...xxx...
I wake before Fred and find my uncles watching us. I groan and roll over which wakes Fred as I'm no longer in his arms. He merely looks around, nods at my uncles, gets up, puts his shoes on, and walks out. I curl up and put my pillow over my head. "Get up Seren." uncle Remus lifts me up while uncle Sirius grabs my hand leading me out of my room. I wave as Fred walks into the fire back to Grimmauld Place. My uncles drag me to the kitchen where my parents are downing their morning coffee like it's alcohol.
I rummage through the fridge and pout. I take some things out and start cooking. "Make some for me too." dad groans. I roll my eyes but make grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone. "Seren, I have a question?" mum mumbles carefully. I hum and nod for her to continue. "Why was Molly talk about weddings with Fred after Christmas dinner?" she wonders. "Bill is seeing someone." I smile. "She was talking about rings WITH Fred." mum specifies. "Ah that. Fred is thinking about the next stage." I shrug and add the roasted tomatoes to the vegetable soup.
"And you?" uncle Remus asks. "I got accepted for a job. I'm going to be in training for a year and Fred's going to be busy with his business. There's no need to do anything." I reply ladling the soup into bowls and adding sour cream drizzles on the top. "Would you five get in here and stop listening at the door." uncle Sirius and I shout at the same time. I tap the bowls and they float to the table with the tray of grilled cheese sandwiches. My siblings stumble in smirking.
"I overheard George mumbling something about Fred looking at houses." Harry mumbles. "Funny, I overheard you were such a dating novice that Cho stormed off on your very first date." I counter making Harry blush a dark red. Mum smacks my arm. "What is that?" dad asks pointing at my neck. I tilt my head in confusion. I look down and find a golden chain necklace around my neck with a locket attached. "It must be from Fred." I whisper running my fingers over the locket. I sit down next to Elin and start eating.
She takes the locket and opens it. Her jaw drops and I take the locket back rubbing my neck. I tuck the necklace into my shirt before anyone else can try to snatch it. After I finish eating, I take out the locket and open it. From the day we met until now pictures and memories of me and Fred play like a movie on the glass. The final picture is one of Fred smiling and blowing kisses. I put my head down on the table sniffling.
"Oh god. Someone go get Fred before it gets bad." Alvey scoffs getting up. "Fred just left a few hours ago." uncle Sirius mumbles getting more soup and another sandwich. Everyone freezes. "What?!" mum and dad yell. "George went to Angelina's for the new year and he was bored so he came over while you guys were in the garden to spend some time with me." I cry. I sit there crying quietly for an hour before someone taps my shoulder.
"Seren, Fred's here." Harry mutters. I ignore him and keep crying. "Seren, come here love." Fred sighs. I look up tear-streaked face and all and see Fred in the doorway smiling. He holds out his arms and I run and jump into them. "I guess you really love your gift." he chuckles as I kiss his cheek. "Come on. You're scaring your family. Nap time for the stubborn brat." he laughs carrying me to my bedroom. I take my medicine with some water and lay down.
"Adorable brat." Fred whispers tucking me in and kissing the top of my head. "I really like my gift, Freddie." I murmur. He smiles and I hold out my arms. "Come here. You look tired." I mumble. He crawls into bed with me and I curl up next to him. "My family woke you up, didn't they?" I huff. He nods but he's still smiling. "Just stay here. Don't leave. My family will let yours know you're too tired to get up." I smile and kiss his cheek as we fall back asleep.
I wake up crying and hide my face in Fred's shirt. He begins to stir wrapping his arms tighter around me. "Seren, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" he grumbles sleepily sitting up and sliding me onto his lap. "Nothing's wrong." I sniffle. "But darling you're crying." he whispers wiping my tears away. I shake my head and wrap my arms around him. "I just had a good dream with the locket and all its photos and memories." I whisper.
Fred sighs and rubs circles on my back. "You are so adorable. What am I going to do with you?" he chuckles lying back down. "Did you see my gift?" I wonder. Fred sits up so fast I gasp. He kisses me apologetically and slides me off his lap. I watch as he puts his shoes on and hurries to the door. I walk after him sliding into my slippers. I catch up to him at the fireplace as he looks around for the Floo Powder. I hand it to him.
He leaves first and I follow. By the time I emerge and dust off he's halfway up the stairs to his room. I hurry after him and find him searching his part of the room. "Freddie?!" I call. He turns to me in full pout mode. I walk over to his trunk and pull out a red and gold box and hand it over. He takes it and holds it as if it might break at any time. He sits on the edge of his bed and carefully opens his present. I walk over and dust the soot out of his hair.
He lets out a choked sob and I kiss his cheek. He wraps his arms around my waist pulling me closer. I run my fingers through his hair and smile. "Do you like it?" I ask. He mumbles something I can't hear because his face is in my chest. I tap his shoulder and he looks up. "I said I love it." he cups my face and pulls me into a kiss. He places the framed photo of me in my garden on the nightstand.
