An Affair to Remember (Fred Weasley)

59) Everything happens at twilight

Warnings: Drug use, smoking

Fred stayed shut in his room the whole day after they returned from the nursery, still recovering from his hangover. Adrienne was really tired by now, all her hopes of talking to Fred had been shattered. She didn't look at him anymore for fear that she wouldn't be able to control her emotions. Sometimes, she wished she could tell what he was thinking, and sometimes, she wanted to stop her own thoughts from parading around her head until she could take it no more.

It was difficult to accept it, but the truth stared at her blankly in the face, Adrienne had lost Fred for the third time. But again, he was never hers to begin with. 

Adrienne started to imagine what life without him would be like. She would go back to her nursery and continue living in her little house until she got a better one in Diagon Alley. Maybe one day she'd find someone else, but for now, it was just her.

Adrienne glanced at the box of polaroid films lying on the kitchen counter. Slowly, her fingers pulled apart the package and produced some film from it. She stuck the film inside a camera, but realised that she had nothing worth taking a picture of. Because the only pictures she had ever taken were when she was in love.

That didn't mean that she would give up. She walked around the house, finding something she could take a picture of in an attempt to distract herself when an idea popped into her head. She pushed the main door open, a gust of wind causing her hair to flutter around her face. Then, she made her way over to the pond, the trees reflecting in her eyes, the water dancing softly under the now hidden sun. One picture. Two. Maybe another one?

Adrienne inspected the polaroids in her hand, a satisfied smile on her face. If everything in her life was slowly falling apart, she still had the solace of her lodge, the trees and the water. And even though she didn't say it, she still had Fred for a few more moments before he was gone from her life forever.

As Adrienne strolled back to the lodge, she saw a letter lying on the doorstep, she hadn't noticed it before. She bent over to pick it up, her fingers tightening around the edges as she realised that it was from the Ministry.

Closing the door behind her and resting the camera haphazardly on the table, Adrienne opened the letter, already knowing exactly what the purpose of it was.

Ms. Adrienne Ellis,

I am writing to inform you that your request for an early portkey connecting 'The Arcanus Lodge' to Diagon Alley has been granted. Your portkey will reach you on Monday at 9 AM sharp and will remain active till 9:15 AM, after which it cannot be used.

Please ensure that it is utilised within the specified time as it will deactivated not even a minute late. After usage, a Ministry official will collect the portkey from your home between 2-4 business days.

Please follow the safety instructions included in the envelope for a safe journey.

With Regards,

Gerald Hauffman

Adrienne didn't bother reading the safety instructions, she didn't even bother finishing the letter after the first paragraph. Tomorrow was Monday, meaning what she had dreaded had finally come, and everything would be back to normal soon.

Or as normal as normal could ever be.

"Fred?" Adrienne knocked on his door a couple of times, but there was no response from him. She bit her lip, trying to control the tears that were about to fall from her eyes "Fred are you in there?" she knocked again, more frantically this time. Maybe he was still asleep because he didn't reply.