𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 14

They all quickly used the portkey to get back to the Burrow, Natasha firmly held in Charlie's arms the whole time. Sirius, who had managed to sneak off with Remus to the Burrow, had a look of horror on his face as Charlie ran inside.

"What happened?" he cried as Natasha was set upon the couch.

"Death Eaters attacked the World Cup, I found her lying on the ground, one of those scumbags nearly got her," Charlie said through gritted teeth as his mother worked on healing Natasha.

Sirius grabbed Natasha's hand, stroking her hair as Molly finished, her children now her main focus. "Are you okay Natasha?" he asked, and she opened her eyes slightly, the experience playing over and over in her head.

"Dad it hurts, and I can't stop seeing them," she whispered, as Sirius pulled her to him for a hug. Harry had managed to get a few scratches over his face, and Bill's entire arm was a bloodbath, but they were all just thankful that none of them had died.

Remus had offered chocolate to the whole group, though Natasha refused, catching everyone's attention and concern. It was unusual for the girl to refuse any kind of food, especially chocolate.

Remus and Sirius both shared a look as Natasha slipped off to sleep, with Fred seated by her head. They had known about Fred and Natasha after receiving a very glittery and sweet-filled letter, confirming what everyone knew was eventual.

But Sirius, as noble and as protective as he was, couldn't bear to separate the two just to have a talk with Fred. He could see how much he cared for Natasha, how even as they both slept, her hand was tucked away firmly in his, his grasp never faltering.

"She's turning 16 tomorrow Sirius," Remus said, and Sirius turned towards him, a tear slipping from his eye.

"It's the first birthday without Aurelia, Moony. I was so excited to finally see my wife and daughter for her sweet sixteenth, and the love of my life isn't here," he croaked, just as Molly walked into the kitchen. She saw the tears in his eyes and pulled him into a hug, completely understanding his sorrows.

"We just have to make it the best we can. She'll be surrounded by her family, and yes Aurelia won't be here, but I had the present she was going to give Natasha here already, she had ordered it before Christmas," Molly explained, producing a gorgeously wrapped blue box, with a white ribbon to complete it.

"She still wrapped them like that..." Sirius trailed off, and both Remus and Molly looked at him confused. Sirius ran his finger over the white ribbon, instantly seeing a memory of Natasha's first birthday.

"Aurelia always wrapped Natasha's presents in blue and white, just as I wrapped the ones from me in gold and red. We had a bet when she was born, to see if she would end up a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw, and our presents were always wrapped in our house colours. Aurelia's though had a charm on the ribbon, showing a memory," he said.

Remus chuckled at the idea of Sirius and Aurelia's bet, quickly covering it up with a cough after Molly glared at him. She placed the present on the kitchen table, before summoning all the other presents the Weasley's had expertly hidden away from Natasha's prying eyes.

"She found our hiding places for presents years ago, so now it's a game almost, to see if she can find her presents." Remus and Sirius both laughed as many of the presents came whizzing from Natasha's room at the Burrow, her detective skills clearly shining.

"She should become one of those muggle detective's from the way her mind is, like that character from that muggle book, Sherlock," Remus exclaimed, earning a glance from his best friend.

"My daughter could do a lot better than work a muggle job, she could be in charge of the bloody ministry right now and do a better job than Fudge," Sirius commented, and Remus nodded, recalling the conversation Natasha and others had had at school a while ago.

She stirred and Fred woke up, his view rather terrifying as his girlfriend's father, uncle and his own mother stared down at him. "Frederick! May I have a word, outside?" Sirius asked, and Fred nodded slowly, standing up. Natasha whimpered as he let go of her hand, and he glanced over to Remus, who picked her up to put her in bed.

Fred thought he was going to shit himself as Sirius stopped right next to the pond, beckoning Fred to stand by him. "I won't kill you if that's what you're nervous about. My record is cleaner that than some of your school teachers boy," he remarked, allowing Fred to relax a bit.

"I hope you understand that I value your daughter in a way to which I can't explain sir," Fred said confidently, earning a look of approval from Sirius.

"I can tell Fred. And please, sir makes me sound ancient, like Snivellus. Sirius is fine." The two both laughed as Sirius said Snivellus, something Natasha would definitely be wanting to hear.

"You know Fred, my life hasn't been easy. I ran away at 16, failed to grow facial hair until I was imprisoned, and I had a daughter when I was just 18. My life had never revolved around anyone until Aurelia came into my life, but she gave it more meaning when she told me she was pregnant at the Christmas party in our seventh year."

"I made a promise that day, to never let my child suffer as I did, and I broke it when I was shipped off to Azkaban. But my daughter still smiled. Because she was loved by her mother, her Aunt Molly, and most importantly, you and your family."

"There's no doubt you love her unconditionally son, but if you ever, and I mean ever hurt my daughter, my record may just get spoilt, because she means the entire world to me," finished Sirius, never breaking eye contact with Fred.

Fred awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he thought of the girl inside. "I promise, and I swear on all of the detentions Natasha, George and I have proudly received, that I won't ever hurt her," Fred promised, bringing a smile to Sirius' face.

"Good. Then we can go and finally get some sleep because holy shit I've never stayed awake for so long!" Sirius remarked, slumping back inside. Fred followed, heading up the staircase, before stopping outside of his room, where he knew Natasha and George would already be asleep in.

He tried his hardest to open the door without making it creak, but at the last second, an eery sound came from it, causing Natasha to sit up quite rigidly. Her hair was a mess and she had been crying in her sleep, the events of just a few hours ago still a fresh wound on her mind.

"Freddie?" she whispered, her features looking even more terrified as the moonlight from the window shone down on her. Fred immediately went to her bedside and brushed the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm here love. I won't ever leave your side Natasha," he promised, kissing her head. She gave him a weak smile in return, before shyly patting the space beside her.

"Stay with me?" she asked timidly, and Fred nodded, quickly changing into pyjamas. He hesitantly slid under the covers, only relaxing when Natasha's tiny body was safely snug in his arms, the scent of her shampoo helping him drift off to sleep.