Muggle Magic – Chapter 14

A/N – I'm not sure if I lost some of my readers by having that short break – but I'm back now and trying to update faster than ever.

Just a warning though – this is now going AU – although, technically, just because something isn't mentioned in the books doesn't mean it didn't happen. But just beware that we are moving away from canon more than ever now.

So, without any time wasting – on with the story!

Chapter 14 – Fred

"Fred. Hey, Fred? Oi Fred!"

Fred looked up with a start. He hadn't even heard George calling his name. He was sat on a high stool behind the counter, his chin in his hands and his thoughts miles away in Ottery St. Catchpole.

"I thought you were going to help me with this stock take?" George asked once he realised he finally had his brother's attention.

"Sorry…I was…"

Fred watched his brother roll his eyes and turn away. The family were getting quite used to Fred's ability to daydream. He couldn't help it. It had been nearly a month since he had told Ally everything – well, nearly everything – and things had only gotten better between them.

He didn't have to hide anything about himself anymore. Ally came round for dinner at least three times a week at Molly's insistence. Arthur adored her, especially after she arrived with a set of television and computer manuals for him one evening. George simply enjoyed playing pranks on her – after all, she was shocked by even the simplest of magic tricks.

"You know," George said as he sorted boxes of Skiving Snackboxes. "If you helped we could get this done quicker and then you'd be able to get back to see Ally…"

Fred jumped off his stool and crossed the room in a couple of strides.

George laughed. "I thought that might work."

Fred made a face at the back of George's head as they both set to work. "Sorry. I'm just…"

"In love?" George asked with a mocking grin, but he looked happy for his brother.

"Yeah. I guess I am. She's just…nothing like any girl I've ever met. Maybe it's because she's a muggle, but I think it's more than that. When I'm with her I can forget all about You-Know-Who. She makes everything better…"

George laughed at the dreamy look on Fred's face. "Oh dear. You've got it bad." He paused for a moment, looking suddenly serious. "Have you told her about You-Know-Who yet?"

"No." Fred fiddled absently with the bottles of love potion that he was restocking. "I keep thinking about it. The words are there on the tip of my tongue and then I change my mind. I'm worried about scaring her."

"Surely scaring her is better than…"

George didn't get to finish his sentence. A sudden pounding started on the door. Both men turned to the door fearfully. It was late in the evening and all the shops on Diagon Alley were closed. There shouldn't be anyone on the street.

Fred met George's eye and the two of them slowly drew their wands. Fred edged towards the door. The shutters were closed on the window so he couldn't see out.

He pointed his wand at the lock and then called out. "Who's there?"

"Fred, George, it's me, your father."

It certainly sounded like Arthur, but at that time of night Fred wasn't taking any chances.

"If you're Arthur Weasley, then tell me, what did say to George and I the day we showed up after leaving Hogwarts, but told us never to tell Mum?"

"I told you that I was proud of you."

George nodded and Fred opened the door with a flick of his wand. They both kept them raised until Arthur had stepped through the door and closed it behind him. Fred felt his heart drop in his chest. Arthur looked terrible. His face was haggard and pale, and his eyes were haunted with sadness.

"What's happened?" George asked before Fred could get the words out. "Is Mum ok?"

Arthur nodded wearily. "Your mother is fine. The family are all fine."

"Someone isn't," Fred said, feeling like he was about to be sick. "What's happened?"

The look in Arthur's eyes seemed to say enough. He looked at Fred with such pity and sadness that Fred felt like he couldn't breathe.

"No! Not Ally…please…" Fred felt his knees buckle, but George was there, an arm around his shoulder, holding him up.

Arthur's face screwed up in pain. "I'm sorry, Fred. There was a dark mark left over her house. The Ministry are there now. I came straight here. I don't know what happened…"

A tiny spark of hope flared in Fred's chest. A dark mark over the house – that didn't mean for certain that it was Ally who had been murdered. He pushed past Arthur and out onto the street. It was impossible to apparate in or out of Diagon Alley so he charged down the street towards the Leaky Cauldron. Tom watched mutely as Fred flung himself into the fire.

The kitchen of the Burrow spun into view and he leapt out of the fireplace. Molly was sat at the table, tears streaming down her cheeks. She reached out a hand towards him, but he ran straight for the door.

As soon as he hit the boundary line he apparated, reappearing in the middle of the village square. Right then he didn't care who saw him, the Ministry could sort it out later.

The dark mark had already been removed, of course, but he could see the small cluster of Ministry wizards, and the tall form of Bill. For a moment Fred froze. If he walked over there then he would know for certain, he would know and she might be gone. For now there was still a tiny spark of hope. A minute chance that she might still be alive.

"Fred?" It was Bill who called out to him, his voice shaking slightly. "Fred it's…"

"What the hell is going on?"

Fred felt like he was about to cry. He spun on the spot and there she was, her bag over one shoulder and a couple of shopping bags in one hand. She had never looked more beautiful to him than she did in that instant.

"Ally!" He pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her hair.

"Fred? What's going on? Who are all those people round my house? Why are you acting like you thought you'd never see me again?" She had pulled back from him, her eyes still fixed on the house.

Bill was approaching slowly. "Ally…Ally, it's your father…"

A/N – Hmm, this chapter was supposed to be a little longer – I was going to have Fred thinking she was dead for ages – but I couldn't do that to him!