August 3rd, 1996
Alyna looks up at the storefront, checking the address again. Not that she really needed to.
With the darkness that seems to become a permanent part of Diagon Alley, the shop was a shining beacon of light. Of hope. So while the wind blew aimlessly, scattering mice and breaking apart rotting doors, laughter spills from the doors of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
She steps aside to let an older couple exit the shop before she goes inside.
Even the air smells like mischief. Honey and the faint crackle of bonfire smoke held together with melting wax and the sharp scent that wayward spells emit when they backfire.
Golden glitter falls on her from a bright pink plant hanging above the door and she sighs. Glitter is one of those things that can't ever be cleaned completely. You use it once and it bothers you for the rest of eternity.
Great.
"Well looky here," a familiar voice comes from behind her as she moves further into the store. "I see you've met our Guardian of the Gate. He can be a little aggressive on the sparkles sometimes. I've been meaning to owl Professor Sprout about it."
"George!" Alyna spins, eyes brightening at the sight of him. "You- this place-"
A warm breath dances across the back of her neck. "It is pretty wicked innit?"
Her heart skips a beat. She knows who it is before she turns around fully.
The scent of hot cocoa and pulled toffee fills her senses as she turns with the brightest of smiles. "It's incredible. I can't believe you two pulled all this together." Alyna shares the moment apart for a second longer, the sounds of the joke shop fading into the background.
Fred pulls her into a kiss, that familiar scent of him wraps its arms around her. Tension she didn't know she was carrying melts away like wax dripping from a candle. She brushes her thumb over his jaw. Soft touches. Softer intentions. "I missed you."
Missed you. Missed the knowing glimmer of mischief in your eyes. Missed the cadence of your voice. The safety you give me. Missed how you make me feel. The giddiness and excitement and laughter. A firework of love that spirals higher and higher and explodes into a kaleidoscope of colors.
He kisses the corner of her mouth and pulls away, the warmth in his eyes growing. "Course you did. What else would you have been doing since school finished?"
George gags behind them.
"You say something, Georgie?" Fred hums, glancing over Alyna's shoulder at his twin.
"Me? No, nothing. Maybe give her the grand tour Freddy. Ending with the rooms upstairs," he winks roguishly, disappearing down a set of stairs to the left. "And be quiet up there. Paper walls!"
"The rooms upstairs?"
Fred smirks and leans down to kiss her again, voice low, "our apartment."
Heat lashes through Alyna from head to toe. She bites at Fred's lip and pulls him closer. "Then I think," she teases, gaze lighting with a blue flame. His pulse leaps under her touch. Alyna smooths a hand down Fred's front, straightening his tie and her hands stop at the waistband of his pants. She steps back. "You should show me around."
His eyes flash and he shakes his head, shaking out his shoulders. "God, woman," he pulls her closer, "you'll be the death of me."
"Shouldn't be too bad then, eh?" Alyna tilts her head back against his shoulder. "The tour then?"
Fred rests his forehead against hers and smiles, "on with the tour, then."
September 3rd, 1996
Fred,
I don't know if you've gotten a letter from Ron or Ginny about this yet, but I thought I'd tell you anyway- Professor Dumbledore made Professor Snape this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Snape, out of all people.
The man is vile. He may be part of the Order, but as a human being, he is despicable. And to give him this much power over the student body? I don't know what to think… He does have experience with the Dark Arts up close, which is the only thing he has going for him, I think.
He's brought in a retired professor who supposedly taught You-Know-Who if you believe the rumors. He seems nice enough otherwise.
What do you think?
But anyway, how's the shop going? Have your sales plummeted since term started, or have people been sending in Owl-Orders?
I've been wearing your birthday present every night. Hannah keeps asking where I got a Gryffindor Quidditch jersey. I don't know how you did it- it still smells like you after a few washes. I love it! It makes the distance a little more bearable.
Peeves sends his regards (he upended three inkwells onto my books to give me the message… I don't understand him) to you and George.
Your mum said I can come for Christmas, so I'll see you then! Hopefully- unless you get stuck at the shop for the holidays.
Hogwarts doesn't feel the same without you both here (mostly you). I wonder who the new beaters will be for the Gryffindor team… Who knows?
I miss you.
- Alyna
"Is that to Fred?"
Alyna hums affirmative without raising her eyes from the parchment, tucking the quill behind her ear. "I wanted to tell him about Professor Snape's new position."
"And confess your undying love for him?" Hannah grins at her from where she's sketching out a portrait at the foot of the bed. "The greatest love story Hogwarts has ever seen."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alyna shakes her head and sets the letter aside for the ink to dry without smudging. She hides her smile as best she can without burying her face in the pillow.
