Catch Me, I'm Falling | Fred Weasley

Chapter 40

Olivia had been so ready to stay calm. So prepared to not get angry. Too late now. It seemed that was all she ever was around Jasper. Angry.

Her habit of tugging at her bracelet was now fueled by her temper, to the point where it was a miracle that she didn't break it. Her hair had fallen out of her bun and now waved around her head like a lion's mane as she stomped up the stairs, where she deposited her suitcase by her room before heading back down to the living room where she knew her parents were seated.

They were there, speaking in hushed voices. Her aunt Mathilda and Jasper were, too. They knew. Knew that she knew. One look at their faces and Olivia was sure of it. Jasper must have told them. Olivia clenched her fists, seething as she stepped out of the shadows.

"Olivia," her mother said, getting up quickly.

"Why?" was all Olivia could ask. "Why didn't you tell me?" Her lips trembled as her words escaped from them.

"It wouldn't change anything, dear," her father stepped in. There was a stern look on his face. But really, it was nothing but fear in disguise.

"You were going through so much already and..." her mother trailed off. Angela was never good at explaining things, which was why her husband stepped in to help her out.

"We're so sorry. We should have told you," Matthew finished. A beat of silence passed through the room and Olivia noticed that her aunt and Jasper had left to give them some privacy.

"Are you angry?" her father asked.

Olivia wiped away a tear as she brought a hand up to her face. "No. I just wish you'd told me. I deserve to know. I forgive you."

He nodded and the three embraced.

"After the wizarding war, there were quite a few magical orphans. We couldn't leave them with muggles," her father said and her mother joined in. "That would cause all sorts of chaos. So the orphans had to be taken care of. If they had any living relatives that were aware of the magical world, they were sent to them. Harry Potter was one of them. The rest were split up amongst magical families and adopted."

"So I was related to you?" Olivia asked. Her mother laughed.

"Oh, no. Your father is muggle-born and I'm a half-blood. You are... not."

Olivia perked up. "You know who my birth parents were."

Her father flinched. "Are. Your father, at least, is very much alive."

Olivia took a few steps back. "What?"

Her mother's eyes widened. "No, hon. It's not like that." She put her arms out as if she was approaching a rabid animal.

"Not like what? My biological father is alive and you didn't tell me?" Olivia's angry voice cracked.

"We were scared to tell you," Angela lowered her voice. "Please just listen-"

"No!" Olivia snapped. "What possible excuse could you have for lying to me?" There were faint red streaks on her face now from angry tears that had run their path.

"Olivia, stop. Your father- he wasn't a good man," her father said. His voice was even. The calm before the storm.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"He abandoned your mother and left her for dead. And he was- he is a death eater. He's in Azkaban for his crimes now," he explained. The room went dead silent.

Olivia did a double-take, shock replacing her anger. "What?" she breathed. Her eyes flicked between her parents and her voice dipped dangerously low. "Who is my father?"

Her mother took a shaky breath, grabbing onto her husband's arm for support. "Rookwood. Your father is Augustus Rookwood."

Olivia's breath caught in her throat. Even she could not have foreseen this. She knew that name. It had been sitting like a poison in her mind all year. Rookwood. Augustus Rookwood. The man that would kill Fred Weasley.

Tears pricked Olivia's eyes. As if through a screen, she could see her parents trying to comfort her, but Olivia was a universe away. Viscous thoughts swirled in her mind on repeat, dragging her further into their dark trenches. Perhaps she was inhabiting the other half of her soul that was floating through time and space or perhaps she was having a panic attack. It was all the same to her because Olivia was worlds away.