From Ashes to Oak

thief

A cold dread seeped into Harry as he stared at his empty finger. The gold band, engraved with a playful dragon chasing a snitch, was gone. It was Fred's ring, a symbol of their secret, forbidden love. Panic clawed at his throat. He remembered slipping it off after Sirius's death, the pain too raw to wear anything joyous. Now, needing its comfort, it had vanished.

He descended the rickety stairs, dread morphing into anger as he saw Ginny sporting the familiar ring on her delicate hand.

"Ginny!" His voice cracked. "That's mine!"

Ginny's face, usually bright and cheerful, hardened. "Mine now, Harry. You gave it to me, remember?"

A lie. A blatant, cruel lie. But before he could respond, the rest of the Weasleys piled into the kitchen, drawn by their raised voices.

"What's going on?" Ron rumbled, his eyes narrowing at the ring.

Ginny, acting fast, threw her arms around Harry. "He proposed last night, Ron! Isn't it wonderful?"

Harry's stomach churned. This wasn't just about the ring anymore. This was a complete fabrication, a ploy to solidify a relationship that never existed. But the words that spilled from his lips surprised even himself.

"No," he choked out, the room falling silent. "I can't marry you, Ginny. I..." He looked desperately at Ron and his parents, hoping for a flicker of understanding. "I'm... I'm in love with Fred."

The silence shattered. Molly Weasley erupted in a torrent of disbelief and fury. Arthur's face contorted in disappointment. Ron's expression morphed from confusion to rage. Only George stood still, a flicker of something akin to pain dancing in his eyes.

"How dare you!" Molly shrieked. "After all Fred did for you! After all we've done!"

"It's unnatural!" Ron roared. "You're a disgrace, Harry!"

Hermione, ever logical, stepped forward. "Harry, maybe you just need time to grieve..."

But Harry couldn't bear it anymore. The accusations, the judgment – it was suffocating. "There's nothing to grieve over," he spat, his voice raw with emotion. "We were married. Sirius married us after the Triwizard Tournament."

The revelation hung in the air, a bomb dropped in the midst of their fury. But instead of understanding, it only fueled their anger.

"Lies!" screamed Molly. "Sirius would never..."

Harry's vision blurred. He was done. Done with the lies, the prejudice, the pain. With a trembling voice, he announced, "I'm leaving."

He turned, ignoring the shouts and curses hurled his way. He found his old cloak and Firebolt, vanishing into the night before anyone could stop him.

The wind howled through the ancient trees as Harry sped through the air, a lone figure on a desperate journey. The sting of betrayal was fresh, the image of Ginny's smug face burned in his mind. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision as he flew. He was a traitor in their eyes – a monster for loving Fred.

He had nowhere to go, no plan. Fred's face – kind, mischievous, forever young – haunted his every thought. The weight of the unexpected pregnancy, a secret he hadn't even fully acknowledged until now, settled heavily in his stomach. Exhaustion finally overcame him as the moon climbed high in the sky. He spotted a shimmering lake nestled within a dark forest, its surface reflecting the moonlight like a scattered pool of stars.

He landed clumsily, his legs shaky and weak. Grief threatened to engulf him. He collapsed onto the soft earth, burying his face in his hands. Sobs wracked his body, a torrent of pain and despair. A soft whinny startled him. He looked up, eyes red-rimmed and blurry, to see a magnificent unicorn standing before him. Its coat shimmered silver in the moonlight, its large, intelligent eyes filled with concern. It was unlike any unicorn he'd ever seen, radiating a gentle warmth that drew him in.

Hesitantly, Harry reached out a hand. The unicorn lowered its head, allowing him to touch its soft muzzle. Tears streamed down his face as he confessed his pain, his loneliness, and the weight of the unexpected pregnancy. He poured out his heart to this magnificent creature, a silent listener in the vastness of the night.

The unicorn nuzzled him