Angelina turned her head away from Ron's as she noticed the tears
brimming on his eyelids. She wanted to give him a bit of privacy, but
there was more to her motivation than that. She didn't want to break down
herself and cry. In her mind, she knew part of his burden must be greater
than hers as he had never known life before without Fred. Still, her
throbbing heart wouldn't quite agree with her mind. The last few weeks had
been the hardest she had ever known, even including the day she had a final
each with McGonnagal and Snape. After a moment of tense, emotional
silence, Angelina answered Ron with only the barest hesitation in her
voice.
"Yes," she said softly. "Please."
She turned her dark head back towards Ron and watched him lay aside his letter and open the one addressed to Angelina. His aging fingers fumbled with the envelope, but he wrestled the letter free. He cut his right index finger on the envelope, and Ron promptly stuck his finger in his mouth to stop the bleeding. Turning red with embarrassment, he asked Angelina a question one more time before unfolding her letter.
"Are you sure you want me to?" he asked dubiously. "I don't want to intrude."
"Yes, Ron, I'm sure," Angelina said snapping just a bit. "Get on with it." A fire danced in her eyes.
Turning just a little more red, Ron unfolded the letter in his hands and began reading in hushed tones. "My dearest Angelina," Ron paused awkwardly after this, but Angelina motioned him to continue. Taking a deep breath, he plunged onward.
"I hope you never have the chance to read this, Angelina, because I do not want you to have to live without me. But I don't want to live without you either. I love you and I can no longer imagine life without you. Yes, this is Fred writing, though I know I don't often talk like this. And there was a point in my life, when I was young.and well foolish in the ways of the heart, if not in how to pull off a good a prank, that I never would have written those words.
But you are one of the reasons why I can and do write such words now. No, I didn't fall in love with you the first time I saw you, the first time I met you or even the first time I played a game of Quidditch on the same team as you. At first, you were just a girl to me, granted a girl who was pretty good with a broomstick. But somewhere along the way, I fell for you. I didn't even realize it until a game we had with Slytherin. Marcus Flint had stolen the beaters bat and hit a bludger right toward you and you were boxed in by two Slytherin chasers. I was a long ways off, but I knew I couldn't let it hurt you, so I made my broom fly faster than I think it ever had for you. Darn bludger caught me in the face, but it was worth visiting Madam Pomphrey after the game and Oliver Wood's lecture.
Then, almost on a dare from Ron, I asked to the Yule Ball so casually. I don't know what I would have done if you'd had said no. Ronnikins would have never let me forget that," Ron paused in his reading, chuckling over that statement before continuing.
"We sure showed everyone what real dancing was all about at that ball. Then there was the private dinner I arranged for you in Filch's office our seventh year, while Filch was otherwise occupied. And graduation day, when we bid farewell to Hogwarts, and also to each other for awhile. But we were back together within the month while you were working at the Three Broomsticks and I was setting up the joke shop with George. That was a hard time for me at first, having to be responsible, planning new products, racing around, never getting enough sleep. And you were busy too, so it looked like nothing final would ever come.
But then, two years later, we were wed in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Peeves showed up with a bow tie and everyone was there, even the professors, though having Snape at the wedding was perhaps not the best thing ever. You were so gorgeous that day (not that you aren't everyday) and I don't think anyone has ever looked better. Your sparkling white gown and veil were unbelievable.
Marriage brought a whole new dimension I hadn't thought of to my life. You became another best friend for me (George was first, I suspect that comes from being twins) and this pillar of enthusiasm that I leaned on, even though you would thrash me on the quidditch field occasionally. No one's perfect, not even a prankster beater on a quidditch field. And then there were the kids and suddenly I understood why Mum was always frustrated with George and me. The day Alexis and Krysta were born was the happiest and most stressful day of my life. You and Mum kicked me out of the hospital room and made me go find Ron, George, Percy, dad, basically the whole clan and our friends. When I got back, there you were, sleepy but resplendent holding our two twin girls. Granted that sleepy look lasted exactly as long as it took for me to suggest naming them Freda and Angel.
Now they've grown, gone to Hogwarts, and moved on with their lives. Quiet times with you were something new to appreciate. But growing old was hard on me, Angelina. I thought I'd always be young at heart, but it scared me when I couldn't block a bludger as hard or fast as I used to. It scared me more when I'd have to sit down from running to hard with Charlie's grandkids. There were just little moments, but I don't think anyone noticed but you.
If you are reading this, then I've left you all alone. I hope I had the chance to say goodbye, but if I didn't here it is. Goodbye my dearest Angelina. You made me who I am and I'll be waiting for you."
Ron put the letter on the floor. He didn't look at Angelina, nor did she look at him. Tears silently slipped down her face and hit the floor. A loud bang caused both of them to jump. The looked over to the attic doorway and saw a very scruffy, disheveled looking George standing there. His old blue sweater emblazoned with a gold G was crooked, his red and white hair standing on end, and there was dirt on his face.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "I just got back from.well, I just got back. I couldn't find you and I got worried."
