Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 36 - More than Paris wanted Helen of Troy

It had been too sudden, perhaps you did not react accordingly the way you were supposed to. Fred's eyes studied your face with great interest as he waited for you to say something, anything, at the news he had brought you. Waiting for tears, waiting for anger, but certainly not this disinterest, or was it shock?

"I know it's sudden darling, but I just really don't see any point in staying at Hogwarts any longer, especially now that we're not even allowed to play Quidditch anymore"

"Was Quidditch really the only thing worth staying for? What about your education Fred, what about.. me?" you snapped back, you hardly even wanted to know why he thought this was a good idea. It was foolish, just another "brilliant" idea of his and his brother's.

He had cornered you like this on the last evening of the Easter Holiday, as if expecting it to be a simple announcement he could give you just while passing by. Why did he not tell you earlier? Was it because he secretly dreaded it, delayed it for as long as he possibly could?

"Sweetheart of course not, look I did not want to pressure you or anything but don't you know I'm head over heels in love with you? Why d'you think I gave you the bloody ring?"

He held you from leaving, looking at you pleadingly so you would no longer be mad at him. How could he ever leave you in such a state? But you held your tongue, avoiding his gaze and trying not to ease inn too much on those loving words. Perhaps it was better like this, safer, if he left your side.

"I promise you, every single Hogsmeade Weekend I'll be there waiting for you at the Three Broomsticks, and during holidays you'll be with me no matter what. Whether at the Burrow, or in Diagon Alley" he continued in his relentless attempts at convincing you that this business venture of his and George's were going to turn out well. They had already found a location in the centre of Diagon Alley, and a flat too.

"You promise?" you finally chuckled softly, as he continued up your arm after kissing your hand. How could you ever possibly stay mad at Fred Weasley?

"I'm a man of my words, love" he grinned placing your hand on his chest, you could tell how much it was beating for you. He was feeling rather cocky now that he had managed to convince you. George had told him you'd probably leave his foolish arse the second he spilled the news, but how wrong he was.

"And when you graduate, I'll be waiting for you, hopefully as a far richer man than I am now.. if you'll still want to have me of course..."

"Of course Freddie, rich or not I do not care. I'm all yours" you smiled, and his eyes immediately lit up.

A vision appeared in your mind for the briefest second, a white wedding dress and the smiles of all the ones you loved. But could the future really be that bright or was it only wishful thinking considering the state of it all. Your father, the Dark Lord, and whoever among his followers who wanted you dead. Not to mention how much of a threat you were to the ministry itself. Could you really risk Fred and his family's safety, just because you had these silly romantic daydreams of the pair of you? Just because you wanted to play house?

As sad as you was to see him leave, his whole announcement had somehow revoked yet another honeymoon phase in the pair of you. Perhaps so you could catch up on all you would miss in advance. So naturally for the time that followed, no Gryffindor could possibly bear to be anywhere near the pair of you at all, and unfortunately he had still planned on keeping up his troublemaking at Hogwarts for a few more weeks before the grand finale would arrive.

You had almost forgotten about it all, about the mysterious mercenary that had fooled you in his polyjuice'd guise as Cedric. While you kept your distance from the Black Lake and the Forbidden forest you had somehow managed to push all the trauma of it, the guilt, temporarily aside. For the sake of Fred mostly, as you did not want him to leave you behind at Hogwarts worried about whatever horrid secrets you currently held onto.

The resistance indeed came of with a blast, in the form of literal fireworks. The previous day, April 1st had been unusually quiet, despite how it was the twins birthday. Every teacher and student at Hogwarts was on edge for what would come, expecting some grander than usual pranks in celebration of their birthday. It had only been you and Fred all day however, sneaking of to the Room of Requirement for a romantic rendezvous. Your relationship steadily getting more intense then ever in the anticipation of his departure. Yet again it was like you needed to explore every inch of each other's bodies to keep the memory fresh, somehow as if for the very first time. The thrill of it all was only heightened by the possibility of being caught by the puritanical tyrant Umbridge, or any member of her squad.

You had never quite seen anything like the magical fireworks, of the twins self-produced Wildfire-Whiz-Bangs, setting of inside the castle. Disrupting every single lesson taking place, much to the tyrants displeasure. The teachers however, happily let the protest play out claiming they were not sure if they had the authority to do anything about it whatsoever. You had been in your transfiguration lesson when it happened, and you swore you could see McGonagall looking rather pleased as it unfolded. But it was only the very beginning.

That evening you sat in his arms in the couch in front of the fireplace at the common room, recounting it all from your own perspective. You were genuinely impressed, but unsure of how they could ever possibly top it off.

"It was brilliant Freddie, absolutely spectacular"

"Thank you thank you, did you catch the one with the heart and arrow?" he winked,

"That was for me?" you pretended to be shocked, but it was rather obvious really.

The grand finale came down on the evening of April 22nd. Of course Fred had let you know in advance so you could properly say goodbye, but he had not given you the specifics. Out of all things, they turned an entire corridor near Umbridge's office, into a swamp. Of all things, you thought, you really had to roll your eyes in response. It was certainly hilarious to witness Filch struggle across it, while yelling about whopping their arses or something like that. It seemed Filch had finally gotten Ministry approval on even further medieval methods of discipline. When Umbridge arrived at the scene, she was trapped across the corridor from them gaping in shock as she looked at the murky waters that had appeared. Several onlookers among the students had also arrived to see what was going on.

"You're going to find out what happens to wrongdoers at Hogwarts" Umbridge announced to you all, determined to set an example of the pair of troublemakers once and for all.

"No, I don't think we will" Fred laughed, "George, if you may.."

"If anyone fancies buying a portable swamp, as demonstrated, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley – Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Our new premises!"

Some members of Umbridge's inquisitorial squad arrived at the scene just as the students applauded the brilliantly performed advertising. You spotted Draco among them, his nose curling as he saw the Swamp.

"Someone catch them!" Umbridge yelled, the frustration finally slipping through her voice. Filch immediately stumbled into the swamp in a splash, which proved far deeper than any of you had expected.

"Accio Brooms!" Fred confidently called out, and immediately they rounded the corner flying through the air with chains hanging from them.

Fred hurriedly put his arms around you one more time, kissing you before he jumped on his old broom.

"See you soon darling" he grinned before he zoomed along through the air after George, slipping right away from the hands of the pesky Inquisitorial Squad. Fireworks started going of in the halls yet again, as the show was far from over. You followed the students running out into the courtyard to watch the spectacle.

The sun was setting, and the sky was glowing in colours only pale in comparison to the spectacular glittering of the fireworks. And the grand finale, a large W for Weasley before they flew off into the sunset. Standing there among the cheering students, you felt quite melancholic. Bittersweet if you will, as they disappeared out of sight. The last traces of the Wildfire-Whiz-Bangs dying down, leaving behind trails of smoke and memories.

Now you were alone.