𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 28

Hogwarts' mood was gloomy from that day until summer bled out into autumn.

Natasha couldn't stop crying at the memorial service, and Fred couldn't look towards the candles without breaking into tears. Natasha hadn't been particularly close with Cedric, but he was a fellow student, and had offered her help before in herbology.

Even as the scarlet train rolled into Kings Cross, the students were depressed, and the parents and guardians waiting to pick them up were shocked. Once cheerful first years were now terrified of stepping away from seventh years, the seventh-year boys never leaving the girls.

Remus could see the emotional toll the death of the Hufflepuff had taken on Natasha, but he knew there were greater problems arriving, and Natasha had to be at her best.

When she saw him, she instantly ran into his arms, his chocolate scent basking her as he hugged her tightly. "Uncle Moony, there's something wrong with me," she sniffled and Remus' heart broke, completely understanding the words she was saying.

He and Sirius had been owled after Sybil had foretold the prophecy surrounding Natasha, and now the Order, recently reinstated, were going to be watching over the girl, and Sirius had practically forced Dumbledore to let the girl join when the time was ready.

She was turning 17 in only a few weeks, and once she did, the invitation would be extended to her, as it was stupid to let her stay in the dark.

"Nothing is wrong with you Natasha, if anything, this gift makes you even more powerful," Remus whispered into her ear, as the Weasley's pulled up to he and Nat. Natasha let go of Remus and held Fred's hand, George's arms around both of them.

Remus could see how tight the three had gotten over the school year, and even how close Ginny was now to Natasha. He and Molly embraced quickly before they all apparated to Grimmauld Place, the home familiar to the twins as they had visited more times than they could count.

Sirius was waiting by the doorway as they walked in, and he quickly tackled his child into a hug, letting her let her emotions loose. "Oh sweetheart," he cooed as she placed her head on his chest, mentally tired from the school year.

Remus directed the rest of the Weasley's up to their lodgings as Sirius and Natasha continued to embrace, her shaky breaths concerning him. "Are you feeling alright Nat?" he asked, and she nodded, moving to take a seat in the kitchen with him.

"After Professor Trelawney said the prophecy, and we heard the news that Cedric had died, nothing has been right. People have been sending me weird looks because I had to leave during the last challenge, and rumours are spreading that it was me that killed him dad," she croaked, her voice hoarse from crying.

"My darling don't listen to them. You're the smartest, kindest witch I have ever met, excluding your mother and that Hermione Granger," he said sternly but gently, and Natasha let a small smile slip onto her face, immediately brightening the room.

"There's my girl," Sirius said grinning, quickly pecking her forehead before grabbing a cookie from the plate Remus had left out. Natasha followed suite, the sweetness of the chocolate in the cookies a signature Remus move.

The rest of the Weasley's quietly listened in on the exchange between the father and daughter, their hearts glowing at the sweetness and sincerity they shared. Sirius and Natasha had been through hell and back in their childhoods, but now that they were together, their lives were complete.

"Natasha, do you want to share with the twins again this year?" Molly called from Natasha's room, and Sirius sighed as Natasha stood up on the table, clearing her throat and quickly humming a few scales, her happy aura back.

"YES MOLLY, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE BOYS IN MY ROOM THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY AREN'T PLANNING ANYTHING!" she yelled out, causing Sirius to wince, and the twins upstairs to grin gleefully.

With a wink to their siblings and parents, they apparated to Natasha's bedroom, the other mattresses already set up at the bottom of Natasha's bed. The two were excited to start planning products for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes this summer, whilst the Order stuff their parents were in happened downstairs.

Natasha was also turning 17 in a few weeks.

Fred had the perfect present planned for her, and he hadn't shown it to anyone, not even George. It was a dainty little ring, which muggles referred to as a promise ring, and he was going to give it her at midnight, when everyone else had gone to bed.

As he quickly stuffed the small box under his pillow, Natasha entered, her once sombre mood now washed down with a few chocolate chip melt cookies. Her black curls were loose around her head, and she shot a glance over to Fred, who used his wand to put his pyjamas on her.

She smiled and jumped onto her bed, followed by Fred and George who snuggled into her sides. "Thank you for being here boys," she said, her voiced muffled by her pillow. The two sleepily brushed it off with 'it's okay', before they all slowly fell asleep.

And that was how Molly, Sirius, Arthur and Remus found them that night when Molly called them for dinner. Snuggled in together with their arms protectively around each other. They had no reason to wake them, knowing that times like these wouldn't be around for much longer.

Molly was furious that Dumbledore was allowing Natasha to join, but even she knew that they needed the power and mind of such a witch on their side, and Natasha would do anything to protect the Golden Trio, who were in the most danger.

The mother also felt bad that Harry wasn't here, but everyone in the Order agreed that he was safer with his aunt and uncle whilst the chaos of the Order was brought back. None of the children, including Natasha, were allowed to contact him, and Molly knew there would be an outburst sooner or later.

It was all a matter of when.