Prologue: Fred Weasley's Secrets
March 20, 1998
Fred had just finished a Potterwatch episode with Lee Jordan. They were hiding out in a small hidden wizarding village for the time outside of Edinburgh. It was March, cold, and Fred had entered the pub in a state of tranquility. He knew that tonight was going to be one of the last few times he would get to make people laugh. Fred was aware that when the final battle commenced and he stood with Harry Potter, he would lose his life. How was he aware of this fact? In third year, he had decided to try Divination with Professor Trelawney (like most of the third years did) and she prophesized about him one day. Fred had never told a soul about this, not even his twin and best friend, George. He had gone back to her classroom one day to grab a book he had left previously. As he was there, Professor Trelawney had came out of her office with her eyes rolled back into her head and spoke to him in a possessed voice.
"Your life will be lost in the second war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," she said gruffly. Her eyes whirled back around and she asked in her normal dream-like voice, "Weasley, what are you doing here?"
At first he thought it must have been one of her ways of scaring students. However, when Harry spoke of the same thing with Professor Trelawney two years later, Fred knew that she had been right. He knew that when it came time for Harry to declare a fight, that he would be with him and he would die doing it. Somehow that did not upset him as much as it should. Maybe it was because Fred knew right from wrong, or maybe it was something else. Whatever it was, it was keeping him calm and not scaring him away from the prospect of death.
"Hello there," a female voice came from behind him at the bar.
"Hello?" He asked wondering if he was supposed to know her.
She looked at him with a smile, "No, you don't know me. I just thought that maybe you would like some company. You looked like you might need it." Fred deduced from her peculiar tone that she was American.
"Bloody hell you're American! Do you know it's not safe in Britain right now?" He asked her in the assumption that she was a Muggle.
"I'm fully aware of the situation. That's why I'm here. I have a cousin that needs to come home with me for protection. She couldn't go back to school this year. We're sneaking her out. She's going to spend her last year at Salem's School of Witchcraft," the young woman spattered her story. Fred watched as her face fell. She looked to the other side of the room and a woman that looked only a year or two younger was sitting with a man that looked just like her.
"Oi then you're a witch?" Fred asked as he looked back at the woman in front of him. Her hair was an inky black and pin straight. Her eyes were as green as the grass in a meadow behind The Burrow.
"Yes, I'm a witch, and a half-blood at that. We're leaving tomorrow morning. I just thought maybe you had lost someone and decided to ask you to sit with us," she said as if she were embarrassed. She started to walk away, but Fred grabbed her arm gently.
"I could use the company. My friend has gone to bed, and I have it on good authority that I will not live through this war," he answered her. She looked at him and knew that he most likely was telling the truth.
"A Seer told you?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Well then, let me tell my brother and cousin that you are going to tell me the best way to leave unnoticed," the woman said as she left him for a moment.
Fred watched as she spoke quickly to the two people she had pointed out earlier. Both of them nodded and looked to Fred with grateful smiles. Fred nodded back to them. He merely just wanted company that would keep his mind away from everything happening in his own world. She came back to him and he told the barkeep to bring her whatever she wanted on him.
"I'll have Dragon Elixir," she said to the stout man behind the bar top. Fred looked at her with a sly grin.
"How old are ye that ye'll be drinking something that heavy?" Fred asked as the bright green liquid in an enchanted glass appeared in front of her.
"Probably no younger than you," she said with a smirk and lifted the glass to his for a toast, "To a night with a stranger." Something about him attracted her. The way he had openly admitted to his prophecy and the look in his eyes. She was certain that she was meant to be here tonight. She was the one moment of goodness he was going to get in a bleak time of waiting for death.
"I happen to be nineteen missy," Fred said with mock authority. He had years of practice impersonating Percy.
"Well then I am slightly younger than you. I turn nineteen in April," she responded.
"Ah, but I turn twenty on April first. You are younger than me and maybe I should be responsible and remove that drink from your hand."
"You can try," she said as she reached for her wand. He saw the movement, and instinctively knew that this woman was probably as powerful as his younger sister. Fred's childhood with Ginny had taught him the lesson that power does not always come in a threatening package.
"All right you bloody well win, but I am not to be held responsible for your actions tonight," Fred said as he winked at her. He was not sure what type of unmarked territory he was trudging into, but he was certain he needed to do it. His longing for life's experiences before this was over was the only thing that made him stress over his unavoidable death.
"What actions? An action like asking you which room is yours upstairs?"
"Yes, that would be considered a rubbish action that I should not be held responsible for," he answered her in a strained voice because she had leaned into him a little. The Dragon Elixir had destroyed her inhibitions already.
