Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 108

Chapter 108: The Bet

The crisp autumn air at Hogwarts carried a quiet magic that filled every corner of the castle, and today, Fred and Adhara found themselves wandering its hallowed halls with a sense of nostalgic wonder. They had arranged to spend the day at Hogwarts—an unexpected detour from the chaos of their recent struggles—a day meant for healing and remembrance. As they strolled past ancient portraits and through echoing corridors, the familiar atmosphere of the school softened the scars of the past.

"I still can't believe we're back here," Adhara said softly, her eyes tracing the intricate carvings on a stone wall. "Hogwarts always felt like home... even in the midst of everything."

Fred smiled warmly as he squeezed her hand. "Yeah, it does. It's like no matter what happens, this place reminds you of simpler times." He paused, his gaze turning playful. "You know, today reminds me of our first date."

Adhara's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Our first date?" she echoed, a playful smile tugging at her lips as memories sparked.

Fred laughed quietly. "Yes, Addy. You remember that ridiculous bet?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes serious.

Adhara laughed, her cheeks flushing. "I remember that," she said, her eyes glistening with recollection. "Draco's annoyed look when he lost, and you—so overjoyed at the thought of it. I never imagined that a silly bet would end up meaning so much."

Fred nodded, his expression softening as he recalled that long-ago moment. "I always knew there was something special between us, Addy. Even if it started as a bet, it became something far more important."

Their conversation drifted as they wandered the castle grounds, eventually leading them to the edge of Hogwarts where the Black Lake stretched out in serene darkness. The lake, with its mirror-like surface reflecting the twilight sky, held countless memories for them—a place of youthful dares, whispered promises, and the first spark of rebellious love.

They settled on a grassy bank by the water, the gentle lapping of the waves mingling with the soft rustle of autumn leaves.

Fred's gaze grew tender as he reached into his pocket. "Addy," he began, his voice trembling with emotion, "there's something I need to ask you." He paused, letting the silence hang as the lake's surface rippled gently in the breeze. "You really remembered my bet with Draco, don't you? The one where he lost, and you had to go on a date with me?"

Adhara's eyes sparkled with memories. "I do," she replied, laughing softly. "I never imagined that bet would be the beginning of everything."

Fred's expression grew serious. "That bet taught me that sometimes, the smallest challenges reveal the biggest truths. I realized that I could never imagine a future without you, Addy. Every moment since that day, every trial we've faced... it's only confirmed what I've always known: that my heart belongs to you."

He dropped to one knee on the damp grass, the fading light painting the scene in hues of gold and rose. Fred's eyes shone with unshed tears and fierce determination. "Addy, you stole my heart. I've fought for every moment with you, and I promise to keep fighting as long as I live. Will you marry me? Will you choose to share your life with me—every challenge, every joy, every step along our journey?"

For a long, suspended moment, the world seemed to pause. The gentle lapping of the water, the cool breeze, and the distant murmur of the castle all faded into silence as Adhara stared at Fred, her eyes wide with a rush of emotion. Her mind raced back to the days when fear and duty had bound her, when she had hidden her true self away in letters sent to George. Now, faced with the raw truth of Fred's proposal by the very lake that had witnessed the start of their daring love, she felt an overwhelming surge of liberation and hope.

Tears welled in her eyes as she slowly nodded, unable to speak for a moment, Fred murmured, "Addy, please... say you'll be mine."

Adhara's voice broke through the quiet, trembling with joy and certainty. "Yes, Fred. Yes, I will marry you."

Fred's smile radiated pure relief as he carefully slipped a delicate ring—a simple band enchanted with quiet magic—onto her finger. He stood, drawing her into a warm embrace that spoke of promises and new beginnings. They kissed softly, sealing their commitment under the watchful gaze of the Black Lake, whose dark waters now shimmered with the reflections of their love.

The memory of that long-forgotten bet, once a playful challenge, had blossomed into a sacred vow—one that transcended the trivial and became the foundation of a future built on their own terms. As they remained there, wrapped in each other's arms, the castle in the distance and the gentle hum of the lake merging with the sounds of their beating hearts, Fred whispered, "Addy, our journey is just beginning. I promise you that I'll protect our love and our future, no matter what comes our way."

The ring Fred gave her was the very same one he had bought with trembling anticipation years ago—a ring meant to be a promise of forever. In a cruel twist of fate, when the house burned down, that ring emerged from the flames unscathed, as if destiny itself had preserved it to bear witness to their love. It stood as a silent testament to a bond that no fire could consume.

Fred had long planned this day. He wanted to visit Hogwarts with Adhara not just for nostalgia's sake, but to return to a place imbued with magic and memories. Their first date had been at the Black Lake—a cool, reflective sanctuary where youthful laughter and bold dares had intertwined. That lake, with its glassy surface and quiet mystery, had become their cherished haunt, a place where the world seemed to pause and allow them a glimpse of what true freedom felt like.

Determined and hopeful, Fred chose the Black Lake as the setting for his proposal—a deliberate pilgrimage back to the moment when everything had begun. It was there, under the soft glow of twilight and the gentle murmur of lapping water, that he would ask Adhara to marry him. In that familiar, magical place, every whispered memory and every shared smile would culminate in the promise of a future written entirely by their own hearts.