Raven (Fred x oc)

98. Forgetting

How I managed to mount the thestral even with Bill's help was beyond me as my body was still shaking. "Hang on," Bill said. "You went back to your real appearance." He quickly cast a Disillusionment charm over me, making me nearly invisible before getting in front of me on the thestral. 

We took off into the night, on watch for anything that might be coming for us. My heart was hammering in my chest as I thought about Fred. Did he make it out? Was he okay? What about the others? I was so impatient that I barely waited for the thestral to land before jumping off, taking off the enchantment from myself as I ran past the people in the yard. 

"Fred!" I shouted, running into the house. I didn't register the figure on the couch as Fred rushed over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist as I held onto him tightly, trying to steady my breathing. He buried his head in my hair, holding onto me for dear life as if to remind himself that I was there. We stayed like that for a moment, content with just the fact that we were both alive. 

Pulling away and cupping my cheeks, Fred asked, "Are you okay?" I nodded, blinking back tears. 

"He's gone, Fred," I said finally. "Mad-Eye." Everyone else came in just as I said the name. I finally looked at everyone else, searching them for injuries. "George," I gasped, moving over to him and looking at his ear...or rather where his ear should be. 

"Finally noticed, have you?" he said, trying to lighten the mood. No one said anything else. I went back to Fred, laying my head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. Bill walked over to the cabinet and took out a bottle of firewhiskey, pouring out a glass for each of us. With his wand, he sent one to each of us. 

Holding his glass aloft, Bill said, "Mad-Eye." 

"Mad-Eye," we all said. I stared at mine for a moment before setting it aside, untouched. I hate alcohol. 

"So Mundungus disappeared?" Remus asked. 

"Why did they expect us?" I asked, my voice quavering. 

Setting aside my question, Bill said, "I know what you're thinking and I wondered that too, on the way back here, because, like Valerie said, they seemed to expect us, didn't they?" 

"But it couldn't have been Mundungus," I said. They all looked at me in surprise. "They didn't know which one was the real Harry or even that there would be multiple. We had to have been betrayed by someone else." 

After a moment's hesitation, Remus raised his wand at Bill and I, remarking, "Everyone else has been verified." 

"Valerie, what was our first real argument about?" Fred asked, looking at me. 

"I was mad at you for getting into fights all the time and you were mad at me for being too soft on Draco," I replied. 

"It's her," Fred said firmly. 

Remus didn't lower his wand, staring at Bill. Once he had proven himself, Remus lowered his wand. 

"So, if it wasn't any of us, who was it?" I asked. 

"No," Harry said firmly, looking around at them all. "We've got to trust each other. I don't think anyone in this room would ever sell me to Voldemort." 

"Well said, Harry," Fred said. 

"Yeah, 'ear, 'ear," George joked. I couldn't help a small smile. Remus was looking at Harry with an odd expression. 

Looking directly at him, Harry asked, "You think I'm a fool?" 

"No, I think you're like James," he replied. "Who would have regarded it the height of dishonour to mistrust his friends." Before Harry could reply, Remus turned to Bill and said, "There's work to do. I can ask Kingsley whether-" 

"No, I'll do it. I'll come," Bill replied instantly. 

"Where're you going?" Tonks and Fleur asked together. 

"Mad-Eye's body," Remus explained. "We've got to recover it." After dealing with a little protest, they left. 

"I've got to go too," Harry said. I frowned, looking at him in surprise. 

"Don't be silly, Harry, what're you talking about?" Mrs. Weasley asked. 

"I can't stay here," he said, rubbing his forehead. "You're all in danger when I'm here. I don't want-" 

"But don't be so silly!" Molly protested. "The whole point of tonight was to get you here safely, and thank goodness it worked. And Fleur's agreed to have her wedding here rather than in France and Fred and Valerie are getting married, we've arranged everything so that we can all stay together and look after you-" 

"If Voldemort finds out I'm here-" 

"But why should he?" Molly replied. I sighed, pulling away from Fred to go outside. Sitting down on a bench in the garden, I hugged my knees to my chest, balancing my chin on my knees. I stared into the darkness, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach. Fred sat down next to me. 

"You okay?" I asked, looking over at him. "It can't be easy seeing George like that." 

"I think the blood loss is getting to his head," Fred said, managing to give a ghost of a smile. "He was cracking jokes. You know what he said when I asked him how he was feeling?" 

"No, what?" I asked, grabbing onto his hand. 

Intertwining our fingers, he said, "George said he felt saintlike. And holey." 

I let out a small chuckle. "Leave it to George to still crack jokes in the midst of tragedy." 

"Babe, when we get married, where are we going to go?" Fred asked, rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb. "He's still looking for you. Petra still wants your ring. Where can we go?" 

"I don't know," I admitted. "But, Fred, I just want you with me." 

Cupping my cheek, he said, "Val, look at me. I'm not going anywhere." Staring into his brown eyes, I saw that he meant it. Gently, I leaned my head up, connecting our lips. It was slow and served more to slow my pounding heart. Pressing our foreheads together, he said, "You are always going to have me here, supporting you, loving you." 

"Fred," I whispered, my cheeks flushed and a wide smile on my lips. He reconnected our lips, the kiss becoming deeper as the space between us became almost nonexistent. Pulling away I said, "What are we doing, someone just died!" Burying my head in my hands, I said, "Merlin, what is wrong with me?" 

"Sometimes we need to forget," Fred replied, holding my hand. "But, I see your point."