"I would never dream of holding you accountable," her voice came out in a seductive whisper. She threw her curtain of black hair over her shoulder. "I think you should show me where that room is."
"You don't even know my name," Fred said to her trying to reason.
"Who said that I wasn't going to ask you for it?" She asked with a glint in her eye. Fred was suddenly entranced and got up from the barstool. Maybe he could have just a few hours where war wasn't upon them.
He took her hand and led her to his room. Once there, he suddenly sobered enough to be a decent bloke about things.
"We should at least get to know each other a little bit," he reasoned with her. She tilted her head to the side, and nodded her head.
"I agree. What's your name?"
"Fred Weasley, pleasure to meet you," he said holding out his hand. She laughed and took it in her own.
"I'm Neely Prince and I'm glad to have met you too," she responded. They spent a few more moments talking and getting to know basics about one another.
After an hour of talking, Fred had developed a connection with the black-haired beauty in front of him. She had been laughing at his jokes and listening intently. At first he had felt guilty for bringing her up here, but suddenly he didn't feel it. It was almost as if he was meant to have this one connection. It felt as if it were a kind of an offering from someone in exchange for an early death. When Neely had put her hand on Fred's during a story about her childhood, he took that as an opening to lean close and kiss her. It was a soft kiss in the beginning. An invitation to do more was not long awaited as Neely kissed him back more fiercely.
They broke apart for ten seconds to take a small breath and then returned to the exploration of each other's mouths. Fred ran his hands up her side and she shivered. The response made him want her more. He did it again; she shivered, and let out a small moan. He lifted her jumper over her head. Underneath was a simple red camisole covering a lacy black bra. Fred thanked whoever sent her that she was beautifully wrapped. He went back to kissing her and trailed down her body. She lifted his shirt over his head and smiled at his broad chest. Neely was certain he had been a Quidditch player in school.
"Did you play?" She breathlessly whispered.
"Yes, love, I was a Beater, "was all he said as he went back to struggling with her trousers. She felt his frustration building so she helped him.
Within seconds they were both sitting on his bed nude. Fred smiled at her.
"You're beautiful," he told her.
"Fred, you don't have to flatter me. I'm already in your bed naked," she said with a smile.
"I'm not flattering you, love. I'm telling you the truth. Right now I'm thanking whoever sent you because I could not have picked a more beautiful woman," he said to her seriously.
Neely's heart broke. She finally finds someone who finds her attractive and he is going to die. She did not want to wait any longer because he deserved more time. Her hand found him and guided him into her. She winced at the initial pain and Fred tried to pull away from her. Neely shook her head and wrapped her legs around him.
"You're hurt," he said as he tried to pull out of her again.
"I know. It will go away in a few minutes. It's common for a first time," she assured him.
His eyes widened, "First time?"
She nodded.
"Well I'm honored," he admitted as he slowly rocked against her. He wanted to make it less painful for her.
He continued slowly until she started to participate vigorously. Her reactions were catalysts. Fred started to move faster and harder. Neely could feel herself losing control. Her moment of complete loss was coming.
Fred started to feel her tighten and shake a little. His edge was approaching as well. It only took seconds before they both cried out.
It took a moment for Fred to notice he had collapsed onto her. He readjusted so that he was to her side. He stared at her with a smile. Her eyes were brighter than before their activities. Moving a strand of hair out of her face, he stared at her happily.
"Thank you for giving me this," he whispered as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Don't thank me yet. I still have a few more hours before I should go back to my own room," she said with a grin.
"Merlin, I do not deserve you," Fred laughed before indulging her again.
March 21, 1998
Fred woke early that morning. So early in fact it was still pitch black in the room.
"Neely," he whispered to the warm body draped over him.
"Yes?" She asked groggily.
"It's probably time for you to leave. I talked to a friend after you fell asleep. I've arranged a Portkey to take you to New York. You have to go on your own from there," he said to her.
"Oh thank you!" She exclaimed as she kissed him.
"No, thank you, you gave me one of life's experiences I didn't think I was going to get. I hope you get home safely and that you get everything you've ever wanted out of life," he said to her as he helped her out of bed. She struggled to put her clothes on, not wanting to leave him. He was going to be facing death soon. Fred opened the door and gave her a longing look.
"Good-bye Fred Weasley. I'm sorry that I may never see you again, but I won't ever forget you. You may be the only person that I could ever love and may love me back," she said to him with a kiss on his cheek.
"You're one of the best memories I'll ever have," he said to her as he shut the door.
