Chapter 14:

Lean on me, when you're not strong,

And I'll be your friend; I'll help you carry on,

For, it won't be long until I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.

- Bill Whiters

Nora woke up the next morning feeling exhausted. She turned around expecting to see Cedric but there was only a note on the pillow.

I didn't want to wake you,

I'll see you later.

Love, Ced.

Nora sighed feeling a wave of guilt hit her has she thought of the previous night's events. She was not sure if her decision to get back with Cedric was purely because of her feelings towards him or if it was out of spite and anger towards Fred. Nora felt utterly humiliated by the confession she had done which received no response whatsoever from her bestfriend.

'So much for us being perfect for each other.' She thought remembering the countless times their friends and families would tease them.

She made her way down the stairs and she was met with the smell of fresh coffee.

"Morning sunshine." Erik said leaning on the kitchen counter.

"Morning." She mumbled as he handed her a cup of coffee.

"So..." Erik said eyeing her with a grin.

"What?" Nora asked impatiently.

"I know you never listen to me but confessing your undying love for Weasley and then getting back with Diggory doesn't seem like a brilliant plan."

"Isn't it too early for this?" She sighed.

"For annoying you? Never." He answered with a grin as the phone rang.

"Saved by the bell." Nora said as she picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Oh Nora I'm glad you're up." Her mother said from the end of the line.

"Is everything alright?" She asked expecting the call to be one of her mother's hundred check-ins.

"Not really. We were in a car wreck. I'm fine. A few minor injuries. John was just taken into surgery were at the hospital where he works."

"What?" Nora said completely stunned. "We'll be right there."

"You don't have to rush, the doctors said it would be a few hours before he's out." Brooke said but Nora could hear the nerves in her mother's voice.

"We will be there in fifteen minutes." Nora said firmly.

"Alright. I love you." Her mother said softly.

"You too Mum." Nora said as she hung up the phone.

Nora quickly filled Erik in as they got dressed and apparated near the hospital. Nora had been there many times to visit her step-father but something felt different. Erik kept a reassuring hand on Nora's shoulder as they made their way up to her mother's room.

"You two didn't have to come so quickly." Brooke said as they entered the tiny hospital room.

"Of course we did Mum." Nora said as she hugged her mother. She did not look too bad except for a few nasty cuts and a bandage around her left arm. The three of them made endless small talk until a doctor came into the room. Nora recognized her from the last time she had visited John at work.

"Hello. I'm Dr. Corday and I worked on your husband's surgery." She told Brooke.

"Is he alright?" She asked grabbing her daughter's hand.

"There was a complication. We did everything we could but he didn't respond to any treatments. I'm very sorry but he died." She said pausing for a moment. "If there's anything I can do just ask for me. We were very fond of him. He was an extraordinary person." She added before leaving the room.

The day of the funeral came faster than anyone could have expected. The idea of John's death had not sunken in for any member of the family. The rest of the sibling had flooed back from France the day of the accident. Nora made her way down to the kitchen in a simple black dress with black tights. She looked exhausted with dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. She found Erik cooking breakfast while her mother and youngest sister Ella were sitting at the table. Nora could tell her mother had been crying all night from her red-rimmed eyes and pale complexion.

"Good morning." Nora said shyly.

"Morning dear." Her mother said, her voice breaking as if she had been severely dehydrated. Her baby sister simply waved at her before going back to eating her cereals. She went over to Erik to see if he needed anything.

"I can take over if you want?" She said as he was scrambling some eggs.

"I'm good. It's the least I can do." He said politely.

"I'll get everyone up. We should all eat something." Nora said before going up the stairs. She passed the second floor and went straight for the third where the oldest siblings rooms were. She stopped in front of the first door, took a deep breath and knocked.

"Yes?" Nikolaus' hoarse voice called.

"It's me." Nora simply stated. There was a moment of silence.

"Come in." He said.

The curtains were still closed which left the room very dark. She went to open them before facing her brother.

"We want to get everyone downstairs to get something to eat. Erik's cooking." She said avoiding his glance.

"Is Mum awake?" He asked.

"She's with Ella. You could go help her."

"Sure. It's all crazy isn't it?"

"It really is." Nora sighed as she turned around to leave.

"I didn't mean any of it." Niko said.

"Any of what?" Nora asked.

"When I'd complain about Mum marrying a muggle. I said some pretty horrible things. I didn't mean them." He said regretfully.

"I know." She answered as she went to hug him. They stood there for a few minutes as they both let a few tears fall.

"Wake Nat up for me will you? I'll get the others." Nora asked wiping away tears.

"Yeah." Niko said as she left the room.

Nora headed downstairs and stopped at in front of Neil's room. She waited a moment before knocking.

"Who is it?" Neil called sleepily.

"It's me. Erik has breakfast ready downstairs." Nora called through the door. There was a short pause.

"I'll be down in a minute." He said as Nora went to the next room. She knocked softly but there was no answer. She knocked a few times before slowly opening the door.

