Make Me Fall

33. Safehouse

As soon as I step outside I regret my decision. I want to go back and make everything better, but something in me makes me walk down the steps and down the path. As soon as I step outside the gate Fred is by my side. He pulls me into a hug.

"Please get me out of here," I whisper. Obligingly, he disapparates. We appear outside a building I assume is his parents' house and he leads me inside, one arm around my shoulders. The kitchen is dark, but he lights it with a flick of his wand as I sink into a kitchen chair.

"Can I get you anything?" he asks, "tea, coffee, toast?"

I shake my head. He squats down beside me and wipes a tear off my cheek.

"You're going to be okay," he says, "come on, you can bunk in Percy's old room."

***

I wake the next morning in an unfamiliar room and have to force myself not to panic until I remember where I am. The sun is quite high in the sky, I must've slept late. I get up and change into clean clothes. I hesitate at the door. I wish I could find Fred or George so I don't run into anyone else by myself, but I have no idea if they're even here. They might be in at the shop, although I hope not, I don't think it's safe. I take a deep breath and ease the door open. I step out onto a landing with a staircase going up and one going down and a door opposite me. I start heading downwards, trying to remember what happened last night. I remember up until Fred took me upstairs, and then I must've conked out. I get all the way to the bottom of the stairs without seeing anyone. I can hear someone moving around in the kitchen and hesitate, considering running back upstairs and hiding in my room until Fred or George comes to get me. I realise, however, that I can't remember where my room is, so I hesitantly knock on the kitchen door frame.

A short, plump woman who obviously gave the Weasley's her hair colour appears from the pantry and smiles.

"Autumn, dear, did you sleep well?" she asks. I nod, feeling slightly struck. Mrs Weasley has the bird hair pin I wore at my wedding pinned on her apron. I wore that one month ago.

Despite myself, I feel tears well in my eyes. Mrs Weasley doesn't hesitate, she pulls me into a hug and strokes my hair.

"There, there," she sooths, "it's alright right."

I sob onto her shoulder, vaguely realising I haven't been held like this, like a daughter by a mother, for as long as I can remember. My mother used to hug me when I was little, but not like this, not like she'd never let me go.

"Is she okay?"

I hear Fred or George's voice, but I don't want Mrs Weasley to let go of me. I would be quite happy if she adopted me. Although, I suppose I'm a bit old to be adopted. I wish Dumbledore had given me to her instead of my parents, my life would have been so different if he had. Plus, I would've fit right in with my hair, although the Weasleys have brown or hazel eyes, and mine are blue.

"There now," Mrs Weasley says when I've stopped crying, "sit down and let me get you a cup of tea." I sit down, wiping my eyes on my sleeves. George sits beside me and offers me his handkerchief. I take it and mop up my eyes.

"Is Fred at the shop?" I ask George. He shakes his head.

"We've shut it down," he says, "just like you told us to."

I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. He rests his head on top of mine. Mrs Weasley puts two cups of tea in front of us. I hear the kitchen door open.

"The Ministry is in up roar," I don't recognise the voice, but guess that it's Mr Weasley.

"What's happened?" Mrs Weasley asks.