After that night, Fred and I didn't talk about their grand plan to escape from Hogwarts and from the clutches of Dolores Umbridge. I figured it was because he didn't want his roommates or anyone else to hear him; knowing Fred, he and George had their grand exit the school planned for weeks, possibly months, on end. Now, it was time to put the plan into action.
My lack of knowledge about their plan – how they'd be leaving, when they'd be arriving in London, where they were going to live – kept me unfocused during the day and up nearly all night. While I believed in both boys with my whole heart, I still worried about what would happen once they were out. Fred said they had it made, but even I was unclear on what that even meant.
"He really hasn't told you anything?" Clo asked me over drinks at the Leaky Cauldron on Saturday afternoon. "For all you know, he could just show at your work with no warning?"
"Knowing Freddie, that's exactly what he'll do," I remarked, taking a sip of my Daisyroot Draught and rolling my eyes. "I guess we'll just have to be on our guard these next few weeks, won't we?"
"Have you told him everyone's on edge around here? I know we haven't had any attacks or anything, but they should know what awaits them when they leave the protection of Hogwarts," Tonks chimed in, spilling her soda water on the table as she lifted it to her lips. Since I was sticking to Moody's rules, Tonks usually accompanied me when I went out during the day; unsurprisingly, she had no qualms about going to Diagon Alley to day drink with my friend and me.
"Believe me, Tonks, Hogwarts isn't as safe as everyone wants you to think," I said, thinking of Dolores Umbridge and everything she put Fred, George, and the rest of their friends through. "In any case, we're all just going to have to keep our eyes out. If two identical redheads somehow blow through Madame Malkin's or any other shop on this street, you'll know exactly who they are and where they came from."
Clo and Tonks giggled, then went back to their drinks. I tried to laugh along with them, but I was still wracked with worry. I hoped Fred would take heed of what I said after last week; when you're out, find me. Find me. Find me.
In the days that passed, I found innumerable ways to occupy myself; for starters, work, but also spending time with Clo, Francis, and Tonks, having tea in the evenings with Remus, listening to music with Sirius, brewing potions for the house, doing tarot spreads or reading one of the dozens of books I'd picked up from the charity shop and never actually got around to reading.
Despite this, I found myself on edge with anticipation nearly every day, just waiting and hoping that Fred would walk through the door of the apothecary or that I'd find him pacing outside Grimmauld Place, waiting for me to come out and find him. Part of me felt silly and childish for getting so worked up about a boy, of all things, but this wasn't just a schoolgirl crush. No, it had always been more than that. Last year, after Fred and George's seventeenth birthday party, I admitted that my relationship with Fred wasn't something I planned on leaving behind in the halls of Hogwarts, and that I was in it for the long haul with him. It seemed, now more than ever, that the long haul, whatever that entailed, was about to begin.
One afternoon at the apothecary, I was working on restocking the Sleeping Draughts when Mr. Mulpepper approached me, restocking by my side slowly.
"Miss Malfoy, have you had a good year so far? Working here, that is," he began cautiously, placing the dark purple vials on the shelf next to one another. I turned to him, a bit confused at the question.
"Yeah, er, I've had a really great year so far," I replied, trying to articulate a response. "You're a great teacher, and you've given me far more independence than I ever expected, which is amazing, really, and…well, yeah, I guess I've had a far better year than I thought I would."
He smiled, a warm, knowing smile that told me he had something important to say.
"Well, that's all wonderful, my dear, because I have a bit of a proposition for you," he continued, turning to me. "You possess an…exceptional talent, the likes of which I haven't seen in well over a decade, and possibly even before that. You're ambitious and enthusiastic and passionate about the art of potionmaking, which is why I'm wondering if you'd like to forgo the second year of your apprenticeship…and became my assistant apothecarist immediately."
My jaw and stomach dropped. This wasn't real, I thought. The plan was for me to have two years of an apprenticeship, then head out into the world to find a job at an apothecary or school or anywhere, really. The fact that Mr. Mulpepper was asking me to immediately go into business by his side was…it was a shock, a complete and utter surprise, and a dream come true.
"I-I don't know what to say- "
"Which, I hope, means you are trying to say yes, but not finding the words, my dear?" he finished, flashing me a hopeful smile to gauge my reaction. I nodded vigorously, the smile taking over my face faster than I could contain it.
"Yes, yes, of course!" I exclaimed happily, my heart pounding. "It would be an honor, sir, to be your assistant. Thank you so, so much. For everything."
