𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 | f. w

12

In the days that followed Fred's late-night visit to Grimmauld Place, Mattie felt like she was living in a haze, a mixture of bittersweet emotions that left her feeling both buoyant and unsettled. His confession had been everything she hadn't let herself hope for, and yet it hadn't erased the grief or the uncertainty. Every morning, she awoke with the memory of his kiss lingering on her lips, but the weight of Sirius's absence was still there, casting a shadow over every corner of the house.

The atmosphere at Grimmauld Place had only grown heavier. Tonks, Charlie, and the remaining Order members came and went with increasing frequency, their faces tight and weary, often muttering about meetings with Dumbledore or threats from the Ministry. The Order was growing quieter and more tense as whispers of Voldemort's plans spread, fueling the sense of dread that hung over them all.

Mattie and Quinn spent most of their days together, both clinging to the small comforts that still felt real—sharing breakfast, reading letters from Hogwarts, and occasionally hearing from Fred, who had taken to sending Mattie brief, almost comically coded notes about life back at school. Each letter from him made her heart race, and she'd read every word like it held a promise of better things to come.

One afternoon, as Mattie was preparing tea in the kitchen, she heard a small sigh behind her. She turned to see Quinn standing in the doorway, her expression distant as she traced a finger along the edge of the countertop, lost in thought.

"Quinn?" Mattie asked, her voice gentle. "Are you alright?"

Quinn looked up, snapping back to reality as she offered a small, distracted smile. "Yeah, I just... it's this place," she muttered, glancing around the dim, cramped kitchen. "It feels like it's holding its breath, like it's waiting for something terrible to happen."

Mattie felt a pang of understanding. The house did seem to hold its breath, the walls thick with tension. "You're not wrong," she said quietly. "It's been different since Sirius... since he—"

The words caught in her throat, and she looked away, struggling to compose herself. It was still difficult to speak of Sirius's death without a raw ache settling in her chest. But she didn't have to say anything; Quinn stepped closer, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I know," Quinn whispered, her eyes filled with understanding. "It's like he's still here somehow. I keep expecting him to just show up, to make some joke and break the silence."

Mattie nodded, her throat tight. In some ways, Sirius's presence lingered, his laughter echoing in the back of her mind. The house seemed to carry memories of him in every corner, as though he had left a part of himself behind in the rooms he used to occupy. And now, with everything that had happened, it felt wrong to be in Grimmauld Place without him, as if they were intruders in a place that should have been his.

Their quiet moment was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, followed by footsteps and the murmur of voices. Mattie and Quinn exchanged a look, both bracing themselves as they moved into the hallway, where they found Tonks and Charlie speaking in low tones.

Tonks looked up as they approached, her expression grim. "You girls might want to sit down."

Quinn's face paled. "What's happened?"

Charlie placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, though his eyes held a sadness Mattie hadn't seen before. "There's been news from Hogwarts," he said slowly, his voice heavy. "The situation's gotten worse. Dumbledore's Army... the Ministry found out about it. They're threatening to take action against anyone involved."

Mattie's stomach dropped, her mind racing as she thought of Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and the others. Dumbledore's Army had been their way of resisting Umbridge, of learning the magic that might actually save them, but now, even that small act of rebellion was in jeopardy.