The first time it had happened, Lavender had floo'ed right over to Ginny's and told her everything. But it kept happening more and more, and Lavender was terrified of what he would do next if she told anyone. So instead she just let it happen, letting herself believe that it was her fault anyways, that she must've done something to provoke it.

When she walked into the house she sighed a breath of relief, it was empty. Dropping her keys on the counter, she tiptoed over to the couch and sat down. An hour later, the lock in the door clicked. She dropped her book and her whole entire body tensed. Ethan walked into the living room and smiled at her.

"Hullo darling."

"Hi."

She said quietly. When he walked over to her and sat down next to her, he picked up her book and read the front cover, nodding and handing it back to her after. His arm slowly wrapped around her shoulder and she flinched, biting her tongue so she wouldn't cry out.

"How was your day off?"

"It was fine."

"Really? What did you do?"

"I went," She thought twice about telling him she'd gone to see Ginny, "I went shopping."

"Shopping?"

"Mhm, shopping."

"Tell me Lavender," He pulled her closer to him, his breath tickling her ear, "Why can't you tell me the truth?"

Lavender was repulsed and she shrugged.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Quick as a flash, he had her arm twisted up behind her and his mouth right beside her ear from behind.

"Liar. You went to go see the brat sister of your ex-boyfriend. Was he there?"

Lavender whimpered and shook her head.

"I found your little box, by the way," He hissed, releasing her and standing up, "I took the liberty of disposing its contents.

He motioned at the fireplace and Lavender choked on a sob.

"Y-You burned everything?"

"Why yes, oh, except for one thing."
He pulled out a photo of a couple kissing and dangled it in front of her face.

"I didn't know you could kiss like that darling, you've never bothered to show me."

Lavender got up and tried to back away from him but he snatched her arm and drew her back to him.

"Don't run Lavender, there's no need to."

He wrapped an arm around her waist, spinning her so she was facing him. He kissed her forcefully, running a hand through her hair. She pulled away and looked down, causing him to grab her chin in his fingers roughly.

"Look at me," He turned her face so she was staring at him, "I love you."

Lavender nodded, eyes blank.

"What do we say after that Lavender?"

"I-I," She closed her eyes, "I love you too.

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The next morning Lavender decided to not go to work, hiding in bed until she heard her "husband" leaving. She got up, and took a shower, dabbing at the bruise under her eye that she'd gotten while--While she was cleaning. She slipped on a cotton summer dress and padded along her hallway, realizing for the first time that she didn't feel welcome here. She'd moved in right after she'd married, and Ethan's ex-wife, who'd divorced him after a year, had done all the decorating.

A stranger in her own home.

She walked into the kitchen and sat down on one of the stools, placing her head against the cool counter. She finally realized after a while of sitting there that someone was knocking on the door. Grabbing a sweater that was handy, she slipped it on and walked softly over to the front door. She opened it, and, upon seeing whom it was, slammed it again.

"Lav! C'mon! Open the door!"

Fred pounded on it with his fist.

"Go away!"

"Lav, don't make me apparate in there, I will."

Lavender glared at the door separating them, damn him being a wizard.

"It's unlocked genius."

Fred entered and looked around, a small smile on his face that disappeared once he looked at hers.

"What's that?"

"Oh! I-er, I got it while I was-Well, I ran into the doorframe."

"You're lying."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are, I can tell when you're lying."

"No, I'm not."

"Lav."

"Weasley."

"I like the sound of that, Lavender Weasley."

Lavender let out an exasperated sigh.

"Why are you here?"

"I talked to Ginny."

He took a few steps toward her.

"Why are you wearing a sweater?"

"I'm cold."

"It's fifty degrees outside."

"So?"

"And you're hiding such a pretty dress, did you make it?"

She nodded.

"Can I see it?"

He reached for the zipper of her sweater.

"No!"

She pulled away, and Fred raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"It's very… revealing."

"And?"

"And I'm married."

"Yes, I know that, I'm only asking to see your dress, or is that sweater serving another purpose?"

