Lean On Me (SEQUEL)

Chapter 11

Fred

I didn't want to make it look like I was as upset as I was. Athena was dealing with her own emotions, and I didn't want to burden her with mine. She was strong for fighting through this, but I didn't want to break her. Our family grieved as expected. Mom showered us with love and helped us cope. Remus did for her what I couldn't right now. He helped build Athena back up. I was grateful she had him in her life. They were meant to have each other, that was easy to tell. They were best friends. They held a bond that most parents couldn't with their children. He chose her. He took her in and raised her with a choice. He didn't have to, but he rose to the occasion like it was his duty. For that, they were closer than most people. I could tell how much they needed each other from the interactions over our break. She had a hard time leaving him when the time came.

"I don't want to go back." She said as we headed into the compartment of the train.

"It'll be alright." I reassured her, kissing the top of her head. She was tired with mourning. Her eyes held a sadness that I couldn't explain. Whatever I was feeling right now, she was feeling it harder. She held a guilt in her soul that we couldn't heal.

"I'm not ready." She confessed, taking a seat on the cold surface of the bench. She crossed her legs and looked out the window silently. I placed myself beside her. She didn't budge at my movement. Her facade was strong as stone. Her eyes never faltered from the view outside of the glass. She was looking at her godfather. He was staring back with a sadness in his expression.

"Give it time." I said, placing a hand on her thigh. She didn't flinch at the contact. She acted as thought it never happened. Her gaze was boring into the man outside of the train. He was standing between my parents, who were talking amongst themselves. I saw mom pull my father into a hug as the conductor called the all aboard. She clenched her teeth together, causing her jaw to harden.

"I wish he could come back. I need him there." She whispered. It seemed like he noticed the words come from her lips. He pointed at his heart and back at her, which she repeated. It was something they'd done for a long time. It was their wordless way to say I love you.

"I know. He'll be right there when you get off the train again." I offered words of comfort. She nodded.

"He always is." Her reply was quiet, barely making it from her mouth. Pain was evident in her words. I wished there was something I could do to make it better, but I knew her emotion was out of my hands. She broke her contact with the window as the train started moving. Soon enough, her godfather was out of sight. She leaned her head back on the seat, and took my hand in her own.

"Guys!" Lee burst through the door. I sent a glare his way. Athena stirred and sat up, looking over in his direction. 

"Yes?" I asked.

"I just wanted to ask how things were going." He sat across from us, giving a smile. "I missed you guys! How was your break?" Athena's colour drained from her face. He didn't know what he said wrong. I broke the contact between the two of us, and ushered Lee into the hallway.

"Go easy on her, she lost someone over the break." I said, softly. His mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Her dad?" He asked, concerned. I shook my head. His features relaxed at my gesture. "Thanks for telling me." He said as we returned inside. We resumed our positions and let ourselves fall into mindless chatter. After we returned, Athena started acting more herself. It was an act so Lee wouldn't sense her grief. I didn't dare bring it up, because every now and then I caught her giving a genuine smile. That was something I hadn't seen in days.

I saw her fidgeting with the necklace around her neck. George joined us not long after that. We spoke as if nothing was wrong, and we joked accordingly. For a moment, things seemed normal again. Just four friends on a train laughing with each other. Being around Lee again seemed to bring Athena around. I couldn't tell if it would be permanent, but I enjoyed seeing the giggles fall from her mouth. It let me rest at ease for a moment. I knew somewhere inside her mess of feelings, my girlfriend was still in there. We just had to fight a little to get her out.

**

Athena

Hogwarts. Any other time I'd be more than happy to be here. Now, I couldn't find the joy within myself. I wanted to go to my room and go to bed. The more I slept, the more I felt better. It seemed to wash the bad things away. My heart was heavy, already missing Remus. I wished he could've climbed on the train and came back with us. Being with my friends brought me back a little. Getting out of the environment was nice. Lee always had a way to put a smile on my face. I wasn't sure what Fred had told him, but he didn't bring up the break again. I figured he told him a lie, wanting to keep the pregnancy as secret as he could.

I knew as soon as I walked through the front doors into the Entrance Hall, the first few days would be torture. I kept my gaze to the ground as I walked between friends. Many were chattering about the ball that had happened during Christmas. I found my way back to the common room on my own. I didn't want to be with company. As I made my way to my room, I rethought my actions. I wished that I stayed home. Remus gave me the choice to stay back for a couple weeks and take some time off. At the time, it seemed unimaginable. Now, I yearned for it.

I thought if I finished my homework I would feel better. I still had last minute touch ups I had to do on some of my assignments. Snape wanted a detailed report on a potion that we thought was interesting, and McGonagall wanted an essay on transfiguration we see in everyday life. As I wrote on the parchment, my room seemed lonely. Angelina and her friends weren't littering the beds, which struck me odd. Usually, that's where they resided. Maybe they were stuck in the library doing the same thing I was. I finished up, and threw my books back in my bag. I climbed into bed, ready for sleep to take over.

When I awoke the next day, Angelina was already gone from our dormitory. It was strange for me to wake up last, but I figured with the current circumstances, it was reasonable. I fixed myself up, changing into my button up and skirt. I pulled my tie over my head and pulled my socks on. I didn't bother with my robes. I brushed out my hair and tied it up in a knot at the top of my head. When I finished, I sauntered downstairs to the common room. I saw Fred and George sitting by the fire, books strung across their legs. I knew it wasn't schoolwork. It must have been research for new joke material.

I made my way over to the two, sitting between them. I placed myself between the two and placed an arm around each of their shoulders. They gave a smile at me when they broke from their reading.

"What are you guys up to?" I asked, peeking at their papers.

"What does it look like?" They questioned. I gave a small laugh at their words. They were always so in sync with each other. I picked up George's paper, reading it over. Nosebleed Nougat was written at the top of the page. I looked at the list of ingredients and scanned the description I placed it back down and took Fred's. There was two pages in his pile. The first was labelled Puking Pastilles. The second, Ton-Tongue Toffee's. I let my eyes rest on the labels.

"Candies that make you sick? To get out of class?" I questioned. They looked sheepish, waiting for a response. Eventually, I broke out into a grin. "That's brilliant! I wish I had those for Snape's class!" I exclaimed. "And they all have cures to them? Made right in?" I questioned. They gave a nod. I picked up a blank piece of parchment from George's lap. I used a book as a surface to write on.

'The Skiving Snackbox.' I wrote at the top, and copied down the names of the sweets. The both glanced at what I was copying down, reading it carefully. They shared a look between themselves and laughed. "That's brilliant!" George chimed.

"That'll definitely sell!" Fred added, looking down at his recipes. "Now we just need the money to start them up, and we'll be set!"

I handed George back the parchment. Being with the two made me feel a bit better. Joking and coming up with new ideas for their shop was a pastime I always loved. Now, it was more important to me than ever. I closed my eyes and leaned back in my seat. They didn't speak any more, but continued jotting down ideas. I let the sound of the quills on parchment soothe me. Under one of his books, I felt Fred reach for my hand. I held it tightly, letting the feeling last. I wasn't doing great, but with their help I'd be back on track in no time.