Angelina Johnson
After Mrs. Weasley had stepped down, a mocha skin girl with her long black hair plaited down her back stepped unto the platform.
Angelina Johnson had never felt so weak before. Her heart was sinking, and she felt so small. The pain inside her was drowning her, and the tears wouldn't stop. She stood there for a long time, without saying anything. She looked at all the people present, she searched for a face she knew she would not see again, the face with freckles and plastered with smiles… He wasn't there. He's not coming back.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to her, she found her voice. 'I knew Fred since my first day at Hogwarts. He turned my hair pink on the train and we've become friends ever since.' She smiled slightly, thinking of the memory, thinking of him… 'We stuck together through all the years in school, us six. The twins, Lee, Alicia, Katie and I. It seemed like it was just yesterday when we sit around the fireplace in the common room, complaining about homework, playing exploding snaps, and testing the twin's merchandise
'Fred and I.. we were close. He used to call me Angie. Or sometimes even Angel..' she stopped suddenly and finally it hit her. She didn't know why it just did, but it hit her right then and there that she would never hear his voice again. She would never hear him call her name any more…
'Oi! Angelina!!'
She shut her eyes, trying to keep the memory away. She was here, right now, not back at Hogwarts three years ago when he asked her to the Yule Ball.
'He…' her voice dried in her throat. She opened her eyes. Everyone was crying now. She didn't know how to go on, what else to say. She looked down at her shoes and backed up at again, then continued. She tried to keep her voice steady but without much success.
'In our last year, before him and George left Hogwarts, Fred came to me… He cornered me on my way to Tranfiguration. It was strange because he was by himself, and George was not with him. He grabbed hold of my arm…
'Hey, wait up, Angie!!'
She rounded on him, not viciously, but with frustration. 'Fred, I'm late for class. What is it now?'
'I have to tell you something. It won't take long.' He pulled her into a nearby classroom. It was empty. He shut the door and turned around to face her. There was something in his face. He looked serious and almost afraid, close to tears. She thought he looked like a little boy who's afraid to go to school on his first day.
'Fred, what's wrong?' she asked him gently. She had never seen him like this. It scared her. She reached out to touch his shoulder. He grabbed her hand in his.
'Angelina.. George and I, we planned this for a long time now. We have had enough of Umbridge...'
'Fred, what are you saying?' her voice dropped. She felt her heart sinking. She didn't know what was coming. What is he telling her?
'We're leaving tomorrow, Angie. For good.'
Angelina's hand dropped. She just stood there, staring at him. Emotions rushed into her. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Fred? Leaving? Is this just some stupid joke?
'Angelina.. listen to me.' He rasped. His voice was thick with emotion. He reached out to her but she backed away.
'Why now, Fred? Why?' she choked, her words breaking. 'Why can't you just stay with us? With me?'
'This is what I'm trying to tell you, Angie' he sounded hurt. 'I have to tell you before I go, before there's no more chance…'
She cried openly now. She turned her face from him. She didn't want to hear his voice.
'Angelina Johnson, I love you…' he said all this in a rush. When he was done, he glanced at her, but her whole body was shaking with sobs. She wouldn't look at him. He grabbed her shoulders. 'Say something, Angel. Anything… Please'
'This…' she waved her hands at him. 'This.. Fred. You. You're my best friend.' She found the courage to look into his eyes, his blue eyes that were now clouded with tears and pain. 'You're not supposed to fall in love with me.'
She broke away from him and marched to the door. Her vision was blurred with tears. She concentrated on getting out of this room, getting away from him. He just told her he's leaving and then that he loved her? This doesn't make sense… This is all wrong..
'Angelina, wait.' She turned and saw him standing there, crying. He wanted to hold her, and tell her he loved her all over again, to make her understand. But all he got out was 'Angel, don't go'
She pushed her strands of black hair out of her face and opened the door. 'Fred, I'm sorry' she whispered. 'But I just can't. I…' She looked at him, like she wanted to say something more, but couldn't. Finally she stepped outside and before closing the door, she said, 'Goodbye Fred.'
'That was two years ago' Angelina said. She was no longer crying but her eyes shone with sadness and pain. Everybody in the crowd had their face hidden in their handkerchiefs. Mrs. Weasley was sobbing into her husband's shoulder.
'He told me he loved me..' her voice shook. 'And I walked away from him. Two years passed, and I learned a lot in life. I met him again, but he had moved on. But he… made me fall in love with him all over again. And I just… Wish he knew, before he died…' her voice died and she bit her lips to stop herself crying again. Not now.
'I was going to tell him. After it was all over, but… I missed my chance.' She looked sideways at Fred's coffin, lying on the ground not far from her. She wished she could turn back the time. She wished she could see him again, to hold him, to say that she's sorry, and let things get back to how they once were. But he would never come back. Not this time..
'I guess what I am trying to say is,..' she swallowed, her eyes swam with tears. 'I love you, Fred Weasley. I'll always love you.'
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Up Next : Ginny Weasley