gold rush // f.w.

chapter twenty-one

"I'm sorry Maddie," Neville's voice was soft and quiet as we walked through Diagon Alley together.

I had tried to put on a brave face for today, trying to forget about Fred and George and just focus on my brother's birthday.

With no way of contacting Fred, I wasn't able to visit him now and I was hoping he'd realize it and just show up for me soon but nothing yet.

I sighed and cracked a smile to Neville, "It's okay, Nev! I'll live."

He smiled too and pointed, clearly trying to change the subject, "Look, Flourish and Blotts! Wonder if they've got any new books on Herbology!"

He hurried ahead of me and I laughed to myself. I was worried about Fred, mostly because I didn't want him to think I was ignoring him, but this is exactly what I wanted to do with my summer. I'm just glad that Neville didn't have to spend his time alone, like he usually did. We were having a wonderful summer, just the two of us. A lot of the time we spent in the green house, or the garden and Neville talked my ear off about all of his plants, but I didn't mind. I guess it was my way of paying him back for all the times I would force him to help me practice quidditch when we were younger. 

Neville and I would also ride our bikes around the neighborhood like we used to as kids. I think he was secretly relieved to have a friend at Gran's house with him. Gran is sweet as can be, and her and Neville bond over gardening, but she can be a bit dry and goes to bed by 8 p.m. Spending time here instead of the Burrow showed me one undeniable truth, though.

All three of us shared the same quality: avoiding vulnerability. 

You could sense that we all avoided the subject of my parents. Neville went and visited every Sunday and no one said a word about it. We all were obviously were deeply hurt, even still, but none of us wanted to share the harsh reality. No matter how awful it was to have this hanging around as a part of our history, we couldn't change it. At least Neville handled it better than Gran and I.

We still never talked about it, but Neville made it a part of his regular life. He embraced the trauma, while Gran and I ignored it completely. 

Neville gathered his books and we made one last stop at the sweets shop before we headed home. I finally learned how to apparate legally after the whole incident with Ginny last school year, but I was still a little rusty. Thankfully, it wasn't very hard for Neville and I to think of our childhood home. 

When we arrived, we both fell onto our yard with a thud. Neville groaned and I laughed, "Sorry about that mate," I stood up and held out my hand, "Here." Neville took it and I helped him up.

I looked up at our house and was surprised when I noticed Fred sitting on our front steps. His head was looking down at his knees and he was fidgeting with his hands. 

"Hey! Weasley!" I shouted and his head shot up, with a smile spreading across his face. 

Neville smirked at me and ran towards the house, giving Fred a high five as he passed him. I stood still with a smile on my face and my arms crossed over my chest as I watched Fred stand up and skip down the porch steps. He ran over to me and picked me up, spinning me around. I let out a surprised gasp and started laughing. When he set me back onto the ground, his lips wasted no time finding mine.

We kissed each other as if we never had before. Softly, slowly, angrily for a while. 

When he pulled away he sighed, "I'm such a bloody idiot."

I furrowed my eyebrow and gave him a curious look. His arms were still firmly wrapped around my waist.

"I forgot that the headquarters is untraceable and unable to receive post! That's why I'm here!" Fred's cheeks flushed sheepishly and I giggled quietly and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.