Hannah redips her quill, buttery shades of late afternoon sunlight coming through the rounded windows. "If you say so, Ali." She continues with her sketch, the sixth-year dormitories falling into a companionable silence. "I wonder what classes Draco's in this year."
"Your obsession with Draco Malfoy hasn't faded over the summer?"
Hannah throws the nearest object- a pillow- at Alyna. "It's not an obsession."
"Sure it isn't," Alyna dodges, and it hits the floor on the other side of the bed. "You're nearly as bad as Harry Potter. If you ask nicely, I have no doubt that he could introduce you."
"You're horrible."
"Yet you love me," she blows Hannah a kiss. "Come with me to post the letter before Transfiguration?"
With a sigh, Hannah caps her ink and pushes up to her feet. "Only if you swear to never bring up Draco Malfoy with Harry and the others."
Alyna laughs. "Of course I won't." She rolls the letter up carefully, tapping it with her wand to seal it, and kisses the parchment.
A kiss for good luck. Written and sent with love.
"See, I told you, the greatest love story Hogwarts has ever seen."
It takes everything in Alyna to restrain from throwing a pillow at her friend.
December 2nd, 1996
It was getting colder. Trips to Hogsmeade were canceled due to the heavy snow that doesn't stop falling, piling higher than Hagrid stands tall. Even in the constantly warm Hufflepuff Common Room, the frost permeates every crack in the walls.
The windows rattle against the rain. Second and first years huddle in front of the roaring hearth, holding mugs of steaming chocolate or tea brought in from the Kitchens.
The few sixth years that weren't taking remedial classes to study for their NEWTS are hanging out in a far corner, covered in blankets, or stretched out on carpets, surrounded by notes and books and the occasional runaway quill.
"Hannah," Ernie says, never raising his eyes from his class notes, "you're going home for the holidays?"
Hannah shakes her head, adjusting the bracelet on her wrist. Silver glints in the harsh sunlight that comes in through the windows. "Mum says it's safer to stay at Hogwarts. The less travel I do, the better. Dad doesn't agree. 'Fear is power', he thinks we shouldn't be afraid. What are the odds of something happening on the train to King's Cross?"
"With Death Eaters running amok?" Ernie muses. He waves his wand, and a stack of notes floats closer to him on an invisible wind. "Anything. Your mother's being realistic."
"Is she?" Her voice rises, anger coloring her tone. "You agree with her then? I'm not afraid Ernie. Let them- let them come! I'll hex them, show them what Harry taught us last year."
"Those spells won't be enough-"
"They were enough when he faced You-Know-Who! Six times so far, and he's still alive. How-"
Ernie pushes himself up. There are eyes on them, nearly the entire common room watching with wide-eyed interest. He grabs Hannah's wrist and makes himself lower his voice, softens it, "Hannah, Harry said it himself, most of it was pure dumb luck. I'm only saying- I don't want you to get hurt."
"You- what?"
"I care about you Hannah, and I-"
"No, no stop it!" Hannah gets up from her chair and shoves him away as she heads for the sixth-year girl's dormitories. "You don't get to do that. You can't use that to manipulate me into your way of thinking Ernie. I'm not a weak damsel who needs protecting!"
Climbing the steps, she shakes her head and shuts the door behind her. "God, men. They're ridiculous."
"Who is?" Alyna asks from her bed, rubbing away the sleep from her eyes. "You're seething."
"Ernie- Ernie is being… Ernie," she finally sighs. Tension unspools from Hannah's shoulders at the look in her friend's eyes. "He agrees with mum. About staying for Christmas. And he tried to lecture me just now about it. How we aren't prepared to fight."
"You don't agree with him?" Alyna pats the spot on the bed at her side. She moves a pillow to the side to make more room, pulling her feet under her.
Hannah leans against one of the bedposts, closing her eyes. "No, not at all. Even now also- Snape is a good teacher. And he knows the Dark Arts better than anyone. We've learned a lot since term started."
Alyna couldn't disagree with her on that point. As despicable as he was… "Can't your dad convince your mum to let you come home for the holidays? Do they know there are Aurors patrolling the grounds and will be on the train as well?"
"I dunno actually." She pulls the blanket over her legs, shrugging. "I'll try again. Maybe that will be enough to convince her. The castle over Christmas is dreadful! It's drafty and empty and cold. I hate it."
"It's festive too," Alyna remembers the few Christmas' she's spent in the castle. The lights and evergreens filling the Great Hall, bundles of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling at random intervals. The knights of armor polished to a blinding silver. "I'll write to you every day."
