In the Melancholy Moonlight, Part 5: Dark Matter

Chapter 202: Turn and Face the Strange Changes

LUCY:

After dinner, I wanted nothing more than to drag Harry off to a far corner of the Burrow and laugh until we cried about that disastrous conversation, but I knew that would raise suspicions, so I sought Angelina out instead.

I found her sitting by herself in the den, looking at a photo of the Weasleys taken when Ginny was a baby.

"That's one of my favorites," I said with a chuckle, settling down on the sofa beside her. "Everyone's personality is so apparent."

"I was just thinking that." She laughed. "Merlin, I just can't get over the fact that Fred looks exactly the same, even though he's no more than four years old in this picture."

I nodded in emphatic agreement. "It's in the eyes. No matter how old he is, he looks like he's ready to commit arson at a moment's notice if it meant he'd be able to keep the people he loves warm."

"That's the most accurate description of Fred Gideon Weasley I've ever heard in my life," Angelina announced with a loud laugh, setting the picture frame back on the side table so she could lean all the way back on the sofa and clap me on the shoulder.

I couldn't help but join in her laughter and flop down beside her. "That's high praise coming from you."

"You've earned it. I'm guessing you wanted to ask me why we're back together?"

"I'll admit I'm quite curious," I said with a nod. "I tried to ask Fred, but he just smiled in response, that prick. Will you satisfy my curiosity, oh noble Quidditch Captain Johnson?"

"That I will, my noble successor."

"Well, technically, I'm only your co-successor — "

"All due respect to Harry, but he's just a Seeker. You're going to be the one running the Chaser drills, which is really one of the biggest parts of the job. You're my successor."

I smiled to myself, thinking that teaching Harry how to run Chaser drills would be a great excuse to have time together, just the two of us. But aloud, I said, "It's an honor, oh noble Quidditch Captain Johnson, but enough Quidditch talk for now. You're back together with Fred, and I would love to know every detail of your newfound happiness."

"Not newfound, just... rekindled," she said with a soft spark of joy lighting her dark eyes. "I had a feeling the two of us would find a way to work again someday, but — well, it didn't quite work out the way I imagined it would."

"What were you imagining?" I asked. "A fireworks display in the sky begging you to come back?"

"Oh, how'd you know?" she replied, only half-sarcastic.

"I know Fred. And I saw the plans on his bedroom walls for it."

Angelina blinked. "Wait, are you serious?"

"No, I'm just joking." I snorted. "The plans on his bedroom walls are for firework bundles that were disguised as flower bouquets that would explode into the words 'I LOVE YOU' in capital letters as soon as the designated recipient touched one."

"Okay, surely you're joking this time."

"No, actually, this time I'm serious. I'm sure he will figure it out by Christmas. Consider yourself warned. Don't tell him I told you."

Angelina shook her head, chuckling. "I love him."

"I know, I know, so do I, anyway, back to your story." I leaned closer to her expectantly. "So how exactly did you remember that you love him, if it didn't involve a fireworks display? Did he clean out Honeyduke's for you? Buy every flower in a Muggle florist's shop?"