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Chapter Fourteen
Head Over Heels
--
You come to love not by finding the perfect person,
but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly
--
Fred Weasley paced the halls outside the girls' room like a caged animal. His hands were laced tightly behind his back as he glanced at the doorknob ever few seconds, praying for movement. George had tried countless times to get him to sit down and rest with no avail. George sat, with his back against the wall next to Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Hermione. They looked like they were watching a tennis match as their heads darted back and forth watching Fred.
"Fred, why don't you just-" Ron started.
Fred merely stopped in his tracks and sent Ron a vicious glare.
"Er- never mind." Ron said sheepishly.
Fred instantly returned to his pacing.
--
Madam Pomphrey pulled Briney's sheets up over her chest gently being careful not to wake her, though it would be difficult to do so in her state. She soon was dismissed by Dumbledore to return to Hogwarts. She disapparated, leaving the members of the Order alone. Mrs. Weasley sat by her side, kindly holding her hand while she slept and brushing Briney's blonde hair out of her face. Sirius sat on the edge of her bed, resting his chin atop his fist.
"You know something." Moody said to Dumbledore. "Severus told you something about her, and you're keeping it from the rest of us."
"It is none of you concern, Alastor." Dumbledore replied calmly.
"When I'm sharing a home with someone with this on their arm it better damn well be my concern." Moody spat, holding Briney's wounded arm up for display.
Dumbledore sighed and took a seat on Ginny's bed. He looked exhausted. It had been many a night since he had a good nights sleep, and he knew after Briney's incident it would be even longer before he would receive his rest. He looked from Molly and Sirius back to Moody, contemplating whether or not he felt it was time they knew what was really going on.
"Voldemort has sought out a baroness." Dumbledore explained. "He wishes to conceive a son to carry on his name, and his legacy."
"I figured the sick bastard would want to do something like that." Sirius interrupted.
"But what does that have to do with our little Miss Dolohov here?" Alastor inquired crudely.
"Because he's chosen her." Dumbledore said simply.
The room became completely silent besides a sudden gasp courtesy of Mrs. Weasley as she covered her mouth in shock. The others remained still, bewildered on what to say or do next.
"Poor dear." Mrs. Weasley breathed.
"No." Sirius said, refusing to believe it. "It can't be true."
"Unfortunately, it is true." Dumbledore replied solemnly. "Severus informed me of the situation some time ago. I haven't let on that I know to her. I was hoping she would ask for help eventually. I cannot imagine the burden she's been baring all this time. It must have been killing her."
"Why hasn't Fred said anything?" Molly inquired.
"Because she's not told him." Dumbledore said bluntly. "She's told no one. That includes Mr. Weasley."
"Then why does she bare the-" Alastor started, still distrusting their young house guest.
"Isn't in obvious?" Dumbledore interrupted. "Voldemort heard word of Miss Dolohov's infidelity with Fred Weasley from Severus and sought it to be fair punishment. She is quite lucky to be alive. He'd cursed her wound so she would receive much more pain than normal. It will be much easier for him to contact her- keep an eye on her rather."
"I don't know." Moody said gruffly. "How do we know she's not a emissary? You know, sent to penetrate our headquarters. She could be pleased to be Voldemort's little play thing. She is probably just using Fred and-"
"No, she's not." Molly interrupted rudely.
"And how do you know?" Alastor snapped.
"Because I see the way she looks at Fred." Molly replied curtly. "She looks at him like I look at Arthur. That is not faux emotion in her eyes."
"That's ridiculous, Molly. She's a Veela, a born seductress of naïve young men. It's probably all an act." Alastor scoffed. "Besides, you can't tell-"
"I agree with Molly." Sirius interjected. "Not just because of what she said, but because I know her. There is no way she could-"
"You thought you knew Ivana, as well." Alastor interrupted. "See how that worked out for y-"
"How dare you bring up-" Sirius snapped ferociously.
"Learn from you mistakes, Black." Moody warned.