Frown lines that had been seen far too often recently stretched across his face. "What are you doing up here anyway?" His brown eyes settled on the small pile of enveloped near Ron.
"Oh," George said suddenly, going pale. "Are those Fred's."
"Yes," she said softly. "Please."
She turned her dark head back towards Ron and watched him lay aside his letter and open the one addressed to Angelina. His aging fingers fumbled with the envelope, but he wrestled the letter free. He cut his right index finger on the envelope, and Ron promptly stuck his finger in his mouth to stop the bleeding. Turning red with embarrassment, he asked Angelina a question one more time before unfolding her letter.
"Are you sure you want me to?" he asked dubiously. "I don't want to intrude."
"Yes, Ron, I'm sure," Angelina said snapping just a bit. "Get on with it." A fire danced in her eyes.
Turning just a little more red, Ron unfolded the letter in his hands and began reading in hushed tones. "My dearest Angelina," Ron paused awkwardly after this, but Angelina motioned him to continue. Taking a deep breath, he plunged onward.
"I hope you never have the chance to read this, Angelina, because I do not want you to have to live without me. But I don't want to live without you either. I love you and I can no longer imagine life without you. Yes, this is Fred writing, though I know I don't often talk like this. And there was a point in my life, when I was young.and well foolish in the ways of the heart, if not in how to pull off a good a prank, that I never would have written those words.
But you are one of the reasons why I can and do write such words now. No, I didn't fall in love with you the first time I saw you, the first time I met you or even the first time I played a game of Quidditch on the same team as you. At first, you were just a girl to me, granted a girl who was pretty good with a broomstick. But somewhere along the way, I fell for you. I didn't even realize it until a game we had with Slytherin. Marcus Flint had stolen the beaters bat and hit a bludger right toward you and you were boxed in by two Slytherin chasers. I was a long ways off, but I knew I couldn't let it hurt you, so I made my broom fly faster than I think it ever had for you. Darn bludger caught me in the face, but it was worth visiting Madam Pomphrey after the game and Oliver Wood's lecture.
Then, almost on a dare from Ron, I asked to the Yule Ball so casually. I don't know what I would have done if you'd had said no. Ronnikins would have never let me forget that," Ron paused in his reading, chuckling over that statement before continuing.
"We sure showed everyone what real dancing was all about at that ball. Then there was the private dinner I arranged for you in Filch's office our seventh year, while Filch was otherwise occupied. And graduation day, when we bid farewell to Hogwarts, and also to each other for awhile. But we were back together within the month while you were working at the Three Broomsticks and I was setting up the joke shop with George. That was a hard time for me at first, having to be responsible, planning new products, racing around, never getting enough sleep. And you were busy too, so it looked like nothing final would ever come.
But then, two years later, we were wed in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Peeves showed up with a bow tie and everyone was there, even the professors, though having Snape at the wedding was perhaps not the best thing ever. You were so gorgeous that day (not that you aren't everyday) and I don't think anyone has ever looked better. Your sparkling white gown and veil were unbelievable.
Marriage brought a whole new dimension I hadn't thought of to my life. You became another best friend for me (George was first, I suspect that comes from being twins) and this pillar of enthusiasm that I leaned on, even though you would thrash me on the quidditch field occasionally. No one's perfect, not even a prankster beater on a quidditch field. And then there were the kids and suddenly I understood why Mum was always frustrated with George and me. The day Alexis and Krysta were born was the happiest and most stressful day of my life. You and Mum kicked me out of the hospital room and made me go find Ron, George, Percy, dad, basically the whole clan and our friends. When I got back, there you were, sleepy but resplendent holding our two twin girls. Granted that sleepy look lasted exactly as long as it took for me to suggest naming them Freda and Angel.
Now they've grown, gone to Hogwarts, and moved on with their lives. Quiet times with you were something new to appreciate. But growing old was hard on me, Angelina. I thought I'd always be young at heart, but it scared me when I couldn't block a bludger as hard or fast as I used to. It scared me more when I'd have to sit down from running to hard with Charlie's grandkids. There were just little moments, but I don't think anyone noticed but you.
If you are reading this, then I've left you all alone. I hope I had the chance to say goodbye, but if I didn't here it is. Goodbye my dearest Angelina. You made me who I am and I'll be waiting for you."
Ron put the letter on the floor. He didn't look at Angelina, nor did she look at him. Tears silently slipped down her face and hit the floor. A loud bang caused both of them to jump. The looked over to the attic doorway and saw a very scruffy, disheveled looking George standing there. His old blue sweater emblazoned with a gold G was crooked, his red and white hair standing on end, and there was dirt on his face.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "I just got back from.well, I just got back. I couldn't find you and I got worried."
Frown lines that had been seen far too often recently stretched across his face. "What are you doing up here anyway?" His brown eyes settled on the small pile of enveloped near Ron.
"Oh," George said suddenly, going pale. "Are those Fred's."