Weasley Charm | Fred Weasley

Chapter 7-15: & The Dream

Delaney sat up, gasping for air as her eyes scanned her surroundings. She wasn't at Hogwarts. She was in a bedroom. Not just any bedroom, Fred's bedroom at the Burrow. She could feel tears streaming down her cheeks as she stood. She could feel everything she touched, which was different from what she just experienced. What was happening? Was that a nightmare? What happened to her? The last thing she could remember feeling was just before she was knocked out in the tower after saving Lupin.

Her mind raced with a million questions. But only three remained persistent and pressing. Was she able to save Remus? Did he save Tonks? Was Fred really dead?

Her feet carried her down the Burrow's steps faster than she had ever gone down them. She could hear murmurs coming from the kitchen. Tears continued streaming down her cheeks as she ran in.

"Oh, thank heaven she's woken up at last!" Mrs. Weasley said in a relieved yet excited tone. She continued by wrapping Delaney in a tight hug.

"Now, Molly, you know I wanted to be the first to do that!" a voice sounded from behind Mrs. Weasley at the table.

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry. I just got caught up in the moment," Mrs. Weasley replied in an apologetic tone, turning her body so that Delaney could see who had been speaking. Delaney felt her heart warm after seeing who it was.

"Remus!" she smiled, practically running him down as she wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, and Tonks!" She pulled Tonks into a hug as well.

"Careful dear, I've just got Teddy to sleep," Tonks grinned, moving her arms to show the tiny baby in her arms that now had bright turquoise hair.

"You weren't kidding when you said he took after Tonks," Delaney smiled at Lupin.

"You know I never lie," he smiled, wrapping his arm around Tonks' shoulder. Delaney smiled down at the small baby. Her godson. Oh how she couldn't wait to spoil him.

"Molly," Delaney turned around, remembering the peculiar wording she said when she walked into the kitchen.

"Yes, dear?" she asked, moving her attention back to Delaney. She had been admiring Teddy as well.

"What did you mean when you said, 'she's up at last'?" Delaney's brows furrowed.

Everyone around the room shared a short glance, Hermione and Ginny, who had been sitting at the table as well.

"She deserves to know," Ginny broke the silence.

"Well, dear, after you saved Lupin. You went into a battle with a Death Eater, as I'm sure you remember. But, Dean was up there with you. He told us you were holding your own quite well. He had no doubt in his mind that you would win. But, he said that he saw another one closing in on you and that there would be no way you'd be able to fend off both of them. So, he hit you with a sleeping curse to make the Death Eaters think they had killed you. I must say, he is quite good at sleeping curses. It took you three days to awake," Mrs. Weasley answered.

"Three days?" Delaney's eyes widened. "Wait, so that means since you're still here," she pointed at Remus, "and you're still here," she moved her finger to Tonks, "that means it was all a nightmare."

"A nightmare? I've never heard of such a thing with sleeping curses," Mrs. Weasley shook her head.

"Well, Molly, it seems likely with her gift. Delaney, you said something about us still being here, did you see otherwise while you were under the spell?" Lupin asked.

Delaney silently nodded, shuddering as she replayed the violent nightmare in her head. She could feel tears begin to well and her stomach drop when she realized Fred wasn't in the kitchen with everyone else.