Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 61

Chapter 61: The Weight of Absence

The first rays of dawn peeked through the window of the Burrow, illuminating the room where Fred Weasley lay asleep. The previous day had been a whirlwind of laughter and love, an idyllic day he had cherished with Adhara. But as the sunlight crept in, he stirred, instinctively reaching for her side of the bed—only to find it empty.

His heart skipped a beat. "Addy?" he called out, a hint of panic rising in his chest. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, glancing around the dim room. Her clothes were gone, and the bed was cold where she had slept. "Addy?" he called again, louder this time, the worry in his voice echoing in the stillness.

When there was no response, he scrambled to his feet, his heart racing. Fred rushed downstairs, calling her name as he searched the house. The warmth of their shared laughter from the night before felt like a distant memory, replaced by an unsettling silence.

"Mum! Have you seen Adhara?" he yelled, running into the kitchen, where Molly Weasley was preparing breakfast.

Molly turned, her smile fading as she noticed the worry etched on Fred's face. "No, dear. I thought she was with you. She didn't come down for breakfast?"

Fred felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. "No, I can't find her anywhere!" He rushed back up the stairs, desperation clawing at him.

He returned to the bedroom, eyes landing on the small piece of parchment on his pillow. Confused, he picked it up, his heart pounding. Adhara's handwriting was immediately recognizable, yet the words felt like a dagger through his heart.

Fred's hands shook as he read the letter again, his heart racing with confusion and despair. She was breaking up with him? Threats? Adhara had been strong enough to stand against her family once, and now she was caving under the pressure.

"No, no, no!" he muttered to himself, tears stinging his eyes. This couldn't be happening. He threw the letter aside, determination surging through him. He couldn't just sit back and accept this.

Fred dressed quickly, his mind racing with thoughts of where she could be. He decided to head to Malfoy Manor first. If anyone knew where Adhara had gone, it would be her family. Despite knowing he would face Lucius, he couldn't let fear stop him.

The journey to Malfoy Manor felt like the longest of his life. As he arrived at the imposing gates, his heart sank. He took a deep breath, gathering his courage, and marched up to the door, rapping his knuckles against the heavy wood.

After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing a sneering Lucius Malfoy. "Weasley," he greeted, his tone dripping with disdain. "What brings you here at such an early hour?"

"Where's Adhara?" Fred demanded, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "I know she's here!"

Lucius raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and contempt. "Adhara? She's not here, I assure you. Perhaps you should check with her dear brother?"

"Don't play games with me!" Fred shouted, feeling a surge of frustration. "What did you do to her?"

"Do to her?" Lucius feigned innocence, crossing his arms. "I assure you, my daughter is quite safe. She has chosen to sever her ties with you, and I applaud her for making such a wise decision."

"Wise?" Fred echoed, disbelief flooding his voice. "Stop threatening us! I won't let you do this!"

Lucius chuckled, a cold, mocking sound. "You underestimate my daughter's ability to make choices. If she has left you, it is her decision, and you would do well to respect it."

Feeling helpless, Fred turned on his heel and stormed away from the manor, his heart heavy with anguish. How could he find her now? He had no idea where to search next.

He wandered through the village, calling her name into the emptiness, desperation clawing at his throat. Each passing moment felt like an eternity. He visited the places they had frequented together—the café, the park—hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but the world felt unbearably hollow without her.

As night began to fall, Fred made his way back to the Burrow, the weight of grief settling heavily on his shoulders. He stepped inside, the warmth of home contrasting sharply with the cold reality of his situation.

"Fred?" Molly called, noticing his ashen face. "Did you find her?"

"No," he replied hoarsely, feeling tears brim in his eyes. He couldn't bear to tell her what he suspected. Instead, he sank into a chair at the kitchen table, his head in his hands.

Molly rushed over, placing a comforting hand on his back. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm sure she'll turn up. Don't lose hope."

Fred looked up, his heart breaking. "But she left me, Mum. She broke up with me." His voice cracked, and he could no longer hold back the tears. "I don't understand why. She wouldn't just leave like this. Something is wrong!"

Molly's heart ached for her son as he cried. She knew he had loved Adhara deeply, and seeing him in so much pain was unbearable. "Fred, maybe she had a good reason. Sometimes—"

"No!" he interrupted, shaking his head violently. "She wouldn't do this to me. I can't believe she would just walk away."

Molly knelt beside him, pulling him into a comforting embrace. "Let's give it some time. We can look for her together. We'll figure this out."

But Fred felt lost. The world seemed darker without Adhara's light in it. As he lay in bed that night, her absence felt like a gaping void. His mind raced with thoughts of her, of their moments together—the laughter, the affection, the dreams they had shared.

The tears came again, each one a testament to the love he had for her, a love that felt fragile and torn. He thought about all the times they had talked about their future, about the life they would build together. The weight of her absence settled like a heavy stone in his heart.

And as the moon cast a soft glow through the window, Fred Weasley realized he would do anything to bring her back, even if it meant facing the very darkness that threatened to consume them both.