Author's Note: I'm so sorry. I've just been so busy with school, my job and I just recently had surgery on my toe, so 1. I'm in pain 2. I'm busy and 3. I'm completely stressed. I'm sorry the chapter is so late but I've already stated why. So think of this as a gift from me to you this Christmas season. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
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11
The scenery around him just seemed to zoom right past as the scarlet engine was snaking its way through the valley. The ginger haired boy sat there, his forehead resting on the cool glass of the window of the train compartment. He stared lazily out the window, every once and a while pass a proud tree, standing tall and mighty over the grassy meadows now covered in snow, but it would be out of sight within a few short seconds. All he would have to stare at then would be the clear blue sky and the bright clean snow, not yet spoiled by human hand.
/I still can't believe they're letting me come back… after all that's happened. /
His mother had told him it would be fine to return to the school earlier than expected, if it was okay with Dumbledore, and of course it was. What had happened was the preparation for the wedding, the wedding itself and helping Charlie get ready was supposed to take up the all of the Christmas Vacation. Well during the whole thing everyone seemed happy about it, not scared, but so comfortable with this, it had just seemed right. Not everything, I'm sad to say, always works out the way we wish it would.
-----2 days ago-----
Charlie and his soon to be bride were sitting out in the backyard holding hands, so tenderly, watching the sun set behind the snow covered trees, it was like a fairy tale. He had found his princess and would go live in and adorable little cottage in a quiet little meadow. Oh how perfect their life would be together.
"Well, I should probably go hit the sack now, we do have to get up early tomorrow for rehearsal."
A weak smile spread across her face. "Yeah."
"Emily? Are you okay? You're awfully quiet."
"I'm fine, Charlie. Don't worry. I'll be all yours in 2 days."
He squeezed her hand gently. "You could never know how much I love you, Emily."
Her face softened. "Thanks" That was all she could say?
/Give her a break, she's the one who's been making all the wedding arrangements, she's probably just tired. /
"Yeah," he leaned down to kiss her good night, but she turned her head and he got her cheek.
"Night." She had said it, no emotions, not happy, sad, angry, or agitated; she had just said it plain and simple, as if she were bringing a feud between the two of them to an end. He trudged up the stairs, and went into his room kicking his boots to the other side of the bed. Snuggling under his warm sheets, he laid his head on the downy soft pillow.
/Everything's fine. Don't get so worked up. If there was something going on she'd tell me. /
His eyes shot open. One day! One day till the wedding. He sat up with a large toothy grin and scratched his head, but as he did so he heard a noise, something crumpled. Taped to his hand was a letter scribbled on a half sheet of paper. Confused, he began to read.
Dear Charlie,
I'm so sorry. Lord knows I love you dearly, but in the days nearing the wedding I finally began to realize I just can't do this. I don't know what or why it is but my heart is telling me that I love you but I don't deserve you. You are too kind, sweet, gentle, intelligent, caring and funny, you're perfect. While I'm jealous. I never had a real family. My mother left us when I was young because my father was an alcoholic and he would beat me because I reminded him of her, he thought I'd leave him like she did.
I found that I was slowly beginning to hate you because of that very reason and I couldn't bear it. Next is the hardest for me to say, but while we have been together I have been with other men, terrible ones. I don't know what I was doing with them, maybe trying to raise my self esteem, maybe make myself think I was good enough for you, because they weren't good enough for me. It just made me feel worse. I've come to the conclusion that, while it may kill me to do this, you're life would be so much better if I was out of the picture completely. I love you Charlie, and I hope someday you will come to forgive me.
Love always,
Emily
He set down the paper and let tears that he'd been painfully holding back fall.
-----
Ron and Ginny had found Emily a few miles down the road with a gun in one hand and the barrel on her temple. They tried to stop her, screaming, telling not to, she had too much to live for, but they were too far away. She had pulled the trigger just a few minutes later, when they were only a few feet away. He would never be able to get that image out of his head. Her face was filled with such sadness and confusion, and when she had pulled the trigger, her big doe eyes shot open and her body just went limp and fell over, like a giant rag doll. He saw the color began to drain out of every bit of skin exposed, her eyes still staring at the sky. The crimson liquid poured out and puddle around her head, some sneaking its way out the corner of her mouth.
-----
After all that had happened Molly was practically shoving him out the door, saying his brother needed to be alone. He believed that would be the worst thing to do in this situation, but she too was mourning over Emily's death, the girl had been like a daughter to her and she just wanted to talk to Charlie without any interruptions.
The mountains began to part exposing the little village of Hogsmede. It was now time to put on that mask and hide his pain and confusion from the world and return to his old happy go lucky self. This would be hard to do, he just thought of Harry and Hermione and a smile would come to his face.
/This might be easier than I thought. /