One And Only

Chapter One | Avalon Beach

O N E

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor.

Reaching for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore.

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?

For me it happens all the time.

Fred glanced out of the window, watching the scenery as it flashed by, a mix of trees and dust really. A haze of yellows and greens. Never ending, a blur of landscape. Not the most exciting, no doubt, but it wouldn’t be so bad. Living in a midst of chaos, never really going anywhere... Wasn’t that really his life now? No, that was his old life. This was his new life.

Jerking himself out of the trance he was in, Fred stopped musing on his own thoughts and began to wonder about the journey ahead of him. He would need to get off the bus at some point, before taking a ten minute walk along a country path to get to his final destination. He had already taken a 24 hour flight to Adelaide, and another flight to reach Sydney Airport, but he was almost at Avalon Beach, the place where he would be working for the entire summer.

He was looking forward to it, of course, but slightly apprehensive, as well. He’d never been to Australia before, as George wasn’t a big fan of the Aussies, and his idea of a holiday was going round to the Burrow and scaring Grandma Molly to death. Angelina was more adventurous, but she prefered to stay in Europe.

“All heading towards Avalon, the next stop is the one.” The driver seemed to look exactly at Fred when he said this, meeting his eyes in the mirror.

Fred gave a nod of thanks, before grabbing his back from the luggage holder above him. His suitcase had already been delivered, so he wouldn’t have to worry about that. All he needed to carry was a rucksack - good thing too, as he wasn’t sure that lugging a suitcase along with him when he was tired and hot wouldn’t be the best thing.

In the distance, he could see a weathered wood sign, with the fading words Avalon Beach - 1 km. The bus approached slowly, before grinding to a halt at the sign. Fred slung his bag over his shoulder, gave a quick wave to the driver, and set off along the well-worn path.

The walk gave him a chance to think, and the silence was actually welcoming. Fred found himself relaxing, the heat not bothering him and the view of the sea lapping against a nearby beach comforting. It reminded him of Shell Cottage, Dominique’s home, where they would often go to relax. Old memories floated up to the surface, and he spent the rest of the journey with a smile on his face, chuckling a little at the times they had. Like when James broke the professor’s nose... Or when Dominique got so angry about being called weak that she slapped the boy so hard he was in the hospital wing for two days... Or when Frank Longbottom joined them, and they became the second Marauders...

The memories would have been a fine place to stay, but as Fred reached the end of the path, he tripped over a tiny dog, and hit his head.

“Are you alright?” A concerned tone reached him, and Fred sat up, rubbing the back of his head and looking for the source of the voice.

“I think so.” He called, glancing from side to side before noticing the blonde girl running towards him, a lead in her hand.

“I’m so sorry; I’d just let Bilbo off the lead to run around and burn off some energy, while I checked on the cafe, and I turned back around and he was all the way over here!” The girl told him, securing the lead back onto Bilbo’s collar.

“Oh, well, no harm done. One seriously hyper dog you’ve got there.” Fred told her, a cheerful smile still on his face. “I’m Fred Weasley. You are?”