The whispering quill | F. W.

14.

They went back to the burrow where Fred's family and friends and other people that Aria knew from the summer before, like Remus, Tonks and Moody, were all waiting for dinner.

As they sat at the table to enjoy the delicious meal that Molly prepared, they started talking about Voldemort.

Harry had an idea for months: start a journey to go and find the horcrux, meanwhile others had to defend the wizardry word and fight Voldemort's fellas.
Aria took Fred's hand under the table, knowing that soon the discussion would turn into a fight.
"Hermione, Ron, Aria and I will find the horcrux" Said Harry firmly as Ginny looked upset and terrified.
Fred widened his eyes, a sense of madness, confusion and surprise ran through his body.
"Aria, what the fuck is he saying? Please reconsider" Said standing up quickly and angrily. No one expected such a reaction from Fred. He never showed such an angry reaction during his whole life.
Aria frowned at him.
"It's the only solution"
"You can't be serious, Aria! Going after the horcrux is dangerous and you know it! You can't just leave me behind! And when you decided it?! You never told me!"
She rolled her eyes and stood up. Everyone in the room looked at them, not knowing what to do or say.
"You just left for five months and now that you are back you are about to leave again?! You won't go!"
"You can't decide for me! George, tell him-"
"No, Ary, don't drag me into this"
"Don't look at him, look at me! You are staying here"
"Can we talk about it later, somewhere more private?" Asked as they walked outside the room to be alone.

Once in their room, Fred slammed and locked the door.
"What the hell, Aria?! Why do you have to be so reckless? You're not going after the horcrux alone. I won't let you"
"I'm not alone! Hermione, Harry and Ron will be there too!" Said Aria as Fred stormed out.
"You can't just make decisions for all of us, Aria! We're a team!" Said angrily as Aria looked away with a pained expression on her face.
"I'm sorry I didn't told you earlier, but- I'm doing this to protect you and the wizardry world... I'll leave after your brother wedding..." Aria was worried about Fred's reaction, even if in that moment he was already at the top of his madness.
"You didn't even consider how I feel, did you? Typical Slytherin. You always put yourself first"
Aria stood there, frozen and was hurt by his words, he always considered her different from other Slytherins, and now he said that.
"Excuse me?! I'm doing this for you! Well, you failed. You think just because you're a Slytherin, you know what's best for everyone? You don't know anything. You don't even know yourself"
Aria, not a girl to be belittled or hurt, stepped back and hid her disappointment.
"You are such an idiot. Why are you saying those things to me? I'm not a child, you can't choose for me!"
"You're not a child, Aria, but sometimes you act like one. You always want to prove yourself but what if this time you will get hurt?!"
She frowned. Now it was a challenge.
"I'll go and I'll prove you wrong!"
"You are not going, and that's final! - Screamed Fred angrily - You never listen, do you? You always have to make everything more complicated. I can't believe I ever thought I loved you"
Aria was taken aback by his harsh words, she couldn't believe that Fred was being so hurtful.
"I hate you so much..." Whispered her looking down and then raising her head to look at him with tears in her eyes.
"I didn't mean it, Aria. I'm sorry. Please don't hate me..." Fred was starting to ca down, realizing what he did.
She shook her head and run to the bedroom door.
"Save it Fred, it's over" Aria exited the bedroom and slammed the door, walking down the stairs.

Everyone heard their argue and George stepped inside his twin's room.
"It'll be alright Freddie, you know she can't stay mad at you forever" Said George comforting Fred.
He just sighed.
"George, what have I done? How could I let things get so out of hand? I love her and now she hates me. I never should have said those things"
"Don't worry, Fred. You said some things in the heat of the moment. Aria loves you, she'll forgive you" George patted Fred's back reassuringly.
"I really messed up this time, George. I don't know if she'll ever forgive me" Fred run his hands to his hair, feeling regret and guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders.

