Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Decisions

The sun rose gently over the Burrow, casting a golden glow on the quaint cottage and its vibrant garden. Adhara lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as thoughts swirled in her mind. Just yesterday, she had received a letter from her father, Lucius Malfoy, and the contents of that letter weighed heavily on her heart.

It had been a simple, cruel message—one that stripped away her hope and left a chill of despair in its wake. Lucius had reminded her of the threat he had made against Fred and his family, and he had made it abundantly clear that if she didn't break things off with him, there would be dire consequences. The final line of the letter haunted her: "It is perfectly fine for you not to return to Malfoy Manor, but you must sever ties with Weasley. Choose wisely, Adhara."

Adhara rolled over, burying her face in her pillow as tears threatened to spill. She felt trapped, a pawn in her father's twisted game. But the thought of losing Fred—a light in her otherwise darkened world—made her stomach churn.

Taking a deep breath, she wiped her eyes and resolved to make today special. If she was going to end things with Fred, she wanted to give them both one last beautiful day together, one filled with laughter and love, a day where they could create memories that would last a lifetime.

After getting ready, Adhara ventured downstairs to find Fred already in the kitchen, brewing coffee and humming a tune. The sight of him, with his messy hair and playful smile, made her heart flutter. He turned to her, and his face broke into a wide grin.

"Good morning, beautiful!" he said, his eyes sparkling with affection. "What do you say we go on an adventure today?"

"Adventure?" Adhara echoed, trying to sound excited while her heart raced with the impending doom of the day ahead.

"Yeah! I was thinking we could go to that new café in the village, then maybe check out that enchanted garden I heard about. What do you think?" he suggested, clearly animated.

"Sounds perfect," she replied, forcing a smile. Inside, however, her heart felt heavy, the weight of her father's ultimatum pressing down on her.

They quickly finished breakfast and set out, hand in hand, the warmth of Fred's touch providing her with a fleeting sense of comfort. The Burrow faded into the background as they strolled through the village, laughter echoing around them as they shared stories and jokes.

At the café, they ordered an assortment of pastries and drinks, indulging in sweet treats as they reminisced about their time together at Hogwarts. Adhara marveled at the way Fred's eyes lit up when he talked about their plans for the joke shop, his passion infectious.

"Can you imagine the chaos we could cause?" Fred said, grinning widely. "We could have an entire section just for the pranks we played on Snape!"

Adhara laughed, picturing the scowling Potions master's face. "That would be brilliant! I can see it now: 'The Snape Special—Guaranteed to Make You Yell!'"

"Exactly!" he exclaimed, his laughter ringing in her ears like music. "And I'd personally deliver it to him, just for kicks!"

As the day continued, they wandered through the village, stopping to admire the quirky shops and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. They found a small park, and Fred insisted they sit on a bench to rest. As they sat together, Adhara leaned into him, letting the warmth of the moment wash over her.

"I love days like this," Fred said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Just you and me, no worries. It's perfect."

"Yeah, it really is," Adhara replied, her heart aching with the knowledge that this was a fleeting moment.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the village, they headed back to the Burrow. Fred suggested making dinner together, and Adhara agreed, cherishing every moment. They laughed and playfully bickered over ingredients, the atmosphere light and joyous.

Later that night, after a lovely dinner and a shared dessert, they settled into bed. Adhara's mind raced with thoughts of the letter, and she knew she had to act. Fred lay next to her, his breathing steady and peaceful, oblivious to the storm brewing within her. She turned to him, studying his face in the dim light, memorizing the details she loved—the freckles on his nose, the way his eyelashes curled, the gentle rise and fall of his chest.

She wanted to hold him close forever, but she knew she couldn't. The weight of her father's threats loomed over her, suffocating any hope she had for a future with Fred.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Adhara quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him. She made her way to the small desk in the corner, where she pulled out a piece of parchment and began to write. Her heart felt heavy with each stroke of the quill, but she forced herself to write.

"Dear Fred,

I wish there were easier words for this, but there aren't. I have to let you go. Not because I don't love you—I do, more than I ever thought was possible—but because I can't keep dragging you into the storm I'm living in. You deserve a life filled with light, without the shadow of fear and danger that I bring with me.

What we have, what we've shared, has meant more to me than anything, and I will carry those moments with me always. You've brought so much joy, so much warmth, into my world, and I'll never forget that. But I can't be the one to weigh you down. I can't stand by and watch you suffer because of the choices I've made, the things I am tied to.

Please know this isn't about you—this is about me and the dark path I've been forced to walk. I am not strong enough to protect you from what's coming, and I won't let you be caught in the wreckage.

I hope, one day, you'll understand why I had to make this decision. But for now, know that no matter where I go, a part of you will always be in my heart.

I love you, Fred. I always will.

Forever,
Adhara"

Her hand trembled as she placed the quill down, the ink still glistening on the page like a reflection of the sorrow pooling in her chest. Each tear that dripped onto the letter felt like a final thread unraveling between them. She couldn't bear the thought of his pain, but what choice did she have? If she told him the truth, it would only drag them both into a nightmare neither of them could survive. This was the only way.

She whispered a final goodbye to the memory of their love, knowing it would haunt her, even as it was the only way to protect him.

After placing the letter on his pillow, Adhara took one last look at him, his face serene in sleep. It was a sight she would remember for the rest of her life. She quietly gathered her things, her heart heavy with the weight of what she was about to do.

With one final glance at the room that had been a sanctuary for her, she quietly slipped out of the Burrow, the cool night air wrapping around her like a cloak. She felt as if she were walking to her execution, the path ahead dark and uncertain.

Adhara made her way to the edge of the property, her heart pounding as she prepared to leave everything behind. With a wave of her wand, she apparated away from the Burrow, leaving behind the one place where she had felt truly at home and the boy who had stolen her heart.

The night air was cold and biting, but the chill in her heart was far more significant than the weather. As she vanished into the darkness, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a nightmare—one that threatened to consume everything she held dear.