Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Secrets 

Adhara stepped into Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the bell above the door jingling softly in the quiet shop. The shelves, usually brimming with vibrant and chaotic products, had been tidied up for the evening. A small table sat in the center of the room, set with plates, cutlery, and modestly arranged dishes. The sight gave the shop an unfamiliar warmth, though it did little to settle the nervous flutter in her chest. 

Fred was already there, leaning against the counter. His expression was unreadable, but his sharp gaze followed her every move as she stepped further inside. 

"Adhara," he greeted, his voice steady but lacking its usual levity. 

"Fred," she replied softly, her throat tightening. The air between them felt heavy, as if they were both aware of the unspoken truths hanging over them. 

Before the silence could stretch too far, Vera emerged from the backroom, her face lighting up when she saw Adhara. "You're here! Good, we've just finished setting everything up." 

George appeared behind her, carrying a tray of treacle tart. "Hope you're hungry," he said, grinning. "We went all out for this one." 

Adhara forced a smile, though her eyes kept drifting to Fred. He had taken a seat at the table, his fingers drumming lightly against the edge of his plate. She couldn't tell what he was thinking, and that unsettled her. 

The four of them sat down, and the conversation started off light. George's jokes carried most of the weight, with Vera occasionally chiming in to steer things toward less ridiculous topics. Adhara tried to engage, but her mind kept wandering. She caught Fred's gaze a few times, and each time, he looked away quickly. 

Unbeknownst to anyone else, Fred was biding his time. Hidden in his pocket was a small vial of Veritaserum, and every second that passed made his heart pound harder. He had wrestled with guilt over what he was about to do, but his need for answers outweighed everything else. 

The reason Fred had agreed to Vera's suggestion of inviting Adhara to dinner wasn't simply to catch up or play the gracious host. He had his own reasons, and they were far from innocent. For three years, Fred had lived with the question of why she had left, a question that haunted him more than he cared to admit.

When the other three left the table to fetch dessert, Fred seized his moment. He slipped the vial out, carefully uncorked it, and added three drops to Adhara's glass of pumpkin juice. The liquid swirled briefly before settling, leaving no visible trace of the potion. He slid the glass back into place, his hands trembling slightly as he did so. 

Vera, George, and Adhara returned, their chatter filling the room again as they set plates of dessert on the table. Adhara picked up her glass and took a sip, oblivious to Fred's watchful eyes. 

It didn't take long for the potion to take effect. Fred noticed the subtle change in her demeanor—the way her posture softened and her gaze became unfocused. He cleared his throat, leaning forward slightly. 

"Adhara," he began, his voice quieter than usual. "Can I ask you something?" 

She looked at him, her brow furrowing slightly. "Of course," she replied, her tone unusually calm. 

Fred hesitated, his heart racing. He glanced at Vera and George, who exchanged confused looks but said nothing. Finally, he gathered his courage and asked the question that had haunted him for years. 

"Why did you leave?" 

The question hung in the air, heavy and raw. Adhara blinked, her lips parting as though she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. And then, as if compelled by an unseen force, she began to answer. 

"I left because I had to," she said, her voice quiet but steady. "It wasn't safe for me to stay." 

Fred leaned closer, his hands clenched into fists under the table. "Not safe? What do you mean?" 

Adhara's eyes grew glassy, her usual guard completely dismantled by the potion. "Your family," she began, her voice trembling. "They accepted me, but my family didn't accept you. My father—" Her breath hitched. "He threatened you, Fred. He said he'd destroy you if I stayed."

Vera gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. George sat frozen, his usual lightheartedness replaced by stunned silence. 

Fred's throat tightened. "Threatened me? How?" 

Adhara's tears spilled over, her voice breaking as she spoke. "He said he'd ruin you. That he'd destroy everything you loved. And I couldn't let that happen. So I left." 

Fred's jaw clenched, his heart aching at her words. "You didn't think I deserved to know that?" he asked, his voice low but filled with pain. 

"I thought I was protecting you," she whispered. "I thought it was the only way to keep you safe. But it killed me to leave. It still does." 

Her confession struck Fred like a blow to the chest. He had spent years trying to make sense of her sudden departure, blaming himself for not being enough. And now, hearing the truth, he felt an overwhelming mix of anger, sorrow, and longing. 

"You should've told me," he said, his voice breaking. "You should've let me fight for us." 

Adhara's tears fell faster, her face crumpling under the weight of her emotions. "I thought I was doing the right thing," she said. "But I never stopped loving you, Fred. Not for a single day." 

The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. Fred opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the potion's effects began to fade. Adhara blinked, her expression shifting as realization dawned on her. 

Her gaze darted to her glass, then back to Fred. "What did you do?" she asked, her voice quiet but laced with disbelief. 

Fred didn't respond immediately, his guilt written plainly on his face. "I had to know the truth," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Adhara's lips parted in shock, her breath hitching as she processed his words. She pushed her chair back abruptly, the sound scraping against the floor. 

"You spiked my drink," she said, her voice trembling. "You—" She stopped herself, shaking her head as tears filled her eyes again. 

"Adhara, wait," Fred pleaded, standing as she turned toward the door. 

"I can't do this," she said, her voice cracking. She didn't look back as she rushed out of the shop, the bell above the door jingling sharply in her wake. 

Fred stood frozen, his heart shattering as he watched her leave. Vera and George exchanged stunned glances, neither of them knowing what to say. 

"You've really done it this time, mate," George muttered, but Fred barely heard him. All he could do was stare at the door, the weight of his actions pressing down on him like never before.