"Ivana was not a mistake." Sirius spat, standing up suddenly.
I felt so utterly exhausted. My eyelids were so heavy, I could barely manage to open them. The voices surrounding me sounded a million miles away. I could barely distinguish who the voices belonged to at first. Slowly but surely I began being to match faces with statements. As the seconds ticked by the muffled words became more clear along with the events of the prior night. Everything hit me at once as I regained consciousness. My eyes flickered open to see Dumbledore, Moody, Sirius, and Mrs. Weasley above me. They hadn't noticed I was awake, Moody, Dumbledore, and Molly stared at Sirius while Sirius stared daggers at Mad-Eye. I blinked a couple more times until the blurriness went away. I lazily turned my head to my side and saw my Mum's sash folded on my nightstand. Then I peered down at my arm. My eyes instantly widened. I sat up in bed suddenly, holding my arm in front of me like I was about to die.
Voldemort had branded me with the Dark Mark.
I began breathing heavily as everyone took notice of me again. Sirius helped Molly hold me down whilst I tried to claw the mark off with my own fingernails. It could not be. I wouldn't be forced to bare the demonic serpent upon my arm for eternity.
"Get it off!" I shouted at Dumbledore. "Please, do something!"
"Still question her motives, Moody?" Sirius snapped at Mad-Eye.
Moody merely shrugged his shoulders, refusing to admit defeat. Tears singed my eyes. I denied the right to fall from my tear ducts. I was not going to cry, not again. I would fight away the salty demons. After a few more minutes of thrashing about I realized how fatigued my body was from the loss of blood and collapsed back onto my pillows. I peered up at Dumbledore.
"Is there anyway to get this off my arm?" I asked him, much calmer now.
"I'm afraid not." Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Severus tried while back to remove the mark from his skin with no avail. The only way to remove it is if the giver were to take it away."
"So, I'm stuck with this bloody thing…forever?" I whispered, looking at my new tattoo with sheer disgust.
No one replied, signaling I was right.
"Could I have a moment alone with Miss Dolohov?" Dumbledore asked the others.
They nodded in reply and headed for the door. Suddenly, Sirius reminded me of my Mum's conversation with me from the previous night. If I was going to be this miserable, there was no reason someone else had to be at a Death Eater's expense.
"Sirius, wait." I said.
Sirius stopped and returned to my side with concern across his face. I carefully reached over and grabbed the black fabric. I took his hand and placed the cloth in his hand, closing his fist around it. He raised a curious brow at me.
"My Mum asked me to give this to you." I whispered so no one would hear.
His fingers visibly gripped it tighter at the news of it's origin. He looked into my eyes to see if I was joking for some reason. My eyes spoke the silent truth.
"How-" He began.
"We'll talk later." I said sincerely.
Sirius patted my hand kindly and returned with the others to leave Dumbledore and I alone. I could hear Fred press Molly for answers to his desperate questions. She told him that he would be able to see me very soon and to calm down because I was fine. Part of me didn't want him to see me…and my lovely new tattoo. Dumbledore took a seat on my bedside and smiled feebly down at me, I couldn't take my eyes off his dark heavy bags under his glasses. He looked as if he hadn't slept in a century.
"I can take the mark off your arm." Dumbledore said, shocking me to my core.
"But you just said-" I began.
"I lied." He replied simply.
"I don't understand." I admitted, furrowing my brows.
"Miss Dolohov, you may not realize this but that mark is a gift." Dumbledore explained. "That brand on your arm has given you a closer connection to Voldemort-"
"Why would I want that?" I asked rudely.
"Because you now have the power to save countless lives." He continued. "He may not know it, but Voldemort has bestowed a power upon you that is greater than-"
"Sir, I am not following." I interrupted. "This marks me as one of his followers which I most definitely not. He just thinks I am-"
"Precisely, my dear." Dumbledore smiled slightly. "You are able to expose information about Voldemort that Severus would never have the clearance to uncover."
"You want me to be a spy for the Order?" I asked.
