"Honestly, can you calm down Lilia, please? You aren't even that close to Bill and Fleur," Ginny said as Lilia scrambled around, making sure everything was perfect. Lilia stopped abruptly, her purple chiffon dress flowing around her body. She huffed at Ginny as she placed a hand on her hip.
"That doesn't matter. They both should not have to worry about anything today. Now finish getting ready, you don't want to have to face the wrath of Fleur, do you," Lilia asked and Ginny immediately scuttled back upstairs to finish getting ready. Lilia looked at herself in one of the full body mirrors that Mrs. Weasley had placed in the house. Her hair was gently curled, falling in waves down her back, the sides being twisted and clipped to the back, showcasing her face. Her dress was a one shoulder made of purple chiffon dress, a satin bow cinching in at the waist. Her heels were purple as well, and were high, but not so high that she would want to chop them off by the end of the day. She stared at her reflection, and felt detached, like she was looking at someone else's body. Everything seemed so surreal at the moment, like they were all in their own bubble, and the evil outside couldn't touch them. But soon enough, the bubble will burst, and Lilia was dreading it with every fiber of her being.
"You look beautiful," Fred whispered into her ear, wrapping his arms around her from behind. Lilia placed her hands on his as she rested her head on his shoulder, leaning into him, but never tearing her eyes away from their reflection.
"We look good together," Lilia said, and Fred nodded before kissing her cheek.
"Yes we do, but only because of you. You make me look a thousand times better, millions of times better. You make me better," Fred told her as they gently rocked back and forth. Lilia felt his arms tighten around her middle, and she sighed in contentment, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the feel of him against her.
"You make me better too," she breathed out, sighing again when Fred began to kiss her neck lightly.
"Not possible, you are already perfect," he said against her skin, and she snorted, knowing she was anything but perfect. Rash, nosy, temperamental, yes, but perfect? Definitely not. Fred kissed her jaw, "Perfect to me, perfect for me. I wish I could show you just how much I love you right now." Lilia turned around so that she was facing him. His large hands landed heavily on her hips, her small ones resting on his bicep, squeezing the muscle gently.
"I need to tell you something Fred," she said suddenly, and Fred looked at her, a confused yet trusting expression on his face.
"You know you can tell me anything Lilia," he replied, watching her curiously as she took a deep breath, her eyes squeezed tight before opening them again to look into his.
"Hermione, Ron, and Harry are leaving after the wedding," she said simply, and Fred just stared at her, the silence dragging on.
"Do you know where?"
"No."
"Do you know why?"
"Yes."
"Does anyone else know?"
"Draco, but that's it," Lilia finished as she watched him run a hand through his hair, "I can't tell you why because it's for their safety. If someone was to get a hold of you to find out what they were doing, the entire mission would be over."
"What about you," Fred asked, his tone tense now. She had made him upset.
"He won't let anything happen to me. It's like he's protecting me or something," Lilia commented, and they both knew who He was.
"Yea, to use you later. He has an ulterior motive for keeping you safe Lil, and it's for you to join him and run the show with him," Fred told her, his eyes burrowing into hers.
"But that won't happen. I would die before joining him. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, they had sworn me to secrecy," Lilia said to him softly before wrapping her arms completely around his waist. He reciprocated the hug, his face leaning in to smell her hair.
"I understand. It wasn't your secret to tell. And hopefully you won't be dying anytime soon. Hopefully it will be many, many years from now, with me in your arms, after we have tons of kids and grandkids and maybe even great grand kids running around," Fred told her, bringing a smile to Lilia's face. He could tell that she got immense pleasure from hearing him talk about children, "You like that?"
She nodded her head, leaning her face towards his, "Yes, I like that a lot. You want to get a head start?" Fred grinned and opened his mouth to reply when they were interrupted.
"What are you two still doing here," Mrs. Weasley's tense voice echoed across the room. Fred rested his forehead against Lilia's, sighing with exasperation. His mother always seems to have impeccable timing. He heard her walk closer towards the couple, and he squeezed his closed, wishing for her to go away.
"The wedding is going to start in a few minutes, get out there," Mrs. Weasley said shrilly, nervousness etched clearly on her face and in her voice. Lilia looked at Mrs. Weasley before grabbing Fred's hand and dragging him out of the house and into the tent that was holding the ceremony and reception. They had two minutes to spare as Lilia and Fred sat in the back, able to see everyone from their position.
