Sometimes I remember my previous life and the thought grows cold. I feel like I am in a dream most days. I pass the time by not really being in my body. I don't really speak when spoken to. I feel like I've lost my voice. I know I've been locked away for a week and half. They have me in some memory ward at a wizard hospital. They are building a case against me. I know that much. The Minister of Magic said the evidence that they found and research conducted was too inconclusive to process me through Azkaban. Although, they had tried. I stayed in a cold and lonely cell for three days. I was let out when they could not find what they needed to keep me there. As I had not committed a true crime other than melt away a death eater, have no real trace of magic in my bones, and traces of dark magic had been used.
I sometimes think about that night. What happened after we learned about George. I thought Fred could have died right there instead. He collapsed to his knees sometime after Percy lost his grip. I sank down with him. I couldn't hold him up on my own. In that split second, I looked at him. And I mean really looked at him. His leg was all mangled and his clothes mostly torn. He had a deep gash in his forehead and scratches every inch of his skin. "Fred," I whispered not really caring that he did not know me here or anywhere. At that moment I was jerked upwards by two people from the Ministry.
Percy had come back to his senses and made a move to stop them. "What is the meaning of all this?" he shouted. Fred weakly looked at me being restrained by the two men and made a move to stand up, but he crumpled to the ground. Percy caught him.
"It has come to the Kingsley's attention of the incident in the corridor where your brother was injured. We have to detain her." My arms were placed behind my back and it felt like they were being bound. I cried out in pain.
"She saved my brother's life!" Percy said in urgency his face darkened with outrage.
"How she saved your brother's life is the problem, Mr. Weasley. Please go be with your family and get him looked at. I am terribly sorry for your loss." said the largest man who had bound my hands. When reminded of George, both brothers looked at one another. Fred grabbed Percy by his sleeve and shook his head trying to get Percy to leave it alone. I deserved it to say the least. About that time their mother had caught wind of them being at the entrance and had ran up to the both of them sobbing hysterically. I was being led away from the hospital about that time. I looked mournfully at Fred as he was being lifted onto a makeshift bed as more people surrounded him. That was the last I saw of him.
I was jerked out of my memories at a light knock on the door. One of the ward's nurses stepped in. "You have some visitors." she informed me. The same case workers from that night stepped in, I had learned that they weren't just any ministry officials. They called themselves Aurors. I had learned that their names were Glenn and Avis. They were nice for the most part. Especially when they let me leave the wizard prison.
The head nurse took her leave as a shorter pudgier man with balding red hair stepped in after them. "We have someone you might want to get acquainted with." Avis said as the man shyly stepped forward. "This is Arthur Weasley. The father of the boy you saved that night. He is in charge of a muggle department in the Ministry. It has come to our attention that he believes you are muggle." From what I knew about Avis he probably thought it was ludicrous. I didn't blame him.
Arthur looked at him shocked. "Y-yes that is right." he came forward to me slightly and lifted out his hand. "I had hoped to do that little introduction myself." I stared at his hand. I had not really had any human contact in so long, I almost forgot what a handshake was. I reached out and took his hand. He shook it very lightly and smiled kindly. I immediately trusted him. But still not enough to tell him I had time traveled with the intention to save his son that should be dead. He let go of my hand. "What's your name, dear?"
"Good luck with that one, Arthur. Can't really get that out of her," Glenn said bemusedly.
"I suppose we should try Veritaserum," Avis said bluntly.
"No! No, I'm sure she's just frightened is all. Do you mind if I have some time alone with her?" Arthur asked. I hoped they would. I wanted to know how Fred was. I was anxious.
"We can't really allow that, Arthur," Avis started but was interrupted by Glenn.
"We'll allow it. Just this once. I could use a bite to eat anyway. Bit famished." Glenn rubbed his stomach and made his way to the door. Avis looked like he was about to protest, but Glenn only stared back at him. "Come on, Ave. Leave it. I'm starving. She won't talk anyway." Glenn had to know better than that. Maybe they were doing this out of pity for Arthur. Avis took a minute to think about it staring at me and then Mr. Weasley.
