Written for the 335 Pairing Bonanza Challenge

The Not So Screechy Lady

He'd never thought she would be the first person he would meet when he carked it. He had expected warm, welcome hugs from long lost relatives; perhaps even a 'what are you doing here?' But certainly not the same face of the screaming portrait in Sirius' house staring him in his own face.

"Well," he sighed when he saw her standing before him. "I didn't think all those pranks were bad enough to send me to hell." He glanced down at his feet, as if expecting to see George below him. "Sorry, Georgie."

"You're young to be dead." She studied him for a while, taking in his features. Fred hadn't found a mirror in this place, but he felt young again; as if the weight of the war and looming death had been lifted off his shoulders.

Fred shrugged.

"Hm, red hair," she observed. "Don't tell me you're one of those blood traitors." She spat.

Fred merely shrugged a second time. "Guilty and proud of it," he said.

Sirius' bitter mother frowned. "Hm, not a pleasant day after-all," she said.

"Your son causing havoc?" Fred joked.

"My sons are dead."

"Hate to break it to you, lady, but so are we. And for the record, you treated them like dirt. Sirius died protecting people worth dying for. You'd be highly ashamed."

The woman spat again.

"They're dead to me."

Fred sighed. "Definitely not a pleasant day," he agreed. "Who'd have thought I'd be running into the likes of you on my first day of death?"

It was then that Fred realised where they were standing was mostly white. "So, where do I go for the 'happy start of death' welcoming feast?" he wanted to know.

The woman stared at him.

"Alright," Fred responded. "Don't tell me. I'll find it myself. That way?" He pointed straight ahead, but again, no answer came.

He sighed, pretending to be frustrated. "Well, Mrs Black, it was nice meeting you, but I hope I never see you again. I'm Fred Weasley, by the way." He moved forward into the white room, searching for any more signs of life (or death, in his case). He couldn't have been sure, but as he left the vision of Sirius' mother, he thought he heard a whisper. It was vague, and almost incoherent, but he could have sworn he heard, "If you do find it, please let me know."

He never did.

Well, this was just a little fun :) I hope you enjoyed reading it, as this pairing surprisingly worked better than what I expected when I first saw it. Please let me know what you thought :D