Lavender defiantly pulled the sleeves down even more on her arms.

"Lav let me see."

"Sod off."

"Lav,"

"I said, Sod. Off."

Fred reached for the zipper again but Lavender caught his hand this time.

"Don't."

"Fine, we can just… talk."

He strolled over to the couch and Lavender followed him, sitting neatly with her legs crossed.

"When did you get married?"

"Four years ago."

"Why?"

"Because he proposed?"

"Yeah, but do you love him?"

"Why would I marry him if I didn't?"

"You're not answering the question though."

"I don't have to, it goes without saying."

"You don't."

"And who are you to make assumptions about my marriage?"

"Your ex-boyfriend."

"Exactly, ex, and what makes you think I don't love Ethan?"

"Just a hunch."

"Well it's wrong."

"No it's not."

"Shut up."

Lavender turned away from him.

"So, how long has he been hitting you?"

Lavender's head snapped around and she narrowed her eyes.

"Whatever Ginny's told you is a lie."

"Shut up Lav, you can lie to everyone else but not to me."

"I'm not lying!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"Then why won't you take off your sweater? I can see those beads of sweat on your cheek, I know you're warm."

Lavender looked down.

"I don't want you to see them."

She mumbled.

God, Lav, you're 29, a grown woman! How come you can't even handle yourself properly?

Fred reached out and undid the zipper, pulling the sweater from her shoulders. He made a sort of strangled noise that got caught in his throat and Lavender looked up.

"Lav… Lav, I'm so sor-"

"You don't have to say anything, it's not your fault."

"It is, I should've been here to protect you all these years."

"You weren't, so it's fine, I can protect myself, I don't need you,"

"Still as stubborn as ever I see."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Why can't you just accept the fact that your husband… abuses you," He gritted his teeth, "And let someone do something about it?"

"Well la-dee-dah, look who's all grown up."
Lavender said sarcastically.

"Don't be like that."

"Where were you, Fred. Where were you for the past ten years of my life?"

"Lav, if I tell you, you're going to have to promise to keep quiet until I'm finished, alright?"

Lavender nodded and turned to face him, tucking her legs daintily under her bum.

"Alright, you know our joke shop? Of course you do, anyways. Well, I used to manage our finances because George is completely crap at maths. So one night I realized that I didn't have enough money to pay rent for both our apartment," He looked at her pointedly, "And the shop. So I paid the rent for our apartment and went searching for a new way to get some money. I ran into these two blokes one night, and I told them my troubles, and they offered to help me, and loan me quite a large sum of money. I accepted, but the thing is, I never paid them back. The whole reason I'd left that night was because I'd received an owl threatening me and everyone who was close to me because like the stupid idiot I am I failed to realize at the time that the two blokes were, uh, criminals. So instead I offered to work off my money and they accepted. And that, as stupid as it sounds, is where I've been for 10 years, working off my debt by smuggling illegal muggle items over the border and doing petty errands for them."

"Your debt was that big?"

"Er, no, it seems that I did too much of a good job," He looked up when Lavender snorted, "And they kind of decided to, well, keep me for a bit longer. Technically, I was supposed to come back, er," He cleared his throat before whispering, "Four years ago."

Lavender stared at him blankly before her eyes flashed.

"You are so STUPID! You could've prevented all of this by asking for help when it first happened! You know I would've paid the rent and leant you some money! I-I can't believe you! Augh!"

She screamed, pounding her fist against the couch in frustration.

"Lav, I'm so sorry."

"Yes, Fred, because sorry is going to make up for ten years worth of worrying."

"Lav! I worried about you as well!"

"If you cared about me so much then why didn't I receive any sign telling me you were alright? How come I never got any contact from you? Fred, for the past ten years of my life everyone told me that you were dead and that I needed to move on. For four years, I have woken up next to a man that is not you and regretted it every single morning," She stood up and balled her hands into fists, the tears now streaming down her face, "For ten years, there hasn't been a day that's gone by where I haven't wished you'd come back to me."

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