"I love you Seren." he gives my lips another quick peck. "Aww, how cute." George gags teasingly as he throws the door open making us both jump. "Where's Lina?" I wonder looking around. "She sent me home to get some sleep." he pouts flopping on his bed. I pout too and sit on the floor kicking George's bed. "Apologize for the book incident!" I whine.
George frowns and glares at me. I quickly find myself getting scooped up and placed on Fred's bed as he nods apologetically at George. I turn to pout at Fred but he's already laying down and pulling me with him. I lie there with him until he's asleep then I tuck both boys in before going to talk to Mrs. Weasley.
I walk over to my friends and hug them. "You've been crying!" Beyle gasps. "Why'd you make her cry?" Crystal rounds on Fred. He holds up his hands in surrender. "She's been like this since I gave her, her Christmas present. She cries in her sleep, she cries when she's awake, she just cries." Fred sighs. "You cried too." George smirks. Fred starts chasing him around as I show the others the locket.
I step in Fred's path as George hides behind Angelina. "Everyone thinks my gift is super cute." I smile. Fred groans as the others smirk at him. "Oh, it's so cute! How ever did you think of that?! It's so romantic, and cute, and adorable!" Donovan teases in a falsetto voice. Fred goes to hit his head but I wrap my arms around his waist.
We sit down and listen to everyone's holidays. None of our friends our really surprised by the fact that Fred and I just stayed in each other's beds the entire break but they're happy to hear Mr. Weasley's ok. I put my head on Fred's shoulder and hum softly as the boys begin to play Wizards Chess but I get bored after an hour. I start putting tiny intricate braids randomly through Fred's hair.
Crystal snickers and turns away. "Darling, stop it." Fred whispers out of the side of his mouth. I kiss his cheek as I add more braids. Angelina looks up and chokes back a laugh but ends up cracking up and falling off her seat. I giggle and fluff Fred's hair. I twirl my wand around the tiny braids weaving flowers and golden bubbles throughout. George looks up and snorts. "Why aren't you pretty Freddie!" he smirks. "Frederica, you mean." I correct.
Fred turns to me and I smile quite proud of myself. Our friends double over laughing and soon everyone in the hall is laughing. Fred gets to his feet and takes my hand leading me from the hall. I stare around as he examines his reflection in a giggling suit of armor. When he turns to me, I blink up innocently at him. He leads me to the common room and points to the girls' dorm stairs. "Timeout. Now." he growls. I pout and kiss the corner of his mouth before going up the stairs.
When I come down for dinner Fred's still upset but the hairstyle hasn't budged, not one bit. He holds out a hand but I opt for walking straight into his arms. He sighs and rubs my back and kisses my cheek. "You're not the slightest bit sorry, are you love?" he groans as I kiss his neck. I giggle and shake my head. He lifts my chin so I'm looking into his eyes. "I love you though." I whisper. He practically melts on the spot and I smile and clap my hands.
"We should go down to dinner." I grab his hand and walk out the portrait hole. At some point he hugs me from behind and that's how we enter the Great Hall. "Aren't you two sick of each other yet?" Donovan rolls his eyes. "Says the guy with his girlfriend in his lap." Fred smirks. Beyle blushes and tries to slide out of Donovan's lap but he doesn't let her. The teasing continues throughout dinner with Alicia and Lee catching the brunt of it. I lean against Fred as we walk up the stairs with a pout.
"McGonagall was staring at us the entire time." I whisper. "I know. We have to be at her office after breakfast." he sighs. I groan and he chuckles ruffling my hair. "Now, can you take the braids out?" he pleads. I begin to whine and he pulls me into an empty corridor. I wrap my arms around his neck and sigh. "No." he states calmly. "I didn't even say anything!" I huff. "You were going to ask if you could sleep in your own dorm tonight but I need your help with a report. So, we're going to stay up all night writing it." Fred smirks kissing my cheek. I groan and whine as I try to escape.
He chuckles and throws me easily over his shoulder and carries me up to the common room ignoring me hitting his back with my fists. I pout as he sets me down and pulls me onto his lap. "Please help me?" he whispers in my ear. I shake my head. "Are you too tired to help?" he frowns. I shake my head. "Do you want to go see McGonagall now?" he smirks. I lightly smack his arm and get up to go to my dorm but he pulls me back down. He kisses my cheek and sighs. "Stay right here. Don't go anywhere. Please." he whispers staring into my eyes. I put my head on his shoulder. I fall asleep there.
He actually drags me to McGonagall's after breakfast even though I was dragging my feet. We make it to her office rather speedily. I whine quietly and stomp my foot. Fred cups my face and kisses me. I follow him into her office dazedly. We're scolded for half an hour before she leans back sighing. "Both of your parents have explained Seren's situation to me. I only ask that you behave. You two may go." she hands Fred our note to give to Umbridge since we're late to her class.
