𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 79

As Adrian and Natasha scurried into the castle, the rest of the Order began placing protective spells around the grounds of Hogwarts, as well as helping young students and prefects into their common rooms. Natasha and Adrian's first stop were to the common rooms, including the Slytherin dungeons, where their sweets were a big hit, managing to quiet down some of the younger students.

"Natasha, will we be alright?" Euan Abercrombie asked, staring up at her with wide eyes. His once innocent smirk was now tarnished with fearful eyes, after a year of school which he was sure to never forget.

"Of course, Euan. You're a Gryffindor, we always get through in the end. So long as you all follow the instructions of your prefects, you'll be just spiffy," she said with a smile, patting his head before nodding to the prefects, who were armed with their wands in case of an attack in the common room.

"I miss my husband," she groaned to Adrian, who linked arms with her as they ran quickly down the moving staircases.

"Me too. Fred always makes the situation cheery, but the two of us are struggling just to reassure children they won't die tonight," he said grimly, tugging her arm and narrowly missing a column.

They continued to duck and run until they finally made it to the courtyard, where Fred was waiting with a nervous look on his face. "Baby!" Natasha called out, breaking into an even faster run just to jump into his arms.

He was ready for her, swinging her body around with a tight grip before peppering her face with kisses. "You are not leaving my side tonight, no matter what love. Even when the battle has not begun, I am worried for you, and I know we will duel better together just like we did back in the days of the DA," he whispered hoarsely.

Natasha smiled against him, before tugging his arm, pointing up to George who looked pretty lonely on one of the rooftops. Fred followed her gaze before nodding, running with her to where his brother idly twiddled his thumbs.

"Natasha Lily Black Weasley, what hour do you call this?! You stole my brother from me for far too long missy," he said with a pout as they arrived. It was short-lived as he hugged her and Fred one at a time, before leaning over the railing, loosely fiddling with his wand as professors and older Order members constructed a protective barrier around their old school.

"Once this is over, I am so going on a holiday," Natasha muttered, leaning into Fred as she linked an arm with George. Lee was somewhere around the castle with Alicia, most likely helping Oliver open the broom cupboard, and Natasha found herself reflecting the years of her friendship with the twins, realising that never once in their lives had they imagined a situation like this.

"Goodness, remember when we were eight and we convinced Ron that if he kissed a gnome, he'd gain good luck?"

The twins nodded, smiling slowly. "Or the time I told him he could turn into a ghoul if he didn't piss outside every time a muggle walked by," George reminisced, laughing at the fond memory.

"Boy, mum was pissed when she found him outside in the middle of December taking a whizz in the bush," Fred grimaced, remembering how livid Molly had been when she found George, Fred and Natasha after having to send Ron to St Mungo's for hypothermia.

Natasha shivered, suddenly remembering her own mother's face after Molly had sent her home, sending along a very terrifying Howler.

Natasha had never pranked Ron again.

Or at least not without blackmail.

"I love you guys," she said slowly, trying her hardest to not tear up. The boys circled her gently, also overcome with emotions, and they hugged each other for as long as they could, before parting, all sprouting a sad smile on their face.

"Go fight with Ange, George. I'll stay with Fred, and we'll see each other again." Natasha was final with her words, and with a quick kiss to his cheek and a ruffle of her hair, he sprinted off, leaving the husband and wife on their own.

"Shall we?" Fred smirked, pushing down all of his worries.

"We shall, my love," Natasha replied, her smirk just as dangerous.

~.~

As Natasha and Fred headed off towards the interior of the castle, Sirius and Aurelia were fighting upstairs in the rafters, alongside Kingsley, Arthur and Remus. Sirius was hugging Aurelia close, pressing his forehead against hers, as Tonks appeared, much to the surprise of everyone.

She ran to Remus, jumping into his arms, and he swung her around, causing Sirius to smile.

"Whipped," he coughed, and Aurelia hit his arm, glaring.

"You're no better Siri, you always tuck me into bed," she hissed.

"You shouldn't have," Remus gasped, staring down at his wife with concerned eyes. "It's Teddy who needs you."

"He'll sleep till dawn and snore like his father. It's you who needs me tonight," she retorted sweetly. Sirius came up to Remus' side, and clapped his shoulder, both men holding their wives close to their sides.

"If James could see us now," Sirius said with a laugh, his eyes grimacing with burning unshed tears.

"He'd tell us that everything would be alright, that his little Lia would protect her boys with the fierce heart of an honorary Gryffindor," Remus replied. Aurelia glanced up and nodded, placing her head on Sirius' shoulder.

"Lily would just be caressing each one of our heads, promising that we'd all do our very bests, no matter the outcome," she whispered, looking up towards the sky. "For Lily and James."

"For Lily and James," Remus and Sirius echoed.

They all stared up towards the sky, unaware of their changing fates, as Death Eaters surrounded their former school, causing an odd feeling in all of their stomachs.

"He's down there, you know," Aurelia's hoarse voice managed to get out.

"And she's up there, rooting for us," Remus replied solemnly.

"I'll kill him, if Kira doesn't get there first," Sirius muttered.

"No matter how much I hate him, I still just see the young boy who looked after me whenever he could. I don't think if I had the chance, I could kill him. I'd become scarred," Aurelia finally said.

"Peter will always be my brother, but Wendy was like a sister to me, and when she died, none of us were ever the same. Should the time come, I won't hesitate in killing that rat, I only hope to find some peace, and hope Wendy also comes to be at peace wherever her soul rests now," Sirius promised, and Aurelia sighed.

"He'll suffer, and we'll make sure he does."