Howlers weren't a new thing for Rosalia. But this howler, however, had her rolling her eyes dismissively as her mother lectured her in front of everyone in the Great Hall for the last meal of the day about how Weasley was a nothing wizard from a nothing family, and if she continued to consort with the likes of him, she'd be burned off the family tree. One look at Melody, who sat down the table from her, and seeing the smug grin on the older Slytherin girls face, she rolled her eyes and stood quickly.
Tapping Melody's shoulder, she waited until Melody turned around and when she did, Rosalia slapped her and then turned a goblet of pumpkin juice over on her head. "If you don't stay out of my business, Melody, you will regret the day you ever met me. I already regret the day I met you." Rosalia said calmly as Melody gaped at her. She stormed out of the Great Hall, and Fred, much to the chagrin of his brothers and friends got up and ran out on her heels. He caught up to her in the corridor, her knees to her chin, crying.
"Hey.. You're okay." he muttered as he pulled her into his lap when he'd sat down, not caring who saw or what they might think and say. She looked up at him, jamming her hands into her eyes as she said quietly, "I hate her. I really, really hate her. She's just.. Ughhh, god, I hate her so much. Yet she continues to dig in, try and make me fear her. I wish she would burn my name off the family tree in all honesty. She never wanted to be my mother. Only had me to try and keep my father happy." Rosalia admitted as Fred held her against him and said quietly, "It's okay.. We're okay." as his stomach churned. Was she changing her mind now, about them? She could lose it all, everything her parents might have given her, if she kept seeing him.
"Oh.. We're definitely okay. And she's not going to like the howler I send back, either." Rosalia said calmly as she sighed and said quietly, "I just don't want you to regret it. I mean your friends and family are all pretty angry at you right now, because of me. I'm not worth it, Fred, and I'll stick to that until the day I die. I don't want to ruin your life. I've already ruined mine according to her."
"You have not. You're doing what you want and not what she wants. She's just angry because she can't control you anymore, because you're happy." Fred muttered as he kissed her forehead and then said simply, "Let's go for a walk." standing, pulling her up. They walked out onto the lawns, flopped onto the grass and watched the stars rise in the night sky. He pulled her partially on top of him as he smirked and then leaned up, kissing her. She smiled and said quietly, "As long as I have you, I have everything. Everything I honestly want. I just wish your friends and your brother Ron, your sister Ginny could see that."
"They will. They just need time." Fred said quietly as he smiled and leaned up, kissing her. His parents weren't thrilled about Rosalia either, but he'd told them that she was different. Both parents had their reservations and Molly said that she wasn't going to buy it until she met the girl. He understood that they were all trying to protect him, they loved him, but he wished they'd understand that he loved her too.
The whole thing was stressful, but so far, they were managing to stay together no matter what faced them. And lately, things had been getting even more tense wtih talk of Voldemort's followers building an army, getting ready to fight, to make some kind of move. He worried that her being with him put her into a whole load of danger, he didn't want her hurt, but at the same time, he didn't want to give her up, either.
"When this shit's over, Fred.. We're going to get a little cottage in the woods.. And we'll be together and happy. I don't want all the shit she keeps taunting me with. I'm more than happy to just let Melody take my place, let my mum groom her to become the perfect society girl. I want you."
Fred smirked as he leaned in and said "And I want you.. And the cottage thing sounds like the best idea I've heard in a long time." as he pictured it all in his mind. Picturing it gave him something to hope for, something to fight for if things got as bad as he feared they would.
They sat staring at the stars for a few hours, making plans, and reluctantly, he lead her back into the castle when he knew most everyone was asleep again. Kissing her in the hallway, the two split to go itno their respective commons rooms, and she lie in bed, smiling, thinking ahead.
As long as she had him, she'd be alright. He was her light. A lot of girls might claim that they were 'in love' but Rosalia knew she was very much really and truly in love. And there wasn't anything she'd care to keep, if it stood in the way of being with him.