"Of course, my dear, of course! You have no idea how thrilled I am that you'll be joining me in the shop on a more permanent basis," he babbled happily. "Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I may have to ask you to stay a bit late this evening. I would stay myself, but I do have some family matters to attend to that can't- "
"I'll stay, sir," I interrupted. "It's really no trouble. My cousin's an Auror, and she'll escort me back home if I'm here too late."
He flashed another grateful smile, then went back to helping my stock the shelves. My mind was racing at a million kilometers an hour; I'd just been promoted, and at a job I really, truly enjoyed. The only things that would make this better would be a celebratory round of drinks at the Leaky Cauldron with Clo, Francis, and Tonks and…well, for Fred to hurry up, leave Hogwarts, and get here already.
No matter, I thought. Worry about the fact that you just got promoted and that once he is here, you'll have two wonderful things to celebrate. You did it, Cass. You bloody did it.
The clock passed eight and I was still in the back room of the apothecary, pouring over the herbs we grew in-house and tending a cauldron full of Wiggenweld Potion. In addition to being able to brew a Sleeping Draught and the Draught of Living Death practically in my sleep, I'd become proficient at the Wiggenweld, the antidote to each.
Amid the bubbling and clinking of glasses and vials all around me, I almost missed the sound of the front door opening, the bell chiming throughout the entire shop.
I whipped around, hand on my wand. I knew it was late, and I knew Tonks would probably be here soon – or maybe this was her, and she simply came in, since I'd clearly forgotten to lock up? Stupid girl, I thought. In these times, you really need to at least remember to lock the damn door.
Nevertheless, I tiptoed carefully to the curtain that separated the back room from the rest of the store, my left arm outstretched, and my right arm extended, wand in hand and ready to strike. On the other side of the curtain, I heard labored breathing and footsteps, the movement of feet shifting the visitor's weight from right to left foot. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to remember all the defensive spells I knew, then whipped back the curtain to face whoever, or whatever, had entered the shop after hours.
"Bloody hell, woman, put that down! You can't get lost in my eyes if you gouge them out with your wand!"
My arms dropped to my sides, my wand hit the floor, and my feet nearly flew off the ground as I sprinted from the back of the shop to the front and hurled myself into Fred Weasley's waiting arms.
He didn't spin me around this time; he just stood there and held me tight, his nose buried in the crook of my neck, touching my hair. I breathed heavily into his neck, my disbelief and excitement manifesting in my inability to catch my breath at the sight of him. When he finally put me down, I got a decent look at him; his hair was long, longer than ever, and it was falling out of the little bun he'd tied it in around the back of his neck. He wore a green striped jumper and his usual trainers, and in his right hand was his broomstick, which explained the deep flush that covered his cheeks and nose.
"Freddie, how- "
"You told me to come find you, remember?" he said, reaching out to tuck a hair behind my ear with his sweaty index finger. "We just touched down about ten minutes ago. George is up the street at the shop. I was walking down to Florean Fortescue's for a cone, and I looked over into the shop and I saw you disappear into the back room. Thought I'd surprise you."
I looked him up and down and tried to find the words for how I was feeling; dazed, confused, ecstatic, and completely, incandescently happy that my golden, glowing boy – the love of my very short life – was standing before me, smiling, safe, and sound.
"How'd you even manage it?" I asked, not even hiding my bewilderment. "You never told me that plan- "
"Fireworks," he said simply. "And a Portable Swamp. And getting our chained-up brooms out of Umbridge's office. It's a long story, which I can tell you once you've closed up shop and I've whisked you away to our new premises."
"You're going to whisk me away to your shop half a block up the road?" I flirted, cocking my brow at him. He rolled his eyes, looking away from me ever so slight, then looking back, cocking his brow in response.
"At least allow me the pleasure of a miniscule romantic gesture," he retorted. "I've just seen Tonks, who was coming to get you, but is allowing a bit of rule-breaking in order to give us some time together. She'll be back for you before midnight."
"Back where? Freddie, what- "
"Are you going to stand there all night or are you going to close up shop and let me show you the new premises?" he asked, equal parts impatient and excited. I turned on my heel and darted into the back room to clean up my workspace, my head spinning and my heart pounding. This was it, I thought. The long haul is finally beginning. Whatever the hell that means.
When I whirled back out from behind the curtain, I found Fred leaning up against the door and smirking, looking me up and down the same as he did when I first found him and George stealing Ageing Potion ingredients in Snape's stores last year. That was the first time I even considered the way Fred Weasley looked at me, and how I never wanted to be looked at by another person when I knew he existed, looking at me that way.
