𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 | f. w

lvi. endings and new beginnings

chapter fifty-six
ENDINGS AND NEW BEGINNINGS

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» » EDITH HAD HALF a mind to throw herself into Fred's arms the second she set her eyes on him. The moment she saw him; standing in the dimmed light of the entrance to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, his hair disheveled from waking up to answer the door in the middle of the night, his t-shirt and pyjama pants clinging to his carefully crafted muscles, Edith hadn't been more certain about anything before in her life. Fred Weasley was who she wanted to share her life with—who she craved—and there wouldn't be a day when she would be able to stop herself from loving him.

"Fred."

She spoke with a trembling voice, her heart skipping beats every three seconds and her mind wavering. This was it. This could make or break for the future of her heart.

He smiled, his cheeks flushed and his eyes glistening with a mischief she had learned to associate with him from the moment they first met. He opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly cut off.

"—No, please, don't say anything." She chuckled nervously, taking a deep breath and bouncing at the heels of her feet, as if to combat the nervousness.

"I've loved you since I was eleven, before I even knew what love was. I've loved you when you've shown me kindness and patience, when you've made me laugh so hard I could barely breathe, hell, I've even loved you when you've gone out of your way to push all my buttons. I loved you when you first told me you didn't feel as appreciated by your family as you wish you would. I loved you when I stupidly fell into the Black Lake our fourth year, and you jumped in there after me because you didn't want me to have to walk back to the common room alone and covered in seaweed. I loved you when I told myself I didn't, that there was no possibly way that I could feel those feelings for my best friend. I've loved you through it all, and I'm so sorry it took my so long to get here." She smiled sadly, pressing a kiss to the palm of Fred's hand as he reached to wipe her tears away.

"I've made a fair share of mistakes in my life, but the biggest one was convincing myself I wasn't still madly and inconceivably in love with you. Still am. And if you can find it in your heart to at least give me another chance to prove how sorry I am, then I'll spend the rest of my life trying to convince you." She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving his. Tears gathered beneath her eye lashes, and she choked on a quiet sob. "I've been a massive idiot, I know that. But I'll never not be in love with you, and I don't want to spend another second without you."

"—Wha—" Fred tried to get a word in, but was silenced again, this time by the surprising action of Edith dropping to one knee. His eyes turned the size of saucers, pure chock written all over his face.

"I know that, traditionally, the man is supposed to do the asking, but I thought since everything else we've done together has been rather unconventional, then to hell with it." She grabbed a hold of his hand, stroking the back of it with her thumb. She was shaking slightly, terrified of the possibility of Fred's refusal.

"Fred Gideon Weasley. Will you marry me?"

Fred stood frozen, his vision fading and his pulse quickening. If it wasn't for the cold hand holding his, he wouldn't have been able to ground himself enough to realise what was happening.

Edith loved him. She still loved him.

And she was proposing.

Shaking himself from his hazy state of mind, Fred let out a short laugh.

"I'm sorry. You must be mad if you think you can just come around my shop and present me with the proposal of marriage and all will be okay."

Edith gulped, her smile dropping to a frown.

"You hurt me, Edith."

"I know."

"More than once."

"I know that too."

"I'm not sure it will be enough this time."

"I'm sorry."

"I mean, come on. I'm a man of taste. I'll need to see the ring before I can give you a proper answer." He smiled widely, his teeth showing. Edith let out a deep sigh, chuckling nervously.

"You prat!", she laughed as he tugged her towards him, pressing his lips onto hers. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought it was over."

Fred kissed her nose, her freckles, her brows, before finally placing a wet kiss to the corner of her mouth, smiling into it. "Oh come on, it's not over. I'm never letting you go ever again."

"I love you so much, Fred", she smiled, feeling a massive sense of security within his arms. Their hearts beat in sync with one another, creating a steady rhythm. Neither one of them had ever felt more content in their lives.

This was it.

This was what they had longed for for so long. Ever since stepping foot onto that scarlet train and being whisked away to a world of magic, getting to know one another and falling more and more in love as time went on.

This was what pure happiness tasted like, and there was no chance in hell they'd ever make the same mistakes again.

"I know", Fred spoke against her warm lips, he couldn't stop smiling even if hd tried. "I love you too."

"So that's a yes?"

"That's a yes."

✦✧✦

Edith

I stopped believing in miracles long ago, or so I thought. I couldn't fathom how people could possibly feel it made sense to believe so strongly in something. I didn't want to either, because I was so caught up in trying to convince myself I'd be better off if I just acknowledged the fact that I would never get my happy ending. Because I didn't believe I deserved one.

Until now.

Fred

I didn't think I would be able to find happiness again after George. I had no hope for the future, and I had since long stopped trying to convince my broken mind that I wasn't completely at fault for what happened. I was fucked up, I had nothing left in me, nothing of worth giving to another person. I thought myself undeserving of love, and so I learned to shut everyone out.

Until now.

⬩ word count: 1100

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Super short last chapter... Next up: Epilogue!