Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Moving On

Fred Weasley stared out of the window of his modest apartment, watching the rain patter against the glass. It had been three years since Adhara had left, three years filled with confusion, heartache, and an endless search for something that felt like home. He was now dating Angelina Johnson, and while he genuinely cared for her, a part of him still felt empty.

They had been together for seven months, and Angelina had brought a new spark into his life. She was vibrant, passionate, and had a way of making the world seem a little brighter, even on the cloudiest days. Yet, every time Fred looked around their apartment, he was reminded of the home he had built for Adhara. The memories of their plans—dreaming of a garden filled with flowers, laughter echoing through the halls, and the love they had shared—made it difficult to embrace this new chapter fully.

Fred had initially tried to live in the house he had constructed with Adhara in mind, but every corner of it echoed with her absence. The walls seemed to close in on him, suffocating him with nostalgia. He would catch glimpses of the silver-green color he had chosen for the living room, imagining her sitting on the sofa with a book in hand, her blonde hair catching the sunlight as she laughed at something he said. The house had once felt like a castle of dreams, but now it was a tomb of lost hope.

He had quickly realized he couldn't remain there. So, he moved into a small apartment near the joke shop, a space that was practical and filled with the chaotic energy of his work. The laughter and joy they created through their pranks and products provided a much-needed distraction. But even surrounded by the chaos of the shop, his mind would often wander back to Adhara. He found himself catching moments where he wished he could reach out to her, but the pain of her departure weighed heavily on his heart.

Angelina was a great partner, always supporting him as he navigated the rollercoaster of emotions tied to his past. She had seen him at his lowest, and in her own way, she understood the complexities of love and loss. But no matter how many times they laughed together or shared moments that felt right, there remained a lingering shadow—a reminder that Fred's heart still belonged to someone else.

One evening, as they sat on the couch sharing a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie, Fred noticed how relaxed Angelina looked. He admired her, the way she had effortlessly become a part of his life. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that washed over him. Was he being fair to her? Could he truly move on without addressing the lingering feelings for Adhara?

"Fred?" Angelina's voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. "Are you even paying attention? This is the best part!"

"Sorry," he replied, forcing a smile. "What did I miss?"

Angelina rolled her eyes playfully, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "You're hopeless, you know that? You need to stop brooding. It's not healthy."

"I'm not brooding," he protested, but a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Just... thinking."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, stop it! I want you here with me, not in your own head."

Fred took a deep breath, grateful for her lightheartedness. "Okay, I'm here. Let's enjoy the movie."

As the film continued, he tried to focus on the plot, but his thoughts kept wandering back to the life he had imagined with Adhara. He felt the weight of memories pressing down on him, each one a reminder of the love that had slipped through his fingers. Despite everything, he couldn't shake the feeling that a part of him was still tethered to her.

After the movie ended, they retreated to the kitchen for a late-night snack. Fred moved about the space, the familiarity of the setting a comfort and a torment all at once. He wanted to be present for Angelina, but the nagging sense of loss hung over him like a cloud.

"Do you want to talk about anything?" Angelina asked as they prepared sandwiches together. "You seem a little distant tonight."

He paused, searching for the right words. "Just thinking about the shop and all the plans we have," he said, diverting the conversation. "There's so much to do, and I want to make sure everything goes smoothly."

"Your enthusiasm is contagious," Angelina said with a grin. "You always have a way of turning things into a fun challenge."

He smiled back, appreciating her optimism. As they settled down to eat, he realized he was grateful for her presence. She filled a space in his life, a space that had been left void for too long.

Later that night, Fred lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. He replayed moments from the past few months in his mind—dates with Angelina, adventures at the shop, laughter shared with George and Vera, who were now happily married.

Vera and George had now been married for a year, their love having blossomed into something strong and steady. Their wedding, a quiet but beautiful affair, had been a moment of joy for everyone—except Adhara. Vera had asked Draco to deliver the invitation to her, and he had done so, but Adhara never showed. The empty chair where she should have sat was a silent reminder of her absence, and the celebration felt incomplete without her.

Fred couldn't help but feel a sharp sting of jealousy. Seeing Vera so happy with George, it was impossible not to imagine what could have been. He had dreamed of that same kind of future—one where it was him standing beside Adhara, promising her forever. But that was no longer a possibility. His thoughts spiraled as he tried to reconcile the overwhelming desire to be with her with the painful reality that she was lost to him, perhaps forever.

It was a bitter feeling, one he couldn't shake. Watching Vera and George's union only intensified the longing inside him, a reminder of the future that would never be. He wanted to marry Adhara, to make her his, but in the space between his dreams and the truth, all he was left with was the impossible ache of what might have been.

He knew he should be happy, but the ghost of Adhara lingered in the corners of his mind. He had tried to move on, tried to embrace the life he had now, but the truth was that he still felt like he was searching for something he couldn't define.

The next day at the shop, the energy was electric. George was buzzing with excitement over a new prank product they were about to launch, and Fred tried to match his enthusiasm. They spent the morning assembling items and discussing marketing strategies, but even amidst the chaos of the shop, Fred's heart felt heavy.

"Oi, Fred! You with us?" George called, breaking through Fred's thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry! Just... thinking," Fred replied, forcing a smile.

"About what? You look like you've seen a ghost," George teased.

"Just about the new product. I want it to be perfect," Fred said, changing the subject.

George raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. Instead, he launched into a passionate discussion about the new prank, and Fred found himself laughing and engaging with his brother. For a moment, he managed to forget the ache in his heart.

As the day wore on, Fred realized how important it was to be surrounded by the people he loved—his family, his friends, and the community they had built together.

Fred had finally started to move on, though it felt more like a quiet surrender than a victory. He had spent so many months, even years, holding onto a love that only seemed to exist in his memories, in the fragile corners of his mind where hope still lingered. But now, as time passed, he realized he couldn't keep living in that space of uncertainty. He couldn't continue pouring his heart into someone who had chosen to walk away, leaving him to pick up the pieces.

It wasn't easy. The longing still stirred from time to time, like a ghost that wouldn't fully let go. But Fred had made a choice—he wouldn't waste any more of his life on someone who didn't seem to care about him in the same way. He deserved more than that. He deserved a love that didn't leave him in constant doubt, a future that wasn't clouded by unanswered questions.

So he let go. Slowly, carefully, but with determination. Each day, he let himself move forward just a little bit more, carving out a new life where Adhara's absence no longer defined him. It wasn't about forgetting her—he knew that was impossible—but about finding peace with the truth: that sometimes love, no matter how deep, isn't enough to bridge the gaps between two people.