Sugar : Fred Weasley

54: A Chaotic Christmas

Christmas Day, 1996

[fred's pov]

It was strange to think that the biggest thing Victoria and I would argue about was over a misunderstanding. Like Remus had said to her, it was a new age. Things had changed and the world was getting tense.

I hated it.

It was five in the morning when I realised that I hadn't slept at all through the night. I mean, how could I?

Remus and my parents never got to hear about what I saw. For the first time since I could remember, I was starting to doubt myself... and Victoria.

All I could remember was his face just seconds away from hers. And because I was absent, I couldn't even imagine what I had missed. Perhaps his affection was not one-sided? Perhaps she enjoyed his game of chase?

After all, our relationship had grown more quiet and mature... is she getting tired of me?

The room seemed to spin until I realised I was in fact, not spinning, and having a headache. Mum's clattering in the kitchen brought me back to the realisation that it was Christmas day.

My first thought was to talk to mum about it... then I remembered we had obliviated her memories. I could talk about it to George... but he loved Christmas just as much as he loved eggnog.

There was only one person I could talk to.

[victoria's pov]

Ginny woke up the most excited, as I was awakened by her new present I had gifted her. It was a boardgame of mini quidditch, featuring the same firebolt Harry owned. One of the mini brooms flicked me on the forehead by accident as I saw up, pretending I had just woken from a long sleep.

"Anyway, where'd you run off to last night?" Ginny asked me.

I recalled everything that had happened. I remembered Mattheo showing up and paralysing me until the Weasleys and Remus got me inside safely... then we erased their memories. But of it all, I could still feel Mattheo's warm breath close. It was disturbing me to silence until Ginny repeated herself.

"Oh- I accidentally fell asleep on Fred's bed," I lied. "I snuck myself back when everyone had fallen asleep."

Ginny smirked. "Accidentally huh? I was getting tired of mum's music too, thank Merlin she called it a night when Phlegm started-"

Fleur's lovely morning greeting to everyone was heard as Ginny fell silent.

"Yeah, you get what I mean," she finished.

The Christmas breakfast was just as wonderful as I was expecting. Mrs. Weasley never failed to impress, from her perfectly marinated roasted turkey to the finely fried onion stuffing. Remus joined us at the table and for a second, I was tense, hoping he actually had his memories erased. I did not doubt his skill to reflect spells, as he was briefly our defence against the dark arts professor.

Mrs. Weasley handed me my annual Christmas sweater, a V embroidered into it. It matched Fred's, which was also navy with a gold letter. Fleur was the only one who had not received one, as Mrs. Weasley seemed to not have wanted to waste one.

Harry complimented the new hat the twins had gifted their mother and as if on cue, Fred entered the dining area, avoiding my eyes.

I ignored his actions as they fell upon something bright and golden on the ground. I picked it up and realised it was a necklace that read, My Sweetheart.

There was a brief laughter in my chest as I asked, "Whose is this?"

Before anyone could answer, Ron snatched it from me and buried it into his chest pocket.