Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 14 - Love Declarations and Lavender Icecream

You were still feeling the effects off the fear that had shaken through you during the riot. You could not stop seeing the scene play out in your head over and over, the masked Death Eaters surrounding you. The dark gloved hand that had reached to help you up from the ground where you had fallen, but instead of harming you the Death Eaters had given you a deep and respectful bow. You had not dared telling anyone about this, as you arrived on a field outside the Village of Ottery St Catchpole with the Weasley's after travelling by port key. While you had been with the Malfoy's when you had arrived at the Quidditch World Cup grounds, they had been nowhere to be found after the events that unfolded shortly after the finale.

With your hand safely inside Fred's, you walked your way back to the Burrow which towered up from the early morning mist in the distance. The sight filled you with joy and expectation. It was Arthur that had insisted that you went with them, not wanting to leave you alone at the campgrounds searching for the Malfoy's after all that happened. He said he was going to send Dumbledore an owl the second you came back, explaining your whereabouts.

The feeling of warmth and familiarity hit you as you reached the Burrow. The sound of clucking from the Chicken coop, the scent of the breakfast Molly was preparing was lingering in the warm summer air. The second you all stepped inside, she appeared in the hallway, her face painted in worry and lack of sleep. She had been completely out of herself with worry, when she had read about the terror at the World Cup in the papers. Seeing you all, she pulled everyone inn for a rather long hug. Sighing in relief of your safety. And upon seeing you, Harry and Hermione she was only happy for your return. As far as she was concerned, you learned, you would always be a part of the family.

It had been a rather silent breakfast at the Burrow, everyone having become extremely hungry after the events which had unfolded and tired as well after the long night that followed. Arthur read from the daily prophet aloud, of their article about what had happened. They had made no arrests, although the Aurors of the ministry were working diligently on the case. Despite being extremely thankful for your new surroundings, you had a lump of worry in your stomach. It was growing, the more you heard about the Death Eaters, and the recent increase of their activity. You decided that, you would not even tell Fred about what you had experienced. Then an owl flew through the opened window, the letter it had carried landing in your lap.

Everyone looked at you with curiosity, the letter bore the Hogwarts emblem in red wax. You quickly opened it and saw that it was from Dumbledore.

"What does it say?" Fred asked, leaning in by your side to see better. Along with George on your other side.

"He knows I'm here, and says that it will be perfectly fine that I stay here until we return to Hogwarts" you smiled, looking up at Fred who looked even more enthusiastic than you did, about not having to return to neither Malfoy manor nor Spinner's End.

"Ah, Dumbledore is rather quick I see" Arthur said, now not having to write him himself.

You perched up in your seat a little as you read the last part of the letter. Now your smile widened even more.

"My case with the Ministry..." you said in astonishment, "It's been dropped!"

"Of course, dear, you did nothing wrong by defending yourself" Molly said, congratulating you for finally being free from your troubles. A small applause followed by a delighted Hermione on the other side of the table.

"Took them long enough to figure that out though" Fred said, incomprehensibly through a mouthful of toast and jam.

"Fudge's bureaucracy" Arthur commented with a sigh, before taking a sip of his very muggle prepared coffee enthusiastically.

For the good news you had received, Molly prepared your favourite Plum cake that evening. Although you figured, it was already celebratory enough that you were allowed to stay there with them until it would be time to leave for the Hogwarts express at September 1st.

Your last few weeks at the Burrow were extremely well spent, you thought. Despite having been placed in Ginny's bedroom, which was now even more cramped thanks to Hermione's bed, you still managed to sneak down into Fred & George's bedroom every other night. It was always as entertaining, whenever they would sneak out a bottle of firewhisky and demonstrate to you, their latest absurd business invention. It was also during this time, a night you had gone outside to stargaze with Fred, that he had told you for the very first time that he loved you.

"You love.. me?" you said, a little flabbergasted. Despite the lack of light outside, apart from the moon and stars, you were sure you lit up red as a signal flare by his side.

"Yes. How could you possibly not know?" he laughed, his arm around your waist pulling you even closer to him.

The declaration hit you, with far more weight than you would ever have expected. The fact that someone, someone who knew all of you. Your flaws, your insecurities, your dreams and your fears, really truthfully loved you. It initially felt just as absurd as his silly inventions, but you knew for sure that, as giddy as you were around him, you truly loved him too. No matter how much he had pissed you off at times.

A few days before September you found yourself at Diagon Alley, shopping for school supplies with the Weasley's. Fred had quickly separated you from the rest of them, his parting from George was unusual. But you could tell by George's mischievous grin that it was pre-meditated. As you dragged you along with him, hand in hand to an ice-cream parlour nearby. Florean Fortescue's it was called, written above the shop on a wooden sign in gold encased letters. Part of you were surprised that wizards also enjoyed, something as muggle-like as Ice-cream. Yet inside, you could tell by the fantastical display and array of flavours that this too were somehow pure magic. You both sat outside in the warm summer air enjoying your ice cream, which seemed to be charmed to be un-meltable before hitting your lips. Fred seemed like he was up to something, you could tell by the way he was looking at you that he was rather excited about it, whatever it was.

"What?" you laughed, wondering If you were about to be the unsuspecting victim of a classical Fred & George prank. Fred grinned, as he took out a small present box of his pocket. It's outside as lavender as your ice-cream. Your eyes widened for a second, as he slid it across the table towards you. You tried not to think the thought, you were both still so young. It could not be possible that he would take it so far, after his declaration of love, already. No, so you tried to play it cool as you nonchalantly looked up at him.

"Go on, open it" he said, and you did, half expecting it to be a miniature jack-in-the-box about to jump out at you. But as the content of it was revealed, inside its silk red compartment it was a golden bracelet with celestial charms on it. You quickly took it out and put it around your wrist in awe.

"So.. do you like it?"

"Fred, it's so... beautiful.. Thank you!" you said, trying to keep tears from appearing in your eyes. No one had ever just given you a gift out of the blue before, it was so thoughtful. And Fred, he just smiled widely as he looked at you study it from every angle.

"I saved all summer, and Ginny helped me pick it out... I did not think I would get to give it to you before we went back to Hogwart's though" he said, a little embarrassed that he had needed his little sisters help on picking anything out.

"It's perfect, I love it" you said, smiling as you got up from the table to hug him closely.

"But most of all, I love you.. Freddie"