𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 | f. w

i. welcome home

chapter one
WELCOME HOME

🥀

» » EDITH THRIVED tending to wild beasts in Romania. It wasn't the simplest of life styles and it certainly wasn't harmless, but she refused to give up on her dreams. Working with dragons alongside Charlie Weasley never seemed to leave room for a dull moment, and she was always busy studying the fascinating natures of Norwegian Ridgebacks, Common Welsh Greens and Swedish Short-Snouts. They had always been of interest to her,  ever since she was a little kid, hearing stories of them from her father. It was a dream coming true, and she wasn't about to throw any of it away. So that's why she decided to dedicate her life to her work, and that's just what she did. Despite their line of work being extremely dangerous and challenging, Edith couldn't feel more at home in Romania. She was doing what she loved, and couldn't ask for more.

But now she was heading back home. Back to a place she hadn't seen in over four years, and people she hadn't been in contact with for a very long time. Maybe things had changed, maybe nothing would feel familiar upon her return. Maybe her decision-making as a twenty-year-old caused the world she once knew to change without her.

On the morning of July fifth, 2002, Edith returned home, to London. She had spent weeks preparing herself for what might happen as she crossed the border, anxiously picturing different scenarios in her head.

Fuck off! Where were you when I needed you? When my family needed you?

You left knowing we were in pain. Don't expect us to forgive you that easily, Edith.

What did you think would happen? That we would let you back into our lives as if nothing ever happened?

Leave. We never want to see you again.

There were endless ways that this could go, she knew that. Still, she held tightly onto the hope that maybe they'd forgive her, despite her rash decision to move away. That maybe so much time had gone, that they'd completely forgotten about her treachery.

But why if they'd completely forgotten about her?

Edith stood with her feet on solid ground, pretending everything was fine, despite biting at her fingernails anxiously. This was it. The moment she had been both waiting for and dreading for so long. It could very well end badly, she knew that. But she was also aware of the fact that this was a family she'd known for most of her childhood. A family that used to bring her around for Christmas, that took her to the Quidditch World Cup every year. This was her family, and she hoped that they wouldn't turn her away at the door.

So she patted down her dress that went to her knees, fearful of the fact that it might show of her knickers, and grabbed a form hold of her trunk. It wasn't until she started walking aimlessly about the yard, that she heard an all-too familiar voice calling her name.

"Edith Gannon. Is that you, dear?", Molly Weasley's motherly voice exclaimed from just inside the house. "Oh, how you've grown!".

Molly Weasley, a short, plump looking woman with vibrant red curls, stood in the archway, ready to throw her arms around Edith's neck.

"Molly!".  Edith smiled.

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After making herself at home and chatting about with Molly (and Arthur, who returned from his work at the Ministry not long thereafter) as if it were only yesterday that they saw each other, Edith got caught in thinking about the third youngest Weasley. How would he take it about learning of her return? Would he still be mad at her for leaving all those years ago, or had he found it in himself to forgive her? There was only one way to find out, and she knew she wouldn't be able to run away from the past anymore. So that night she started planning what to say when the moment came when she would have to speak with him. She twisted anxiously in bed, rotating several times through the night. She barely slept at all, and found it difficult not to think about him. It wasn't until the sun started rising over the horizon, that her eyes fell shut and she drifted off to sleep.

The feeling of waking up in a room at the Burrow the very next morning, was inexplicably odd. The smell of burnt toast and freshly cut vegetables filled her nostrils, and the sun creeping in through the window made it feel outlandishly homely. She hadn't been there in over four years — hadn't seen any of these people in ages — and still, if felt just like it did back then. She was surrounded by beautifully decorated art pieces, oddly shaped furniture and floorboards that would creak each time you walked about the house. Everything about that place felt special, even after so much time had gone by. She was home.

"Good morning, sunshine", Molly's voice startled the poor girl, who hadn't even dressed herself for the day yet. "I hope you slept well. I know the house tend to make weird noises at times, but I hope you slept through it all right". She smiled, and Edith nodded sheepishly. She was only dressed in an oversized t-shirt that didn't exactly do the job of covering her legs. "Would you like a spot of breakfast?", Molly asked cheerfully, leaving the room before giving her a chance to reply.

After getting herself dressed in a russet coloured jumper and black leggings and throwing her hair up in a messy bun, Edith headed downstairs for breakfast. She felt the peering eyes of Molly and Arthur on her as she stepped out into the kitchen to eat.

"Good morning", she chimed shyly, taking a seat.

"Well, if it isn't the woman of the hour", Arthur looked up from behind a copy of the Daily Prophet. "Morning, Edith".

Everything went awfully smoothly from thereon. Edith told Arthur of her adventures with their oldest son — even telling him of the times they came across muggle appliances — all with a big smile on her face. Molly and Arthur then moved on to updating the girl on what had been going on during the time she was away, mentioning that Ron had become an Auror at the Ministry, that Ginny went on to play Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies, that Percy had now become Head of the Department of Magical Transportation, while Bill was enjoying his life as a father while still  working as a Curse-Breaker at Gringotts. They seemed to be very proud of each of their children's achievements, and seemed to be happy with how their lives had turned out.

All though, one person had been missing from each of their lives.

Edith froze up completely at the mention of George. The family suffered a tremendous loss four years back, and not a day went by that they didn't think about their loving son. The younger Weasley twin had died at the Battle of Hogwarts just before Edith made the decision to move away, causing a giant rift between her and Fred.

How's Fred doing? Edith found herself wondering. She wanted to ask them about him, but felt it was too sensitive of a subject. You see, Fred wasn't at all the same without George. It was as if he had completely changed his perception of the world, and ever since may 1998, he had shut himself off completely. He barely visited his parents, and when he did, it often resulted in some kind of argument. It always did. Because even though it had been four years since George passed away, it felt like it was only yesterday in many ways.

After George's death, Fred continued to run the joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The shop was as popular as always, and Fred was making tons of profit off of selling crazy products such as Skiving Snackboxes, Extendable Ears, and Love Potions. It was all going swell, except, Fred was miserable.

Edith,  who was too caught up in her own thoughts to hear the pop of someone appearing behind her, felt her heart sink as she turned around to find . . . him standing there.

With his flaming red hair and abundant freckles that covered almost the entirety of his kind face, Fred Weasley was the epitome of beauty itself. His golden eyes told a story that made you want to look deeper, and his smile could light up any room. He was quite tall, but not as lanky as he had been when there were in school. No, he had certainly grown up to be more muscular and stocky than his teenage-self, adding to his overall allure.

Edith felt her throat clog as she looked at him. She couldn't speak at all, it was impossible to find the right words to say.

After a moment of complete silence, Fred spoke.

"Edith Gannon...? Is that really you?". He asked, dumbfounded, and with his mind agape.

"Hey Freddie...". Edith responded, scratching the back of her neck anxiously.

⬩ word count: 1518