"I liked ours better," Fred whispered into her ear, and Lilia turned her head towards him, a grin on her face. He gently nudged her with his shoulder before leaning in again, "Ours wasn't as stuffy."
"Of course it wasn't," Lilia whispered back, leaning into him, "We aren't the stuffy type."
"Do you want us to be," Fred asked, and Lilia looked at his face. It was pensive, worried, hopeful, all at the same time. She shook her head quickly, leaning into him even more, barely registering that a wedding was going on.
"I love you for who you are Fred. And I will always love you, no matter what," Lilia told him before grabbing his hand and kissing it gently in the palm. Fred watched her with an unreadable expression as she nipped, licked, and kissed his hand. It was a good thing they were all the way in the back, in a corner where no one would see them, even if they weren't watching the wedding, because what she was doing to his hand was very inappropriate for such an occasion. She saw a tent begin to form in his pants and smiled slyly.
"Aren't you a naughty boy," she whispered into his ear before biting the lobe of his ear. She felt a shiver run through him and she began to rub small circles high on his thigh. She saw his jaw clench and unclench as he snapped his hand out to grab her wrist, stopping her sensual movements.
"You better stop before I take drastic measures," Fred growled out, and Lilia smirked at him before standing and clapping. The wedding was over and the room transformed into the reception area. Small, round tables appeared all over, a large area clear for dancing. Lilia sat back down, noticing the peeved look on Fred's face. She pouted exaggeratedly, her bottom lip poking out adorably, leaning into him again.
"Are you mad at me," she asked in a sad voice. Fred barely glanced her before grunting. She leaned in closer till their lips were almost touching, "I'm sorry baby. Please forgive me," she said huskily before kissing his lips tentatively. He kissed her back, grabbing the back of her head and leading her body onto his lap. The kiss was slow, sensual, full of heat. But it was a slow burn, unlike the usual frantic fire that they usually kissed like. They knew they had plenty of time, so they took it. She felt his hands in her hair, gripping it lightly, his other arm wrapped around her middle, pulling her closer to him.
"Please tell me we don't look like that when we snog," a drawling voice said from just the side of them, and Lilia pulled away just enough to speak to the voice.
"No, you look like you're trying to eat her face when you make out with her," Lilia replied calmly before returning her lips back to Fred.
"You look like you're trying to swallow him whole. How indecent of you Lil," the drawling voice shot back, "What would your mother in law say if she saw this?"
"Probably the same thing if she found out you and Hermione were doing it in Ginny's bedroom," Lilia said with a smirk, and she heard splutters and knew that both of them were blushing furiously. Lilia turned to look at them, a devious smirk on her face, "Actually no, you would get it way worse, since Fred and I are married, and you two are not."
"Oh I doubt that," Draco countered, and a single eye brow cocked up in questioning from Lilia. He explained, "Because we," he gestured between him and Hermione, "Would be young and foolish teenagers. You," he gestured between Fred and Lilia, "Are now an old married couple that should know better."
"Touché my friend," Lilia said as she got off of Fred's lap and walked over to Draco, "Come and dance with me." She grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the dance floor, laughing the whole way. Hermione walked over to sit next Fred a bit awkwardly. Fred looked at her, the way she sat in her chair straight, her body tense. Fred gently nudged her, trying to get her to relax a bit.
"What's wrong Granger," Fred asked softly, noticing the tense and worried look on her face. She looked lost.
"Draco asked me to marry him," she replied quickly, her voice strong. Fred stared at her for a second, his eyes wide, but she didn't say anything else.
"Well," he prompted, but she still didn't say anything so he asked the entire question, "What did you tell him?"
"I told him no," she said, her voice cracking a little bit. She finally turned to Fred, tears beginning to well in her eyes. Fred wrapped in arm around her shoulder pulling her close as she continued, "I should have said yes. I was just so scared that if something happened to him because of me."
"What do you mean love," Fred asked tenderly, holding her closer to him. He heard her sniffle and handed her his handkerchief from his pocket. She took it and gently dabbed at her eyes before blowing loudly into it.
"I'm a mudblood," she said with contempt, and Fred tensed beside her.
"Don't you ever call yourself that Hermione, ever. Do you understand me," Fred ground out as he clutched tightly to her arm. She rolled her eyes at him.
