A/N: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER
PLEASE BE KIND
--
CHAPTER FIVE - On The Run
A few days passed since the events of Christmas evening, no words were exchanged between the two. Fred had been extremely busy since it was Christmas season and a lot people were on vacation.
Everyone desperate for a little bit of fun and laughed during this dark times.
A knock echoed through the silent night. It was almost midnight, nobody was around and the house was completely engulfed by darkness.
Fred hugged his cloak tighter to his body as the snow slowly fell on his head, smoke was coming out of his mouth with every breath he took.
He knocked again, slightly louder than before. He wasn't exactly sure what he wanted to talk about with Avery, all he knew was that he wanted to see her again. Hoping she'd at least show herself.
As he was about to give up, he heard soft footsteps on the other side of the door but it never opened.
"Avery, I know you're behind the door" he called out tentatively. "Will you please open the door?"
No answer.
"Please? I wanna see you..." he tried again with his head now leaning against the door.
Suddenly, when he least expected it, the door opened revealing a puffy faced young woman. This time around she had lion pyjamas and her hair was held in a messy bun.
"Why are you back?" she asked, uncertainty was clear in her voice.
"I don't know... I wanted to see you..." he tried to smile but with the cold, he looked more awkward than he wanted.
She looked at him half covered by snow.
"Aren't you cold though?" seeing him nod, Avery lifted her hand to brush the snow off his head and in the end, held it to his cheek.
"You are warm"
"Well since you're standing there in the snow anything can be warm" she mumbled. "Come inside, dork"
Fred followed her inside towards the kitchen, where she began heating up some milk.
"Avery?" she hummed in response. "Can I still like you?"
"Fred..."
"I know what you are about to say and I get it. I'm not asking you to be with me but I just wanted a chance to get to know you better" he explained as he looked right into her eyes. "No more secrets, just getting to know you"
Avery turned her attention towards the milk and carefully gave it to Fred, a thoughtful look was on her face. "Okay"
"Please, I'll resp-... what?" Fred stuttered with shock, his eyes wide open.
"I said Okay, get to know me if you want. I'll answer everything honestly"
"Seriously?" he watched as she picked at her hands nervously and couldn't help but hug her tightly.
Avery chuckled softly before distancing herself from him. "Drink your milk, you're freezing"
"You know, I'm not really a milk person" he whimpered at the taste.
"Aww too bad" she shrugged and head off to the couch, where Fred followed immediately. "Busy day?"
"Yeah, a lot people probably wanted to pretend that nothing was wrong so they're drowning themselves in festivities" he sighed and closes his eyes as he leaned on her. "Harry was seen at Mr. Lovegood's house recently but we got lucky because they didn't see Ron"
"Your family is still safe then"
"Yeah" then silence. None of them talked and mainly their breaths could be heard. "Avery, can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"Why are they looking for you?" he asked hesitantly.
Avery thought about it for a while as she slowly distanced herself from Fred.
"They probably want to kill me?" she wondered.
"For what?" he asked. "Can you elaborate a little bit?"
"Hmmm… When I was barely four, I used to live with my father and some of You-know-who would often come home. I was there the entire time and when Igor Karkaroff named my father, my grandfather let the Wizengamot examine my memories. He thought he could get justice for his son but ended up convicting him instead, dragging along other death eaters"
Fred laid down on her lap as he completely ignored the look on Avery's face. "But you were four, are they stupid?"
"Maybe? I mean, You-know-who did try to kill a baby and ended up hurting himself, didn't he?"
He grinned. "Understandably. Is that why you've been hiding here alone for almost a year?"
"Yeah, I had no choice if I wanted to live. My grandparents died trying to get me to safety as soon as the Mass break out of Azkaban was announced but we were captured" she told him. "I was dragged in every place they hid until my grandfather told me to hide in here. He never followed with my grandma"
None of them talked after that, not that it was necessary. The mere company they gave each other was more than enough. Later on, Avery flicked him on his forehead "Get up" and Fred rose up without much argument.
"You could've asked"
"Would you have gotten up if I asked?" she asked and, as expected, Fred grinned sheepishly and shook his head. "Go back home now, Fred. It's late and you still have work tomorrow"
"I could stay a bit longer?" he asked tentatively.
