Ophidian | Fred Weasley ✔

30

Chapter Thirty:

(C O M P L E T E)

Artemis Rosier ran with everything that she had in herself, despite her aching ankle that screamed with pain having to exert themselves as they were clad in heeled boots.

"I-I shouldn't be — we shouldn't be doing this right now, It's Professor Dumbledore's funeral and—" Artemis had stuttered before being cut off by Amelia.

"Dumbledore couldn't be happier to know that there was a little more love in the world." Amelia said to Artemis in a whisper and that was all that it took for Artemis to sprint off towards her lover.

She felt like she was in her sixth year all over again, running after Fred Weasley, to do what? She didn't exactly know but she knew she had to fix this somehow. Fix the royal mess that she created.

Spend time with your loved ones before you lose them forever.

Amelia's words resounded into Artemis' ears as she ran looking out for a head of red hair. There was a chance that she might not make it out alive after the war, and god forbid, there was a chance Fred may not make it as well. She would worry about their destiny later, she was going to spend now with her love no matter how much she may have to grovel and apologize for the stunt that she had pulled.

Manasa was right. He completed her and she needed to be her best to even have a chance at defeating Voldemort's right hand woman. Besides, a life without Fred Weasley was no life at all. She would worry about their future after the war.

"Fred!" She called as she spotted a scarlet tuft of hair in the distance. He didn't stop.

"Fred!" She called again to see him slow down but he still did not stop. This brought a sense of nostalgia to Artemis as she remembered chasing after the scarlet haired wizard in the same manner many moons ago.

"Fred Weasley for the love of Merlin please stop!" She panted as she rested her hands on her knees to catch a breath. She felt like she had run a marathon, which was plausible considering she'd ran a little over a mile clad in heels.

She looked up to see him still walking. Artemis had forgotten how stubborn Fred could get when he was angry. She huffed in annoyance having lost the energy to run anymore so she did what she did best.

She threw herself forward as she let out a cry holding her ankle in her hands as she pretended to be in pain. The obsidian-haired witch's plan worked perfectly as Fred Weasley swivelled around faster than wind itself and ran to the green-eyed witch's assistance with a worry-stricken face.

Artemis smirked triumphantly. Fred's faced morphed into confusion when Artemis jumped up to her legs and caught hold of his arm before he could turn around and bolt again, like he very much wanted to realising that he'd been fooled, again.

"Fred, love, please listen to me." Artemis said in a small persuasive voice.

"So now you want to talk? And why do I have to listen? Everything doesn't work the way you want, Artemis! You can't just make decisions all by yourself and expect people to follow along!" He grumbled back.

"I only wanted to keep you safe, Fred! I didn't want you to be brought down by my problems—" Artemis began.

"It should've been my decision, Artemis! You could've talked to me about it, and you know I would've been there with you through all your problems happily!" Fred huffed, his anger dissipating slightly.

"I know you would have but...I didn't want that for you, Fred. I-I wanted you to have a normal life with a normal woman who didn't have visions of death every other day, someone who wouldn't die in less than a decade, someone who could...bear you children without the fear that they could carry her curse." Artemis said all of her insecurities returning with full force. Her gaze lowered to face the ground.

She felt a hand slide into her cheek and she looked up to see Fred standing mere inches from her gazing into her eyes with such sheer intensity that it almost made her stagger.

"But I don't want normal." He whispered as soft brown orbs clashed with forest green ones. "I don't want anything except you. Love, you don't understand, I love you for your flaws, not despite them." He said as a lone tear fell down Artemis' cheek while she gazed in wonder at the man in front of her and pondered if she'd saved the world in her last life to have been blessed with a man like Frederick Gideon Weasley.

"I love kids, and I did want my own," He said wiping his lover's damp eyes. "But... not if it's not with you." He said as Artemis finally leapt into his arms whispering apologies all the while she sobbed. Fred shed a few tears of his own as he hugged her back, finally feeling their bodies press together joining as if they were two pieces of a puzzle that were separated, now finally united. They felt complete.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"So you really didn't cheat on my brother?" George Weasley asked as they sat in The Three Broomsticks along with Bill, Charlie, Ron, Amelia and Lilanna who they'd met later in the funeral. Everyone headed to their old school hangout place, needing a drink after something so emotionally draining.

Artemis meekly nodded, stealing a glance at Fred who was already looking at her and smiled.

"Look at them! They're even back to making diabetic faces at each other!" Lilanna grumbled as she took a swig of her chilled butterbeer. Everyone laughed.

"Pay up everyone!" George exclaimed grinning from ear to ear. Artemis looked around confused as Charlie and Ron grumbled and reluctantly put 5 galleons each in his palm as he muttered a cheerful "Thank you!" And handed 5 galleons to Bill.

"Did you bet on something again?" Amelia asked George as he grinned and nodded.

"On your bestfriend, actually." George said gleefully.

"Me?!" Lilanna exclaimed surprised pointing her finger towards herself.

"No, not you silly," he said waving his hands in the air. "Artemis!"

"What? Me? What'd you bet on me for?" The witch in question exclaimed.

"If you actually cheated on my brother or not! Charlie and Ron bet that you did while Bill and myself bet against it." George exclaimed chugging his butterbeer.

"I actually believed it till Fred mentioned Cedric." Bill said taking a swig of his own firewhiskey. "I work with that guy and he's practically a saint. He wouldn't do that even in his dreams."

"Oh so everybody believed Cedric over me– someone they've known for years!" Artemis huffed jokingly.

"Can you blame us?! You had Fred fooled!" Ron exclaimed.

"There, there, Ron don't be a sore loser, I had my doubts but I believed in our little Miss Slytherin here. She's a Snake but she wouldn't do that." George said patting Ron on the back.

"Hiss Hiss Bitch." Artemis said flipping her hair.

"But that really was commendable acting, you have to admit." Charlie piped in shrugging his shoulders.

"Yeah, I'd say she deserves an oscar for that bit of acting." Amelia said nodding but when she looked at the blank face of all the purebloods sat in front of her, she sighed.

"You lot have never heard of the Oscars, have you?"