𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐈 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 | f. w

8

Erin was finally beginning to relax, sinking into the warmth of the Gryffindor common room with Fred and George on either side of her. The steady crackle of the fire, the cozy armchairs, and the comforting smell of aged wood and dusty curtains—all of it was grounding, filling her with a sense of belonging she hadn't realized she'd been missing. Here, everything felt familiar and safe, even if the path forward was still murky.

Fred leaned back in his chair, giving George a smirk. "Feels like the old days, doesn't it? Us, back here... like we're seventeen again."

George chuckled, stretching his legs out. "Feels good to sit somewhere that actually belongs to us. Nice to know we haven't forgotten all the important places." He winked at Erin. "And some things haven't changed—still got all the best seats."

Erin grinned, feeling a warmth spreading through her. "I never thought I'd actually get to see this place. It's like... like we're piecing together everything we lost."

But just as she was beginning to let her guard down, the sound of hurried footsteps reached them from outside the portrait hole. Erin's head snapped toward the door, her heart pounding with sudden alarm. The three of them exchanged wary glances as the steps grew closer, and then, before they could move, the portrait swung open, revealing a figure who was the last person Erin expected to see.

"Paisley?!" she gasped, half-rising from her seat.

There, standing in the doorway, was her cousin, looking anything but the casual, easygoing friend Erin had always known. She wore dark robes that somehow seemed both practical and intimidating, her expression steady and watchful, her wand gripped loosely but confidently in her right hand. The usual warmth in her eyes was gone, replaced with an intensity Erin had never seen before.

"Erin," Paisley said, her voice calm but edged with something Erin couldn't quite place. "Fred. George. Good to see you all... back where you belong."

Fred and George froze, their expressions turning wary as they looked from Erin to Paisley, clearly as taken aback as she was.

"Wait—" Erin's voice was thick with confusion as she struggled to process the sight before her. "Paisley, what... what are you doing here? How did you even get in?"

Paisley's gaze softened slightly, but there was still an edge of professionalism, almost detachment, in her expression. "I know this is confusing," she said, her tone gentle. "I knew you'd remember eventually, but it happened sooner than we anticipated. And that means I had to step in sooner, too."

Erin shook her head, completely lost. "What are you talking about?"

Fred and George exchanged glances, then George leaned forward, eyeing Paisley with suspicion. "I thought you were Erin's Muggle cousin," he said slowly. "One who didn't know about any of this."

Paisley's lips quirked into a small, humorless smile. "I'm sorry I had to mislead you," she said, looking at Erin with an expression that was almost apologetic. "But I'm not exactly the person you think I am. I'm an Auror."

The weight of her words hit Erin like a stone. "An Auror?" she echoed, feeling as though the floor had shifted beneath her.

Paisley nodded, stepping into the room and closing the portrait hole behind her. "The Ministry needed someone to keep an eye on you all, to make sure that—if and when your memories started returning—you'd be safe. My assignment was to watch over you in the Muggle world, posing as your cousin."

Fred's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger flashing across his face. "So this whole time, you were... what? Watching us? Reporting back to the Ministry?"

Paisley hesitated, a flicker of regret passing over her face. "It wasn't exactly like that. I was there to protect you. And believe me, I wanted to tell you the truth—especially you, Erin. But it wasn't my decision to make."