Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 100

Chapter 100: No More Running

The house stood quietly under the soft glow of the moonlight, tucked away in a place where no one would find them. It was simple but warm, nestled in the countryside, far from the noise of the world they had left behind.

This was where they were meant to be.

She wandered through the space slowly, her fingers trailing over the wooden beams and the stone fireplace, feeling the warmth that lingered in the air. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting golden light against the walls. Everything about this place felt untouched, waiting for them. Waiting for her.

For them, she felt lighter than she ever had in her entire life.

She turned her head to look at Fred. He was watching her, his expression unreadable, his hand resting lightly on the table beside him. The flickering light of the fire cast soft shadows across his face, and for a moment, she simply let herself take him in.

This man—the one she had spent years loving, the one she had tried to leave behind—had come back for her. He had fought for her, stolen her from a fate that wasn't hers to live, and now, they were here. Together.

Adhara let out a quiet, breathless laugh as the realization fully hit her. "I can't believe we actually did it," she murmured.

Fred's lips curled into a small smile. "You ran first," he pointed out, his voice softer than usual. "I just made sure you got away."

She turned to face him completely, stepping closer. "You came for me," she said, her voice almost breaking.

"Of course, I did," Fred said. "I always would."

The warmth in his words made her chest ache, and she swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her hands reached for him without thinking, fingers tracing along his arm, the fabric of his shirt soft beneath her touch. She needed to feel him, to ground herself in the reality of this moment, to remind herself that this wasn't another dream she would wake up from.

Fred exhaled, like her touch steadied him just as much as it did her. He brought one hand up, fingers brushing against her cheek. "You're really here," he murmured, almost to himself.

She nodded. "And I'm not leaving."

The words were a promise.

Fred's gaze softened, something deep and unspoken passing between them. Then, without thinking, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand. A flick of his wrist, and the air shifted.

Soft music filled the space between them.

Adhara blinked in surprise as the gentle melody wrapped around them, slow and soothing, humming like a whispered secret. She recognized it instantly—it was the same song they had danced to once before, long ago, back when things were simpler, when love had felt like a promise without consequence.

Fred held out a hand. "Dance with me."

Adhara's breath hitched.

It was such a simple request, yet it nearly broke her. She had spent so long pretending she could live without this, without him. But she had been wrong. Merlin, she had been so wrong.

Wordlessly, she placed her hand in his.

Fred pulled her close, one arm wrapping around her waist as he guided her into the slow rhythm of the music. She let herself melt into him, her head resting against his shoulder, their movements swaying in time with the melody.

They danced in silence, the warmth of his body pressed against hers, the steady rise and fall of his breathing grounding her.

It was slow. It was gentle. It was everything.

Adhara closed her eyes, letting the moment wash over her.

"I thought I lost you," Fred whispered against her hair, his voice breaking.

Her fingers tightened around his. "You never did," she whispered back.

Fred let out a shaky breath, his grip on her tightening as if he was afraid she would disappear if he let go.

Adhara pulled back just enough to look at him, her eyes searching his. And that was when she saw it—the emotion in his gaze, raw and unguarded.

He loved her.

And she loved him.

She had tried to fight it, to deny it, to push it away for the sake of everyone else. But not anymore.

Tears burned at the corners of her eyes.

"Fred," she whispered.

His name was a prayer on her lips, a confession, a plea.

Fred reached up, cupping her face in his hands. "I love you," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I've always loved you."

A tear slipped down her cheek, and Fred wiped it away with his thumb, his touch impossibly gentle.

"I love you," she choked out. "I never stopped."

Fred let out a quiet, shaky laugh, pressing his forehead against hers. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

Adhara nodded. "Yes."

And then he kissed her.

It wasn't rushed or desperate. It was slow, deep, filled with every unsaid word, every promise they had never been able to make before. It was the kind of kiss that stitched broken pieces back together, that rewrote the past into something softer.

When they finally pulled apart, Adhara exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to his chest. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm.

Fred brought their hands together, intertwining their fingers.

"No more running," he murmured.

Adhara smiled, nodding. "No more running."