"Thank you, Ali."
"Anything for you Hannah," Alyna smiles and leans back against the bedframe.
Outside, the snow had begun to fall again. A glistening blanket of white.
December 24th, 1996
"I don't think I should," Alyna studies the shot George sets down in front of her. "I've never had Firewhiskey before."
"It's Christmas, Lyna," Fred starts.
"It'll warm you up better than all those jumpers and fuzzy socks," George continues with a grin, leaning back on the bed in his and Fred's shared room.
"Oi," she kicks his ankle, narrowing her eyes at him. "You can never have too many jumpers. Or fuzzy socks. You're jealous that I have more of them than you do."
Fred's laugh is warm, softened by the late hour, and the love that fills him up completely. "Beautiful, your Hufflepuff's showing."
"Well you Gryffindors need some Hufflepuff in your lives," Alyna declares and picks up the glass. "One drink. That's it. Someone has to keep you both from passing out."
"Night's still young and the bottle's still full," George winks at her, pouring himself out another drink. "Come on, let's see it then."
Alyna takes a breath and throws it back, downing it in a single swallow. Immediately, the burning hits. The warmth of alcohol spreads through her veins like golden honey as she doubles over into Fred's side, coughing and laughing. "Oh- Merlin."
He rubs her back, pressing a kiss to her hair as she waits for the burning to subside. "You alright?"
Alyna leans into him, content in his warmth, and nods. She looks around the cramped bedroom, filled with love once again. The lingering smell of fire and magic curls through the room. She can imagine it. The two of them hunched over their products, working, and tweaking and adjusting them until they're perfect. The care and precision that's put into each and every project they do.
"It's beautiful," she breathes, smoothing one hand over the faded bedsheets.
The twins raise a brow at each other, and George leans closer to Fred, lowering his voice to a whisper, "you sure we gave her one shot of Firewhiskey Freddy?"
"The room, you idiots," she rolls her eyes and tilts her head up to kiss Fred. "The love you pour into everything. Into the people around you, it's-"
A scream from outside cut her off.
"That sounded like mum." George jumps to his feet and runs to the window, stumbling back. Flames reflect in the glass and he swears. "I dunno what's going on. Dad's just run through fire to go after Tonks and Lupin."
"What?"
Fred pushes up to his feet. The lightness that had been in the air seconds before vanishes in an instant. Dread slicks through the air like oil, thick and heavy. "We have to get down there. Come on George," he pulls his twin back, grabbing his wand.
"I'm coming with you," Alyna gets to her feet as well, making to follow them.
"No." Fred's voice edges with jagged worry. "You're underage-"
"I fought in the Ministry last year!"
"And inside is safest if something happens. I don't want you to get hurt Lyna."
"Fred," Alyna starts to protest and sighs. "Alright. Okay, go. Go now."
Fred kisses her quickly and Alyna closes her eyes to try and memorize the kiss in full. Breaking away, he follows his twin down the stairs and out the door. He barely starts speaking when twin tails of black smoke rise from the distant field and hurtle towards them.
White fear floods him. He's frozen in place, wand rising on instinct, but no spell comes to mind. Nothing comes to mind as George grabs him and pulls him down, away, out of the line of fire.
The smoke crashes into the Burrow.
And the Burrow explodes in fire.
"ALYNA!"
Fred fights against his brother, more than numb as the possibilities run through his head. Fear and panic rear their heads in his stomach. She was in the house. She was in the house. She was in- "Let me go. Let me go. Lyna's in there. George-"
"No." Pain reflects in George's eyes, a mirror of his brother's anguish. "Fred, you can't go in there. Fred, you can't-"
"Help," Ron's rasp echoes from behind them, stumbling out of the smoke with an arm around Alyna's middle. "Help."
The twins jolt into action, relief crashing into Fred in an icy tidal wave. He takes Alyna, eyes widening when she makes a sound of pain, and tightens her grip on his shirt, moving to his arms from Ron's.
"She might've broken something," Ron says as George helps him a healthy distance away from the smoke and falling debris. "Heard a crack when we were almost out."
A groaning comes from behind them, the crackling of wood as the Burrow collapses inwards. Mrs. Weasley's quiet grief echoes between the rest of them.
The Burrow, their home, is gone.
Gone.
Just- gone.
Please don't be angry?
I know this chapter has taken a realllyyyyy long time to finish, but honestly, I blame it on the sixth book having nothing exciting taking place in it.
I hope this makes up for it? (I'm also very excited for the next chapter so it should be up quickly... Fingers crossed).
Love you all, and thank you for sticking with me :)
- Liz