Aria walked angrily down the stairs and met Hermione, who pulled her in her room with Ginny.
Both asked Aria what happened but she was still boiling with anger and sadness.
"Aria, what happened? You're trembling"
"Did something happen with Fred? We heard both of you screaming"
"Yeah, he... He said he couldn't believe he ever loved me! He said a lot of terrible things just because I decided to leave and find the horcrux" Said Aria storming out but still hurt.
"Aria, don't listen to him. Fred doesn't know what he's talking about. He loves you, I can see it in the way he looks at you"
"Yeah, he was just afraid to let you go again"
"Apparently he changed his mind. Probably he was happier with a girl like Angelina, to whom he could said what she should or shouldn't do" Said Aria trying to collect herself.
"Aria, listen to me. You know Fred loves you. He's just hurt right now. Give him some time to calm down and talk to him. I'm sure he'll apologize.
Aria shook her head.
"I don't want to see him and I don't want his stupid apologies" Then she bursted into tears, she was heartbroken.
"Come on. You can't avoid him forever. Just talk to him, listen to what he has to say. You two can work things out"

Once Aria calmed herself down, she drifted off to sleep with Hermione and Ginny.

The next morning, Hermione woke up and didn't see Aria in her room, so she went out and asked to the others if they have seen her, but they all shook their heads.

Fred heard that Aria was no where in the house and panicked, did she sneaked out and left?
"Where could Aria have gone? I hope she's okay"
"I'll go check outside, maybe she just needed some time alone. You know she loves fresh air"

They let hours pass by but when the day came to an end, she was nowhere.
"Where is Aria? She wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye, would she?" Fred panicked, knowing that she probably left because of his harsh words.
He was breathing heavily, his mind wasn't connecting anymore and looked like was going to have a panic attack.
"D-did she leave because of what I said?" His voice was shaking and he was on the verge of tears.
"I have to find her. It's my fault. She could be in danger. What if Voldemort or some death eaters capture her?! I never meant to hurt her. I-I love her, George" He looked at George with lucid eyes.
"Fred, calm down. No one knows where Aria is yet... We'll find her, but first you need to calm down. Your panic is not helping"
Fred started walking around the house with hands in his hair.
"She should be in my arms, safe and sound, and now she is gone, I don't know what to do, it didn't have to end like this!"
"Fred, stay calm. We'll find Aria. She's strong and she loves you. Just trust that everything will work out"

Meanwhile, Aria wandered all alone looking for the horcrux by herself.
Not sure why, a voice inside of her just told that she had to demonstrate that she was able to do it.
She wanted to demonstrate she was smart and capable of doing everything even if Fred may said the opposite in a moment of angriness.

Days went by, and days turned into weeks.
Fred didn't sleep, the thought of loosing Aria by his hands was torturing him, he was devastated.
"Aria, please come back. I need to see you, to hold you, to tell you how much I love you. I can't do it without her..." Whispered to himself outside of his tent.
He never stopped looking for Aria ever since she left and was now travelling to find her.
"Fred, I understand how worried you are, but you need to sleep. Aria is strong and she'll be safe - said George - But if you don't sleep, you won't be able to help her when she does need it"
"I can't sleep, George. Aria could be in danger and it's all my fault. I won't rest until she's back in my arms where she belongs"
His twin sighed.
"Freddie, I don't think Aria would want you punishing yourself like this. She loves you and wants you to be well-rested and ready to help her when she returns. Have faith in her. I'm sure Aria is strong enough to take care of herself, she always has been"
Then George looked at Hermione and whispered.
"He's at his limit..."
"We need to trust in her abilities and not let our emotions cloud our judgement"
Fred looked at the starry sky.
"She should be at home, in our bed with her plushie. She has a peluche soft and squishy that she loves, I bought it in Diagon Alley after she saw it... She never stopped talking about it, she fell for it and I wanted to surprise her - Said Fred with a smile remembering the old times with Aria - She should be in bed with me, hugged together, her drool on my chest while I can sniff her hair... They smells like fresh air and grass, and the next morning I would be kiss her and have breakfast together... I should have proposed to her and make her my wife... But now I can't find her, I hurt her and I have no idea of where she is! I'm the worst!"
"He's beating himself up over this. We need to find Aria soon before Fred falls into a deeper despair"
Hermione nodded.
"You are right George, but for now we can just relay on Aria's brave and intelligence, she will be found easily soon"