Define summer holidays. A time away from school to have fun and not worry about anything until near the end of August. Well, it seemed that was not going to happen whatsoever this holiday, and for that Zavy was extremely bummed out. She wished that life got easier as you got older, but it just seemed to be filled with more and more complications. The past month was just so terrible, she wished she could go back to being a child, when her parents were still alive. She seemed happier there, the happiest she's probably ever been before George barged his way into her life.
So here she sat in her 17th birthday. She was by herself, wondering if anyone paid attention to the dates anymore. She knew after everything happening it was selfish of her to feel upset that no one, not even her own brother had wished her a happy birthday, but there was just somethings one couldn't let go. She sighed, taking a drag of her smoke. It was nearly midnight, and her day of birth would be over. She was slightly depressed that her own boyfriend hadn't tried to talk to her, and that seemed to hurt more than her brother. Again, she had to keep in mind that with all the shit going on they probably over looked it. She took another drag of her smoke before tossing it out the window. She took a long drink from her flask before sighing once more.
She hadn't really moved from that spot, other than to pee. She willed her food when she was hungry, which was maybe once that whole day. She drank for most of it, smoking weed and just staring out the window as it rained. Since it was night time, the lightning designs were easier to see, so that was her mild entertainment. She felt like she had drank all day, and it was most likely true, but she didn't feel drunk at all, mostly stoned. She couldn't believe that summer was half over, it finally was feeling like it had started. Even with this being the worst birthday of her life, this was the first day she actually felt normal again.
She sighed, thinking about the past. What her, Brenden and their parents would do on such a stormy day. It made her miss the muggle world, television and movies. When she was younger, she'd always dream of making a movie, one that everyone would enjoy, and then have all the money in the world to make other people's lives happier. It seemed like something that was never going to happen now, and that contributed to her sadness. The death of her parents followed by the discovery of her powers changed her whole world, nothing seemed real like it used to as a child. If only she could get those days back.
"Happy birthday love," she heard a familiar and soothing voice whisper in her ear. She smiled, her thoughts going back to George. He seemed to always be on her mind, but she wasn't sure what she wanted today. She felt like she wanted to be alone, yet at the same time, she wished that he at least remembered. She felt heat on he,r ear, and she smiled at the familiar feeling, before taking another long drink from her flask and lighting another smoke. Arms wrapped around her and thats when she looked, seeing none other than her boyfriend beside her. She laughed out loud, maybe she was more fucked up than originally thought, "Those wards of yours are pretty tough, it took us all day to break thru them. In the end, your brother had to do it. Said that you had one lock in a completely different time mingled in with the lock already there. I still don't understand how you can do that."
"George! You're really here!" she exclaimed, tossing her smoke and snuggling up to him.
"Of course I'm here, did you really think that I would forget your birthday?"
She looked away, "Well..."
"Maybe if you didn't lock everyone out it would've been easier for me to see you, and much earlier. Have you even eaten anything today?"
"Yeah, I cooked something up some time ago."
"Good, then you'll have room for cake."
"Cake?" she inquired as he let her go and turned his back to her. She stared at his back confused, but her turned back with a small cake in his hands. It was vanilla with chocolate ice cream, bearing "Happy Birthday Love" on top of it. "George..."
"Like it? Baked it meself."
"George Weasley, I had no idea you could cook."
"Well you never bothered to ask now did you?"
"Thanks. I really appreciate this."
"Anything for you love. Why did you lock yourself away?"
"I don't know. I guess when my brother woke up and didn't say anything to me, I figured no one else would."
"Nonsense, I've been waiting for you to come downstairs all day, we all have. I decided around dinner time that if you weren't coming down, then I was coming up to you. It was that lock I couldn't get by. Brenden was having trouble with it, he finally got it not too long ago. How did you do that anyway?"
"Do what?"
"Place apart of the lock in a different time."
"I'm honestly not even sure, I've just always been able to do it. I must have gone deep into my thoughts, otherwise I would've noticed it had disappeared and you were in the room."
"You looked like you were deep in thought. Care to share?"