"Don't push your luck"
"Fine, I probably should go home" he stood up and went to head towards the door, when Avery stopped him.
"Hey, you can apparate away from here, it's safer and less cold" she said.
"Can I apparate back inside as well?"
"Your pushing it, jeez. What if I was in my underwear?" she rolled her eyes when he pretended to think about it. "Nasty, don't even think about it!"
Fred laughed at her face, then he approached her and lowered himself at her level. "Good night, Avery" and with a quick stolen kiss on her cheek, he was gone with a pop.
"Fucking asshole..."
--
Avery laid in her bed half asleep. It was almost 4 in the morning and the night before Fred had came for a really late night visit since he wasn't really sure he could visit her during New Years.
She felt a dip on the space behind her and not much later, a finger poking her cheek.
"Avery~ what are you doing?" he whispered.
She tried to ignore, though it wasn't very effective. "I'm fucking sleeping, Fred. What time do you even think is it?"
"4 am?"
"Exactly you ass, why are you disturbing me at this time?" she exasperatedly asked, turning slightly to look at him. "Didn't you say you weren't coming?"
"I said there was a possibility" he shrugged. "They are all knocked out back at home and I didn't want you to spend the night all alone during New Years"
"Well sorry for you but I'm already sleeping, so fuck off" she closed her eyes again to sleep but before she realized what was happening, Fred had already picked her up and was now heading towards the living room.
"You can't be sleeping if you are answering me" he boisterously said with a smirk. He ignored her protests and carried her outside.
"Fred, it's too cold for this!" she growled upon being set down onto the cold pavement.
"It's fine, I casted a heating spell, you won't feel the cold soon. Come on" he offered her his hand, a smile on his face. "Play with me, please?"
Avery watched as he begged like a child, pouting and blinking his eyes fast, before finally agreeing. She took his hand and cautiously, they left the protection of the house and went to the open field.
"What are we doing here?" she asked as she scanned the surrounding area.
Instead of answering, Fred made a bow in front of her and soon enough, the sky was filled with bright and colorful flowers fireworks along with a giant dragon flapping it's wings around them from above. A slow and sweet music resounded through the night as he pulled her to dance.
"The music isn't very typical of New Years, don't you think?" she whispered as though afraid to ruin the atmosphere around them.
"Well, I wanted it to be more romantic" he cheekily said with a wink. "Did I succeed?"
Avery pretended to think about it, a smile slowly appearing on her face. "Yeah, you succeeded" then she lowered her head on his chest and closes her eyes.
They swayed through the night for what felt like two seconds, under the bright colors of the Weasley Fireworks and inside their small bubble of warmth in the middle of the snow.
By the time they went inside, it was nearly 6am and both were completely soaked by the melted snow.
Avery went to the bathroom to retrieve towels for both of them. She placed one on her shoulders and immediately went to dry Fred's hair, not bothering to listen to his protests.
"Hey Avi, you know we have magic, right?" he whispered as they were too close for comfort. "I'd only need to wave this and see? We are dry again"
Avery frowned and took a step away from him. "I just forgot, jeez. And what's with the 'Avi'?"
"I just thought that maybe we were on that stage, you know, nickname stage" he smirked flirtatiously but all she did was throw him the towel. "Okay, I think I've got to go. You'll never know when those kids back home will wake up"
She nodded while avoiding his eyes, a feeling of awkwardness was pervading her. "I guess, see you?"
"Yes Avi, see you" he laughed at her change of behavior and apparated away.
--
"Fred, I don't know if I'm going crazy or if you are going crazy but aren't your stuff increasing in my house?" Avery inquired as she gestured vaguely towards a broom next to the entrance, a pair of cloaks (one of which had a small G in the bottom corner and one with an F) on the coat hanger and the couch and several WWW products scattered all over the place.
"Well I'm always here anyway so I had to bring some necessary things" he replied nonchalantly, his focus being entirely on the ingredients he was about to use to cook and completely unaware of an irritated girl.
"But can you at least be more organised?"
