Chapter 32 – Pig

FW

DAILY PROFET

Fred Weasley Lives

Fred Weasley the fourth son of Arthur and Molly Weasley has risen from the death!
The 20-year-old died on May 2nd, during the battle of Hogwarts, being crushed by a wall. But now he is back amongst the living. We talked to the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, for more answers.

"The resurrection of Mr. Weasley is truly a miracle.
It is due to a blood scar, linked magic between him and a witch. Not much is known about the link, only a handful are recorded. We will probably never uncover the full story about what happened, we are just grateful to bring happiness and peace to at least one family who lost someone.
We will not include the name of the witch and we ask you to respect the privacy of the Weasley family."

Leah dropped the paper next to her on the couch, an old picture of Fred, smiled up at her. She barely escaped Fred and George at Diagon Alley over a week ago; she knew it was a risk, but she had to see him. See him out and about, laughing with his family. The last few days she received owls from George and Hermione. George wrote to her, begging her to come back, or to write back, anything. Hermione on the other hand, just kept her posted on what was happening. The small gathering of the twins' friends to celebrate Fred being back, how the twins were still giving their mum a cold shoulder. It was because of Hermione she knew Fred and George were going to be in Diagon Alley that day to buy his new wand, so she went in early and paid for it before placing herself on the familiar bench in front of the shop. Even though they kept writing her every couple of days, she hasn't written anyone back. It's been two weeks since Fred's return, two weeks since she talked to him and weeks on putting her focus on learning magic, trying not to think about him.

Between learning new spells, which went easier than she thought, she cleaned up her Nan's house, her house. Making it more liveable, more a home. Minerva was coming over to the house in a few days to connect the fireplace to the floo network, so she could travel easier since she couldn't apparate just yet. Minerva was the only one she had contact with, she was the only one who knew where she was. Every time Leah went into the town, she tried to disguise herself in case she stumbled upon a Weasley. But so far, she was lucky, only seeing the local villagers.

It surprised her that the twins didn't look for her here, maybe they forgot, or they thought the house was going to be sold, or maybe they actually didn't want to come find her. She shook her head and grabbed her potions book again. She knew she had to contact Hermione eventually to help her with Herbology, Potions and Arithmancy but she wasn't ready yet.
She walked to the kitchen reading her book as she put on a kettle of tea, when Pig, Ron's owl flew in. It chirped loudly as it landed on her shoulder, carrying a letter. She frowned as she took the letter of the tiny owl because Hermione and George had just sent a letter the day before. Pig hopped off from her shoulder and walked up and down the kitchen island, looking for food as she opened the letter. The note was short, and her eyes went wide as she saw who wrote to her.

Leah

Can we meet? I think we should talk.

Molly

She frowned at the short note, staring at it in disbelief. What should she do, should she go and meet her? What if she will just accuse her again. She took in a deep breath before writing a reply, her first reply aside from Minerva. She rolled the note back up and tied it to Pig's leg, not really thinking about waiting to send a reply. She broke of a piece of her sandwich and Pig nibbled on it before he flew out the window. She followed the tiny owl until it disappeared behind the tree line and looked back at her potions book.

.

George was sitting in the kitchen going over the bookings from the shop while his mum was preparing dinner, when Pig flew in through the kitchen window. Pig landed on the table in front of George. George looked up with a cocked eyebrow at the loud chirping of the bird.

"Pig? What do you have, little one?" He said reaching over. Molly spun around, eyes wide and tried to reach the owl first but was too late. George had already untied the letter and was rolling it open. Molly has still her hand reached out to Pig when George looked at her angry. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I wanted to talk to her." She dropped her hand and looked with sad eyes to her son.

"You said enough." He abruptly stood up, making his chair topple.

"George, I-I wanted to apologize to her. Now that I know how Fred feels, that you two grew so close, I knew I was wrong. I was just scared, scared about her seeing the dead."

George sighed as he picked up his chair and sat down again. "She's scared too, mum. She just found out she's a witch, not just a witch but one who has the sight. How do you think she feels? It's only a couple of months since everything started."

"I know. I'm so sorry. And I'll fix this, I swear."

"If she wants to talk to you." George handed over the small letter.

Molly,

I'm not sure that's a good idea. But I'll think about it.

Leah.