"Civilized people knock before entering a room." Meggan's shaky voice said. She was sitting at her desk wearing a black dress and brushing her hair.

"I knocked four times." Nora answered kindly. It pained her to see her sister who was usually the happiest and the most upbeat of the siblings look so sad and vulnerable. "Breakfast is ready downstairs."

"I don't want anything." She answered.

"You have to eat something. I don't want anyone passing out." Nora said

"Is Mum up?"

"She's downstairs."

"What about Addie?" Megg asked as she kept slowly brushing her hair without glancing at her older sister.

"I'm waking her up last." Nora answered. "You could come with me."

"I don't think I can do this." She said.

"It's fine I can wake her alone." Nora tried to reassure her.

"I mean everything. Today. How are we supposed to get through this?" She asked as she finally turned to her sister, her eyes filled with tears.

"Oh Meggan." Nora said as she hugged her sister. "I don't know how we do this either but we have to do it together. For Mum."

"For Mum." Megg repeated. "I'll be down in a second." She says as Nora leaves the room.

Nora took a deep breath as she stared at the last door. It had Adeline's name painted on it, something John had done a few years ago. She knocked softly and entered the room. Adeline was still half asleep.

"Hey Addie." Nora said softly as she crouched down next to the bed.

"Hi." Adeline answered as she sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"We need to get you downstairs to eat something." Nora said as she brushed a strand of blonde hair from the child's face which was very similar to her own.

"I'm not very hungry." Adeline said looking down as her green eyes filled with tears.

"I know Ladybug but I need you to eat something for me alright?"

"I don't wanna go today." Adeline sobbed quietly.

Nora sat next to her sister and pulled her close. She slowly stroked her hair while trying to reassure her knowing nothing she would say could actually make a difference.

"We can go eat now." Adeline suddenly said as she wiped away her tears.

"Are you sure Ladybug?"

"Yeah." She nodded.

"You're the bravest six years old I know." Nora said tucking a strand of hair behind her sister's ear. "Definitely going to be a Gryffindor." She added which made her sister smile.

"Will you braid my hair like yours? Daddy always said braids were pretty."

"Of course Addie." Nora said as she started Dutch braiding her sister's hair into a bun identical to her own. After getting her ready, Nora took Adeline's hand and headed downstairs. As they arrived at the main floor, Adeline stopped.

"What's wrong Sweety?" Nora asked as she got down to her sister's eye line.

"Will you stay with me today?" Adeline asked as she tugged on a strand of loose hair.

"I promise." Nora said as she hugged her sister before they entered the kitchen where all the siblings and Erik were now eating.

"Where's Mum?" Nora asked looking at Erik who was sitting with Ella.

"She went to get ready." Erik answered.

"Good." Nora said as she and Adeline sat down.

A few minutes later, they heard a knock on the door. Nataleigh left to answer it and came back after a few moments with their Aunt Braelyn and Professor Lupin.

"Hey kids." Braelyn said kindly. "I'm so sorry." She added as she went to hug everyone. Lupin stayed awkwardly in the doorframe not knowing what to do.

"No offense but what are you doing here Professor?" Niko asked.

"He's friends with Mum." Nataleigh answered between two bites of toast.

"I am." Lupin said.

"Speaking of your mum, where is she?" Braelyn asked.

"She went to get ready about ten minutes ago. I can go get her if you want." Nora proposed.

"I think we can take care of that, can't we Remus?"

"Of course." He said as they exited the kitchen.

The next few hours were somewhat blurry to Nora. They had gone to the funeral where many people had come to pay their respects. Nora had managed to keep the tears from falling while consoling her siblings and a few emotional family friends. They had gone back home where everyone was meeting up after the funeral. Nora carried Ella into the house with one arm while keeping hold of Adeline's hand as she had promised. As they got inside and everyone took off their coats, Ella tugged on Nora's dress. She crouched down to the child's level.

"What is it Ella?" Nora asked.

"Ella wants uppee." Responded the child.

"You don't want to walk around for a while?"

"No Ella wants uppee." She repeated determinedly.

"Alright." Nora smiled as she picked up the child who rested her head on her shoulder.

A while later many close friends of the family arrived. The Weasleys, the Diggorys, the Tonks family, a few of John's friends, most of Brooke's sisters, John's family who had flown in from Chicago and to Nora's surprise Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. Everyone was making small talk and trying to find some common stories involving John. After trying to put Ella down half a dozen times without any hint of success, Nora decided to round on her siblings to make sure they were alright before sitting down because the weight was becoming unbearable. She went to drop off Adeline with Molly and Ginny while promising to be back in no time before trying to find her other siblings. She saw Neil and Nikolaus talking with their mother and John's father. After searching for a minute, she found Nataleigh talking with Fred, George, Bill and Ron who had come for the funeral. Nora approached the group making sure to ignore Fred's presence. She had more than enough to deal with and had miraculously found a way to keep from sobbing. She did not want to seem any weaker in front of him.

