Chapter 10 Loss…

Asheara was eating in front of the television, watching as the news go on. She was waiting for Fred to come back, at least for several hours already. She heard a faint pop in front of her doorstep. Asheara wheeled around to see who it was, it was Fred. It was already four o'clock in the afternoon.

"Fred!" Asheara said and kissed Fred full on the lips. "What took you so long?" Fred smiled at her.

"Meeting my family took quite a while" Fred said. "Learning a few things about myself"

"Oh…" Asheara said quietly.

"Why? What's wrong?" Fred asked. Asheara bit her lower lip

"Now you found your family," Asheara said and turned her back on Fred. "You're going to live with them then" Fred understood it. It was the cause why Asheara came to his room the night before. To know if he'll be staying once he got his memories back. But Fred has to go back, with you-know-who prowling around—it's difficult t stay away from your family.

"Ash… I know you'll be mad at me, but I have to stay with my family. Don't worry, I'll always visit you, unless of course if I had already gone to school…" Fred said "But I'll send you lots of letters" Asheara gave a weak smile. Of course, Fred was missed in their household. Fred hugged her so tight. "I maybe far away from you, but my heart always belong to you"

"Promise?" Asheara said.

"Promise" Fred replied.

But deep inside, Fred was in daggers. He has to leave Asheara; he could not afford to have Asheara involved in his life especially when in times like this. She's defenseless… Then Fred remembered what Dumbledore said… 'Fred, it's alright to fall in love to a muggle, it's not a sin, it's a blessing. But you have to protect her now that lord Voldemort is back Voldemort always target the people we love, we need to protect our loved ones. Then maybe, after all these disasters, you may live with her'

Dumbledore's right. Asheara is very vulnerable, she can't protect herself. But what should he do to protect her? No… He has no idea. She'll be hurt if he says he has to leave her for good. No… no one must know what Fred is, even Asheara, to protect her.

At Grimmauld place, George was with Bill playing exploding snap. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were there and were entertained by the game. Everyone was doing their job quite well, now that Fred came home unharmed. As the game ended, Bill was talking to everyone.

"So, anything new with Fred?" Bill asked.

"Well… hmmm, I can't really say there' something new with him" George said. "Because he's always full of surprises" Ron and Ginny laughed, Bill sniggered and Hermione smiled.

"He's always the mastermind in comes of mischief." Bill said.

"Yea, and speaking of mischief," George split into a mischievous grin that Fred usually wore. "He has done a little 'mischief' the night I went to his bedroom in that muggle girl's house. So I decided to skip the scene rather than seeing them smooch together"

"Really?" Bill said in a surprised tone. Ron and Ginny laughed even harder.

"Yea, it's hard to skip the scene especially when Fred closed the door" George said grimaced his face.

"Then how did you escape?" Ginny asked eagerly.

"Well, the window was open, so I have to jump outside." George said showing his bruised arm. Ginny laughed and laughed.

"So, he loves this muggle?" Hermione said.

"I don't know…" George said shrugging. "Oh, what he'll say to Angelina"

"So he has this something to Angelina then!" Ron said.

"Yea…" George said.

"I think this muggle girl love him also" Hermione said.

"What made you said that?" George asked.

"Because, the other day I don't know I think it was when Fred had gone missing, she was frantic! Looking for a tall, red-headed guy. And she kept on muttering his name" Hermione said pensively.

"Shame, she had to fall at an inconvenient time" Bill said nodding.

"What does this muggle girl looked like?" Ginny asked.

"Hmmm let's see, I think her name was Asheara or something, she was about I think 5 feet tall. Petite one; she's a Chinese girl, with jet black hair till on waist. Exotic beauty if you ask me" George said.

"So Fred will be living with us, won't he?" Ginny asked.

"Of course!" Bill said "He has a year to finish at Hogwarts"

Night came so fast for Fred's liking, he has to go back to Grimmauld place. Asheara was to spend her night alone, but happily, her father is coming home. At Grimmauld place, Fred was eating his mother's stew with much gusto.

"Can I have more?" Fred said finishing his 2nd bowl of stew.

"Sure Fred" Mrs. Weasley said lovingly as she ladle another serving to Fred's bowl.

"Boy, you sure have a lot of appetite" George said.

"Well, if I feed you for three weeks with nothing but rice, tofu, vegetables, and some noodles. Won't you be hungry?" Fred snapped back.

After meal, they were hurried to go to bed because the adults have meeting with the order. Tired, Fred climbed onto his bed and tried to sleep. George slept easily and noisily. Fred tossed and turned in his bed. He couldn't sleep; he kept on thinking of Asheara.

Little he did know… that something uneventful will about to take place.

Asheara and her father were watching some horror film and were in deep conversations about Fred. Mr. Lee was happy to see his daughter had regained her cheerfulness. Ever since Asheara was betrayed in sorts of way, he didn't see his daughter smiling naturally anymore.

"Do you love him, Ashie?" Mr. Lee said.

"Well..." Asheara blushed.

"I think you do" He said smiling. Just then, a knock came from the front door. "I'll get it"

Asheara waited for her father to speak, Asheara turned to see who that unexpected guest. To her horror, she saw a familiar figure… holding what looked like a gun.

"Where is she?" Shouted Max Carlton.

"She's not here! Get out or I'll call the police!" Mr. Lee said. Asheara understood what Mr. Lee said. She quickly goes to the telephone and called the police department.

"LPD, how may we help you?" says the other voice

"Please help us! There's a madman on our doorsteps, carrying a gun—" She could hear grunts of people, apparently fighting for the gun.

"Please hurry!" Then she heard it… a gunshot. Asheara trembled and peek slowly to see who was hit. To her horror, Max turned up, with an insane smile on his face.

"Ash… I missed you" He said softly but coldly.

"Stay away from me!" Asheara screamed. Max lunged towards her but Asheara get away quickly. She climbed stairs she could hear more gunshots. She went to Fred's room and stared at the open window; she locked the door and opened the window. Sirens were sounding afar.

"HELP!" Asheara screamed. Several neighbor's light went on and the police arrived. But she saw Max was running away… then she went downstairs for her dad.

When she saw her father… he was rained with gunshots. The police came in looked at the dead. Asheara run towards her dad and hugged him. Blood were staining her clothes, she don't care. She cried. "ba ba? Ba Ba! Qing bu qu…ba ba…' (Father? Father! please don't go/leave... father)