her candle into a glass goblet. Fred, who had already achieved this, leaned back on his chair so he could talk to Sarah.

"How's your head?" He asked, a smile itching to appear on his face.

"Fine, why?" Sarah replied, her stare remaining on her candle. She was scoping out, studying the shape and colour so she would know if she did it right.

"Well, you could use the headache as an excuse when you do the spell wrong - " Fred replied.

Sarah finally looked at him, trying to hide the shock on her face. Beside her, Patricia let out a gasp of surprise.

" - Blimey, Fred," George muttered, running a hand over his face.

"You know, I can do this and I will!" Sarah exclaimed. Sharply, she turned to her candle, waved her wand and chanted the spell in her head.

Slightly surprised, but overall, quite content, Sarah watched her candle transfigure into an elaborate goblet, fit for only the most wealthy to drink from.

McGonagall walked by at this very moment. She beamed at Sarah, "Fantastic job, Miss Copper. 10 points to Gryffindor."

Sarah smiled, as Patricia glared at Fred, "Didn't she tell you, eh?"

Fred laughed, "You idiot. I knew that would work. Sarah does magic best when she's angry, haven't you noticed? And just so you know, I didn't mean that earlier."

Sarah let out an annoyed sigh, "Yes, whatever. I bloody hate you and all your mind games, you know that?"

"I know," Fred whispered with a wink, before turning back to his own work.