A/N: Hi! I didn't get any reviews so I'm a bit sad, but I am updating super-fast, so...can't really complain. Reviews would be great though, especially for this chapter – it's very important to me! Please! Thank you so much for reading. I've had to use a lot of the original text for this, so I just want to emphasise that I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING. This is all the beautiful work of J. K. Rowling and I love her for it.
I have died everyday
Waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid,
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more
And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more – A Thousand Years, Christina Perri.
They had been right to be afraid.
It was only a few weeks after this event – or maybe even a few days, Viria's days had felt all jumbled since she and Fred had discussed the upcoming fight – that Ginny came bursting into their bedroom with George hot on her heels. Fred jerked his hand out from where it had been under Viria's top, which she yanked down hastily. Normally, George and Ginny would have shared a smirk, but by this point, they were too excited.
"I just got a message from Neville" Ginny said in explanation. Viria and Fred jumped completely apart, staring at her, waiting for what had to come next. Viria grabbed Fred's hand.
"The trio are at Hogwarts. We're going to fight" she said, and her voice was shaking, "Mum and Dad are contacting the rest of the Order as we speak. But we need to go. Lee's meeting us there, George just called him"
Viria looked at Fred, who nodded resignedly. They both rose and followed Ginny and George out of the door to a spot where they could Apparate. Frank stopped Viria by the door and pulled her into his arms.
"We'll be there" he promised her, whispering in her ear, "We'll be going too. I'll see you soon, okay?"
He looked worried, as if he suddenly realised there was a possibility he might never see his daughter again.
"Okay, Papa" Viria agreed, squeezing him back, "See you soon"
"You okay?" Fred asked her as she moved away from her father and grabbed his hand once again. Viria smiled up at him, holding back the tears that were crying out to be shed.
"Just don't let go of my hand" she pleaded fiercely. Fred smiled back at her.
"Never"
"Aberforth's getting a bit annoyed," said Fred – Viria was surprised at how many people cried out in greeting as they entered the Room. She stayed silent. "He wants a kip, and his bar's turned into a railway station."
Viria saw Cho Chang emerge just behind them and push past, holding up her fake Galleon. She was more focused on Ginny and Harry, whose eyes kept fixing on each other without meaning to, the two of them drawn together like a pair of magnets. Ginny was barely breathing, Viria could hear from standing right next to her. Hermione smiled at both of them, and Viria gave an awkward little wave. Ginny did nothing.
"So what's the plan, Harry?" asked George cheerfully, looking a little too enthusiastic. Viria squeezed Fred's hand tighter.
"There isn't one" Harry replied, looking distracted as an expression of pain bolted across his face. Viria could feel Ginny go tense with concern.
"Just going to make it up as we go along, are we? My favourite kind," said Fred, just as chirpily as his twin. Viria glowered at him from under her hair. How could he sound so nonchalant? She was terrified!
"You've got to stop this!" Harry told Neville. "What did you call them all back for? This is insane!"
"We're fighting, aren't we?" said Dean Thomas, whom Viria recognised mainly because he was one of Ginny's exes. "The message said Harry was back, and we were going to fight! I'll have to get a wand, though..."
"You haven't got a wand?" began Seamus, looking bemused.
Ron turned suddenly to Harry.
"Why can't they help?" he asked, looking inspired. Fred and George nodded in unison.
"What?" Harry exclaimed.
Ron whispered something to Harry, and they saw Hermione agreeing, the three of them in quiet conference. As much as Viria strained her ears, she could not hear what they were saying.
"Okay" said Harry at last, loudly. The room instantly grew tense with a mixture of fear and excitement.
Viria started shaking.
It seemed only moments later, though it was much longer than that, that everyone suddenly seemed to decide that a fight was on their hands. The Death Eaters were coming, Percy had appeared – Viria liked Percy at once, despite all Fred's moanings about him; he welcomed her to his family so warmly that she almost felt tearful again – and made up with his family, and Ginny was currently arguing with her mother about whether to stay or fight. Viria knew that Mrs Weasley would lose, but she stayed silent.
"Fred, before we leave the Room – there's something I need to tell you" she said, her fingers digging into his palm, "Something really important"
"Can't it wait, Vi?" Fred was practically bouncing with excitement, rearing to go – George and Lee, a few metres away and trying to persuade Molly to let Ginny fight, looked in about the same state, "You can tell me about it later on, when we're all celebrating"
"It can't wait until then, Fred, just – just in case we're not celebrating. It's REALLY important" she was looking up at him desperately. Fred turned to look at her and cupped her face in his own.
"Vi, I told you, everything is going to be fine. You're so brave, I know you are, and you need to use that now. We're going to win, okay?" he kissed her lips briefly, then let his hand drop to hold hers again.
"No, Fred, it's not that – " he wasn't listening, she could see he wasn't listening, "FRED! LISTEN TO ME, FOR GOODNESS' SAKE!"
Fred jumped, and several people looked round at them before deciding to leave them to it. Viria had grabbed both his hands in hers and was looking up at him.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you have to know"
Fred seemed to be taking it seriously at last, "Know what, Vi?" he asked gently, anxiously.
"My period's late" she told him softly, lips pressed together, eyeing him warily. It took Fred a moment to realise what she might be suggesting. He looked stunned.
"What? How late?"
"I don't know, a few weeks? Late enough" she swallowed audibly, "Fred, I think I might be pregnant"
"Have you...checked?" he was looking at her with fear in his eyes. She shook her head.
"No, not yet. I...I wanted us to do it together"
"You can't be pregnant though, Vi, we've been using the charm –"
"We've forgotten the charm before" she pointed out, her voice slightly hoarse, "I'm not sure about it, Fred, I just needed to let you know that it was – is – a possibility"
Fred grabbed her suddenly and pulled her into his arms. He held her for a long time, and when they pulled back, his smile was radiant. He kissed her all over her face, planted a fierce kiss on her lips.
"You're happy?" she queried nervously.
"I'm happy whichever way it goes, Vi. It's not great timing, obviously; but of course I'm happy!"
She smiled too, and they hugged again. But Fred had soon grown solemn.
"Maybe Mum's right. Maybe you should stay here, with Ginny. I want you safe and...well, especially now. I – you can't get hurt, Vi"
Viria glared up at him, fuming, "No. I can't believe you'd even suggest it. You must know what I'm going to say?"
Fred sighed heavily, "Yes, of course I do. But I don't like it"
"I couldn't care less whether you like it or not. We're going to fight because I might be pregnant, and if it turns out I am, we want our baby to have a better life than this, to live in a better world than this. Yes?"
Fred gulped, "Yes. Yes, you're right. Okay" he hesitated, "Stay close to me"
"Always" she agreed, and, hearts pounding, they steeled themselves for the fight to come.