He squeezes my hand as we walk and I hide in his chest. "I love you too but we're already severely late. I don't want to end up in her detention again and watch her torture you." he whispers kissing the top of my head. I walk into the classroom and take a seat next to Beyle. Umbridge has yet to look up but she does as the door closes. I'm already scribbling down today's 'lesson'.
"Would you like to explain why you are so very late?" she frowns using her little girl voice. "That is between us and our head of house." I reply handing her McGonagall's note. She reads it her frown deepening and anger radiating off of her in palpable waves. She marches up to her desk in a huff. I slip my work onto her desk and leave with Alicia. "What now?" she asks when we're several floors away. "I need to write some letters." I mutter not wanting to write them.
"They're not for jobs, are they?" she frowns. I shake my head. We walk up to our dorm in silence. I've written three letters by the time the others make it up. Alicia explains quickly what I'm doing. "What about your parents?" Beyle wonders tucking her ink black hair behind her ear. I smile and pat her cheek. Their letter along with the letters for my siblings are in Elin's gift that is already in her trunk." I giggle. "You're leaving this year, aren't you?" Crystal sniffles. I nod. Alicia turns away but not before I see the tears in her eyes.
"They think they can cure my condition in less than two years." I murmur. Angelina drops to the floor in shock. "I still have to stay at least two years for them to make sure I'm well and healthy but I'll be cured of burning myself alive and uncontrollably magical outbursts. Isn't that great?" I smile. My friends rush to hug me and we wind up a crying mess on the floor. "What happened?" Donovan gapes as he sits down looking at Beyle's red eyes. All that crying really makes her teal blue eyes pop. She pats his honey yellow hair while looking in his tangerine orange eyes. Then she points at me.
I focus on my sandwich. Cayden taps the table and I look up into his seafoam green eyes. "What happened?" he wonders tossing his penny brown hair out of his eyes. I shrug. Crystal laughs her ash gray eyes shining. She ties her long fire yellow hair back and whispers in Cayden's ear. Fred, George, and Lee are the last to arrive at lunch. I put my head on Fred's shoulder. "What is it? You're really happy." he mumbles. "These are happy tears?!" Cayden coughs.
"The medicine is working better than they thought." I whisper. Fred freezes scanning my face. "Are you leaving soon?" he mouths. I shake my head and he relaxes but the worry still lingers in his eyes. I don't have the heart to tell him. I kiss his cheek and sigh softly. "Oh come on you guys. It's not that serious." Alicia laughs. They lighten up enough to eat and I'm glad.
I watch from the wall as Fred and George fly away. Leave it to those two to cause so much chaos and trouble. I shake my head and turn to Angelina who's laughing so hard she's crying. I hug her. "When are you meeting Mrs. Weasley?" I whisper. She pinches my side and I run and hide behind Alicia. Angelina chases me around the castle until the sunsets. I drop onto my bed panting and exhausted. I take my medicine and stare at my necklace. I already miss Fred like crazy. I curl up and press my lips to the necklace.
I stand on the train unable to make myself walk. "You guys go ahead. I need a minute." I murmur. My friends leave the compartment. I sit down tears springing up in my eyes. Taking deep breaths, I try and cam myself down. I don't want to leave him just yet but I have to. I change into my travelling cloak. I walk to the end of the train well out of sight and step onto the platform hiding behind several families. I can see mine and Fred's families in the distance looking around. Even though I'm far from them I can see the realization dawn on Angelina's face as she races back onto the train calling for me.
I apparate away just as my tears begin to fall. I watch Fred and George flit around their store working hard. "Did you need something? Do you know them?" a girl comes out with window signs and asks. "Umm, yeah. Can you give this letter to Fred? Tell him it's from Seren. She couldn't bear to say good-bye in person. She wanted to tell him not to be too sad and move on quickly." I hand the letter over. She nods setting up the window signs and goes inside. I watch her hand Fred the letter.
Fred slides to the ground in shock and George looks up at me and we make eye contact. "Take care of Freddie for me." I mouth tears streaming down my face. He starts for the door but I shake my head apparating away before he can stop me. I walk into the post office in Hogsmeade. The owner nods at me before taking my letters. "Your fastest owls please." I mumble wiping my tears away. I watch the owls fly away for a moment. I readjust my bag and set out to the location where the port key should be.
My healer Althea Pye waits for me next to the port key her frost white hair blowing in the wind. "Ready?" she asks turning to me upon hearing me approaching. She pauses when she sees my tear streaked face. "I'm ready." I nod avoiding her worried silver gray eyes. "I take it he didn't react well." she sighs. "No, I think I sent him into shock but it's better than him following me." I whisper. She takes my hand and we approach the port key. I take one last look at Hogwarts in the distance before we touch the port key and disappear.