"Have any of you seen Meggan?" Nora asked.

"No, how are you holding up?" George asked with a concerned tone.

"I'm dealing." Nora answered.

"Do you want me to take Ella?" Nataleigh asked but the toddler was already shaking her head.

"No Naleigh, No Naleigh!" The toddler yelled. Nora sighed and rolled her eyes.

"You can stay with me Ella." Nora said as she stroked her hair.

"I can help you if you want." Nataleigh said with a slight smile.

"It's alright. I'll go find her." She said as she turned around.

"I think she went upstairs." Fred called after her causing the rest of the group to fall silent. "Well I think she did, I mean I think I saw, I'm not sure." He stuttered as Nora turned around.

"Thank you." She said in a cordial manner before heading upstairs.

As she arrived on the second floor, she heard light sobs coming from her sister's room. As she pushed the door open, Nora noticed Draco Malfoy comforting her sister. They had always had a dysfunctional friendship which had exploded when they had gone to Hogwarts seeing as Megg was friends with Harry, Ron and mostly Hermione while Draco despised them. Nora quietly left the room and headed back downstairs. She went to find Adeline as she had promised and headed to the sunroom with her youngest siblings. After twenty minutes, Ella had fallen asleep on her.

"She's getting too big for this." Adeline teased.

"That she is." Nora chuckled. "What about you? You look tired."

"Just a little. But I can't fall asleep alone." She said looking down at her feet.

"You can sleep here. I'll stay with you." Nora said with a smile.

"Really?"

"Yes really." She said as she put her free arm around her sister. "It's not like I'd be able to move anyway with the both of you sleeping on me." She teased kindly.

"Thanks Nora." Adeline said yawning.

"You're very welcome Ladybug."

Nora stared out at the frozen lake while her sisters slept. This was the first moment where she could actually think about her own feelings instead of helping everyone else deal with theirs. She tried her best not to let tears fall because she knew that once she would start crying, it would probably be a while before she could stop.

"I knew I'd find you here." Cedric whispered as he came to sit down in a chair next to them.

"Don't worry, a truck could pass by and these two wouldn't wake up." Nora said with a half-hearted smile.

"How are you holding up?" He asked.

"I'm alright I guess. I just can't think about it. Not today." She said as she looked outside. They both stayed silent for a while, not knowing what to say in this unreal situation. At that moment, Nora's mother came in.

"I'm glad I found you. I'll get these two to bed. Cedric would you mind helping me? And I think your parents wanted to leave." Brooke said.

"I can do it Mum." Nora said.

"You've done more than enough today." She said with a grateful expression. "You deserve some rest." She added as Cedric picked Adeline up.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He added kissing Nora on the top of the head.

As they left, Nora sighed and hid her face in her hands. She had managed to keep busy throughout the day to avoid her feelings. John was her dad. Even without the biological aspect, he had been the one who was there for her when she needed him and the one who had encouraged her in all her dreams. She tried to swallow the lump she felt in her throat without any success as tears started to form in her eyes. She heard familiar footsteps and quickly tried to wipe away tears that were threatening to fall.

"Do you need anything Fred?" She asked without turning around.

"How did you know it was me?" He asked as he sat down next to her.

"You drag your feet a certain way. It used to drive me crazy." She chuckled trying to stop tears from falling.

"I guess I do." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah." She answered as she wiped a tear away. "I'm sorry about the other night." She added.

"Nora...I.." He started trying to form an actual sentence. It truly pained him to see her in this state and he felt even worse not being able to form an intelligent sentence.

"It's fine. It's all bloody fine." She said as she started to sob. Fred put his arms around her and held her close to him for a while as tears brimmed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm a mess." She chuckled through the sobs.

"You're not a mess, you're human Nora." He said as he stroked her hair.

In that moment, Nora forgot about ignoring him or giving him the cold shoulder. She needed her bestfriend and knew that no matter how crazy she acted or how bad the situation got, she could always count of Fred. They stayed there just sitting in silence until they had both fallen asleep.

A/N : I'm so sorry it took so long and sorry for the typos! In my defense my computer deleted the chapter and I worked an 88 hour week because everyone decided to get pregnant at the same time at work...Anyways this isn't important. I hope you enjoyed the chapter even if it isn't exactly what I wanted it to be. It does go by quite fast and there are 100 things going on but everything is happening for a reason. If you have a second, PLEASE review it means the world. I love you all! XOXO.

To KhAeL : Lol. It really is a sad truth. To me it happens the other way around so men do it too once in a while. :P Thank you so much. I hope you keep enjoying the story!

To KellyLupin : Thanks alot! Cedric is quite charming but I really love Fred. I can't really judge him because I've done the 'freaking out and staying silent'...but at a proposal...which is ten times worst at least :P And don't worry it's worth the hard work even if it isn't the most glamorous job! And you've only got a year left right? So keep going :)