Running around the corner of the castle she felt the desperation rise as the minutes ticked down and the deadline approached. She hadn't seen Fred in at least half an hour, she had to find him, incase the end came. Had to tell him she loved him one last time. After a huge fall out when he left the school suddenly in their last term they had reunited over the summer. Knowing the dark days were sweeping in and time could be limited. Moving into the flat with him and George the three had become inseparable. Declining on offer to play professional Quidditch she' d took on a job working for them in the store during the day, and helping with the effort to fight He who shall not be named at night.
Keeping their live in situation and serious dating status to themselves they'd promised each other a speedy wedding date if they made it. Flinging an unforgivable curse she turned once more heading towards the battlement he had been in charge of.
"Where'd Fred?" she asked skidding to a halt as she spotted a pale Seamus who mutely shook his head.
" I haven't seen him in awhile," he said watching her as she took off once more. IT was like the sands in an hour glass were falling and suffocating her. The minutes suffocating her as she struggled through bodies, and skirmishes, searching for the one familiar face she needed to see before midnight.
Bursting into a hallway she froze at the site of red heads all gathered together kneeling and leaning over a still form. Fighting down bile as her stomach clenched she made her way over to them slowly trembling as she took in each face. Charlie, Molly, Ginny…. Bill….. Geaorge…. Seeing them all turn to face her she realized she was screaming.
"No… No," She whispered shaking her head as she backed up and George stood.
"Angelina…" he whispered voice low and soothing as if she was a wounded animal.
"I need to see," She whispered rushing forward as he caught her around the waist supporting her as her legs turned in to jello. Just last night they'd been laughing together. Making love as the un come up and wondering why they'd wasted so much time getting together during school. The wasted time hurt more now as George helped her over to the body that lay too still. The family making room to add her into the inner circle knowing instinctively there'd been more to them than they'd ever suspected. Even in death his face held a smile. Like there was one last joke to be made before the end. Helping her lower to the ground George took her trembling hand in his and added her as she touched his face for the last time memorizing ever last detail.
Leaning in to kiss her lovers cooled lips one last time she pulled back wiping her eyes as she collected herself enough to turn to George.
" I am so sorry," She whispered running a hand through his ginger locks as they shared a look. No one else could understand that they'd lost a piece of themselves today. Not just a sibling, a son, or a friend, but a piece of their heart and soul.
" I- I don't know, " he whispered shaking his head as she clenched her jaw drawing her strength around herself. He'd made her promise if anything happened to him, she'd be there for George.
"We see this to the end, and then…. We worry about picking up the pieces later," She whispered as he nodded.
Moving apart they stood as the others followed suit leaving to fight once more in pairs. George stuck beside her for the rest of the battle, fighting back to back as they flung unforgivable curses and sustained hits. Bruised, battered, and exhausted they gathered in the great hall to witness the demise of the dark wizard who'd taken so much from them. Feeling numb as everyone gathered together in celebration she stepped back ready to wander off when George grabbed her wrist to halt her travel from the group. He' d promised his brother if anything happened to him he'd take care of her. It was a promise he'd honor in his brother's memory.