"My point is, if I married him, no matter how his father disowned him, he will always be a Malfoy. He will always be a pureblood, and if something happened to him because they found out that he married a muggle-born…" She trailed off, looking at Draco and Lilia as they began to dance to a slow song, "I could never forgive myself."
Lilia noticed the discussion between Fred and Hermione, and the tears in Hermione's eyes. She locked eyes with Fred for a moment before turning back to their respective people. Lilia looked back at Draco and noticed how detached and lost he seemed. She sighed before saying, "What did you do now?"
"I asked her to marry me," he said simply, making Lilia stumble at the sure way he replied. She looked at him with wide eyes.
"And what did she say?"
"No."
"Do you know why?"
"She's worried that something might happen to me if we got married. I frankly don't care as long as I'm with her," he told Lilia who nodded.
"Did you tell her that?"
"Yes, but she still said no. I don't know what I'm supposed to do! She can just be so stubborn sometimes. I didn't mean for her to marry me this instant, I just want to put the stupid engagement ring on her finger to show everyone that she belongs to me," Draco said, his body tense and his voice frustrated.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you my friend," Lilia said nonchalantly, completely at a loss for what do to or say to him. Suddenly he tore away from her and made a beeline towards Hermione and Fred. Lilia stood there for a moment, shocked at his sudden retreat from her. Hermione and Fred watched him with wide eyes as he practically stomped towards her. When he reached her he grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. Hermione was about to say something, when he pulled out a velvet box. Fred and Lilia watched this with wide eyes as he opened the box and took out a simple diamond ring. He placed it on her finger, before looking into her eyes. Hermione seemed too shocked to say anything.
"We are getting married, no matter what you say," he told her, and her shocked eyes went from the ring to his determined face and he continued, "If I have to wait one year, or twenty years, we are getting married. Fuck everyone else. Those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind. And seriously, I doubt anyone is really going to care what we do," Draco told her, a small smile on his face as he watched her stare at the ring.
"Draco, I can't…we can't," she stuttered, beginning to pull the ring off of her finger. Draco grabbed her hands to stop her, and they looked into each other's eyes, warm brown meeting cool grey.
"We are getting married Hermione Granger," Draco said before pulling a stunned Hermione onto the dance floor. Lilia and Fred watched the couple, smirks and amazement on their faces.
"Did that just happen," Lilia asked, still a bit shocked from what happened.
Fred nodded slowly, "Yep, yes, that did just happen," he told her before someone grabbed Lilia and dragged her to the dance floor. It was George. Fred's brow furrowed, "Oi, that's my wife!" Lilia just shrugged as she followed the other twin onto the dance floor. Fred was then suddenly grabbed by a small but strong hand. It was Cassi. She grinned up at him, her green dress hugging her curves perfectly.
"Come on handsome," she said to him, "Maybe you can dance better than your brother." Fred snorted.
"Everyone dances better than George. Ron dances better than George, and that's really saying something," Fred said to Cassi, making her laugh. He spun her around, meeting up close to George and Lilia.
"I heard that! And no matter my dancing skills, I will always be the hotter twin," George said before winking at Lilia, making her giggle.
"You're dancing skills are just fine George," Lilia reassured him, and he puffed out his chest to his twin and girlfriend in triumph, making the girls laugh.
"It's ok love. You don't have to lie to him," Fred said to his wife, a smirk on his face.
"Obviously you must be lacking in certain areas brother if your wife prefers to dance with me and not with you," George countered, and Fred feigned indignation and anger, but both had mischief in their eyes.
"Oh yea?"
"Yea," George said back, and then the twins simultaneously spun the girls before switching places and grabbing their respective girls by the waist before continuing to dance. Lilia smiled up at Fred as they danced, feeling safe and secure in his arms. She laid her head on his shoulder, sighing as she listened to his heartbeat.
"Look at that," Fred whispered, and Lilia looked up to find Ron and Luna much in the same position as Fred and Lilia. Luna's head on Ron's chest, their hands clasped over his heart, both of their eyes closed in content, small smiles on their faces. Lilia grinned at the sight, resting her head back on Fred's shoulder as they continued to move slowly on the dance floor.