"You know," I said, taking his arm as I waved my wand over the doorknob, locking up shop. "I was working late because I got promoted today. Now we have two wonderful things to celebrate."
His head snapped toward me, his eyes wide with pride and adoration. He snaked his arm around my waist tightly and reached down to squeeze my hand as we walked.
"You're brilliant, you know that? Brilliant and beautiful and- "
"Don't go inflating my ego anymore, Weasley," I warned. "I am a Malfoy, after all."
He laughed out loud, the musical belly laugh that could be heard from here to the Highlands, as we walked arm in arm toward the new shop and into the blazing London sunset, toward our shared future and all it would bring.
"Alright, you promise your eyes are closed? I'll know if you looked."
"Freddie, I swear to Christ, they're closed!" I exclaimed, both hands clamped firmly over my eyes. He squeezed my shoulders lightly and leaned down to whisper in my ear. Feeling his lips that close to my ear made every hair on my body stand on end. I bit my lip to keep from laughing, the excitement almost too much to bear.
"Alright, you can open then," he finally said. "Welcome to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
My eyes flew open, and my jaw dropped. The walls were shockingly orange and magenta and in the middle of the shop stood a winding oak staircase that, according to Fred, moved just like the ones at Hogwarts. Along the walls were various shelves, drawers, and displays that would soon be filled with Fred and George's fantastical products. I kept turning in circles over and over, trying to take in the beauty and whimsy of the space I was in.
"Freddie, I- "
"You don't have to say anything, we know it's perfect," a voice chimed in from above. I looked up to see George Weasley grinning down at me from the third level of the shop. Before I could run up to meet him, he disappeared, then reappeared next to me with a faint pop!
"George, it's absolutely amazing," I said, giving him a tight hug in greeting. "I know I say it to Freddie all the time, but I really am so proud of you. You've really come a long way since we were formulating Skiving Snackboxes in my room at Grimmauld Place, haven't you?"
"We really couldn't have done that without you, Malfoy," George said with a shrug and another flash of his smile. "Granted, Freddie and I have enough potions sense between the two of us, but your help is what made it all perfect on the first go-round."
"Well, if you ever need ingredients for any reason, I'm sure you could work something out with Mr. Mulpepper," I said. "Or at least with his new assistant. I hear she's got a soft spot for redheads and for twins."
George's jaw dropped when he realized just what exactly I was saying. Fred burst out laughing at his brother's reaction, snaking his arm tight around my waist as I beamed. There was no doubt in my mind; this was heaven.
"Well, now I reckon we have two things to celebrate tonight!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "I stopped at the Leaky Cauldron for two bottles of Ogden's Old, since Freddie and I will be up late setting up shop. Malfoy, you're welcome to stay if you like; I'm sure we could use the extra hands."
I checked my watch and gazed at the bottles of Ogden's Old on the front counter. I looked up at Freddie, then George, then back at the bottles. I turned to them and grinned.
"I'll get to pouring, then tell me where to start."
Pretty soon, the liquor was flowing, the laughter grew loud, and Fred, George, and I had managed to set up half the shop in only three hours.
"Freddie, what the hell are these?" I asked, admiring a few black and blue glittering rocks that gave off a charcoal powder. My fingers turned black as I turned the rock over in my hand.
"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," he replied, sidling up next to me. "For when you need a quick getaway."
"Hmm," I mused, then dropping the rock back onto its display. "Where was this on our first date?"
He guffawed, running his hands through his hair in mock-disbelief as I sauntered away, running my clean hand down the walls and touching all the products I could get my hands on. Sure, they had their Nosebleed Nougats, Puking Pastilles, and Fever Fudge, but they also had things like Daydream Charms, Self-Inking Quills, and the infamous Portable Swamp.
"I think Flitwick wanted to keep it where it was," George mused. "Said it was an 'exceptional bit of magic,' and Umbridge certainly wasn't impressed, which makes it even more exceptional, in my humble opinion."
"What did Anna have to say about your grand exit?" I asked.
George's smile faded and his face fell as he lifted his glass of Ogden's to his lips. He swallowed and grimaced, his eyes now slightly downcast.
"Anna and I aren't really talking right now," he said flatly. "I royally screwed some things up, said some things I should've kept to myself. Secrets of hers, I guess. She was pretty much the only thing keeping me at Hogwarts. Then I lost her, and now I'm here."
