Bound By Blood.

Ch.41~ I've made up my mind.

"You took the closest thing I had to a brother.

I wonder if you even think twice about it.

If it keeps you up at night, if you hurt when you think of it.

Or, if it was the first of many."

Translated Recovered Correspondents between Order Member Alexandra Brooks, to Death Eater Mattheo Riddle, 2003.

The safe house, 2003.

Alexandra.

Sleep never came easy to me.

Not before the war, and definitely not now.

At least now, I could walk.

The many months after the war, when I was bed ridden. I only had the ceiling to stare at. Sometimes, the window if I had enough energy to turn my body. The sobs of Hermione and Ginny usually the only sounds I had to fall asleep too.

I was too tired to cry then, I think I still am.

But now, when I can't sleep, I let my feet wonder all over the safe house. Even though, everything about this place is committed to memory.

The number of windows, which floor boards creek, and who's usually where.

Right now, it was three in the morning, meaning everyone should've retired to bed, and I am free to wonder.

I always end up in the kitchen.

As if I expect a full fridge, or snacks awaiting me.

There never was. But Molly never let us go hungry, thats for sure.

So, I crept into the kitchen anyway.

I always loved how dark it is in here at this time, nothing but the moonlight shinning through the windows.

I walked over to the fridge and gently opened it, looking around, at truthfully a lot of nothing.

When the third floor board off the kitchen creaked, causing me to turn to see who else is restless and decided to join me.

"Freddy?" I whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear myself.

"Wrong one, Brookie." George shook his head, walking up to me and absolutely smothering me in his chest.

And for the first time in a long time, I hugged him back.

I hugged someone.

For minutes, we stood in the refrigerator light, holding each other.

Its funny, how your mind play tricks on you when you're exhausted.

How it could morph reality into something you so desperately wished was real.

A sick joke, really.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I cant feel my toes." A shivering Ron said from beside me.