a/n1: As always, I don't own any of the Harry Potter world. I'm just writing for the sheer pleasure of it. I hope you'll find the story sometimes sad, quite odd at times, and maybe even humorous once in a while.

a/n2: This takes place near the beginning of Deathly Hallows, after Mad-Eye Moody dies. Madeline is Moody's squib (non-magical) sister and Charlie Weasley's wife. We begin the story in Romania.

Death of A Hero

or

A Trip Through The Fan Fiction Twilight Zone

by

The Geeky Quill

Day 1

It seemed to Charlie that this was going to be a normal week, but in fact it would quickly turn tragic, then unsettling and eventually, down right mad.

As soon as he hit the first step of the porch of their cottage, Charlie felt something was not right. The front windows were open as usual, but it was far too quiet inside. Normally he could hear his wife, Madeline, singing loudly, if not well. He opened the door. On the sofa sat Charlie's father, Arthur, and curled up next to him, was Madeline, her face hidden as she huddled at his side. Arthur looked at Charlie with a regretful frown. Charlie approached slowly with brow furrowed. Madeline turned. Her eyes were red and swollen and her cheeks were streaked with tears. She attempted to speak, but could manage nothing more than a choked squeak. Charlie rushed to her side. She fell into his arms. Over her head, Charlie gave his father a questioning look. Arthur only mouthed the name, "Alastor." He understood immediately that his wife's brother was dead. He'd learn the details later.

Later, Madeline was hardly conscious as the men stood by talking in hushed voices about the will and Charlie's brother, Bill's, wedding. She lay dazed on the sofa. Arthur walked over, leaned down, and kissed her on the forehead. "Niffler, I have to go." His voice betrayed his feelings of helplessness. She looked at him all forlorn. He stroked her disheveled coal black hair and kissed her again before standing back up with a sigh. He went to the door, said his goodbyes to his son, and looked sadly in Madeline's direction before leaving.

Day 2

Madeline caught up to Charlie's friend on the path. She was panting

"Nottingham!"

He turned with surprise. "Hi Maddy." Besides Bill, Nod was the only person who called her that.

"I need to talk to you," she said.

The squat round wizard said, "Sure." He knew she was in grief over the loss of her brother.

"Charlie's going to England to..." She paused before continuing, "to take care of my brother's will and his...house, um... and to go to his brother's wedding. I want you to go with him." Then she added, "Please."

He started to chuckle, but stopped himself. "You're serious."

"Nottingham, it's dangerous in England right now. I..." She stifled a sob. "I'm scared something will happen to him," she said uncharacteristically. Fear wasn't a big emotion in Madeline's world. Risk-taking had always been somewhat of a sport to her.

Nod looked at her with disbelief. "You want me to be Charlie's bodyguard?" he said with a smirk.

She nodded. "Please."

He rubbed his chin and looked around, half expecting someone to leap out of the trees to announce this was a practical joke. Nobody had ever asked this sort of thing of him and he didn't know if he should laugh or be flattered.

Madeline took his hand. "You have to do this," she said in earnest. Then suddenly she went pale and ran off the path, knelt down, and got sick.

"Oi!," exclaimed Nod. "You don't have to be so dramatic. He walked over and his voice softened. "Oh, you're really sick, Maddy. Let me get Charlie."

She shook her head, "No." She took a handkerchief from her pocket, wiped her mouth. "No." She breathed deeply and stood up. "Don't tell Charlie."

"Why?" asked Nod.

"Because, Nottingham," she answered, "I'm pregnant."

"That's great! Doesn't Charlie know?"

"Not yet. He'd worry about me. I'll tell him when he comes back. I don't think he'd go if he knew."

"Still, I don't see why-"

"Promise me you won't tell."

"O.K. I won't tell him. You should tell Camelia, though. She's a girl and she might know how to make some kind of remedy for the nausea, and the insanity," he added under his breath.

"Are you kidding? She's got that same honesty/integrity thing that Charlie has. She'd tell him for sure," said Madeline.

He laughed. "Yeah, you're right."

"I'll tell her after he leaves."

"You don't look so good, Maddy," he observed with one raised brow. "I thought pregnant ladies were supposed to glow or something," he said half teasing.

She squinted at him. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."