I smiled sympathetically and reached up to squeeze his shoulder affectionately. George really seemed to love Anna, and while he'd only laid out the basics of what went down, it seemed like the weight of the world was now bearing down on his shoulders. The weight of losing someone you love tends to do that, I thought to myself.
"Oi, think you can charm the wireless, Cass?" Fred called from the main floor. I leaned over the bannister and pointed my wand upward.
"Accio wireless!" I bellowed. In a flash, my portable radio flew in and landed squarely in my hand. I'd charmed it so that it would play anywhere, so it could be heard in the wizarding world. I usually stuffed into the bottom of my work bag and would listen to it if I was in the back room alone in the evenings. I turned it on and adjusted the station and volume as the static faded from a loud crackling into the opening of "Blitzkrieg Bop."
"We listened to this in the common room a few times!" Fred mused.
"I think Bill probably played it at home too," George said. "Perc always covered his ears when it came on, he hated this song!"
"Well, I love it!" I bellowed, dancing down the stairs and heading straight for the half-full bottle of Ogden's that remained on the counter. When my feet hit the floor, I nodded my head and spun around to the beat until I reached the bottle and Fred.
"So, what'd you think so far?" he asked quietly. "You can be honest. I want your full, unfiltered thoughts on it."
"Well, in that case," I said jokingly, filling up my glass and leaning back on the counter with a shrug. "Freddie, it's perfect. You've done a brilliant job, and people are going to come here for a laugh and to get away from the god-awful world out there…you've really done something magical here. The two of you have. I couldn't be happier for the pair of you."
He smiled slightly, leaning back on the counter to join me. He sipped his Ogden's carefully, then turned to me. I didn't meet his gaze; the alcohol and the music and the feeling of his eyes on me was stirring up more than a few impulses that I wouldn't dare act on with George nearby.
"Now I have everything," he whispered. "I've got my freedom, my shop, my girl. This is what I meant when I said we had it made, Malfoy."
"I know," I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder lazily. "I wish it could stay like this forever."
"For all you know, it might," he countered, moving slightly to look down at me. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he wasn't so much trying to convince me, but convince himself, that that were true. After a few minutes of silence and standing around, I jumped up on my tiptoes and planted a lingering kiss on his cheek. He blushed and grinned at me, leaning down to kiss the side of my nose like he always did between classes at Hogwarts. Little gestures like that made everything seem okay, like everything would be okay for the rest of time, even when it wasn't.
"You two going to help stock the fireworks or what?!" George bellowed from above, leaning over the railing to glare at us. We looked up and laughed, but no sooner did I turn my attention to the radio, where the opening chords of Modern English's "I Melt with You" played through the static.
"Turn it up, George!" I called back, grabbing the bottle of Ogden's and filling my glass up once more. "I'll race you up to the top?"
Fred smirked, then turned on his heel and vanished into the air. My jaw dropped as I sprinted for the stairs.
"NO FAIR! THAT'S CHEATING- "
Suddenly, Fred appeared before me on the stairs, his face alight with laughter and bobbing his head to the music. I shook my head and kept laughing, sloshing my drink all over the stairs as I continued to race him to the top, belting out the words to the song as I did.
I'll stop the world and melt with you
You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time
There's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you
"You missed the excitement yesterday," Sirius mused over breakfast. "Harry paid us a little visit."
"What?!" I gasped, dropping my toast and spilling crumbs all over the tablecloth. "What'd he want? Is he okay?"
"He's perfectly fine, at least we think he is," Remus said calmly. "He had some…questions about his dad. Apparently, he'd seen some memories of Snape's that didn't exactly paint James in the most sympathetic light. He was upset, and understandably so."
"Did he say what it was?" I asked.
"He did, but it's a bit of a long story," Sirius remarked. "James, Remus, and I – well, James and I more so than you, Remus – were arrogant little berks, complete idiots when we were fifteen. He didn't get to see the best bits of James, which is probably why he was so upset about- "
"In any case, as a result, Snape has refused to continue teaching Harry Occlumency," Remus cut in. "Which was, perhaps, the most concerning bit of information to come out of the whole visit."
"WHAT?!" I shouted, dropping down to sit across from Sirius at the table. "He can't do that! If Harry doesn't learn to close his mind, he's going to be vulnerable to You-Know-Who breaking into his- "
"Cassie, we know. Severus is, unfortunately, still stuck in our school days, and can't seem to let things go," Remus continued. "All we can hope for is that Dumbledore intervened, or Harry was somehow able to get through to Severus to allow him to continue lessons."
