Muggle | 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦

Chapter 147

Upon hearing the news of Dumbledore's death, many families came for their children the following morning, taking them away with themselves. But the rest of us stayed for Dumbledore's funeral to pay our final respects.

Everyone had showed up; old and young, shabby or smart. From the Merpeople to Centaurs and ghosts. Ministry officials had showed up, most of them only pretending to be at loss.

I met up with Fred and George and sat somewhere in the middle with them, as everyone was gathering around near the Black Lake, where the funeral was being held with hundreds of seats being set.

I saw many familiar faces that I was happy to see again; Tonks had showed up with her hair a pretty color of pink, hand in hand with Lupin that made me smile broadly.

But next to the new couple, I saw that Sirius was sitting with the same woman he had kissed earlier in the hospital wing.

They sat there, waiting for the funeral to begin as she had placed her head on his shoulder. Every once in a while Sirius would whisper something comfortingly in her ear, kissing her head softly.

It never seemed the right time to ask Sirius about her. First it was Dumbledore's death, and now the funeral. But he always seemed too occupied with her that I didn't want to interrupt their peace.

So I leaned toward Fred, pointing at her. "Who's that?" I whispered.

Fred grinned down at me. "Why do you ask? Feeling protective toward your uncle, are you?"

"N-no," I said defensively, folding my arms. "I'm just curious." Fred gave me another knowing look. "Listen, I've never heard of her before, which is kinda a rare thing. Have they recently gone out, after the Ministry incident last year?"

"Dunno." Fred shrugged. "I've only seen her a few times before since last year. She's part of the Order. She usually never shows up, though. Not even during important meetings. No idea where she's been."

"She looks familiar," I said, watching them from afar. "I feel like I've seen a picture of her before or something..."

"You talking about Sirius's girlfriend?" George asked from beside Fred. "Yeah, we've only seen her once or twice in the last year after we left school and joined the Order."

"You don't even know her name?" I questioned, raising a brow at them.

"Nah." George shook his head with a sigh, his eyes traveling toward the woman. "She's really pretty though, isn't she? Dunno what she even sees in Sirius." He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Fred grinned, leaning toward me and whispering, "George fancies her."

"I do not!" George retorted, glaring at us as we chuckled.

"Well, you hold on in there, Georgie," I said mockingly, "I'm sure she'd leave Sirius for a boy fifteen years younger than her."

"Why wouldn't she?" George said with a smug face. "I'm awesome."

"He's right, you know," said Fred. "I think George is extremely handsome."

I gave him a look. "Did you just compliment yourself?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

***

After the funeral was over, everyone got to their feet to leave, the Merpeople's song faded to our ears slowly as they sank back into the water and the centaurs stepped back into the forest.

"So when will you be leaving?" Fred asked as we were walking by the lake, our hands laced together.

"Well, we'll have to board the Hogwarts Express in an hour," I said with a sigh. "Wish I could Apparate. Would've been much easier."

"Oh, yeah... but you'll be turning seventeen in a few weeks," he said with a smile. "Wish you didn't have to return to Hogwarts next year, though. It felt weird that I didn't have you around this year."

"Well, you're in luck. Because I'm not coming back here next year."

"What?" Fred came to a halt and stopped walking, turning to look at me. "What are you talking about?"

"W-well... now that Dumbledore's gone... it's only a matter of time until Voldemort gains more power over the Wizarding community. And seeing as their main targets are Muggleborns, I won't be safe here. I have to go into hiding."

"But your father was a Pureblood!" he whispered hoarsely and in quiet voice so only I could hear him.

"Yeah, but they don't know this, now, do they? Everyone thinks I'm a Muggleborn," I said, shaking my head. "And even if I were to tell them who my father actually is, it would only put me in more trouble. Death Eaters will kill me and won't rest until they find my father. And that's the last thing I want."

"So where are you planning on going next year?" Fred frowned down at me.

"I don't know yet..." I said earnestly, looking down. "I can't stay with your family. I don't want them to get into trouble because of me."

"Then... why don't you come and live with George and I?" Fred suggested and I chuckled. "Hey, I'm serious!"

"What difference would that make? That way, I would just get you two in trouble."

"That's the thing, Lex," Fred started, "Dad says we already are in trouble if as he predicts You-Know-Who takes over the Ministry. All of us. We'd been too involved with Harry over the years. We'll all have to go into hiding at some point."

"What about your shop, then?" I asked.

"George and I will probably have to close it... but we're planning on sending products my mail," he explained. "Anyway... We'll have to leave Diagon Alley and go to a safe house. We don't know where or when yet. But you can move in with us until it's time for us to leave."

I grinned. "So you don't know where you're supposed to go yourself, but you're inviting me to come along with you all the same?"

"Yup."

I chuckled. "You're an idiot, Weasley."

"Why thank you, Miss Hooper." He smiled, leaning down and bringing me to a kiss. He then pulled away, resting his forehead against mine, saying, "So... what do you say? Will you come live with me, wherever I go?"

I smiled and went on my tiptoes, pecking him on the lips again. "Yeah... I would love that."