CHAPTER 9

Lily ran to her room and packed her trunks as full as she could get them. She was still wiping away tears as she packed her clothes, pictures, books, and every letter Fred ever wrote her. She packed everything, except one black shirt that was about three sizes too small for her. She kept that shirt on purpose. She left it out of her trunk and on her bed.

"Miss Lily?" she heard Whiskey's voice from behind her, "where are you going?"

"Uh, I'm not really sure yet," she told the elf, wiping away more tears, "they blasted my face off the tapestry,"

"Is this because if Master Fred?" Whiskey asked sadly, "is that why they disowned you?" Lily nodded, "I will take you to Master Fred. I will teleport you and Hex and your trunks there,"

"I can't ask you to do that Whiskey," Lily said.

"Why not Miss Lily?" Whiskey looked confused. Lily grabbed the shirt off the bed and held it out for Whiskey.

"Because I'm not your master anymore. I'm setting you free Whiskey," she said, smiling through sobs.

"Whiskey does not want to be free," he said, pushing away the shirt.

"What? Why not?" Lily asked.

"I have no family or friends. You are my only friend," Whiskey told her with wide eyes, "can Whiskey come with you Miss Lily?"

"Yes, of course Whiskey. Just take this," she put the shirt in Whiskey's hands, "so you can leave whenever you like,"

Whiskey replaced the pillow case with the black shirt, which fell past his knees. Whiskey ran up to Lily and hugged her knees.

"Thank you Miss Lily, you are very kind to Whiskey. I will take you to Master Fred's now"

Whiskey took Lily's hand in one of his hands, and Hex's cage in the other, and Lily held her trunks in her other hand. Lily looked at what just ten minutes ago she called her home, before it all became a blur and they were standing outside the Burrow.


Fred was a bit more relaxed now that everything was okay with his parents. No edginess, no worries, no secrets.

It was all back to normal. Until there was a knock at the door. He walked over to open it and the first thing he saw was Lily.

"Lily?" he said happily, but surprised.

"Hey," she smiled a half forced smile, holding back the urge to start crying again.

Before either of them could think, Fred's warm lips were pressed against hers and his hand was tangled in her jet black hair.

He broke out of the kiss when he tasted something salty. Lily was crying again. He saw Hex, Whiskey and Lily's trunks. He pressed his forehead against hers.

"Hey, what's wrong sweetie?" he whispered.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to just barge in on you. I just, I have nowhere else to go," she choked. Fred found her hand and squeezed it.

"It's okay, I'm glad you came here," he took her over to a field and sat down. He pulled her onto his lap and he held her tightly, "tell me what happened?"

"They blasted my face off the tapestry," she told him, but it was barely a whisper. She could barely bring herself to say it. Saying it, meant it was really true.

"What!" he said angrily, "why would they do that?"

Lily looked up at him. She didn't say anything, but he understood her. She buried her head into the crook of his neck.

"I wouldn't change anything though," she said quietly.

"I love you so much," he said. They sat in silence for a minute before walking back to the house.

The house had many stories, and it looked like each one had been added by magic. It was surrounded by patchwork fields and a small garden.

"I'll be right back," he said and ran inside, leaving Lily at the doorway. He came back a few minutes later with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Lily wiped her face, trying to look presentable.

"Mum, dad. This is Lily," Fred said, standing beside Lily.

"Hello dear," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Hello there," Mr. Weasley said.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Lily said politely.

"Please, call us Arthur and Molly," Molly said.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to intrude, it's just, my first instinct was to go to Fred," Lily said, "This is Whiskey," she introduced them to the house elf. Whiskey waved.

"Why is he here if he's free?" Arthur asked, noticing the shirt.

"He didn't want to leave me," Lily smiled.

"Thanks Whiskey. For not leaving her on her own. She doesn't need anyone else to do that," Fred said, then added quietly, "so, can she stay mum?"

"Yes! Yes if course. Arthur will conjure you a room, it'll take an hour or so. Would you like to come inside?" Molly said. Fred wound his arm around Lily's waist securely.

"Um, sure," she agreed.

"Leave your trunks here for now, and you can let Hex out," Fred said. Lily unlatched her owl's cage and she hooted thankfully.

Fred led her inside. Everyone came into the lounge room to see what was going on, and Arthur went upstairs to create another room.

"I'll go start lunch," Molly said.

"Would you like Whiskey to do anything?" Lily asked her and Whiskey nodded.

"Can you clean?" Molly asked.

"Yes Miss Molly," Whiskey smiled. Molly gestured for the elf to follow her.

Fred sat on an amber coloured couch, and lily sat next to him. He pulled her so close she was half on his lap.

Ginny, George, Ron, Percy, Harry and Hermione came into the room.

They all introduced themselves, and Lily introduced herself. They all asked her questions, but there really was only one thing they wanted to know.

"So, er, what happened?" Ron asked.

"You don't need to talk about it though," George said.

"Yeah Lil, you don't need to," Fred said and kissed her temple.

"Thanks, but its fine. I guess they have a right to know considering I just came here uninvited," Lily said. She told them the story and they were nice to her and seemed genuinely concerned. She felt nice being there. It felt like a home.