"I'll do it later, don't worry"
Avery huffed in annoyance as she pushed the cloak, that was on the couch, onto the floor. She then laid down and opened her book, waiting for the food Fred had promised her.
A few minutes later…
"Hey Avi" he called for her from the kitchen while stirring the pot. He was wearing a really cute apron with baby dragons drawn all over it.
"Yes?" she at him upside down from the couch, a new book was now open on her stomach.
"Come here for a moment, please"
Avery silently followed his directions and went to stand beside him in front of the stove. "What?"
"Why are you wearing my sweater?" he casually asked as he passed her the pot to put on the table.
She put the pot on the table. "It's nice and warm"
"Where did you even get that?" Fred took some plates and cutlery, then settled them on the table.
"You left it the other day so I wore it" she replied nonchalantly while taking mouthfuls of the soup he had just finished cooking. "Does it bother you?"
"Not really" he shrugged. "But aren't you cold? Your legs are bare"
"Your point is?"
"Nothing. Just wondering"
"Well shit, don't stare at them" she smirked at the affronted look on his face.
"I wasn't!" he dramatically gasped, his spoon long forgotted on the table.
"How'd you know they were bare then"
Fred rolled his eyes and continued to eat as well. "I have eyes, Avi. I can see things even without wanting to"
"Perv"
"I won't cook for you anymore" he confidently said.
"As if that'd bother me. It would bother you more" she laughed.
Fred looked at her in contemplation. "Hey Avi?"
She sighed. "What, Fred?"
"What's your favorite color?" he asked while taking a spoonful of soup.
"Why would you even ask that?" she frowned at the sudden turn of events.
"I was just curious, like we seriously need to put a bit of color around here. It's so dead!" he looked around the house and began gesturing at the various imperfections.
"My favorite color wouldn't go well with this place, Fred. It's orange" she replied as she touched a piece of his hair. "Ginger orange"
Fred gulped nervously. "W-well, I'm sure we c-can work out some...thing, yeah?"
"Fucking hell Fred, I like seeing it on people not on my walls" she rolled her eyes at him.
"So me?"
"Just eat, Fred"
--
"Avi, do you fancy me?" Fred asked one day as she tended to her garden. His working robes were smoking and burnt in some places while a really weird expression was on his face.
"What the fuck are you doing here in the middle of the day?" she wondered whether to laugh or be worried about his appearance. "Are you burnt?
"If you are not gonna answer this question then answer this, have you ever fancied someone before?" he looked at her in anticipation but instead of answering, Avery began laughing at his strained voice and went to drag him inside the house.
"Let's get you cleaned up, shall we?"
"Avery answer me, please?"
Avery came back with a damp cloth and started cleaning the ashes off his face. "Yes, I did fancy someone before and I before you ask, I still do, yes"
Fred frowned at the answer he was given. "Can I know who is it?"
"Nope" she smirked at the confusion visible on his face. "Why are you suddenly so pressed about it, Fred? What happened?"
He sighed. "George learned that Angie might be dating someone else and I kind of started thinking what I'd do if you also did"
"Last time I checked, we are not a couple" she pressed, still having a bit of fun with the situation.
"That's why I'm afraid, Avi" he approached her. "I like you a lot more than before, I can't help it"
She shook her head at him. "I won't run off with just anyone! I'm hiding, remember?" she chuckled when he whined instead. "Fine, fine. The guy I fancy is super funny, kind and charming, the apple of my eyes, so much that he didn't have to do a lot for me to fall for him" she whispered as she got closer to him.
"Then why didn't you tell me anything?"
"Because I still fancy him" Avery imagined as his hypothetical gears began turning in his head.
Fred looked heartbroken at this point. No matter what she said, he didn't seem to get any ideas of who the person could possibly be.
"Fred, seriously, even if I don't tell you who it is, you should've already guessed. Why did you think I kept letting you come here even if I told you to disappear?" she watched as sudden realisation appeared on his face.
He pointed at himself. "Me?"
"Yes, you!"
"When did you start fancying me?" he asked in confusion though a smile was evidently starting to appear.
"Do I have to answer that question?" she groaned when he nodded with a hopeful look and shook her head with a pout.
