Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 33 - Mirage

The days that followed your strange venture into the Forbidden Forest, felt like a daze, you were completely lost in your own thoughts, looking behind you wherever you went as if he could reappear at any moment. The Phantom-like figure of Cedric, like a mirage in a desert, you yearned for him even if it was not real.

To Fred you were withdrawing, despite how intense your relationship had become recently. The Promise ring was proof of that, and still no one knew except the pair of you, Hermione and Ginny. You had made quite sure they would not tell anyone else, as you certainly were not ready for anything so public yet.

It had only been a few days since your 17th birthday, which you had celebrated quietly with Fred and a bottle of firewhisky in the Gryffindor Common Room. You were now considered an adult in the wizarding world, and so finally the temporary guardianship you had been put under with Snape had now dissolved at last, In fact, if you wanted to you could now legally marry Fred, although the thought was far from your mind at the moment.

Every night, when you were sure the other girls in the dormitory were asleep you got up to look out of the painted window, down on the dark school grounds. Hoping he would be there waiting for you again, but he never were.

And so it was just another thing you kept hidden in your mind, even from Fred. Just as you hid and put away everything Professor Dumbledore had told you in his office. About your Veela mother, and her demise at the hands of Death Eaters when she refused to give you up.

During the first Hogsmeade weekend of the semester, which happened to be on Valentines Day, you went to the Three Broomsticks with Fred. Hoping that a little change in scenery would put your mind on other things. The place was naturally crowded with Hogwarts student eager to get their pints of Butterbeers, and many on dates themselves. You saw several familiar faces around the premises. Draco and his spiteful-looking friends, Hermione, Ron and Harry. George and Lee scheming some pranks quietly in a corner, and occasionally discreetly handing out banned products from the Skiving Snackbox to students there.

"Business is blooming" Fred laughed, before he went up to the counter to Madam Rosmerta to order. Meanwhile you looked around for the quietest corner you could find, taking of your scarf and robe.

You tried to keep yourself from being so utterly dazed and distracted. You knew Fred was terribly worried for you, even if he masked it with his humour and bad jokes. Perhaps somewhere in his mind, he feared that he had been pushing you too much with the promise, de facto, engagement ring. That you were reluctant, because you were still mourning the death of Cedric. Looking around the room at the happy crowds it was almost as if there had not been any Azkaban breakout at all, or maybe just because it was Valentines day people choose to let their guards down.

For a brief second you thought you saw him, those blue eyes, the winning smile, the dirty blonde curls. But then Fred came into view, holding the two overflowing pints of butterbeer with a wide grin.

"Happy Valentines day Love" he said cheerfully,

"Thank you Freddie" you smiled, as you hurriedly took a sip. The flavour would never fail to bring you nostalgia, to back when Fred had brought you there for the very first time. It was likely the sweetest gesture you had ever received from anyone back then. In fact, Fred and George were the first ones to make you feel welcome at all in this brave new world.

"No problem Sweetheart" he smirked, taking a sip of his own butterbeer before his eyes widened as if he suddenly realised something.

"But Blimey Y/n, I just realised..now you can finally order Firewhisky here too"