Roses and Riots | f. weasley

Chapter 66: Letting Go

A/N: I hope you like emotional rollercoasters.

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Knowing where the Sword of Gryffindor was made Emilia all the more restless, but the sensible part of her understood that a concrete plan needed to be made. Reports from members of the Order told them that there was a rise in Death Eater patrols in and around Godric's Hollow, undoubtedly expecting Harry Potter to come tumbling into their laps.

Emilia was brought back to her feeling of uselessness back when she realised she couldn't go back to work in Hogwarts, let alone help Harry, and when she wasn't pacing around Shell Cottage, she was trying to calm herself by going for walks down by the water.

She couldn't even venture too far down the beach from the cottage, in case she crossed paths with unwelcome company, but the Muggle-repellent charms and defensive wards extended down from the banks, so at least she could angrily fling stones into the water without anyone disturbing her.

Well, almost anyone.

"Thought I'd find you down here," Fred said, walking across the sand to her in his heavy winter coat. It was December, and the bitterly cold air was biting at Emilia's hands as she flung yet another stone across the lapping waves.

"Shit, what'd the stones ever do to you?" He joked weakly, coming to stand next to her.

"Nothing, just pretending I'm hitting some Death Eaters in their goddamn faces," Emilia huffed, and Fred chuckled and wrapped an arm around her, kissing the top of her head.

"I know what you're thinking, love, and you'll get to Godric's Hollow soon, alright?" he said in an attempt to be reassuring.

She pulled back from his warmth to look up at him, "but when? It's never going to be safe for me to go, but every day that goes by is another day of us not getting rid of those Horcruxes."

"You heard what Bill said last night, someone was tortured to death just outside the village two days ago, that's not just unsafe, that's a literal possibility of being murdered," Fred told her, no trace of humour left in his voice.

She sighed, "I know, Fred. I just hate sitting here doing nothing."

She leaned into his side again and he rubbed her back, "of course you do, love. If there was one thing you weren't born for, it was doing nothing."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment," she huffed.

He chuckled and pressed his lips to her hairline, "of course it is, a chronic need to be busy is nothing to be ashamed of."

She scoffed indignantly but couldn't fight the amusement on her face when she saw his teasing expression, he was clearly doing everything he could to lift her spirits.

"Well I've always had to make up for your chronic idleness, it's become a habit," she retorted playfully.

Fred snorted a laugh and then grinned at her humour that had been harder for him to come by lately, and he'd missed it, "ah, there she is."

Before she could even think of a response, Fred was bending down and throwing her over his shoulder.

Emilia found herself laughing as Fred walked back up the beach and patted her on her backside.

"I think it's bedtime, love," he said casually as she laughed.

"Freddie, it's midday!"

"I didn't say we had to sleep," he announced matter-of-factly.

Emilia laughed again and reached down to smack him on his backside this time, making him stumble in surprise.

"Don't you dare let me fall!"