She sighed, looking back out the window. She set the cake down on her night stand and lit another smoke after taking another drink. "It's just everything that's been going on lately. I don't really know what to think, and this was the first day I've actually felt like myself in so long. It seems that I have not had any time for myself and I didn't think anyone remembered with Harry's hearing and the Death Eaters and all those blasted disappearances. I guess most of it really hurt when my brother didn't even say anything to me this morning. Every year he always used to burst into my room happy to celebrate another year with me and this year it didn't happen. Just further proof that everything is changing, becoming more intense. Mostly I've been thinking about the past, wishing things could be easier like they used to be," she took the final drag of her smoke and threw it out the window. After taking another drink she let George pull her towards him. They sat there like that for a time, not really knowing or caring how long, before he turned her, and kissed her.
"I haven't even given you your present yet," he spoke in that low voice of his that she just couldn't resist.
"Just being here is enough for me," she told him sincerely.
"Shh, close your eyes," he said, running his two fingers over her eyelids. He then pulled out a ring box. He opened it, holding it in front of her and then smiled, "You can open them now."
"George..." there in front of her was a ring. It wasn't too fancy, nor was it huge, just a simple silver ring with small emeralds in them. He grabbed it and put it on her finger, a perfect fit.
"It's not exactly an engagement ring, because I know its early and I know now isn't the time to think about marriage, but, I know Zavy, that I want to spend my life with you and no one else. I want to be that person you turn to when you need them, I want to protect you to the best of my ability, I just want you, completely."
She had no words, she just stared at the ring on her finger. It held so much meaning and yet, she had nothing for him. She felt stupid after being in her room all day, selfish even. How could she think that he forgot? What an idiot, "I love you," she finally breathed, before kissing him so fiercely he was taken off guard.
He kissed her with just as much passion, loving the feeling of her. He pulled her close, so that she was laying down on top of him. Three years he had known this girl, and he had loved her since day one, since he saw her on the train. Though they had only been together for eight months, it felt like a lifetime, one that he wished would never end. Twice before when they made love had he seen fire erupt around them. This time the colours changed, just like her eyes when she felt different things. The flames were mostly pink, but they turned to normal colour and then to blues, greens, reds and purples. They stayed even after she had cried his name, collapsing on top of him while he finished. They started to simmer and disappear as she drifted off to sleep, George feeling like it was the most intense of all they're nights together. He kissed her forehead before letting sleep claim him, his lover securely in his arms.
She runs, to where she does not know. There is mist everywhere, and but one light in the distance. She starts towards it, going as fast as her legs will take her. She does not know what to expect, but she continues on her journey. As she approaches, she starts to see loved ones. It starts with distant friends, then closer ones, and finally, family, along with her lover. She stops when she sees the people she misses the most.
"Mum? Dad?" she asks, completely surprised at their appearance.
"Zahava, my daughter, how I miss you."
"I miss you too mum, I wish you didn't have to leave me," tears form in her eyes after these words. She hugs them both.
"Mum? Dad?" her brother appears.
"Brenden, my son."
"Dad, I've been doing my best to keep Zavy and me alive."
"I know son, I'm very proud, of both of you."
The family of four hugged each other, not being able to in the last decade. They sat there for as long as they could, never knowing when an opportunity like this would happen again.
"We have come with a message."
"The two of you cannot go to the werewolves, for the evil one will be there."
"If you go, you will surely die."
"So what can we do? We need to find the original copy of the prophecy."
"Go directly to the seers."
"The seers?"
"Yes. You'll be happy to know that they're back home, in Canada."
"Why would they be there?"
"It's the seer that made the prediction that resides there, that's the one you have to see. Her name is Lucinda. She has the copy that you are looking for."
"Wouldn't it be dangerous to go back there now?"
"Yes darling. You will know the time when it comes.""
"Mum?"
"Yes Zahava?"
"Do you really have to go?"
She looks sadly at her child, a tear starting to form and nods.
"Never forget that we both love you."
