the hallows - f. weasley

- c h a p t e r - t w e n t y-s i x -

 War waited for no one–not even those who had just lost a piece of their entire world.

Spiders had been liberated from the Forbidden Forest and were now swarming the corridor.

Gemma didn't feel a single thing as she ran behind Percy and Fred, who had freed Sirius from his grave and were now trying to carry him somewhere he wouldn't be forgotten or become food for the cannibalistic spiders.

Jinxes and curses flew from her wand as she sprinted with them–one hand dragging Harry with her.

Her brother wouldn't respond to anything anyone said to him.

So when Percy and Fred pulled up sharp, Gemma nearly tore her shoulder out of its socket again when the brothers gently placed Sirius in a niche where a suit of armour had been earlier.

Gemma couldn't help but look at Sirius's face–his eyes still staring at nothing. Shakily, she leaned forward and closed them, making him look like he was sleeping now.

The siblings just stood there–staring at the godfather that they had essentially just gotten back, but stolen by Death for real this time.

People rushed around them–foe or friend, Gemma couldn't tell, but it wasn't long before Percy had taken off again, bellowing after a Death Eater raced after a couple of escaping students.

"Gem..." Fred's soft voice found her ears. He lifted her chin so they were looking at one another, "Do you want me to get you out of here?"

Gemma didn't answer him–staring up at him with eyes that resembled her gaze when she had lost Cedric, then Sirius...the first time.

His heart seemed to crack in his chest at the sight, and he swallowed thickly before whispering, "It should have been me. I'm so sorry, Gemma. He pushed me out of the way–he made me swear to take care of you before he did, but it should have—"

Gemma grabbed him by the fabric of his jumper and crushed her lips into his–kissing him as fiercely as she could.

She tasted of smokey fire, salty ocean tears, and somehow of honey and summer.

He cradled her face in his shaking hands–kissing her back until she pulled away, her eyes glistening with tears that threatened to fall down her beautifully stained, scarred, and sorrowful face.

Her words were hoarse as she pushed his matted hair from his face, "You will never say that ever again. You deserve to live just as much as Sirius. But Death does not give a shit about that. He takes what He wants and leaves us behind to pick up the pieces. Sirius loves me, he loves Harry, and he loves his family. Meaning you, Frederick Gideon Weasley." Her voice broke as she said his name, and the tears tumbled, "And even though this hurts–hurts so much I want to throw up–I will thank the Stars and Sirius every day for saving you."

Fred wasn't even sure what to say.

He wanted to tell her that he loved every part of her: the tears that fell down her face, the scars that were painted across her face and body like a glorious tapestry, the stubbornness of a dragon that erupted from her soul anytime she was passionate about something, her unwavering heart that beat to love, protect, and fight for her family. He wanted to take her away to the ocean that she never seemed to be able to stop talking about over the holidays. He wanted to marry her, wanted to love her forever and always–until their hearts were still and they rested in each other's embrace in their eternal bed of the Earth.

And despite his vocal cords failing him, Fred just pulled her in for another kiss–holding her to him as if she were made of stardust and she was going to dissipate in his embrace if he didn't.