𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 43

After serious talks with Remus, Sirius and Harry, Natasha had officially dropped out of DA, though she had promised to protect them as much as she could from Umbridge's prying eyes. She supplied potions and offered new spells to Harry, always keeping guard when they had late night practices as she did her patrols.

After Dumbledore's removal, things at Hogwarts had changed for the worst. Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad meant that Adrian and Natasha had more and more students come running to them, and now not even Minerva could help.

Even as the snow melted outside on the Hogwarts grounds, the castle became colder and colder, as both students and staff became miserable. Natasha had managed to land herself another punishment just from being on her nightly patrols, which had angered even Severus who had found her cradling her hand as she walked back from Umbridge's office at midnight.

"Natasha what happened?" he asked, grabbing her hand in his. She winced and he walked with her to his office, grabbing a Wiggenweld potion to heal her hand.

"I was doing my patrol and I guess I lost track of the time, Adrian wasn't there tonight since he got that injury in Care for Magical Creatures, and Umbridge caught me, before well, this," Natasha finished, gesturing to her hand.

Severus sighed and continued to work on her hand, wrapping it after Natasha had ingested the potion. "I'll have a word with Pucey, you shouldn't be roaming the halls alone, it's not safe Natasha," he scolded lightly, finishing his work.

Natasha nodded and caught Severus off guard by hugging him. "Thanks for helping me," she whispered, and Severus hugged her back rather awkwardly.

"You're my blood, I'll always be here to help," he said kindly, mastering a small smile. "Now, I'll have to walk you back to the Gryffindor tower, as for some reason, I'm the only teacher Umbridge hasn't threatened yet."

"Lucky you," Natasha said sarcastically, absentmindedly fumbling with the bandage on her hand. Severus just gave her a look as they walked up the moving staircases, and she smiled back sweetly, finally stopping outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Hello Elizabeth," Natasha said quietly, and the Fat Lady woke up, a scowl on her face.

"This is a new late," she groaned. "Password?"

Natasha looked over to Severus who rolled his eyes. "I'll be off, but if she causes you anymore trouble, just owl me, okay?" Natasha nodded and hugged him once more before he walked back down the staircases to his quarters.

"Erutus Datus," said Natasha, and the portrait swivelled open, revealing only a crackling fire and a few Gryffindor students who had fallen asleep on the couches, or in Neville's case, the floor. She tip-toed to her dorm room, only to find Fred fast asleep on her bed, dressed in his red pyjamas.

She sighed with a soft smile on her face and ran her hand through his red hair, sitting beside him. "Freddie?" she whispered, and he groaned slightly, opening his eyes slowly. His hazel orbs were warm compared to Natasha's cold ones. He reached his hand up to cup her cheek, and Natasha pressed a tender kiss to his lips.

"What time is it?" he asked, his voice full of sleep, and Natasha looked out of her window, up to the crescent moon.

"About 12:30, I just got back," Natasha answered, and she took off her robe, still in her school uniform.

"But I thought your patrols with Pucey finished at 11?" Fred asked her, as Natasha stepped into her bathroom. She started to brush her teeth and used her free hand to quickly change into the Gryffindor pyjamas Sirius had given her at Christmas.

"Adrian injured himself today in Care for Magical Creatures, so I did my patrols alone," she explained, using her injured hand to brush her teeth, not going unnoticed by Fred. He leapt out of her bed, and walked over, staring at her hand.

"Baby what happened?" he questioned with urgency, taking her hand in his. She transferred her toothbrush to her other hand and tried to shove Fred off, but he wasn't having it.

"Natasha, you have to tell your father. Umbridge targeted you for no reason!" Fred cried, and Natasha's smile wavered. The weird feeling in her stomach was back, almost as if something Fred had just mentioned had triggered her. She clutched her stomach, as bile tried to rise through her throat.

"Fred the feeling, it's back," she whispered, taking a seat just as it cleared. Fred's anger turned to concern, and he started to rub her back, pulling her tiny body close to his. He was so tall that he could completely lean his head over hers, and his arm easily reached her far arm with slack.

"What triggered it?" he asked, and Natasha rubbed her arms, lying back on her bed.

"I don't know, something you mentioned in that sentence, but it was the exact same feeling I had at, well, you know," she trailed off quietly, as Fred repositioned himself, making sure her head was on his chest.

"Well, if it pains you anymore, we can owl your father and Remus, and go see Minnie, okay?" Fred offered. Natasha nodded and hugged his waist, his gunpowder and parchment scent acting like a Calming Draught, helping her fall asleep.

Fred on the other hand, was now wide awake, unable to get Natasha's words out of his head. He looked down to the black mass of curls lying on top of him, her steady breathing confirming she was asleep.

She was his whole world, his reason for breathing, and the fact she was haunted by her own power scared him. He couldn't even start to process the feeling of losing her, and he knew that if she went, he would quickly follow, with his heart completely belonging to her.

He knew it would pain her when he and George left Hogwarts early to set up their business, but she also knew that she would understand. She had always told he and his brother to make the most of life, and they would be following her words.

He pressed a kiss to her head, not wanting for the current peace to end. Umbridge had been catching onto the tail of DA, and it was only a matter of time until Natasha couldn't protect them anymore. Her magic could only fool people for so long, and even Umbridge would be able to break Natasha's charms sooner or later.

"I love you so much Natasha," he whispered into her hair. She didn't answer, instead just moving slightly, letting out a small breath. He chuckled and lay his head down on her pillow, falling into a sleep dreaming about the girl beside him.