"And are very proud to be your parents, we're sorry we had to leave at such a young age, or we'd be there to protect you like we should."
"The Weasley's will take care of you, just like you were their own."
"They're good people, and I'm happy that you could get along with George so well. We all saw it coming when the four of you would play together growing up."
"I love you mum... and dad," the children tell them, tears falling now that they're loved ones are starting to fade.
"We love you, be safe," are the last words before they disappear completely. She feels an arm come around her, and it's her lover, standing tall with his fire coloured hair. Her brother looks on as she burrows herself in her lovers arms. He puts a hand on his sister's shoulder, staring at the spot his parents just occupied. A simple tear fell.
George shot up from his bed. The sun was shining in his face, but the dream he just had was everything but normal. He looked over at Fred, who had the same expression on his face. He had the same dream, the one about Zavy and Brenden seeing their parents. He didn't understand why he was there to see it, why it was important that he, and Fred saw it.
"You had the dream right?" asked Fred, feeling the same things that George was feeling.
"Yeah, it was... strange..." answered George.
"I know. At least you know she's not going to see werewolves anytime soon."
"I suppose mate, but she'll be leaving to go back to Canada."
"Well, maybe you'll be able to go with her."
"Doubt it. From what she told me, I wasn't supposed to be involved with her task in the first place."
"And from what else you said, if fate didn't want you there, it probably wouldn't have showed you the dream."
"Then why were you there?"
"To convince you that you have to go? I'm not sure George, but something tells me that you need to be there."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," George sighed. He got up and into the shower, trying to rid the thoughts from his brain. He wanted to talk to Zavy about it, and decided he would when he saw her downstairs.
But that wasn't going to work. He saw Zavy and Brenden sitting by the fire, her head on his shoulder. It seemed that they were talking amongst themselves, completely oblivious to everyone else in the room as they stared at the fire. He realized in the moment how close the two of them were, that their twin bond was much different than his own with Fred. The DelCotta's only had each other, while him and Fred had the rest of their siblings and their parents, hell, even aunts and uncles. Zavy and Brenden's entire witch side of the family was completely gone, murdered and died of old age, and her father was an only child, parents dead after a few years of knowing them. They had no other family to rely on, just one another, and that must have made things tough. They definitely had the dream George had the night before, why else would they be acting like that? He decided he would wait to talk to her about it, if he even decided to at all, knowing the subject could be hard for her.
"I miss them so much," Zavy stated to her brother, as she stared at the fire. They had the same dream, which is probably why they spent time together that day. Food was brought to them, but they were mostly happy that others sensed they did not want to be bothered. Hell, they didn't even really want to be moved. That dream really thew them off, and they weren't sure what to think or feel at that present moment. All they knew is that they wanted to be around each other, and no one else. Zavy didn't even drink or smoke once, just woke up and moved into her brother's bed, knowing that he was awake.
"I miss them too Z. It was hard seeing them again."
"It was. First time in 10 years, it makes it even more real that they're gone."
"I wonder why they came to tell us?"
"Who cares Brenden, the important thing is, they wanted to see us so badly, and we got to. That's all I really wanted, hasn't the past been nagging at you lately?"
"Yeah. It has, but I'm just not sure why."
"Maybe this was why, because somehow we could sense they were coming, or they were sending us a sign or something. I'm not sure, all I know is that I feel a bit better, but not really. I wish they were still here, and that we could be a family again. Being around the Weasley's is nice, but its just not our family. I mean, don't get me wrong, I consider them family-"
"But it's just not the same as mum and dad. Or our life back in Canada, how everything just fit together so nicely. It incredibly similar, but not the same. There's still that distance because they're not our blood. Family, just not-"
"Blood. But we get to go back home soon, see-"
"Everything we left behind. The question before us is-"
"Will we return after this stupid war is over?"
Silence took over. They pondered the thoughts they just shared amongst them. The bond between them growing powerful after these heartfelt moments. Both of them missed the Great White North, but figured they would never return to their place of birth ever again. She saw George in her peripherals. He was staring at her, looking like he wanted to speak with her, but respectfully kept his distance. She sighed.
