March rolled in like beatings

"Katie's been driving me bonkers." Fred said over breakfast with Ivy.

"Has she?" Ivy tried to play off that she was uninterested in this news.

"Yeah, she's blowing her head off at me. She thinks it's wrong that I let you live in the flat, and that you've got a perfectly good home where your parents lived." He bit into a large piece of pancake.

"Oh, yes. I think it's a great idea for me to live in the home where I saw my dad kill himself. Brilliant." Ivy said, trying to hide her anger behind a deadpan voice.

"That's what I told her. But she said it's still not right." He took another bite. "Is this blueberry?"

"It's your favorite, right?" Ivy knew that it was.

"Why didn't you move here earlier? This is amazing!" Fred shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth.

"So how's Charlie?"

"He's all right. I dunno. We don't see much of each other now that we're dating." Ivy admitted.

She hadn't minded dating Charlie in the beginning. It was nice getting to know him on a more personal level, and they were getting to a good, honest point. But his being away was beginning to take a toll on her. It never felt like he as far when it was just sex.

"It's not like you saw that much of each other before, though."

Ivy bit her lip. She had almost forgotten that Fred had no idea that she had been shagging his brother for years before they began dating.

"What's wrong?" Fred asked, noticing her discomfort.

"Nothing. I'm just tired, I think." She lied.

"Hm. Well, I'd suggest that you get some sleep, but we should probably head to the Burrow soon."

"Yeah. Wear comfortable clothes. We're probably going to be moving a lot of things."

"I'll go get cleaned up and be out in a minute."

-0-

Overgrown grass and weeds surrounded the old Blythe home. The bushes that used to frame the front door now covered it completely. Windows were broken, and a side door was clearly jimmied open.

"Well, it appears this place may have been robbed, so our job might be easier today." Ivy said to the group of friends that came to help her.

"It doesn't look that big, either." Katie said optimistically.

"It was big enough for us." Ivy said, her voice laden with ice.

"I think we should start from the outside and work our way in." Charlie suggested.

"We should do the opposite," Angelina said, "It's a Muggle community. We should do our magic inside where no one can see us, and then wait until night to focus on the outside."

"That sounds good to me." Ivy said as she tried to open the door. "Oh, fuck. Alohamora!" She unlocked the door.

"We could have just used the side door." Ginny said.

"Don't say that now, Ginny!" Ivy said.

Her voice echoed in the house.

Old furniture was skewed across the living room, the first room in the house. Cobwebs hung from the corners of the room all the way down to the floor. Piles of trash were in every corner.

"We should start upstairs, I think. A couple of people in each room should work."

Charlie and Ivy went on their own into Ivy's parents' old room, while Katie and Angelina took on the upstairs bathroom.

George, Ginny, and Fred stood in front of the door to Ivy's room.

A sign that read "ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK" was still applied to the front of the door.

"It's like we were always destined to be friend, innit?" George asked pointing to the old sign.

Ginny grabbed the handle and turned it. It covered her hand in dark dust and grime. It was very clear that no one had been in the house for a long time.

Wind blew through the window across the room, shaking the curtains. Below the window was intense water damage from rain and snow. Picture frames and trinkets that sat on the ledge lay broken on the floor.

"Ivy said we can toss everything." Ginny said, repairing one of the frames with her wand. She picked it up and took a quick glance before she handed it to George.

"I don't think we should listen to her." George said. He pulled Fred next to him so they could both look at the photo.

Fred, Ivy, and George stood in front of the Hogwarts Express after their fourth year.

The twins both sported black eyes and Ivy's nose was broken.

The three friends were grinning, and then immediately winced in pain from their injuries.

"You know, Blythe, I was hoping the Heir of Slytherin would get you." Marcus Flint shouted at Ivy as she, Fred, and George were boarding the Hogwarts Express at the end of the school year.

"Well, he probably got distracted by your overlarge forehead, don't you think?" Ivy spat at him.

"It's terrible that mudbloods can only get petrified. Otherwise, you would've been the first to be killed."

Ivy slammed herself into Flint. "I am not a mudblood." She said through gritted teeth.

"You're right; you're worse. You're just a stupid cunt who happened upon a wand."

Ivy was the first to throw a punch, but the twins were not far behind.