"Alright, Alright," Avis caved. "Only thirty minutes, Arthur. If Kingsley finds out about this, it won't be a pretty sight. He doesn't really have the time to fool with this sort of thing."
"You have my word," Arthur nodded to Avis putting his hands behind is back. Avis gave me a look and then followed Glenn out the door. Arthur watched as they left. "Now then, let's get you out of here."
"What?" that is not what I expected him to say. I started to sweat nervously.
"Look, fingers crossed," he grinned and showed me his right hand. "Isn't this what you muggles do when you're telling a lie? Come along now, we don't have much time. I am certain Glenn knows what is going on here, it'll take Avis sometime though." I stood shakily as he produced a rather large cloak from his pocket. How the hell did he do that? "Just put this over you, and nobody will see you when we step out. Just follow closely behind me and try not to make any noise."
I backed away from him as he eagerly reached out for me. "I-I don't understand. I don't deserve this. Please, just leave."
His smile faltered. "You saved my son. Now I am going to save you and I am going to win your case. I don't believe you are as evil as they are trying to make you sound and I don't think you are as evil as you want yourself to be. Please, we have to go." I took the cloak. I don't know why I did. I blindly trusted him. I think I will regret it. "Go on, then. It's an Invisibility Cloak. A good friend of the family loaned it to me." I wrapped it around myself. "From here on I can't see you. But please, follow behind me." he opened the door and I stepped through it. "Off we go then." I let him pass me and he started down the long hallway that connected to my room. This is the first time I was allowed out. Everything was a glossy blinding white. I followed closely behind him and we went through a connecting door. Once through there were spirals of staircases and many doors leading to each floor. There were signs for the floors. This place couldn't have been bigger than five floors. I followed Mr. Weasley down many flights of stairs until we came to a door labeled "Ground Floor". He quietly ushered me through just as we made it through Mr. Weasley ran right into somebody who was quickly trying to walk through.
"Arthur!" the person squeaked.
"Oh! Drat, I almost didn't see you there, Augustus!" Mr. Weasley cried out as he steadied the man from falling by grabbing onto his shoulders.
"Dear me! It's been quite a while! I heard about your younger boys, the twins. I'm awfully sorry, Arthur. Terrible." the man said mournfully. My heart gave an awful sort of pain. I was so anxious to hear about Fred.
"Yes, well," Mr. Weasley gulped. I could tell he didn't want to have this conversation right now. "Fred is on the mend it seems. He won't be able to walk for some time to come. We'll manage I'm sure."
"I heard Fred was in the second floor. I'll probably pop in some time and see the poor lad." there was an awkward pause. "I should let you back to it then. Goodbye, Arthur. You and your family take yourselves!" The man tipped his lime green cap and fled through the door. Mr. Weasley stood there for a second as if processing the conversation. I let a few tears fall. Fred was okay for the most part. Thankfully.
Mr. Weasley coughed to get my attention to let me know we were on the move again. I followed him out of the Lobby door and right into a new building. "You may take the cloak off." he whispered. I took it off and immediately handed it back to him. I looked around the building. It looked absolutely run down. Nothing like the hospital we just walked out of. "It's a disguise to keep muggles from going in." I noticed he had walked to a rather large window. He motioned for me to climb out of it. I rushed over to him and threw one leg over the ledge. I dropped down and my feet hit a sidewalk. He climbed out after me. My senses were almost overloaded as I realized we were in a city environment.
"How," I started to ask how did we end up here, but didn't have the chance as Mr. Weasley immediately pulled me to an alleyway behind the building we were just in.
"I'm not sure if you've ever dealt with apparition before, but the feeling will be rather unpleasant. Just don't move." he grabbed my left arm and before I could protest I felt darkness enclose me and my body felt like it was being condensed into a small jar. I knew nothing more.
A/N: I'm going to try everything in my power to revive this story during quarantine. I've literally been working on it for over ten years in varying degrees. I've got to get this idea out now.