"Tell me, please" he urged her with his much cuter pout.
She laughed at his facial expression, feeling a slight blush on her cheeks, then she held a hand on his face to push him away. "Remember that time you pranked those Durmstrang students at the stairs of Hogwarts? The custard pies got Igor Karkaroff as well. I was there near the stairs"
"No... The laughing kid near the stairs!" he whispered. "It was you!?"
She scoffed at him. "Just because I'm shorter than you does not meant I'm younger!"
"But Avi, it was like, what 2-3 years ago!?"
"And?"
"Are you saying you've fancied me all this time I was coming here?" his eyes widened in surprise as she smirked. "Why didn't you tell me!"
"It's not like it would change anything, Fred. I wasn't expecting you to stick around nor could I tell you 'Hey Fred, I fucking fancy you since 5 years ago. Wanna date me even if my father wants to fucking kill you?' like what?"
He stared at her deadpanned. "Be serious for once"
"Fred, I did fancy you but that was merely admiration on my part because I hated Igor Karkaroff. Though I'm not gonna deny it easily shifted to something more recently" she laughed at his face and shook her head. "You should leave now, the shop is still open"
"Can't I stay?" he asked as she shook her head. "But you just told me you liked me back!"
She cleared her throat while blushing and avoiding his eyes. "Come on now, drama queen. Go fix whatever you burned in the shop before George sees you missing"
"You blushed!"
"Zip it" she glared at him.
"Fine, I probably should go then" he sighed. "Can I get a kiss please?"
"Don't push it"
"Dang it"
--
"Fred, wake up" Avery looked at her now boyfriend as he slept like a log on her bed, drool falling from one side of his mouth. "Come on, open your eyes"
Fred stretched his arms over his head, though instead of getting up, he turned over on his stomach.
"Don't make me angry now, it's almost 6am. Get up!" she glowered at him. Seeing as he didn't even flinch at whatever she was saying, she sneered at him and raised her hand. "You asked for it" and without warning the poor man, she slapped his bare back as strongly as she could.
"Avery!" he hurriedly sat up in surprise.
"See? It wasn't that hard was it?"
He whined at her. "But I'm still tired, Avi"
"I can't do shit about it, Fred. I told you to sleep early but what did you do? Oh you wanted to play around with your products, right?" she gestured towards his small corner filled with different gadgets and prototypes the twins were working on.
"It was work"
"I don't care. You already work a lot in the morning and afternoon. You even went to bed wet from the shower!" she gestured at the bed and rolled her eyes at his apologetic smile.
"Sorry, sorry. I'll change the covers as soon as I'm back tonight" he said as he tugged her towards him, hugging her middle and immediately her mixture of grassy and sunny scent, from all the hours spent out in her garden, invaded his senses.
"No need, I'll take care of it" she carefully fixed his messy hair and kiss the top of it. "Come on, you have to go back to George before he wonders where you are"
"I guess it's time for me to go back. Have you seen my pants anywhere?" he asked while looking around for it.
"Seriously Fred, is it even possible to lose your pants?"
"It's not my fault you like to rearrange my stuff"
"Because you're messy!"
"I work well with my mess" he smirked as she threw his pants at him, looking rather annoyed. "Though the sweater obviously is not available anymore" he eyed the sweater she was wearing instead of her usual childish pyjamas.
"It's fine. You're going to apparate in your room anyways"
"Obviously" he sarcastically said.
Fred then got up and, after getting ready to apparate, he lightly kissed Avery. "See you tonight"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm looking forward to dinner"
—--
"I can't believe these flowers are still alive" Fred commented as he watered them next to the window. "I thought you didn't like them?"
"Never said I didn't" she replied from the bathroom, where the sound of running water came from.
"But you said you preferred food!"
"Exactly. I preferred food but I didn't mean I hated the flowers, duh" she chuckled as he complained about her being too complicated. "Hey Fred, can you do me a favour and grab a bottle of shampoo from a drawer under the sink?"
"Under the sink? Of the kitchen?" he asked in confusion. "Why do you keep shampoo in the kitchen?"
