Telling Jones about his past and sharing his scars with her made Fred feel so much better, like a weight he hadn't even been aware he was carrying around had been lifted from his shoulders. She was the first person he had ever encountered who hadn't shied away from his scars or looked on him with pity after seeing them. If anything, it seemed as though she respected him more for willingly sharing them with her and it was a great feeling.

For the first time, he was beginning to see them as a mark of what he had survived and a reminder of what he had fought for rather than a reminder of what had almost been. It was a revolutionary way of thinking that would certainly take some getting used to.

As they walked silently back to the Burrow carrying the broom over his shoulder, Fred decided not to think about his own scars but rather to reflected on Jones' story. It was such a sad one filled with so much hurt and sadness. It was amazing to think that the strong, happy woman walking silently beside him had survived so much and still managed to come out on top.

There were some parts of Jones' story that bothered him though, more than just the obvious tragedies that seemed to litter her past. Although she hadn't come right out and said it, Fred had done the math and realized that she had been only seventeen when Hallie was born which made her accomplishments all the more amazing.

When they first met, he had noticed that she looked really young to already have a child at Hogwarts but he hadn't really questioned it until now. She had to be about twenty-eight or twenty-nine if she had given birth to eleven year old Hallie when she was seventeen, although she could easily have passed for somewhere around twenty-three.

As he continued to count back, Fred realized that if she had been twelve when she had lost her family it meant that the explosion had occurred around the time he had his own brush with death. It made him sick to think about. He couldn't imagine the small woman next to him being injured in any way, especially when she was so young.

He was also curious as to what had happened to Hallie's father since he had barely been mentioned. He assumed the prat hadn't wanted anything to do with the child and it made him quite angry. How anyone could look into Hallie's or Jones' face for that matter, and willingly push them aside was beyond him.

He was really getting worked up when he felt a slight pressure on his arm and looked down. "You alright there chief?" Jones asked quietly as she looked down at his clenched fist.

Fred relaxed his hands and nodded sheepishly. "Sorry, just thinking," he whispered back before continuing walking.

"Hey Fred?" Jones whispered bringing them to a halt once again.

"Hm?"

"Have you ever wondered, what is it about the dark that makes us whisper?"

"I-," Fred paused and considered her question for a moment. "I've never really thought about it before but I have no idea," he whispered with a quiet laugh.

"Me either," she shrugged, "but I like it."

"Me too," he agreed with a smile that was hidden by the darkness and just like that all of the tension he had been feeling disappeared. He found himself once again simply enjoying being in the company of someone who understood him so well.

When they returned to the Burrow they found it to be much later than they had originally thought. Molly offered to let Jones and Zara spend the night since it was so late, an offer she gladly accepted, before apologizing profusely to Harry for being out so late. He had driven them to the Burrow that morning and had stayed behind to wait for them should they chose to return home rather than spend the night at the Burrow. Harry simply laughed it off and actually thanked her for giving him a chance to beat Ron at wizard chess, a rare occurrence indeed.

Harry offered to leave the keys with Jones but she was still hesitant about driving on what she considered the wrong side of the road so it was soon decided that Fred would drive them back to London in the morning since he was the only other licensed driver available. There was also no reason for him to be at the shop before eleven anyway, giving him more than enough time to make it back to the city and drop off Harry's car before work.

After Harry and Ron departed, Fred offered to pick up some things from Jones' flat so that they would be more comfortable during their stay. So, while Jones was bathing Zara, Fred popped over to her flat and gathered up the stuffed puppy he had seen the small girl clutching the last time he had put her to bed as well as a pair of comfortable looking pajamas. He had considered bringing Jones back something to wear but didn't want to intrude on her room without permission and she hadn't asked for anything. He was sure Ginny would have something for her to wear back at the house otherwise he would be happy to lend her some of the clothes he always kept there in case.

Upon returning to the Burrow he was surprised to see a very wet and very naked Zara running toward him. "Fweddie save me!" she screamed as she darted behind his legs.

"What the," Fred laughed, "where are your clothes?"

Zara just shrugged unabashedly, completely unashamed of her nakedness as only a small child can be and stared up at him seriously. "Mommy's gonna," she wrinkled her tiny nose in disgust and gestured for him to lean closer so she could whisper loudly, "brush my hair."

"No," Fred gasped in horror. Zara nodded earnestly before clutching his leg tighter.

"No mommy no!" she squealed and hid her face into Fred's leg as a soaking wet Jones rounded the corner carrying a dry towel.

"Zara," Jones moaned exasperatedly when she saw her very naked daughter hiding behind a very amused looking Fred. "I'm sorry Fred," she apologized as she attempted to creep closer to snatch the small exhibitionist. "She really hates having her hair brushed."