Flint, though he was older and bigger, didn't stand a chance against the three of them.

After a few good punches from everyone, Flint ran off to find his fellow Slytherins.

"Mum's going to kill us." George said when Fred's eye was beginning to show the bruise.

"At least we're still identical." Fred said. He and George both took hits to their right eyes.

"Thass grea', d'yoo habe anythib to stob bleedin'?" Ivy asked through her broken and bloody nose.

"We've been working on something, actually," George rummaged through his bag, "Here. It'll stop the bleeding." He handed Ivy a small vial of thick orange potion.

She swallowed the liquid and her nose quickly stopped bleeding.

"Mum can fix your nose when we get off the train. She's brilliant with healing spells." Fred said when Ivy caught her reflection. Her nose was twisted and swollen.

"We all look so wonderful. I can't imagine what Mum'll say," Ivy mused, "'Hi, Mum! I'm back from Hogwarts! There was a giant killer snake and Fred and George's sister was possessed by Voldemort's spirit and I've got a broken nose! All is well!'"

The twins smiled at the memory.

Things were much easier during their early years at Hogwarts. No one had to worry about dark wizards running around. No one was dead yet.

Ivy wasn't in love with Fred and everything was much nicer.

And here they were, almost ten years later, cleaning the house where Ivy's parents used to live. In the room Ivy used to live.

It was very clear that it was Ivy's room at one point. The walls were poorly painted Gryffindor red and gold. The bookshelves held only history and potions books, with a couple of Clever Charms for Young Wizards and Witches and the like scattered in between.

Everywhere they looked, there was a photograph. Ivy and her mum, Ivy and her dad. But most of all, Ivy with the twins.

On the back of each photograph was Ivy's tiny scrawl.

Me and Mum, 1989

First year at Hogwarts

Ivy's mum was hugging Ivy tightly, a Ravenclaw scarf tight in her hands.

Fred rummaged through most of the photographs while George and Ginny took care of the closet.

Ivy and Cedric, Ivy and her mum and dad, Ivy and Oliver, even Ivy and Ginny… Fred filtered through the pictures to find any of him and Ivy, always to find that George was in all of the photos with them.

He looked at the back of one: George, Me, Fred, and Angelina, 1994; The Yule Ball

There was a small drawn heart around Fred's name.

He turned the photo over before he thought anything of it.

All four friends were laughing wildly, especially George and Ivy, who looked wonderfully out of place compared to how nicely Fred and Angie were dressed.

Between laughs in the photograph, Fred stole a glance at Ivy, and as soon as he looked away, she did the same.

Fred grinned widely. "Look at this!" He said, thrusting the photograph in George's hand.

He and Ginny examined it. George laughed at his dress robes. "Ivy and I had such a good time that night, you know. Shame we didn't all spend it together more." He went back to clearing the closet.

But Ginny was still holding onto the photograph. "Fred?" She asked.

"Yeah?" Fred was still going through the old photographs.

"How long have you been in love with Ivy?"

Fred was floored. Absolutely stunned and shocked. He had no answer.

"It looks like at least since the Yule Ball." Ginny said plainly, waiting on an explanation.

"Gin, my girlfriend's in the other room." Fred whispered, terrified.

"Oh, please. Like that'll last. Fred, you should say something."

"Ginny, what are you talking about?" Fred tried another route: playing innocent.

"So it is true. Way to go, Gin. You got him." George patted his sister on the shoulder. "I've been trying to see if he'd admit it for ages." George couldn't be happier. His and Angie's plan for Fred and Ivy to end up together didn't seem like it was taking. Thank Merlin his little sister was nosy, and smart, too.

Fred's two siblings seemed to surround him. He was at a complete loss for words.

"You should just say it, Fred. You'll feel better." Ginny said.

"Say what?"

"You know." George said.

Fred groaned.

"I care about Ivy, yes, she's my friend."

"Freddie, don't make me hex you." Ginny threatened.

"Fine!" Fred gave in. "I'm bloody in love with Ivy. I have been since…I don't even remember. It's just become a part of me. Everything thing I do, every witch I've dated and ogled, every time I kiss Katie, all I think about is Ivy. Happy?"

"Finally." George let out a long sigh. "You should do something about it, mate."