"Yes, I do." Dumbledore said kindly. "However, I am not going to force you into anything you don't want to do. I know what I'm proposing is extremely dangerous-"
"I'll do it." I said from my heart.
Dumbledore smiled kindly and nodded his pleasure to hear my answer. I'd do it. I mean, of course I'd do it. Ever since I had been forced into my…situation, I have realized how utterly strong my desire to see Voldemort's and all of his follower's demise. I dreamt of it, I craved it. If I was somehow able to be a participant to causing his downfall I would be eternally satisfied. If I could work for Dumbledore then that would be the defining separation from my Father. I would be my own person, I would be Briney. I would no longer be Nemesis Dolohov, just Briney.
"If I fear things have become too dangerous for you to involve yourself any longer then I will remove your mark and place you into hiding." Dumbledore continued.
"Alright." I agreed.
"All I am asking of you, Miss Dolohov, is that you remain close enough to Voldemort to receive information that the Order will be able to use in our favor." Dumbledore explained. "You will be saving lives."
"I understand." I nodded.
"Wonderful." Dumbledore said, clasping his hands together and standing up. "I will have Sirius, Alastor, and Remus swear you in before you leave for Hogwarts."
"Sir-" I started. "I don't think Moody will agree to-"
"Leave Alastor to me." He smirked. "He will agree. Trust me."
"I trust you." I nodded.
Dumbledore slowly walked to the door and gently placed his hand upon the doorknob.
"I believe you have an anxious young visitor waiting to see you." Dumbledore smiled.
Fred.
"Oh, I wonder who that could be." I smirked humorously.
"Well, I'll send him in." Dumbledore said. "I'm certain you two have a lot to talk about."
I swallowed hard and smiled weakly. I shoved my self up so I was sitting up in bed again. I pulled down my rolled up pajama sleeves to conceal my tattoo. I didn't want that to be the first thing he saw. This conversation would most likely not go well, but I didn't want it to be a disaster from the very start. I flashed Fred a reassuring smile when he initially entered my room, his face full of concern. He rushed inside, slamming the door behind him. He slid onto my bed, pulling me into a tight hug that I'd been craving. He held my face in his hands, kissing me fiercely.
"You alright?" Fred inquired, pulling away.
"Fine." I smiled. "No worries."
"What exactly happened last night?" Fred asked. "You're certain you're-"
I placed my fingertips lightly over his lips to silence him.
"Fred, I'm ready to tell you my secret." I whispered suddenly.
"If you're too tired or just not-" He began.
"I'm fine." I insisted, taking his hands from my face and holding them in my lap. "And I think if I don't tell you now then I'll never be able to."
"Well, I suppose I do get to write you off forever if you don't tell me in-" He smirked, looking at the clock on the wall. "Oh, five hours or so."
That was the deal. It was nearly seven o'clock on…Christmas day. I had forgotten it was Christmas. Anyhow, Fred made me promise to reveal my secret by the 25th of December or he would write me off forever. Things had changed, and I honestly don't think he could do that now but the fact remained that I had given my word. And I intended to keep it. I had to.
"Whatever it is can't be that bad, Bri." He assured me.
"No." I persisted. "It is."
"Well, what is it then?" Fred inquired earnestly.
"Before I tell I want to ask you something." I said.
"What's that?" He replied.
"Do you love me?" I asked simply.
He looked curiously at me like I had just asked him the most complex question on the face of the planet, and maybe I had. Love, in essence, was the most simple yet complex emotion a human being can experience. It can be painful and wonderful, and frequently at the same time. It consumes you, contaminates your vary soul without your permission. It's a disease that once it infects you becomes terminal. Something you can't live with but would rather die than live without.
"Absolutely head over heels." He smiled in his boyish manner I adored.
I kissed him. He knew I loved him too.
"Please, remember that once you've heard what I'm about to tell you." I pleaded with my entirety, gripping his palms in mine.
He nodded.
