The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

Fred's Ending: Acceptance

Though this is one of Fred's endings, its not quite his ending. You'll see what I mean -C.S

**Flashback** (After the war)

I sat alone in my room at Hogwarts. People were outside the door knocking. But no matter how hard they did, I wouldn't let them in. No, not emotionally, or physically. They wouldn't be able to understand how I felt. Not now, and maybe, not ever. Fred couldn't be dead. He couldn't be. I've decided, he wasn't dead. He was just somewhere else that I couldn't find him. But the ache in my heart told me otherwise. My stomach growled. I was in no mood to be hungry. I glanced outside. It was a sunny day. But no matter how fair the weather was, it would always seem stormy to me. I heard a faint knock on the door. "Scarlet. You need to eat. It's been weeks". Said Neville. I didn't answer. "I'll leave the tray at the door. Just promise me that you'll eat". I could hear his footsteps slowly get softer. I combed my hands through my hair. I had no longer kept it up as I usually did. I had no purpose since I no longer had my lace ribbon. Before Fred had been taken away, I had been able to tie my ribbon around his wrist. My hair had grown rather long. It was now down to my waist. I stood, and looked at myself in the mirror. my collarbone was now visible, and my spine could be easily be felt when I touched my back. My arms had hurt when I lifted them. My arms were scarred with scrapes and cuts. Across the room, lay a pocket knife. Freshly cleaned. These days had caused me to grown weak. Something as easy as walking, had become a challenge to me. I opened the door. Neville was sitting there, fast asleep. A book about herbology opened on his leg. I grabbed the tray and pulled it into the room. It was a small bowl of fruit and a couple pieces of toast. I nibbled a bite of the toast. I had instantly felt unwell after a few bites. I stopped my eating and placed the tray back outside.

I also placed the blanket from on my bed on Neville, who was still fast asleep. I changed into my robes. My cardigan and my skirt were bigger than I remembered. I opened the door and crept by Neville, who was still asleep. But my wobbly legs gave in, and I found myself falling down the stairs. It was Harry, who had caught me. "Don't worry. I've got you. Always". "Thanks". "We were so worried about you. Please, never do that again". With his aid, I made it to the common room. I sat down on the couch, with Harry next to me. We joined George, Neville, Ron, Ginny, and Hermoine, who were seated in various places within the common room. There were murmurs when we had entered the room. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again". I had said. "Promise?" Asked Harry, his eyebrows raised. "I promise". I had said. He wrapped his pinky around mine and shook it. While I sat there, they created a schedule for who would watch over me. I insisted that I didn't need anyone's help, but the opinion of the other's tell me otherwise.

**Present Day**

The sun began to set. The grass tickled my cheek. I went back inside the small, but cozy house. 3:30, the clock had said. I began unpacking the Christmas boxes. I had set up ornaments on the tree. Each one with care. Most of them were made by the children and were made of nothing more than pipe cleaners and plastic. There were garlands strung with nuts hanging across the ceiling.This reminded me of another Christmas I had.

**Flashback** (Christmas Eve)

I'd gotten better over the past couple of weeks with the help of Harry. I felt that I'd become somewhat closer to him, since he always pushed me around with him. But even though I'd gotten better, I wasn't completely the same mentally, emotionally, or physically. I still had problems walking down the stairs without a rail. I sat in one of the chairs in the common room, stringing popped corn onto a piece of string. Ron was the one who was supposed to watching me. I had been stringing the garland for an hour and didn't seem to be making the slightest bit of progress. "Ron, do you have any idea why-" I looked over at Ron. To my dismay, he was munching on the string that I had ever so carefully stabbed string through. "Ron!" "What? I was hungry". He said. After he had stopped eating the garland, I had made a significant amount of progress in just a matter of minutes. I hung the garland around the room while Harry and George came in carrying a five foot Christmas tree.