"I couldn't leave George. I love him so much Brenden," and then she looked at her ring, "I know he's the one I'm supposed to be with."
"But how do you know Z? I mean, I know how you feel now, it's the same way I felt about Alex, and yet, look at the two of us. We're speaking, but nothing is the same. I don't even feel the same way about her as I used to."
"I just know Brenden. When I'm with George, I get this incredible feeling that what we do together is right, and that everything is supposed to happen this way."
"I don't want to see you get hurt Z. You remember the day mum and dad left? I may have only been seven, but it seems like every time they left they told me to protect you. Every year passes and I think about those days, and how I can do that. Sometimes that's why I'm so hard on you, cause you constantly do things that can get you killed. Now that Voldemort is back, it'll be harder for me to really keep watch over you. At least I know George is good enough to look after you when I'm not around."
"You really don't need to worry as much as you do. I can take care of myself. I do need you around, it'd be weird if you weren't, but don't treat me like a child. I like being independent, and I like that I can push myself-"
"Even though you end up using life energy? Like at the Finals? You nearly died!"
"But I didn't! And I was more worried about getting the other three to safety than my own life at the time. I'd rather do what I can to save others, then I don't feel so terrible about the things that people do for us. They've sacrificed so much to keep us alive, I can't think of a way that I'd ever be able to repay them..."
"I know what you mean. I can't wait until all this shit is over and done with, I'm taking a long vacation."
"Don't forget, you're not allowed to leave without me."
"At least we don't have to go chasing werewolves."
"Yeah, I wasn't a fan of that."
"Zavy, do you remember when we were in Darr's house, and you said something about an enchantment by a sorcerer?"
She blinked. The memory came back to her instantly, but she wasn't quite herself at that present time, "Yeah, I do."
"Did you really mean sorcerer?"
"Yes. It was like a vision when I reached into Wrroth's mind, a warning even. There's something else out there, something powerful, maybe even more powerful than Voldemort himself. I can't really say much, I didn't see much before Wrroth's mind started to clear up, but I do know that it's out there, I felt the touch chill my bones and the fear rise. It seemed like a personal attempt against us, like it was trying to tell us we would be at war longer than we once thought. I'd say there is more to this prophecy than we or anyone besides Lucinda knows."
"Only time will tell. Come on, let's get to bed now," Brenden ended the conversation. He noticed that the house was dark and that most had gone to bed. Zavy nodded, picking herself up and dragging her feet up the stairs. She passed by George's room and stopped. Brenden stopped behind her, "Go on, you haven't seen him all day, and I'm sure you'll feel better about all of this after you see him," he nudged her.
"Yeah, you're probably right. Night bro," she said, before opening the door quietly and stepping in. She heard two sets of breathing, knowing that both twins were asleep. She didn't need to use her mind to find George, she just knew where he was, the feelings being different than the bed that Fred slept on. She stood over George, the moonlight shining on his features. He slept on his back, and arm behind his head and sheets barely covering his bare chest. Godric he was sexy. He looked so peaceful, she was afraid to disturb him, but she climbed into bed beside him anyway. He breathed in, bringing his arm around her and pulling her close. She sighed happily, resting her head on his shoulder. She moved to kiss his cheek after she was settled, bringing an arm across his chest.
"Zavy?" he mumbled, his voice full of sleep.
"Yes babe, it's me, surprise," she whispered back at him.
"I love you, I had the strangest dream last night."
"I love you George, now have a strange dream tonight, and tell me about it in the morning."
His head shot up, "Whoa, you really are here."
"Of course I am silly."
He smiled down at her, kissing her. She situated herself back in her comfortable position. George pulled her close, grabbing her hand and resting his head against the top of hers. They both fell asleep with smiles on their faces, not a care in the world. Zavy didn't care what Brenden said, she knew that this was the man she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. George knew that after meeting Zavy, there was no one else he wanted in this lifetime, or any other. This, was true love, the kind that seemed to only exist in story books, and it was going to last forever.