"Can't say I blame her," Fred smirked as he pulled out his wand and carefully levitated a squealing Zara over his head and into Jones' open arms. "Can't she just you know, magic it untangled or at least make it easier to brush?" he asked, eyeing the girl's long knotted locks as Jones wrapped her in a dry towel.

Jones furrowed her brow as she considered his question. "I'm not sure. I've never really tried. Maybe you could help? She doesn't seem to consciously change her looks except when you're around."

"Sure," he agreed as he followed them back upstairs toward Ginny's old room where they would be spending the night. As they walked he amused himself by making faces at Zara who was pouting at him over her mother's shoulder and trying unsuccessfully not to smile.

While Fred blocked the door in case of another escape attempt, Jones wrestled Zara into the clean pajamas Fred had brought back with him.

"Now Zara," Jones began as she sat the little girl on the cot she would be sleeping on and crouched in front of her, "Fred thinks he may have an idea to make brushing your hair easier. Can you try it for me?"

Desperate for anything that would save her from the dreaded hairbrush Zara nodded her head eagerly. "Yes mommy."

"Good girl. Fred?'

Fred strode over to the small bed and crouched beside it with Jones. "All right Zara, I need you to concentrate okay?"

"Otay Fweddie," she nodded before leaning forward to place a kiss on his freckled forehead.

"Thank you love. Now, I want you to think about what I look like. Can you do that?" The little girl scrunched up her eyes and nodded her head. "Good. Now I want you to imagine looking just like me. Imagine you have pretty red hair just like mine. Are you imagining it?"

"Uh huh."

"Wonderful. You're doing perfect sweetheart look at that your hair is the same color as mine!" he exclaimed happily.

"Wanna see!" Fred looked around the room before grabbing an old shoe and transfiguring it into a small hand mirror.

"See?"

"Pwetty," Zara agreed.

"Okay now I don't really have to brush my hair much, certainly not as much as your mommy who has long curly hair like yours. Can you imagine your hair short like mine so we can brush it? I promise it won't hurt." Zara eyed him speculatively but once again screwed up her face and within seconds her hair was just as short and straight as Fred's.

"Zara that was perfect!" Jones exclaimed as she quickly moved forward and swiped the short do a few times with the hairbrush she had been keeping hidden behind her back. "All done!" she exclaimed.

"Alright Zara now I want you to imagine your hair long and curly just like your mommy's again so we can see if it worked," Fred urged, "can you do it?" With a smile Zara's hair grew back out just as long and curly as before with one major difference, no knots.

"It worked!" Jones exclaimed as she examined Zara's long red curls. "Not a snarl anywhere! Fred you're a genius!" She happily threw her arms around Fred's neck. Not one to be left out of a hug, Zara launched herself forward and knocked the pair backwards so that they all ended up in a laughing pile on the floor. "All right Zara, it's time for bed. Tell Fred thank you and say goodnight before I read you a bedtime story."

"Tank you Fweddie," Zara said sweetly before turning toward her mother. "Fweddie read me my story otay mommy?"

Jones looked at Fred to see if this would be alright with him and discovered a small worn book already flying through the air into his outstretched palm. "I would be happy to," Fred smiled as he settled himself next to the bed and began to regale Zara and Jones with the tale of Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump.

When he was done reading, Fred was amused to find that he had not only lulled Zara to sleep but Jones as well. With a shake of his head and a flick of his wand he turned off the lights before bending over and pulling the covers over the little girl. Once she was tucked into bed, he turned his attention toward her mother. Carefully so as not to disturb her, he picked her up bridal style and carried her over to Ginny's old bed before laying her down gently.

Quietly he removed her boots before tucking her under the blankets as well. He knew sleeping in her clothes wasn't preferable but he wasn't about to try and change her clothes. Besides, he reasoned with himself, Jones seemed like the kind of girl who would take waking up in her clothes in stride. Surely it wouldn't be a big deal to her.

As he finished pulling the covers up over Jones' sleeping form, he heard Zara calling to him from her bed. "What is it love?" he whispered not wanting to wake Jones. Zara held out her arms for a hug which Fred readily accepted along with another sleepy kiss before settling back onto her pillow and closing her eyes.

With a smile, Fred stepped away from the small bed and went to stand in the doorway of the tiny room. He was almost out the door when he heard Zara mumble something under her breath. "Wuv you Fweddie," she murmured quietly.

Fred's breath caught in his throat and his heart skipped a beat as he stared wide eyed toward the small redheaded form under the covers before relaxing, a lazy grin spreading slowly across his face. "I love you too Zara," he whispered into the darkness before closing the door gently behind him.