I nodded, resigned to this answer. I hadn't thought about Harry in quite a while, but now that Sirius and Remus mentioned his unexpected visit and the reason for it, a knot of worry had formed in my stomach and refused to go away. Poor kid, I thought. Of all people who really don't need to be subjected to Snape's abuse…
"I hope for his sake that he did," I finally said. "Occlumency is a challenge to master. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Harry might need Snape more than he realizes. And Snape…well, I'm aware that he was never good at letting go of grudges. That man is a child at heart, and I mean that in the worst possible way."
Sirius let out a short HA! At that, and Remus shot him a glare. I pursed my lips, suppressing my own laughter, then shot up from the breakfast table.
"I'll be back later, I think," I said, pulling my leather jacket over my shoulders. "I'm helping the boys set up the rest of the shop."
"Boys? What boys?" Sirius inquired. "Don't tell me- "
"Yes," I said sharply. "And not a word to either of their parents about it. Not yet at least."
Sirius held up his hands in defeat and Remus waved me off, sending me on my way for the day. It was Saturday, which meant music, drinking, dancing, and general merrymaking with Fred, George, and whichever of my friends happened to find us and get sucked into our orbit. Despite the chaos of the world around me, days like these were small nuggets of gold, pockets of sunshine in an otherwise cold and tense world.
When I landed outside Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, I found a note hastily taped to the inside of the door with Spell-O-Tape.
Cass - Gone to Madame Malkin's for robe fittings. Come find us if you like! -G
C – you don't have to come if you don't want to, but if you want to see your handsome boyfriend waist-deep in waistcoats, robes, and vests of various colors and patterns, I won't hold it against you. -F
I crumpled up the note and wandered down the other end of the street toward Madame Malkin's shop. When I entered, the sight was something to behold.
"D'you think magenta's my color?"
"Freddie, I've already told you it clashes with your hair. Besides, magenta looks far better on me- "
"WE HAVE THE SAME HAIR COLOR! What do you think, Miss-?"
"Clo?" I finally asked, not even bothering to contain my laughter. Suddenly, Fred, George, and Clotilde all turned around to face me; George in robes and a vest that were too small, Fred in matching robes that were two sizes too big, and Clo on her hands and knees, trying to keep Fred still as she took his measurements.
"He's charming, Cass," she said loftily, giving me the cheekiest grin. "I can see the appeal. As for the colors, magenta doesn't do you any favors, Mister Weasley."
"See! I told you!" George said triumphantly to an eye-rolling Fred.
"The same goes for you too, Mister Weasley," Clo shot back at George with a giggle. He blushed, then turned back to the mirror to admire his appearance.
"What d'you think, Cass?" Fred asked. "How do we look?"
"I'd have to agree with Miss LaCross here," I announced, shooting Clo a wink. "No magenta, no orange, no jewel tones. I think you'd both look good in…well, I take that back, orange does have to be part of it somehow. And maybe…"
"Purple?" Clo offered. "Like this color?"
She waved her wand and two vests made from fine violet fabric flew down from the tallest shelf at Madame Malkin's. I nodded approvingly, then turned to the twins to gauge their reactions. Both shrugged indifferently.
"I'm taking that as a yes," Clo finally said, wrapping the robes around the boys' broad shoulders. "I do not have all afternoon to argue with you two."
"And that's probably alright, because I think we've found our color scheme," George said, admiring his violet vest and now orange sportscoat. "What say you, Freddie?"
"Georgie, I'm thinking exactly the same thing," he said, winking at me in the mirror. I sidled up to him as he continued to admire Clo's handiwork. "How do I look, Malfoy?"
"Well, for someone who once said they'd never dress up this much for work, I'd say you look pretty brilliant," I said simply, elbowing him playfully. He grinned down at me.
"Yeah, well, that was then, and this is now," he said. "A lot can change in seven months."
I didn't tell him this, probably because I didn't need to, but he had no idea how right he was.
"Alright, boys! Let me take these to the back, make a few alterations, and you'll be on your way!" Clo exclaimed, taking the robes and vests from their arms. "Cass, you going home after this or sticking around?"
"I'm going to help these two set up the rest of the shop. You should come!" I called after her.
"Maybe! I get off at four, so perhaps I'll find you," she called back from behind the curtains that separated the back of the shop from the front.
