She knew he heard her steps on the wet grass, but he didn't look up from the spot in the still water that he stared at. When she reached him, she sat down next to him, and there was silence for a while.
Finally, she shifted, and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a picture, which she handed to him. Finally, he tore his gaze from the lake to see what it was she offered him.
In her strange muggle photograph, two girls with wildly curly hair pulled up in pigtails sat in matching pastel purple dresses with matching white cardigans and strings of purls around their necks on what appeared to be a small park bench with the sun shining down on them. He couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. "You … you were …" he stuttered. Then he grew angry. "Why would you show me this?! Do you want to mock me-?" He would have continued, but she cut him off.
"That was the last time I saw her." He felt himself grow cold.
"What do you mean?"
A bitter smile touched her lips. "She met a 'friend' at the park who didn't have anything good in mind. I saw her run off into those woods in the background – and never saw her again. After a few months, people started to give up hope. After a few years, so did our parents." She paused. Sighed. Finally, she finished. "I can't give you a spell, a potion, a magic object that will bring him back. I can't make him any less gone. I can't promise you it will ever hurt any less. But I can tell you that eventually, it does get easier. You just have to keep in mind one thing: he wouldn't blame you. And come on! Someone like Fred?" She bumped her shoulder against his.
"He'll wait."
Thanks to everyone who reads this. I'd like to apologize for my (very) long hiatus. Though, I can't promise it won't happen ever again, I'll try to limit my time away. ;) Have a great day!