Forever and always, until the end (Fred Weasley&Anertha Diggory) WattyAwards2013

Grief

Written 24/9/2013

{Grief}

The night was cold, dark and eerily quiet. Hogwarts was in mourning. Hours before they had been witness to the death of Cedric Diggory. Students and staff alike were quiet with shock. The quietness gave the school a ghostly feel. Even the whomping willow looked limp and insignificant. Anertha sat alone watching the tree twitched in the light breeze. She was completely wrapped in grief, she didn't even remember leaving the warmth of the common room for this cold surrounding. She ached, her body was tired and her eyes stung. She had no tears left to cry, so she just sat there staring into nothing. Where was he now? Was he grieving too because he had left them too soon? She didn't know, but she knew wherever he was, he wasn't here.

Fred searched the castle. He couldn't find her. One minute she was sat next to him, the next, gone. He didn't see her move, didn't hear her footsteps. It was late, many students were in bed. 'Mr Weasley, back to your common room.' Mcgonagoll gave him a stern look when he ran into her in a corridor. 'No, professor you don't understand....I'm looking for Anertha.' He didn't want to get her in trouble for being out of the common room so late but he had no choice, she needed to be found. Professor Mcgonagoll's face softened. 'Miss Diggory shouldn't be out of the common room either but...' She paused with a sad expression. 'Find her Mr Weasley.' She walked away swiftly afterwards. Fred nodded briefly before racing forwards again. Once certain that she wasn't in the castle he stepped outside and searched the grounds. He found her sitting alone by the whomping willow. His heart dropped, he froze. She looked so broken. Hunched over, shaking. He approached slowly as not to spook her. He caught a glimpse of her face, it was pale and her eyes were dark around the edges. 'Annie?' He called quietly as he stopped beside her.

She barely moved. She heard him call her name but she wouldn't look at him. She had no energy to move. She felt him sit beside her. Despite the pain she was feeling at the loss of her brother, Fred just being there made her feel like she had a light. He had told her earlier that evening that he loved her for the first time and despite his timing, it helped her a little. She found the energy to move closer and lean against him. Feeling his warmth against her now cold skin. He wrapped an arm around her, her shaking subsided. He didn't know what to say to her. What do you say to someone who had lost a brother let alone a twin? Fred removed his cardigan and put it around her, she must have been out here a while, her skin was ice cold. 'I don't need that Fred.' She whispered. He ignored her and held her once more. 'Are you not cold now?' She looked up at him. He shook his head. 'No, you're all the warmth I need.' He held her tighter. She buried herself into him and cried fresh tears. 'Shhhhh.' He comforted her and she shook with heavy breaths. He wanted to take her pain away, he hated this. Anertha's head shot up suddenly, it made Fred jump. She stood hastily, giving Fred back his cardigan. 'Anertha?' He stood up after her rather confused. 'Professor Dumbledore. He told me earlier, that I could....see what happened for myself.' She raced past Fred and back towards the castle. Fred remembering what Harry mentioned about a pensieve, suddenly realised what she was going to do and went after her. 'Anertha! You don't know what your doing.' He called after her worried. She stopped. 'I need support Fred. Are you going to be there for me or not?' Fred nodded. 'Yes.' He said in defeat as he walked with her into the castle. He had to get her to change her mind somehow.