Songbird ; Fred Weasley

Seventy-nine

My scream bounced off the walls.

I had been down here for hours. I had slept, woken up and slept some more.

The basement was completely dark, and I was going crazy.

I was screaming myself hoarse and my head was throbbing, my entire body sore as hell.

I made my way up the staircase, my legs aching with every step.

"Eric!" I screamed, banging my fists against the door. "Let me out!"

I cried hysterically as I slid down until I sat on the top step of the stairs.

"Please." I cried quietly, hitting the door again.

No one opened the door, but after a while of me being quiet and sitting here, I suddenly heard something on the other side of the door.

It wasn't something unlocking it.

It sounded like spells being fired.

"Check all the rooms!" Someone yelled, and I sat up straight, realising that wasn't Eric or any of my siblings.

I broke into tears again, banging on the door. I continued to scream for someone to let me out, hoping that whoever was out there would hear me and manage to get the door open.

I was hysterical. I was sure my face was red and swollen. I couldn't think straight. I was in a mode of pure panic from having been in this basement for hours.

And suddenly, without warning, the door was pulled open.

The bright daylight shun right into my face, and I raised a hand to shield my eyes.

I saw two Aurors, two Aurors I recognised from my workplace, but then my eyes landed on Fred who pushed through them and came to a halt when he saw me.

His features scrunched up into a painful expression, and he dropped to his knees right where I was.

He was hesitant to touch me.

He sat there, staring at me with eyes that teared up. He ran his hands over his face in relief, then tugged at his hair.

I reached out a hand, crying as I cupped his jaw and felt the stubble on his cheek.

He's here.

I slid my hand to the nape of his neck, and then I practically threw myself at him, both my arms wrapped around his neck.

I hugged him as hard as I could, despite the soreness of my body.

He let out a cry as he hugged me back, an arm around my back and a hand on the back of my head.

"I'm right here." He whispered, stroking my hair. "You're safe."

I cried into his neck as he held me. His scent surrounded me, and it was overwhelming. It couldn't have been more than a day since Eric attacked us in Spencer's flat, but it sure felt like weeks since I last saw Fred.

He pulled his head a few inches away to take a look at me. His cheeks were stained with tears, and a few more fell as he took in the way I looked.

His hand came up and gently brushed over the bandage, and I flinched at the pain.

"Daddy!" Phoebe's voice shrieked, and we both turned our heads to see her come running down the hallway. "Mama!"

She jumped right into our arms, and Fred and I both held onto her, never wanting to let go of her again.

Fred let out a breath of relief, kissing the side of Phoebe's head. Then he looked at me and lifted a hand to rest it against my jaw.

"You're okay." He whispered, looking between us. "You're both okay..."