Enchanted [Fred Weasley]

Sixty-Seven

Aspen sighed and sat up. The wind howled outside and Aspen found herself unable to sleep. Aspen stood up and slowly opened her door. She headed quietly towards the kitchen, but stopped when she heard her friends name.

"It's Grace's aunt." Aspen's mother said.

"So, what happened to her?" Her father asked.

"Well, Ben had to tell Grace that Emily was ill and she is. Except not as sick as Ben told Grace."

"Then why did Ben say she was that sick?" Finn asked. Aspen's eyebrow raised as she listened.

"Emily worked for the Ministry. When she moved she still continued some work as an Unspeakable. She went missing in June and hasn't been found. What makes it strange is she went missing right after the whole Death Eater fiasco at Hogwarts."

"I don't understand. Ben told Grace Emily would die."

"She might if she's found alive. Like I said Finn, she's ill. It's presenting to be the same illness poor Anna fell to."

"But they caught Anna's sickness when she was too far gone to treat." Elizabeth chucked.

"Because Anna was too stubborn to go see a healer."

"Right, but if they caught Emily's she might survive, right?"

"Hopefully."

"I still don't get why Ben would tell Grace Emily is going to die!" Finn cried.

"Because of a letter they found. I have no idea what was on it, but it must've had something that made Ben hand Emily's death sentence out to Grace."

Aspen, no longer thirsty, slowly retreated back to her room. The details she just heard circling around her head. Aspen longed to tell Grace, but she knew she couldn't.

Aspen took a deep breath and settled back in bed. Her brain buzzed with scenarios of what could happen.

"This better turn out well." Aspen mumbled. She turned on her side and forced the thoughts to go silent.

• • •

Grace sat on a couch and stared at her necklace. In years she had never taken it off. It was always around her neck. Now she couldn't wear it without feeling like she was wearing a giant weight.

The fire crackled in front of her as a couple tears made their way down Grace's face. Emily had become a second mother to Grace, and now she was leaving her too.

"Hey, are you alright?" Fred asked, sitting next to Grace. She didn't look up or reply right away. Eventually she shook her head.

"Not really." Grace croaked as more tears fell out of her eyes. Fred's arms wrapped around Grace as he pulled her closer.

"It's alright love, it's alright." Grace's cries didn't stop. She sobbed into Fred's jumper as she tried to imagine her life without her aunt, but it didn't seem possible.

For years it was just Ben and Grace. The two of them together until Emily came in their life. Neither Ben or Grace wanted their life to return to just them two.

• • •

Ben bent down in front of Anna's grave. He sighed and pushed his glasses up. A few minutes passed before he spoke.

"They're looking for her. I'm sure Emily is fine. They also caught her illness early enough where it's treatable. If they can find her Emily should be back to normal. I'm also pretty sure our daughter has a new boyfriend. She won't admit it, but I'm almost sure it's one of the Weasley boys. Most likely Fred I assume. He's much better than Lewis, but can you believe she's going to be in her seventh year?" Ben chuckled.

"Then she'll have a couple years of Auror training. Both her and Reese are training to become ones. Those two are going to cause mayhem at the Ministry. I should warn the Minister that Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are joining the team of Auror's. Aspen and Ashton will be there too. Doesn't surprise me they all went into jobs at the Ministry. Those four would go to hell and back with each other. I just hope Grace is doing alright."

• • •

Grace's cries went quiet after awhile, but Fred didn't move. From the slower breathing he knew Grace had fallen asleep. He wasn't far behind her.

"Look at them, isn't it cute?" Florence whispered to Sirius after the two had fallen asleep.

"Reminds me of us." Sirius whispered back. Florence grabbed a blanket and put it over the two.

"Still don't think they're a thing?" Sirius sighed and pulled five galleons out of his pocket.

"You do know that's your money too?" Sirius reminded her as they walked out of the room.

"Oh hush." Florence snapped back.

"You got it dear."