"It's a long story, so try to let me finish before you say anything back." I begged.
"I'll try." He replied.
I released a heavy sigh. This was it.
"Early last summer, before I met you even, I was invited to this sort of congregation at the Malfoy's with all of my Dad's friends. I thought it was just some typical dinner meeting my Mum and Dad asked I'd be invited to, but I was wrong. I found out Voldemort had selected the daughters of some of the Death Eaters. He asked us there to choose a bride and eventual mother to his child." I explained as quickly as possible. "Well, he chose me-"
"Bri-" Fred interjected.
"Wait, let me finish." I said, silencing him. "He chose me, and I am promised to marry him and…Er- conceive his spawn this June. If I don't do as he says, he'll kill me. It's as simple as that. He's been contacting me throughout the school year. That's how I found out about your dad, not from Grigor like I said before. Lucius Malfoy told him that it was your fault I was kicked off the Quidditch team, and he retaliated by means of your father. Then, last night, I had to go and see him at their little Christmas get together. Snape had told him about us. He was furious with me. He took me into another room, and he came onto me. He shoved me up against this wall and- anyway, I fought him off of me. I cut up his face pretty bad, but he thought my behavior deserved punishment and the needs for more hands on surveillance. So he gave me this-"
I lifted up my sleeve and showed him my Dark Mark. Fred remained silent. His mouth didn't hang open in shock, and his face didn't flinch. It remained blank, unreadable.
"I know I should have told you a long time ago, but I was scared. Scared to lose you." I said sincerely, looking into his eyes. "I care about you so much. I couldn't bare the thought of losing you."
He gently ran his fingers over my scar, almost to make sure it was real. We sat in utter quiet for five minutes. It was killing me. He said nothing, just staring at the mark upon my forearm.
"Please say something, Fred." I pleaded.
He took his fingers off my arm and stared me in the eye.
"You know, I also thought tattoos were sexy." He smirked.
My jaw dropped. How could kid around while I was pouring my heart out, confessing me deepest and darkest secret. Typical Fred Weasley.
"Fred-" I started, nudging him.
"Briney, you love me right?" Fred asked.
"Absolutely head over heels." I said.
"And you know how much I love you." He said. "So I don't know about you, but I am not about to let some big bully split us up. Not without one hell of a fight."
A/N: Again, you guys are brilliant! Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews!! I absolutely appreciate all of your feedback. It's the best thing ever!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's sort of fluffy, but there hasn't been too much of that in the chapters so far. It's time for a bit of fluff. Alright, I definitely started writing this tonight with no intention of finishing it. I figured I'd write a page or two, and I ended up writing 7 fricking pages. I know Fred's reaction to Briney's secret wasn't super dramatic but neither is Fred. He had an inkling it had to do with a previous relationship with someone in Voldemort's circle, just not him exactly. He was shocked but not to the point that's freak out. I hope you don't think his little one liner was placed stupidly after she asked him to say something. I thought it was so Fred, and I hope you do too.
PS: This story officially has more reviews than any of my other fics by a couple and more favorites than all of them, as well. I am so happy! It makes my day!!
PSS: I really shouldn't even tell you guys this, but I will anyway. I was panicking about what I was going to do for the next couple chapters. I know/knew how I am/was going to end it (the 5th book I mean) and the couple chapters leading up to it, but I had no clue how I could kill all that white space. By making Briney a member of the Order it opens a bunch of potential scenes, and I'm really happy that just randomly came to me =)
Coming Soon: Briney tells Fred about Dumbledore about his proposition, and he has a surprising reaction. Sirius and Briney talk about Ivana. The gang returns to Hogwarts. Dumbledore's Army convenes. Briney and Snape exchange words in the middle of a class. Malfoy and Briney talk about his attempt to rescue her. Ivana gives Briney a birthday present of a lifetime. Briney gets her revenge on Umbridge. Briney fulfills her promise to Dumbledore. Ivana tells Briney what she's been keeping from her. Department of Mysteries....
Review, please!!