Roses and Riots | f. weasley

Chapter 68: The Sword

A/N: As always, thank you for your continued patience! I'm hoping to be less busy in the coming weeks which (fingers crossed) will give me more time to write! Enjoy x

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Emilia and Ron followed the Patronus through the trees, their boots crunching on the snow and frozen undergrowth as they made their way through the increasingly inclining woodland. They spoke quietly between themselves, talking about the Christmas they had missed with their loved ones. 

Emilia felt a pang in her chest, thinking about how it had been the first Christmas she had not spent at the Burrow since she was seven years old.

She wondered what Fred was doing at that very moment, and she subconsciously reached her gloved hand to the necklace around her neck, a habit she had gotten into when it was only her mother's locket hanging from the chain, and she had once again begun reaching for it, seeking a sense of comfort since being away from Fred, holding his charm between her thumb and forefinger.

Soon. I'll see you soon. I love you, she thought, hoping he'd somehow hear it.

"They'll be alright, you know," Ron said, somewhat awkwardly. "We'll all be together again soon."

Emilia slowed her walking and looked at him, "it feels like longer than two days since we were at the cottage."

Ron nodded, "didn't exactly expect to spend Christmas in a tent in the woods."

Emilia smiled, "I'm sorry my attempt at cooking wasn't quite like your Mum's Christmas dinner, next time I'll make sure I have the full spread, stuffing and all."

Ron snorted and they began walking again.

They had gotten to the Forest of Dean just before midnight on Christmas Day, not knowing exactly how long it would take them to find Harry and Hermione.

Emilia's Patronus had served as a literal guiding light when the short winter days got dark again, and between taking breaks to rest and eat, they followed the corporeal doe through the thick trees.

It was the early hours of Boxing Day as they continued on this stretch of their journey, hoping that the doe's insistence on going in a specific direction was in fact leading them the right way, only it had suddenly trotted out of sight, and Emilia was growing uncertain.

"Blimey, it's bloody freezing," Ron muttered after a while. "Even your Patronus has given up."

"It's still there, I can feel it up ahead. We can stop, cast some wards, and light a fire for a while-"

The sound of a large crack caused the words to die in Emilia's throat, and before either of them could say a word, the sound of a violent splash followed, echoing through the darkness.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron whispered urgently.

"I don't know, but look," Emilia pointed to her Patronus which they could see as a small area of light up ahead of them, standing still.

Emilia and Ron exchanged a look, and then quickly ran in the direction of the Patronus, coming to a stop as they realised it had stopped over a small lake in a clearing in the trees.

It was standing in the air just above the ice, as if showing them the hole in the frozen surface where something must have fallen through.

"What is it-" Emilia began, but leapt back with a gasp as a hand clawed out of the water onto the icy ledge, someone trying to find something to grab on to, before being pulled under again.

"Fuck, someone's drowning! I'll try and grab them," Ron cried, immediately pulling off his coat and boots.

Emilia grabbed his arm before he could step onto the ice, "be careful, please."