Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 96

Chapter 96: The Plan

Fred paced back and forth in the dim light of the Burrow's living room, the air thick with determination. The letters were still scattered across the table, their words etched in his mind like a relentless tide that wouldn't let him forget. Every letter, every sentence Adhara had written, made his heart ache more. The woman he had loved with all his being had never stopped loving him. She had never stopped fighting, even if she thought she was doing it for the right reasons. But now? Now, it was his turn to fight.

The clock on the wall ticked louder, mocking him with every passing second. He had been pacing for hours, barely noticing the slow passage of time. His thoughts were clear now, sharper than ever. There was no turning back. He couldn't stand idly by and watch Adhara marry Max Laurent, not when he knew the truth. Not when he knew she was still fighting for him in her own way, buried beneath her obligations.

Fred's hands clenched into fists. He could feel his heart pounding as the idea began to take shape, growing clearer with each step he took. It wasn't just about a wedding—it wasn't about a piece of paper or a family name. It was about love. Their love. And he would be damned if he let her walk down the aisle to marry someone else when she had always belonged to him.

He needed to act. But he couldn't do it alone.

"George!" Fred called, his voice louder than it had been all evening. George, who had been tinkering with a few gadgets at the far end of the room, looked up at the sound of Fred's voice, his eyebrows raised in question.

"What's up, Fred? You've been pacing like a madman for hours. What's going on?"

Fred didn't answer immediately. Instead, he grabbed a nearby chair, pulling it out with a harsh scrape as he sat down, his eyes focused on his brother.

"I need your help," Fred said finally, his voice low but firm.

George raised an eyebrow. "With what? Another invention to blow something up?"

Fred shook his head, his jaw clenched. "This is bigger than that. I'm going to steal Adhara away from her wedding."

George stared at him, the silence in the room almost suffocating. For a long moment, Fred thought his brother would laugh, maybe mock him for his ridiculousness. But instead, George slowly stood up, walking over to Fred and sitting beside him.

"You're serious," George said quietly, his voice soft but full of understanding. "You really think this is the right thing to do?"

Fred's gaze was fierce, unwavering. "I don't care if it's right. I'm not going to let her marry him, not when I know how she feels, not when I know she still loves me. She deserves more than this, George. She deserves to be happy. And if it means I have to ruin the Malfoy reputation or make a fool of myself—so be it."

George's eyes softened, a rare expression of concern flickering across his face. "Fred, I get it. You're hurting. But you have to ask yourself—what happens after you get her? Do you really think you can fix this? She's already made a choice, and you're not the one she's marrying. Are you sure it's worth all this?"

Fred didn't hesitate. "I'm sure. I've waited too long. I've let her go once, and I won't do it again. I'm not giving up on her."

George studied his brother for a moment longer before sighing, a resigned smile pulling at his lips. "Alright, then. If you're serious about this, you're going to need a plan."

Fred nodded, his mind already racing through the possibilities. "I've got a few ideas. I know where the wedding is, and I know when it's happening. We'll need a distraction, something to cause enough chaos for me to slip in and get her before she says 'I do.'"

George grinned, the familiar spark of mischief returning to his eyes. "Now that's more like it. We'll need a diversion—something big enough to throw the Malfoys off their game. And you're gonna need backup. This isn't something you can do on your own."

Fred didn't flinch. He knew that. He would need every ounce of help he could get to pull this off.

"We'll need Lee Jordan for the diversion," Fred said, his mind already spinning with ideas. "He's always good at creating chaos, and if anyone can distract the Malfoys for long enough, it's him. Maybe he can get the guests to focus on something else, while I sneak in."

George nodded, already knowing what to do. "And we'll need to keep the Weasley family out of it. They can't know what you're planning, or they'll try to stop you. This has to be done quietly, Fred. You've got to make sure she doesn't feel pressured or cornered, or it'll be a disaster for both of you."

Fred's expression grew more serious, the weight of the task ahead of him settling heavily on his shoulders. "I know. I'll have to convince her, make sure she knows this is what she wants, too. But I can't let her go through with it. I've waited too long."

George clapped him on the back. "Alright, mate. Let's do this. But you better be sure you're ready for whatever comes next. If you pull this off, it's going to change everything."

Fred met his brother's gaze, his heart full of conviction. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

As they began to plan the details of the heist—stealthily planning to break into a wedding full of Malfoys and pure-blood elites—Fred's heart burned with purpose. He didn't care what it took. He didn't care how difficult it would be. If this was his last chance to get Adhara back, he would take it, no matter the cost.

The clock on the wall ticked again, but Fred no longer heard it. All he could hear was the beating of his own heart, the rush of adrenaline pumping through his veins. He was going to do this.

He was going to fight for her.