Written for QLFC, Season 9

Prompt:

3. (setting) cemetery/graveyard

The lamplight's yellow glow fell on the pavement, shining on the other side of the graveyard. Angelina's eyes scanned for movement, but in the wintry darkness, all that came back was the whitened ground and the outline of tombstones almost lost to the night. The gate opened with an ominous creak.

Entering the cemetery, she skirted around a pile of brown frosted leaves, shining in the glacial light. Unable to pull out her wand, Angelina blew on her gloves to warm herself up a little, her heart pounding in her ears as she began to make her way through.

Ahead, the path glistened like white quartz, yet it was only the frost on the concrete. The bunch of bright yellow dandelions in Angelina's gloved hand contrasted starkly with the gloomy atmosphere of her surroundings.

Under the sallow moon, a frigid wind rustled the crispy leaves which crunched under her feet as Angelina staggered across the cold earth, her feet moving slower than normal.

Reaching the tombstone, she paused, her breath rising in visible puffs, then she remembered why she had come. She needed to talk to him, and this was the only way. The proximity to his frigid bones and the gift of flowers would close the gap between them for a moment, and in that brief window of time, she knew she would feel his presence again.

"Hey, Fred," she whispered, slowly sitting down next to the gravestone, which marked the passing of one who'd been so beloved, who'd left behind the kind of legacy that made the world a better place.

She placed the dandelions on the fluffy snow piled on the grave. "I know I haven't come up here a lot… and I'd like to apologize. You were a wonderful friend to me over the years, and this is how I repay you?"

The wind whistled as it swept a few leaves past her. Angelina took it as a sign to continue. "George and I both miss you. He's still not like he used to be… when you were here. I don't think he'll ever be that happy again… Fred, I'm here because"—she placed her hand on the bump beneath her thick coat—"I have some news… I'm pregnant."

An owl hooted as it flew overhead, and Angelina took the opportunity to look up for a moment, awkwardly fidgeting as she spoke, "I want to name the baby after you. You played a huge part in getting George and me together, and I'd like to honour you in this small way… I don't know what else to say other than that I hope this baby has your blessings—and that it doesn't end up troubling me as much as you two used to."

She could swear she heard a low chuckle as the wind whistled past, and despite her gloomy surroundings, Angelina smiled, a sense of contentment washing over her.

Wherever Fred was, she was sure he was watching. And that was enough to make everything better.