Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 55 - Tis' the season to be wary

 December 1996

"Filthy Half-breed!" the old ragged looking witch spat as she passed you by, and you felt your heart miss a beat as you froze by the unexpectedness of the hateful encounter. Fred immediately stopped walking, and turned around to follow her where she turned the corner to Knockturn alley. Maybe it was your long silvery hair which revealed your Veela nature, or the glow that surrounded you whenever you as much as glanced at your fiancé, Fred.

"Oy!" Fred shouted angrily after her, but you quickly grabbed his hand to prevent him from following her.

"It's not worth it Fred" you said, and when he turned back to look at you, you could still see the traces of rage taint his beautiful freckled face.

"It just makes me so angry, they can't talk to you like that!"

The look in his eyes softened into sadness, as you shook your head.

"It doesn't matter, let's go" you stated as you put up a half convincing smile, and adjusted your scarf as the verbal attack had left you feel even colder than before, even the December air felt warm in comparison. You pulled Fred along by his hand, down the streets of Diagon Alley. Such displays of hatred and wizarding pureblood supremacy had found its way into the open now more than ever, all thanks to your father being at large yet again. If only they knew who you truly were, then they would not dare to talk to you at all.

Even though Christmas was coming up, the streets were rather empty. As were many shops, with their signs of permanent closure or windows broken or barricaded. After everything that had happened since the Ministry finally admitted to Voldemorts return back in the summer, there was no wonder why. Ollivanders wand shop were closed, and Ollivander himself remained missing and presumably dead. Thus only a few had dared to remain open for the season, including Fred and George's own shop, Weasleys Wizard Wheezes.

You felt a strange drop in your stomach as the pair of you passed by Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, where you and Fred had spent many romantic dates. It was where he had given you the golden bracelet with celestial charms, and it was where you had told Fred for the very first time that you loved him. Now the parlour was closed, and Florean was dead.

The pair of you hurried inside Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and you rushed up the stairs to the flat feeling strangely bittersweet by how different the atmosphere was inside. It felt almost as if the war was non existent in there, there was only joyous laughter from children crowded around the shelves upon shelves of toys and joke products. You and Fred had been Christmas shopping as the muggles did however, out in the normal shops of London, and tomorrow you would travel to the Burrow through the Floo network, as that was the safest and quickest option of travel.

You had never before spent Christmas at the Burrow, in fact you had only ever spent it with Fred at either Hogwarts or Grimmauld Place. Fred had picked you up when you arrived at King's Cross Station in London, and so you had spent the last few nights at his and George's flat above their shop.

Just getting to fall asleep next to him felt like the greatest Christmas gift of all, and the given luxury of waking up in his arms as well, though poor George would have to open the shop all by himself as you kept Fred so completely occupied every morning, every night.

December 25th

You stumbled out of the fireplace at The Burrow, with bags filled with Christmas presents in your hands, feeling like some strange witchy version of Santa Clause. You were met by Ginny who had been sitting in the couch in front of the fireplace, in the process of cracking some nuts with a muggle nutcracker – which Arthur likely joyfully brought out every season.