Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 64

Chapter 64: A New Normal

Three years had slipped by like grains of sand through an hourglass, each moment a reminder of the life Adhara Malfoy had once known. Now living in Bordeaux, France, she had built a new existence—one that was functional, even enjoyable at times, but never quite as bright as the days she had spent with Fred.

Adhara woke up in her modest apartment, sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains, casting gentle shadows across her bed. The walls were adorned with framed photographs of her new life: moments shared with colleagues, laughter over lunch with friends, and the occasional quiet evening spent reading by the window. She had created a space that felt uniquely hers, but it lacked the warmth and vibrancy she had shared with Fred.

Adhara had made friends, of course. Her colleagues, who had become more like family over the years, were supportive and often invited her out for drinks or dinners. They would share stories of their own lives, laughter echoing through the air as they recounted their mishaps at work. But even in those moments of joy, Adhara often felt like an outsider, her thoughts drifting back to the life she had left behind.

On this particular day, she had a meeting scheduled with her team to discuss the latest case—a high-profile trial involving a powerful dark wizard accused of manipulating magical contracts to bind innocent wizards into servitude. As she prepared for the session, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with dread. The case was complex and demanding, but it gave her a distraction from the memories of her past that, though buried deep, still crept in during moments of quiet.

Her work at the Tribunal had become her anchor. Each case was an intellectual puzzle, and she poured herself into it, dissecting the evidence and strategizing for the defense. Yet, no matter how focused she became, there were moments, fleeting but painful, when the ghosts of her former life would resurface, uninvited. It was in the stillness between meetings or the quiet of her chambers that the memories would slip through, reminding her of everything she had left behind.

But for now, the trial before her demanded all her attention, and for that, she was grateful. The intricacies of magical law were a welcome refuge, even if it was only temporary.

"Adhara!" called Sophie, one of her closest colleagues, bursting into her office with a wide smile. "Are you ready for the meeting? You've got this!"

"Yeah, I'm ready," Adhara replied, returning the smile, though she could feel the knot tightening in her stomach. "Let's do this."

The meeting went well, and as she spoke about their progress, she could see the admiration in her colleagues' eyes. They valued her input and recognized her expertise, and for that, she was grateful. But when the meeting concluded, and her colleagues dispersed, the emptiness began to settle back in.

Adhara wandered through the Ministry halls, contemplating the duality of her life. Here she was, excelling in her career, yet her heart felt fragmented. Each corner of the Ministry held echoes of laughter and camaraderie, but none of it could drown out the whisper of Fred's name that danced in her mind.

Later that evening, she joined her friends at a small café in the city center. The place was bustling with life, the aroma of fresh pastries and coffee filling the air. As she settled into her chair, her friends animatedly discussed their plans for the weekend, but Adhara's thoughts drifted.

"Adhara, you're awfully quiet today," Sophie said, raising an eyebrow. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, just thinking," Adhara replied, forcing a smile. "You know how it is."

"Thinking about that boy from England?" teased Max, another colleague. "You've been distant since the last time we talked about him."

Adhara's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Fred. She had tried to move on, but the memories still haunted her. "No, it's not that," she lied, hoping to divert their attention. "Just work stuff."

Her friends nodded, accepting her response, but Adhara could feel the weight of their concern. She knew they cared, and she appreciated their attempts to bring her out of her shell, but some feelings were too deep, too complex to share.

The conversation flowed around her, and while she smiled and laughed along with them, a part of her remained distant. They were enjoying their lives, filled with adventures and new relationships, while she felt as though she was merely existing.

As the evening drew to a close, Adhara walked home, the streets illuminated by the soft glow of streetlamps. She admired the beauty of the city, but it did little to quell the ache in her heart.

Once inside her apartment, she set her belongings down and walked over to the window, gazing out at the night sky. The stars twinkled above, and for a fleeting moment, she felt a sense of connection to the universe, as if Fred might be looking at the same sky from wherever he was.

With a heavy sigh, she turned to her desk and pulled out a familiar stack of letters—those she had written to Fred but never sent. She picked one up, her heart aching as she read the words she had poured onto the page.

As she set the letter back down, she felt a wave of sorrow wash over her. Writing to Fred was her lifeline, a way to express her feelings without the fear of rejection or heartbreak. But it was also a reminder of what she had lost.

Adhara spent the evening reminiscing, flipping through the memories of her life before she left. Her time at Hogwarts, the laughter shared with friends, and the moments she had stolen with Fred. Each memory was a bittersweet reminder of a love that had defined her in ways she couldn't articulate.

Despite her best efforts to build a new life, she often found herself yearning for the one she had left behind. She wanted nothing more than to share her successes with Fred, to show him how much she had grown. But each day that passed felt like another barrier erected between them, another thread unraveling the fabric of their connection.

Adhara tried to move forward, to live her life fully, but the specter of Fred Weasley haunted her dreams and waking moments alike. She had made new friends, forged a new path, yet the ache of longing never truly subsided.

And as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, Adhara wondered if she would ever truly escape the memories that had woven themselves into her soul. Would she ever find the courage to send those letters? Or would they remain forever hidden in the shadows of her heart, a reminder of a love that was both her greatest joy and her deepest sorrow?