The castle felt wrong tonight.

Too quiet in some places, too loud in others. Whispers curled through the corridors like ghosts, students huddled together as though proximity alone could keep tomorrow away. Fred wandered the battlements with his hands stuffed into his pockets, forcing a grin whenever someone looked his way.

Spotting them nearby, he drifted over, shoulder bumping lightly against theirs.

"Bit rubbish, isn't it?" he said, gaze fixed on the dark grounds below. "Whole world's ending and nobody's even bothered to cancel homework."

A laugh escaped him, softer than usual. After a moment, Fred glanced sideways.

"You know, if we're all still here tomorrow, I've got plans. Brilliant plans. Catastrophically stupid plans, actually." His smile lingered. "Thought you ought to know."