Notes: Only a few more chapters! This one was pretty sad and I feel like... it doesn't get better. I'm sorry.

As always comments are always appreciated!

The moment Fred had heard the news he was at the Primmington's mansion. He had only been gone a few weeks yet so much had happened in those weeks. This being the worst.

The mansion seemed so quiet as he walked up to the large door. His mother had insisted that their father and George come as well. "That poor family" she had said shaking her head. She had mentioned that she wasn't very close to Rose's mother, Diana, but she knew of her and how close the sisters had been.

"FRED!" Clara's disembodied voice shouted out. The Weasleys turned to see the small blonde girl sitting in a large tree that hung close to the manor. Scrambled down she ran up to them.

"Rose will be glad to see you," she said taking his hand, "People are inside" she added dragging them in.

Many wizards and witches littered the home Fred recognized many of them as people his dad had mentioned from the Ministry. Diana walked up to greet them. Her once bright smile seemed very worn down.

"It is so good to see you all. Thank you for coming." she took Molly's hand "I don't think we have had the pleasure of talking since our Hogwarts days Molly."

"I'm so sorry for your loss," his mother said.

"Thank you, it has been hard on the family, but all the consolidants are very nice," Diana said. She was so different from what Fred remembered from the time he had come visit the family. That summer she had been all smiles and almost childish around her family. Now she just seemed so… Proper.

"Come on" Clara whispered tugging on Fred's sleeve, "She is upstairs."

They found Rose in her bedroom, her back to her large four poster bed on the floor curled up in a ball. Her blonde bun drooping down her blue eyes staring blankly at the floor.

As the door opened Rose looked up her eyes meeting Fred's. As she looked up at him and he felt his heartbreak.

"Hey"

"Hey"

He sat next to her taking her hand. It was cold and clammy.

"I… I just can't believe he's dead. He was just so filled with life. And Abigail… God her cries!" She covered her face with her free hand letting out a sob. Fred pulled her toward him letting her cry on his shoulder. She put her arms around her pulling him tight as if she needed every ounce of her strength to keep herself together. Their worlds were slowly crumbling down giving them a glimpse of the war that just behind. The danger seemed so real now, so close.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

He saw so many pictures but one particular stood out. All of them young first years standing in their Hogwarts uniforms at the platform laughing. Rose standing slightly off to the side playing with a strand of her blonde hair. Josh had a small Abigail on his shoulders as he lunged forward almost dropping her as he grabbed Rose pulling her into the group. She laughs as he hugs her and Abigail patted her head.

One of Josh sleeping with a 3-year-old Abigail sprawled across his lap.

A muddy Rory and Josh pushing a very angry Liam into the mud

Clara and Emma putting crazy flowers in Josh's hair.

"His parents died in the first war, so I feel like we all kind of adopted him" Rose whispered, she was about to add something else when a slight hush fell over the room as Abigail and her mother walked in. Abigail looked like death itself. Her once golden skin was a strange pale color and her beautiful dark curls were a messy mess pulled back with a blue ribbon. She didn't seem to see anything as her mother steered her toward her cousins. Emma reached out pulling the other girl into a hug while Alfie leaned over rubbing her back.

Next to him Fred felt Rose take a sharp inhale. She hadn't been exaggerating about Abigail. The girl didn't look well. In fact, she didn't even look like the same person. Merely a husk of herself.

The rest of the day was just filled with sympathy witches and wizards. Most friends with Mr. Primmington or the family. It was pretty uneventful until much after the last witch has said their goodbyes.

Taking Fred's hand Rose lead him out with the rest of the cousins. "We are going to send him off" Rose whispered as they all filed out into the backyard. The bright green grass seemed to glow under a sky filled with stars as all the young kids filed into a circle. Alfie and Emma's younger sister Isabelle in the center.

Gently, Alfie strummed his guitar as the younger girl started to hum lifting her wand. Slowly each of the other cousins lifted their wands joining in as Isabelle started to gently sing.

Rose lifted her want into the air shooting up her prayers to the sky and whatever was beyond. To Josh who had left them and for each of those who were still down here. With her free hand, she clung to Fred's, held onto him as if he was the only anchor holding her down. Down in a reality that didn't seem quite as dark as the one she kept picturing.

Slowly she turned to him, tears falling down her cheeks. "It's coming to Fred and I'm scared."

"I've got you" he whispered kissing her forehead, "I'll always protect you"