"Because I want to stock everything under the sink, got a problem?" she huffed at him as he went inside the bathroom holding, not only the shampoo, but also a water gun toy. "What do you have there?"
"I don't know, I found it in the drawer above the one with your shampoos. Is this a muggle toy?" he frowned as he passed her what she had asked for.
Avery put aside the shampoo bottle, took the toy from him and examined it. "Oh yeah, my grandma loved muggle toys. It's a water gun"
"Your grandmother collected muggle toys?"
"You don't really expect your father to be the only one who does that, do you?" she chuckled at him while shaking her head. "Go now, let me continue my bath in peace"
He nodded in response, though as he was walking out of the door, a thought came in his mind. "Hey Avi, how do you use this?"
"Use what?" she blinked the soap away from her eyes and saw him still holding the water gun. "Ohh that. It's easy, you put water in it and fire" she lowered the water gun under the faucet of the tub and then fired it at his face, making him splutter.
"Not bad" he approved as he wiped the water from his face. "I could annoy George with it and I bet dad would love it. Do you mind if I have this?"
Avery looked at him funnily. "Sure whatever. Just please leave the bathroom, you weirdo"
"Nothing I haven't seen" he sang as he left with the water gun still spilling water.
"You better fucking clean that water by the time I come out, Fred!" she shouted after him.
"Sorry!"
—--
Fred apparated in the house, a solemn look was visible on his face.
"What's with the face?" Avery chuckled at him as she laid on the couch, though instead of answering, he stood by the entrance frowning even more. "The fuck you staring at?"
"Should you be laying around in the living room with only a tank top and underwear?" Fred grumbled. He approached the couch and threw his cloak on her. "Cover up"
"Is that blush I'm seeing?" she smirked.
He huffed while avoiding her eyes. "You're awfully shameless"
"Bitch, this is my house. I live alone, it's your fault for coming here" she then opened her arms towards him and nodded. "Come here, don't be shy. It's nothing you haven't seen"
"Did you just call me bitch?" he asked though a blush was clear on his face all the way down to his neck. "Your mouth gets filthier and filthier everyday"
"Well your brain seems to get filthier and filthier as well. It seems to be working wonders in your head, right now" she hugged him as he laid down beside her. "So, what's up with the face?"
"I was born a handsome man, what can I say" he sarcastically replied, his eyes closed as her sweet-smelling grassy scent, from the flowers they had recently planted around the entrance, gave him comfort.
She rolled her eyes at him and began hugging him even tighter. "Don't be cheeky, what happened?"
The solemn look from before came back as he hugged her back even tighter, which made Avery even more worried.
"I just missed you. I haven't been able to come as often, sorry" he apologised.
"It's fine, I understand. They haven't been coming anymore. You should be more careful though" she sighed worriedy. "They are watching you all even more than before"
"I will, I promise"
"On a positive note, we are using the medallions more now. It was kind of useless since you'd visit every night" she joked in hope of making him feel better.
He rolled his eyes at her but chuckled either way before smothering her with kisses. "I wish George and everyone else could meet you"
"Soon, Fred. Let's let this pass first, okay?" she reassured him followed by a loving kiss. "Don't worry, I'll fight beside you when the time comes"
"I honestly wouldn't want that but I know I can't stop you"
"I am not leaving you to possible death alone, Fred. Not when you are so important to me" Avery looked at him with a stubborn glared.
Fred laughed as he filcked her forehead lightly. "Are we talking about feelings now?" He then pulled out a picture from the cloak he had thrown over her and gave it to her. "Here"
"What's this?"
"Our picture from the other day when we were planting the flowers" he smiled while Avery took her time to examine the photo. Their first ever picture together. "I wanted to have at least one permanent memory with you to leave in this world, Avi. A proof of our time together" Fred whispered as he hugged her tightly.
The day after, Fred disappeared without notice. Several people were talking about how Harry Potter was found in a forest along with Ron and Hermione, so everyone associated with them suddenly disappeared.
Luna was kidnapped from the train on the way back home several days ago. Ginny never came back to Hogwarts and the shop owned by the twins was closed, its owners nowhere to be found.
Avery held the medallion in her hand, one thought was clear in her mind.
'Fred, where are you?'