Everything was perfect. They were still in their happy bubble. Nothing from the outside world could touch them. Or so they thought. Everything was ripped away from them as they lights went out and a lynx patronus appeared in the middle of the room.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming." The room suddenly went into a panic. People running around and screaming as some of the Order members pulled their wands out. Lilia was torn away from Fred, people bumping and running into her. Fear over took her as the panic became palpable in the room.
"Fred, George," Mr. Weasley yelled, "Take Ginny and go!" Lilia was closer to Ginny and grabbed her close to her body. Fred locked eyes with her before nodding to each other. Lilia disapparated with Ginny, the younger girl to shocked to fight back. The last thing she saw was Ron, Harry, and Hermione disappearing as well, before her vision was filled with bright colors of the Twin's flat. Soon Fred, George, and Cassi followed, fear and astonishment on their faces.
"Oh no," Lilia said, breaking the stunned silence, everyone looked at her, "Draco, I left Draco. I need to go back and get him." She began to move to go back to the Burrow, but a heavy hand stopped her. She looked at the hand and followed the arm up to Fred's concerned face.
"You need to stay here, it isn't safe. Draco knows to come here if he needed to," Fred said calmly, Ginny's sobs beginning to fill the room.
"What about Harry, Ron, Hermione," Ginny asked shakily, her body shaking as George sat next to her and held onto her.
"They are gone," Lilia said simply, almost coldly. Ginny's eyes widened.
"Gone, what do you mean gone," Ginny asked, her voice changing from sad to panicked.
"They have to complete a mission for Dumbledore to defeat You-Know-Who," Lilia said before sighing and taking her down so that she could run her hands through it. She had to stay strong, she couldn't break down yet. Her head fell into her hands as she sunk down into one of the brightly colored chairs.
"How long will they be gone," Ginny asked, her body shaking more violently than before. Lilia looked up, and could feel the girl's fears come off of her in waves. Lilia stood up and walked over to her, wrapping her arms around her. George released his sister, allowing for Lilia take over. Lilia rubbed her back in soothing circles, her chin on top of Ginny's, tears welling in her eyes.
"I don't know," Lilia said, her voice thick with emotion, holding Ginny close to her. The room was silent for what seemed like forever, the only movement from Lilia trying to soothe Ginny. Suddenly, there was a pop, and all wands were trained on where it came from. Lilia was the first to react. It was Draco; his suit messed up and wrinkled, his hair a nice imitation of Harry's.
"Draco," Lilia cried out as she went to hug him. Cassi soon followed, hugging him as well. Happy tears from Lilia's eyes, but her smile fell when she saw his hopeful face.
"Is Hermione here? I had looked at some other places, but she wasn't there, neither was Harry or Ron. Is she here," he asked, and Lilia felt her heart shatter at the way he looked. So hopeful, so confused, so lost. She shook her head before sitting back down next to Ginny, who finally stopped shaking. Draco's face fell when he saw her shake her head. He kneeled down in front of her, wiping some of her tears away.
"They're gone," Lilia told him, her green eyes piercing into his grey ones. He nodded, but she could see his hurt and fear on his face. Lilia stood up suddenly and began to pace, thoughts speeding through her mind. Fred could see that she was thinking hard about something. He moved closer to her and wrapped his arm gently around her shoulders, making her stop.
"What are you thinking about Lilia," he asked tenderly, and Lilia looked back up to him, her green eyes shining.
"Just because they are gone doesn't mean we can't support them. There has to be a way to communicate with them, a way to get information to them, without giving them away, and just throwing it into You-Know-Who's face. Something that gives them and everyone else hope," she said passionately. Fred watched her silently, a smile creeping onto his face.
"You are absolutely brilliant Lilia," Fred breathed out before grabbing her into a bone crushing hug. She shrugged, a smile on her face as well.
"I know," she said before kissing Fred quickly. George was sitting next to the now calm Ginny, a smile on his face as well. Cassi stayed quiet as she sat on the arm of the couch, her hand on the back of George's neck. Draco was sitting in one of the chairs, staring off into space, but he had heard every word.
"So, how do you propose we do that Lil," Draco asked, his voice sounding a bit skeptical. Lilia grinned as she looked at Fred and George, mischief gleaming in all of their eyes.
"A radio show," they said simultaneously, their smiles brightening with every moment. Lilia knew, at that moment, that everything was going to be ok. Because they would always have hope.