Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley

[chapter 186]

The following evening found the castle briefly at peace.

Briefly.

Fred and Calli had escaped to one of the quieter windows overlooking the snow-covered grounds while everyone else drifted towards dinner.

Neither of them seemed particularly hungry.

Calli leaned against the stone windowsill.

Fred stood beside her, watching the last orange streaks of sunset disappear behind the Forbidden Forest.

For several comfortable minutes neither spoke.

Calli was absentmindedly rubbing the back of her right hand.

It still itched.

Fred noticed.

Without saying anything, he reached over and gently caught her wrist.

Calli looked at him.

He turned her hand over carefully.

The angry red words were beginning to fade.

Only slightly.

"They're healing." He murmured.

"Thanks to Healer Stella."

His thumb traced lightly around the edge of the scar without touching the broken skin.

"It still hurts?"

"Only when I exist."

Fred snorted quietly.

"Good."

She looked at him with a frown.

"I mean..."

He held up his own hand.

The same words.

The same angry cuts.

"Now we're matching."

Calli couldn't help smiling.

"I don't think this was the couple activity I had in mind."

"No?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of cute dates."

"Fair."

Fred rested his forearm against the stone beside hers.

Their scarred hands lay next to each other on the windowsill.

Almost identical.

He looked down at them.

"You know..."

"What?"

"I hate these."

"So do I."

"I hate why we've got them."

Calli nodded.

"But..." He hesitated. "I'm oddly glad yours isn't the only one anymore."

She frowned.

"That came out wrong."

"I know what you meant."

His shoulders relaxed.

"I couldn't stand the thought of you carrying it on your own."

Calli looked down at their hands again.

Funny.

Fred's because he'd refused to obey.

Hers because she'd laughed.