We will meet again ~ Fred Weasley

- The Things We Keep -

"I thought the most beautiful part of the evening would be hearing that he loved me. I was wrong. It was realising how long he had."

_______________________________

By the time Katherine reached the seventh floor, her heart was beating so quickly she was convinced she could hear it echoing through the empty corridor.

The castle felt different at this hour.

Most students were already at dinner, leaving the hallways unusually quiet.

For a moment, Katherine slowed her pace.

The evening air drifting through the open windows.

Soon he would be leaving.

The thought made her chest ache.

This year had felt endless.

Painful.

Complicated.

Yet somehow this felt worse.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her sleeve.

Then she spotted something.

A single piece of parchment floating in midair.

Katherine frowned.

The note drifted lazily towards her before stopping directly in front of her face.

Written across it in familiar handwriting were four words.

Not there yet, Potter.

A smile immediately tugged at her lips.

Below the message was an arrow.

Pointing down the corridor.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

The note vanished.

Another appeared several feet ahead.

Keep going.

Despite herself, Katherine laughed.

Only Fred would turn finding him into an entire adventure.

Following the trail, she continued through the castle.

Every few corridors another note appeared.

Some were directions.

Some were not.

You look beautiful, by the way.

Katherine felt her cheeks immediately warm.

The next note appeared before she could properly recover.

Yes, I knew that would embarrass you.

"Oh, I hate you."

A passing suit of armour turned its helmet towards her.

"Unlikely."

Katherine nearly jumped.

The armour laughed.

Fred.

Obviously.

By the time she reached the next staircase she was smiling so much her face hurt.

Another note floated down from above.

That's my second favourite smile.

Her stomach flipped.

Before she could stop herself she looked around.

"Second favourite?"

The note dissolved.