Molly frowned as she looked at the note. George cocked his head to the side as he saw the wheels in her head turning.

"Mum, what is it?"

"It's just... I only send Pig out, not even half an hour ago." She said glancing at the kitchen clock. "Maybe someone intercepted it."

"What? Not even-" George eyes went wide as he jumped up again and dashed out of the kitchen and ran up the stairs, leaving a flabbergasted Molly behind.

FW

He threw his old bedroom door open, the door bounced against the wall with a bang. Fred, who was lying on the bed, looking at something, got startled and rolled of the bed. He peaked above it and glared at his twin.

"Can't you just walk in like a normal person." Fred grumbled as he sat back on his bed.

"I know where Leah is."

"What?! Where?!" Fred jumped back up.

"I can't believe we didn't think about it." George said entering the room, running his hand through his hair.

"George!" Fred called impatient.

"She's been here under our noses all along."

Fred frowned at his brother, waiting for him to get to the point, when suddenly his eyes went wide. "Her Nan's house." George nodded. "She's been in St. Ottery Catchpole the whole time?"

"I don't know for how long, but mum send her a letter not even half an hour ago and Pig's already back with a reply."

"Mum send her a letter?" Fred said through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, she wants to apologize. She knows she fucked up."

Fred huffed as he paced the bedroom. "Should we go to her? She hasn't answered any letters from you or Hermione."

"I don't know Freddie. Maybe we should let mum try to talk to her first. But she has to agree to meet her first." George said rubbing his face.

"Yeah, maybe." Fred sighed. "I'm going to take a shower." He grabbed his bathrobe from the desk chair and walked out the room.

George watched his twin disappear from the room and dropped down on Fred's bed. He heard something crunch under him before pulling a picture from under his leg. It was a muggle picture of Leah at a party, probably before they met, laughing at something he couldn't see.

When everyone arrived downstairs for dinner, George sat down in his usual seat, the chair next to him empty.

"Where's Fred?" Molly asked as she served dinner. All eyes on the table fell on him.

"I think I know where he might be off to." George said, gazing out the window.

.

Fred's heart was beating fast as he was standing outside her door. Not from the running through the woods or nearly falling over a cobblestone, no, it was beating because there is a great chance that the love of his life is on the other side of that door. He took in a deep breath, trying to calm down his heartbeat. With trembling hands, he rang the doorbell and waited. He heard footsteps come closer, but the door didn't open.

On the other side of the door was Leah, she had seen his red flaming hair through the peephole on the door and her breath caught in her throat as she stopped herself from opening the door. She just stood there, hand on the doorknob, leaning her head against the door.

"Leah, I know you're there. Please open the door." Fred's voice rang from the other side of the door. "I miss you. I didn't care what my mum said about you before and now she wants to talk to you, apologize for what she said. Please let me in, I don't want to lose you."

Tears started to cloud her eyes as Fred pleaded with her on the other side of the door, but she couldn't bring herself to open the door. The things Molly said still lingered, even if she wanted to apologize, she is still afraid of what she can do. She took a risk to glance through the peephole and saw Fred leaning his hands against it, his head hung down between his arms.

"I love you! Please let me in." Fred tried again. He looked up and she saw the tears running down his cheeks, before he sighed. He looked at the door for a moment before he turned and walked away.

Leah's heart raced as she saw him walk away from her. Her head and her heart clashed, and she didn't know what to do, but suddenly her hand turned the doorknob and pulled the door open. Her breathing became heavy as she saw Fred's back walk away on the cobbled street.

"Fred." She whispered. It was so soft that Fred wouldn't even heard it if he was standing right in front of her. But still, Fred stopped walking in the middle of the street, and after a moment he turned and saw her standing in the doorway. His eyes went wide, and she still could see the tears on his cheek reflecting in the sun. She saw his lips move and she was one hundred percent sure he whispered her name, before he broke into a run towards her.

When he reached her, he cupped her cheek instantly. They were standing in her doorway, both tears in their eyes as they looked at each other. Leah leaned into his touch; her heart stammering crazy as she felt his skin against hers. Fred's heart was also pounding in rapid pace as he could finally touch her again, hold her again.

"Fred." She whispered anew. Fred looked from her eyes to her lips and back, before he crashed his lips to hers.

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