Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley

[chapter 116]

Early July

Nights were the only time she allowed herself to think about him.

Not during the day. Not in the Ministry, not under her father's watch, not while Snape was in her mind. It was too dangerous. One wrong slip, one memory too close to the surface, and everything could unravel.

So she buried it.

Locked it away.

Controlled.

But at night, when the manor finally fell quiet, she let it surface.

The train.

The way Fred Weasley had taken her hand without asking, pulling her down the corridor like it was the most natural thing in the world. The urgency in it hadn't been lost on her. Neither had the fear.

You have to promise me.

Her fingers curled slightly into the sheets.

He had been so serious. So unlike himself.

If things go south, you get out of there.

She had argued. Of course she had. But he hadn't let it go.

Say it.

I promise.

The words echoed now, quieter, heavier.

And then the kiss.

Not soft. Not careful. Desperate. Like he was trying to hold onto something already slipping through his fingers.

Like he knew.

Her breath hitched slightly against the pillow.

He had started to say something after.

"I-"

She hadn't let him.

Save it for September.

A faint smile ghosted across her face in the dark.

So I have something to look forward to.

Something normal.

Something that wasn't war or secrets or survival.

She held onto that for a moment longer.

Then, slowly, she pushed it away again.

Morning always came.

And she couldn't afford to carry him into it.

The first letter was the hardest.

Calli sat at her desk, quill hovering over parchment for far too long.

Fred,

You would hate it here

She stopped.

Crossed it out.

Tried again.

Fred,

I miss

No.

The words felt dangerous.

Too real.

Too easy to use against her if they were ever found.

Her jaw tightened.

She stared at the page for a long moment then willed for it to burn.

The parchment caught fire instantly, curling in on itself until nothing remained but ash.