"I can't." Fred said solemnly. "I'm with Katie, she's with Charlie, it'd mess everything up. I think she finally has a chance at being happy." Fred gathered all of the photos he was going through and Disapperated.

"What was that?" Katie ran into the room after hearing the crack of Apparation.

"I dunno. Fred seems to be moody." George muttered.

"What's going on?" Ivy barged in the room next to Katie.

"Fred left." Ginny said.

"Why?"

No one bothered to bring up Fred's episode for the rest of the day except for Katie, who eventually left to find him.

"Thanks, you guys. I don't think I could have gotten the entire inside cleaned up without you. Tomorrow night, come to the Three Broomsticks, butterbeer is on me for the entire night, all right? Even Harry." Ivy added to Ginny.

"We will definitely be there!" George exclaimed.

Everyone Apparated back to their respective homes, except for Ivy and Charlie.

"Are you all right?" He asked.

"No." Ivy said under her breath. "Is it ok if I stay here by myself for a while?"

"Yeah. Sure. I'll see you tomorrow?"

Ivy nodded. "It'll get better, Ivy." Charlie kissed her cheek and left.

-0-

"Ivy's not back yet." Fred said. He, Katie, Angie, and George were seated in the dining room of the flat above the shop.

"She's probably with Charlie," Katie offered, "They've gotten awfully close."

"Charlie's got to Floo to Romania in the morning, so he's staying at the Burrow. I know Ivy's not going to be able to stay the night. She should be back." Fred said.

"Should we go look for her?" George asked.

"After dinner, I think." Angie agreed.

"Ivy is a grown adult, I'm sure she's fine." Katie said.

Fred and George exchanged worried looks, but continued to dig into their food.

"Molly!" Ivy yelled in the kitchen of the Burrow.

It was four in the morning and the small part of Ivy that was not in pain felt as if she was intruding.

"Molly!" She called again.

"Expelliarmus!" A voice came from the stairs.

"Blimey, Molly, no need to curse."

"What is the difference between Fred and George Weasley's patronous?" The voice called out, getting closer.

"Fred's has got more spots. Molly, please." Ivy's voice was agonized by the pain she was in.

Mrs. Weasley hurried down the stairs. "What's going on, Ivy?" She asked, handing Ivy her wand back.

"The lights."

Mrs. Weasley flicked her wand and the lights of the kitchen turned on.

"Molly, I need you to heal me."

At this point, Mr. Weasley and Charlie Weasley came down the stairs to aid Mrs. Weasley in case there was an intruder.

But it was no intruder. Mrs. Weasley had Ivy lying on the kitchen table, blood all over her body.

"How is it that every year I'm healing you?" Mrs. Weasley said. She took a rag out of a boiling cauldron and placed in on one of Ivy's wounds.

"I'm attracted to danger, Molly." Ivy said cheekily.

"That explains why you're friends with my sons."

"Blimey! What happened?" Charlie asked when he and Mr. Weasley entered the kitchen.

"Bloody Death Eaters. I'll have to run once I'm healed. I got Avery, but I only injured Flint. He'll be looking for me."

"How'd you get Avery? He's their best dueler." Mr. Weasley asked.

"My dashing good looks." Ivy tried to flash a smile, but the harsh movement of her head and face reopened the wound on her neck. "Bloody hell." She gurgled.

Mrs. Weasley spent hours healing and bandaging every mark on Ivy's body.

"They got you pretty badly." Mrs. Weasley commented.

"I figure I got too close. Flint can't duel for shite, but he's got a cursed blade. Watch out for him." Ivy sat up. "Anything else, I need, Molly?"

"You should heal up quickly. I don't know anything about scarring, but the wounds are closing."

"Be on alert, I hope I didn't lead Death Eaters here."

"Ivy, please don't do anything dangerous."

"Tell Fred and George I'm alive, yeah?" Ivy Disapperated.

Two hours after dinner, Angie and Katie left Fred and George alone.

"She's still not here, George."

"Katie's right. She's an adult, she can handle herself."

"What about all those times she needed our help and we didn't go find her? When her parents died, when she was attacked, when Flint got her all locked in a broom closet. We've always thought Ivy could handle herself. What if she can't?"

"Then go find her, Fred. Do us all a favor and tell her you love her while you're at it?"