Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Shadows of the Past

Fred Weasley woke up the next morning with a dull discomfort in his eyes. His sleep had been disturbed, and the weight of the events from the previous day still lingered in his mind. He had cried himself to sleep, something he hadn't done in years, and the physical evidence of his sorrow showed on his face. His eyes felt heavy, and the puffiness beneath them seemed almost permanent, though it had only been a few hours since he had cried. It was Monday—an aftermath that felt like a slow, drawn-out hangover. The day after seeing Adhara, the day after everything that had been left unsaid for so long came rushing back.

Fred didn't have to go to the joke shop today. George and Vera were handling the shop. But Fred still found himself wanting to go, needing to be in the familiar chaos of the store to try and center himself, or maybe just to avoid being alone with his thoughts.

He locked the door to the house, pausing as he looked back at it. There was something final about that moment, something that made him uncertain if he'd ever return to the house. It was his dream—the house he had built—but it now felt empty, a monument to things that could never be.

He stepped away, making his way to Diagon Alley. The walk was quiet, his thoughts swirling as he reached his apartment. He took a quick shower, threw on some clothes, and then made his way to the joke shop, even though it was still early, and the shop wasn't open yet. When he arrived, George and Vera were already there, preparing for the day.

Fred entered the shop with a heavy heart, the familiar smells of magical products filling his senses. The atmosphere was comforting, but it couldn't entirely distract him from the storm of emotions swirling within. As he wandered through the store, his gaze instinctively landed on the wall of photos—particularly the one of himself standing solemnly in front of the house. This was the very spot where Adhara had stood yesterday, lost in thought as she studied the same photograph.

He was standing there, the house complete, but Fred's expression was far from joyful. He wasn't smiling, and his eyes were distant. The photo, though a symbol of achievement, reminded him of how empty that achievement had felt without the person he wanted to share it with.

Fred continued to stare at the photo, the emotions coming to a head. Why had she come back now? After all this time, why had Adhara returned, only to leave him with more questions than answers? He didn't understand it, couldn't understand it. His thoughts were interrupted when George's voice broke through the silence.

"Oi! Freddie!" George called from across the room. His voice was playful, but Fred could hear the concern under it. George had seen Fred like this before, but this felt different.

Fred turned to look at George, managing a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "What's up?"

"What are you doing there?" George asked, walking over to Fred. He placed a hand on Fred's shoulder, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Fred didn't meet his gaze immediately. Instead, he just looked back at the photo on the wall. "Just looking."

George followed Fred's gaze, his eyes landing on the same photo. He paused for a moment, understanding hitting him. He knew this was one of those days—the kind Fred had every so often, the days when Adhara would be on his mind and his mood would turn reflective, even melancholic.

"You know, you're already dating Angelina, right?" George tried to change the subject lightly, attempting to lift Fred's spirits, but Fred didn't react immediately.

Fred finally broke his silence, his voice low. "I saw Adhara yesterday."

George's eyes widened, surprised by the revelation. "What?! Where is she? Is she here?" His curiosity was evident, but he didn't want to seem too eager to pry. Still, this news was a shock.

Fred's gaze remained fixed on the photo, his voice cold and detached. "She came here yesterday. I could tell it wasn't really her who wanted to come—she came with her friend." His tone turned sharper as he spoke, a mixture of frustration and hurt underlying the words.

"Oh," George said, processing the information. His expression softened. "How is she then? I mean... did she seem okay?"

Fred didn't answer right away, his mind drifting back to the moment he'd seen her. "You should've seen her, George," Fred finally said, his voice quieter now, almost wistful. "She was more.....beautiful than ever. It's like time hadn't changed her at all."

George noticed the faint smile tugging at Fred's lips, but it was a sad smile, the kind that came from deep emotional pain. It was clear that Fred was struggling with the overwhelming mix of feelings that seeing Adhara had brought up.

"What are you going to do now?" George asked, trying to gently steer the conversation forward. He could see that Fred was torn between the past and the present, unsure of what to do next.

Fred sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I think I need to break things off with Angelina when she gets back. It doesn't feel right to be with her. It hasn't for a while now. I'm not being fair to her, and I'm not being fair to myself, either."

George gave Fred a long, searching look. "I understand, Freddie," he said quietly, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "It's all up to you. You know what you need to do."

Before Fred could respond, a loud crash echoed through the room, snapping both brothers' attention away from their conversation. A teapot Vera had been carrying slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor with a sharp, startling noise.

Vera looked up, her eyes wide with concern. "Adhara's back?" she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly as the emotion caught in her throat. It was clear she missed Adhara, and hearing her name brought back memories of a time when things were simpler.

Fred nodded slowly, his face unreadable. "She is."

Vera's face lit up with a mixture of hope and nostalgia. "Let's invite her here," she suggested eagerly. "I've missed her."

George raised an eyebrow. "Love, you do know that Adhara didn't come to our wedding, right? She didn't exactly leave on the best terms with all of us."

"I miss her," Vera interrupted, her tone soft but firm as she caught George off guard.

George sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it, but we don't know if she's changed. It's been a long time. She left, and things were... complicated."

Vera shook her head, refusing to let George's doubts sway her. "She's a good person, George. I know Adhara. She's not someone who would just leave without a reason."

Fred listened, his mind racing with the possibility that Adhara's return might be work-related—something Draco had mentioned to him years ago. "Draco told me she still works at the Ministry, but he never specified if it was the one here in England," Fred said thoughtfully. "I even searched for her back then, but I never found her. Maybe she's been reassigned here now—it would explain why she's back."

"That makes sense," George agreed, nodding slowly. "But it doesn't change the fact that we don't know what she wants."

Vera beamed with determination. "What do you say, Fred? Let's invite her to dinner. I'll go to the Ministry tomorrow and find out where she's working. We'll get her to come."

Fred hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'm okay with it," he said, his voice quieter than before.

George raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about this? I mean... after everything?"

"I'm sure," Fred said firmly, cutting George off before he could say more. He wasn't entirely sure about the decision, but he felt like it was the right thing to do—maybe it was time to face the past, to have some closure.

For the first time in a long while, Fred felt like he was taking control of his future, even if that meant confronting the past he had tried so hard to forget.