"I'll have Ogden's!" I prodded, hoping that would sell her on coming. Her head poked out from behind the curtains, her coily hair bouncing in front of her face as she did.
"Fine. I'll bring Frans, who'll probably bring more to imbibe," she said. "Are you sure it's a good idea? The three of us and the two of them?"
I paused to consider, even though I knew the answer already.
"No," I said cheerfully, cocking my eyebrow at my friend. "But when has that ever stopped us before?"
When Clo and Francis arrived at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes just after four, they found Fred, George, and I in the store's back office, slumped up against the counters and desks, empty glasses in hand, laughing uncontrollably.
"What the bloody hell have we just walked into?" Francis implored, running their newly tattooed hands through their golden hair. "Cass, is this- "
"Yes, yes, this is Gred and Fo – no, Frerd and Georg- FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY!" I exclaimed, slurring and laughing as I tried to say the twins' names. Francis gave us all a wary look, like they were trying too hard to hide their laughter.
"You two want to join in? We may have another bottle out there somewhere," George said through his giggles. Clo held up her hand to reveal an unopened bottle in her hands, which was met with raucous cheers from Fred, George, and I. After about twenty minutes, Clo and Francis had joined us on the floor and were laughing, talking, and getting to know Fred and George over the endlessly flowing glasses of firewhiskey.
"What're you thinking about?" I asked Fred, whose eyes appeared faraway and lost in deep thought.
"Hm? Oh, nothing really," he whisper-slurred. "Just that this is…nice, I guess."
"You guess? I thought you'd say 'this is what I had in mind when I said we had it made,'" I teased. "Unless being tipsy on the floor of your brand-new business with your girlfriend's best friends isn't what you had in mind?"
He laughed, leaning his back on the counter ever so lightly, bumping it against the wood. His head lolled to the side, turning to face me lazily.
"Get up," he said quickly. "I want to show you something."
"Right now? What- "
"Yes, right now, Malfoy. Now get up!"
I complied, letting him pick me up off the ground and lead me up the stairs of the shop. Behind us, Clo, Francis, and George were hooting and hollering.
"Keep it clean, you two!" Francis bellowed.
"Yeah, just think of Mrs. Norris staring you down if you need to cool off!" George teased. Fred shot him the nastiest glare in return, then continued leading me up the stairs. When we reached the top, we were faced with a tall, red door. Fred turned to me, placed his hand on the right door's doorknob, and pushed it open.
"This is what I wanted to show you," he whispered.
The door led to the roof of the building. It was early evening, so the sun was just peeking through the clouds a tiny bit, and the air was cooler than it was two hours ago. All around us was a view of the rooftops and flats of wizarding Britain in their colorful and uniquely shaped glory. I spun around in circles slowly, taking in the view from all angles.
"Freddie, this is- "
"Brilliant, isn't it?" he finally said. "Your friends are great and watching you and George getting on so well is brilliant too, but I wanted to have a few minutes with you to myself."
"Well, it works out, because it just so happens that I wanted to have a few minutes with you to myself," I whispered, sauntering over to him and planting a soft, slow kiss on his lips. He kissed me back, wrapping his left hand behind my head and right hand around my waist. In an instant, my hands got lost in his hair, grasping at the ginger strands and holding onto him like I was marooned in the middle of the ocean and he was the only thing I could hold onto in order to stay afloat.
"This is what I meant when I said I had it made," he said after we finally broke apart. "I know things are…well, they're not great. There's a war looming, everyone's on edge, the Ministry's taking over Hogwarts- "
"Fred."
"But all that said, I know I've got you. I've got George, I've got this business, I've got my family, and I've got you," he continued. "Blimey, you are my family at this point. I don't want to ever not consider you my family, Cass."
I smiled, tears pricking my eyes at his words. If I had learned anything in the last two years, it was that family meant a million different things. In my case, family wasn't always blood. In some cases, it was, but I chose my family, too. I chose Annabelle and Jermaine and Clo and Francis and Fred to be my family, and whatever happened, whatever war loomed on the horizon, whatever horrors did or did not await us in the future, I knew we could face them together. With Fred, nothing – not even war – was impossible.
"You're my family too, Freddie," I whispered. "You always have been. And you always will be, no matter what happens. Let's just…enjoy this brilliant view, alright? Save the sappy stuff for later."
He grinned, nodded, then sat down on the building's west ledge to watch the world go by. I took my place next to him, squeezed his hand tight, and rest my head on his shoulder while we watched as the world around us changed – slowly and without us even noticing – right before our eyes.