Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Progress

The success of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes had taken everyone by storm. The shop was constantly packed, and every night, Fred and George returned home exhilarated but exhausted. The joke shop had exceeded their wildest expectations, and the mountain of Galleons piling up from their sales felt almost surreal.

One evening, after they'd closed up for the night, George slapped Fred on the back, grinning wide. "You realize we've gone from scheming in the common room to, well... this?" He gestured around at the shop, the shelves emptying faster than they could restock them.

Fred laughed, shaking his head in awe. "Never thought I'd actually have a vault this full." His gaze softened as he thought of Adhara. "Or a reason to do something truly good with it."

George raised an eyebrow. "I know that look. Thinking about your future with Adhara?"

Fred nodded, glancing out the shop's window as the moonlight cast a glow over Diagon Alley. "I've been thinking about the place we talked about. The one she loved—big cottage, garden, the whole thing."

"Going to surprise her?" George asked with a smirk.

"Yeah. She has no idea," Fred said, a grin forming on his face. "I've started the plans. Got some land outside Ottery St Catchpole where we can have a bit of privacy but still be close enough to family. I want it to be our place, exactly how she imagined."

George slapped his shoulder with approval. "You've gone soft, Fred."

Fred rolled his eyes but smiled. "Soft? Maybe. But it's worth every bit."

Fred was ready to propose. He had known for a while that Adhara was the one. But he also knew that before he could ask her, they needed something solid—a home where they could build their future together. So, he made sure that came first.

The next morning, Fred left early for a meeting with the contractor, careful not to wake Adhara. He spent hours with the builders showing them the design and going over every detail she'd dreamed about—a greenhouse for flowers and herbs, a cozy cottage with a fireplace, and a large kitchen where they could cook together. He made sure nothing was overlooked, knowing how much each element meant to her.

In the weeks that followed, Fred kept his little project a secret, though it wasn't always easy. Whenever Adhara would mention the joke shop's success, jokingly asking what they'd do with all those Galleons, Fred would only grin and shrug.

"Oh, I've got a few things in mind," he'd say, brushing off her questions with a playful smirk.

One rainy afternoon, Adhara sat by the Burrow's fire, sipping tea and flipping through an old herbology book, while Fred came in, shaking droplets from his hair.

"Where were you off to?" she asked, watching him curiously as he peeled off his damp jacket.

"Oh, you know, just running errands," he said, brushing it off with a grin. "Besides, it's all top secret." He winked, but she narrowed her eyes at him, clearly suspicious.

"Top secret, huh? And here I thought I was your partner in crime," she teased, raising an eyebrow.

"You are, love," he replied, settling beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "But this is one crime that needs a surprise ending."

Adhara laughed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You're up to something," she murmured, "but I suppose I'll find out soon enough."

Fred chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. He could hardly contain his excitement about the house, but he knew the wait would make the surprise even sweeter.

Days turned into weeks, and Fred kept himself busy bouncing between the joke shop, the Burrow, and the building site. Whenever George or Vera caught his eye, they'd share a grin, knowing that Fred was secretly building a dream come true for the girl he loves.

The house was slowly taking shape, and each detail seemed to reflect Adhara's spirit—the large windows that would catch the morning light, the tall oak doors, and the soft stone pathway that led from the front porch to the greenhouse, where Fred imagined they'd grow all sorts of magical herbs and flowers.

One afternoon, as he inspected the new walls going up around what would be the main living area, Fred allowed himself to envision it fully. He could almost see Adhara sitting on a cozy armchair by the fire, reading a book, the gentle rustling of her pages filling the room. He could picture their laughter echoing through the halls and the scent of homemade meals drifting from the kitchen.

Fred knew he wanted their home to be a sanctuary, a place they'd build and grow together.

Back at the Burrow that evening, Molly noticed Fred's unusually quiet demeanor and pulled him aside in the kitchen as he helped peel potatoes for dinner.

"You've been running around quite a bit, dear," she remarked, eyeing him knowingly. "Is everything all right?"

He gave her a boyish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just working on a little something special for Addy. Can't let her know just yet, though."

Molly's eyes softened as she reached up, patting his cheek. "You're doing a wonderful thing, Fred. I hope she knows just how lucky she is."

"Honestly, Mum, I'm the lucky one." Fred smiled, setting the potatoes aside and looking out the window, his thoughts drifting to the house again.

As they ate dinner, Adhara glanced at Fred with a questioning look, her intuition picking up on his slight distraction. She had noticed the subtle glances exchanged between him, George, and even Molly. She gave him a playful nudge under the table, but he only grinned and shook his head, clearly committed to keeping his secret.

That night, as they sat on the couch together, Adhara finally sighed in defeat. "You're going to make me wait, aren't you?" she asked, though her voice held a warm note of amusement.

Fred leaned in close, his face just inches from hers. "I promise, Addy. This wait will be worth it."

She smiled, unable to help feeling a mixture of curiosity and excitement. Whatever Fred was planning, she knew it came from his heart. She could already feel the love and thought he was pouring into every part of it, even if she didn't yet know what it was.

And as Fred drifted to sleep that night, his mind was filled with visions of the home he was building for them—a home where he and Adhara could start a life filled with laughter, love, and the endless possibilities of a future together.