and I stand with you

nine

Both of the twins had plenty of questions about where I had gone for for long. Fred kept quiet though, and I knew I couldn't keep the truth from him much longer. Unfortunately, I remembered Molly's words.

Frederick and George cannot know. You mustn't tell a soul.

I put my head in my hands and thought about the tasks I had over the next few months. Maybe even years.
"You missed the Yule Ball. Via, you were gone for a while.." Fred said quietly, and I knew he was hurt.
"I'm sorry." Was all I could muster up before he stood and walked down the stairs of the tower and left.
"Via, you've got to come up with a better explanation than that. You were gone for months." George broke the silence, and tears dropped to the floor from my eyes. I pulled a small brown box from my pocket and handed it to George.
"Give that to Fred, will you?" I wiped away my tears.
"I can't talk about where I went. It's too dangerous." I added, running down the stairs before he could say anything.

I hadn't finished packing for the summer, as I hadn't left for a whole summer in years. As always, I had gotten a letter from my aunt offering the manor for a summer home for me. This year was the first I had accepted. I hadn't even told anyone that I was going there, but Draco made small talk with me about it in the common room.
"You can sit with me on the train since we are going together." He offered, and I accepted. I wondered to myself if Fred had opened his box yet. Inside, was a magical locket, that I had filled with healing powder, which would only open with a spell from my mouth. I would keep my distance for his safety.

I didn't even see him when I boarded the train. Draco took my bag and loaded it above our heads with his own, and got a few treats from the trolley.
"Why did you accept this year?" Draco questioned, probably suspicious of me.
"I haven't left in a while, and I'd like to get away this year." I responded simply.

Narcissa and Lucius were waiting for us when we got off, and she pulled me into a warm hug. From what Draco had told me, she was the better parent, and Lucius was barely a parent at all.
"Oh you look wonderful! Your hair is beautiful." She took a strand of my white hair between her fingers.
"Thank you, auntie."
"Right this way, hold on children." We all linked arms and held our things, and aparated to the entrance of the manor. It was beautiful.
"Draco will take you to your room, and then come right back you two." Narcissa pushed us up the stairs and I followed in Dracos steps.

We sat quietly over dinner, none of us speaking a word. It was quite awkward and uncomfortable to sit in. The entire time, I thought about Fred, and I knew I had to sneak away and talk to him somehow. Later that night, I sent an owl to him with a letter asking to see him. I was afraid he wouldn't respond, or that if he did the answer would be a firm no. Instead, he responded within minutes saying yes, and that he would meet me in the field outside of his family's house. I pulled an extra jumper over my clothes and disappeared from the manor with a small pop.

Fred paced back and forth in front of me, and when I got there he immediately pulled me into a hug.
"Octavia." He said into my hair as we held each other.
"Fred I need to explain. I can't keep it from you anymore." I cried into his chest, letting myself finally break down.
"Love, it's okay, let it out." He hugged me tight.
"I'm so scared." I whispered into his jumper. He let me cry until I couldn't anymore, and when I was finished we sat in the grass talking about my situation.
"And so I am staying at Malfoy Man-" I stopped myself when I saw a glistening gold hanging around Fred's neck.
"You put it on?" I asked, touching the locket.
"It was from you. Of course I did." He smiled, reaching into his own pocket and pulling out a small black box.
"Frederick Weasley you better not be proposing." I threatened, watching him open it. Inside was a dainty necklace, with a small red gem on the chain.
"I love you." I looked up at him, and wondered if the words I heard were actually real.
"Come again?" I spoke, focusing my attention on him.
"I love you, Octavia." He stared at me, waiting for a response.
"Frederick..." I pulled him close to me and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
"I love you." I finished, and asked him to hook the necklace onto my neck.
"I have to go back." I frowned, and he shook his head.
"To Malfoy manor? Unlikely." He took my hand in his own, and we snuck up to his bedroom.
"Fred, you know I have to leave at some point." I tried.
"Not tonight." He had a straight face, and I knew I shouldn't push it further.
"Come here." He opened his arms and I crawled into bed with him after sliding off my pants. I snuggled into chest, and he held me. His heart raced, and I knew he was scared of what was to come.
"Promise me you will stay away from the Dark Order." He said out of nowhere, making me sit up and look at him.
"Fred.." I looked down at his chest.
"No." He started. "Promise me." He took my face in his hands.
"Okay. I promise." I swore to him, laying back down in bed with him.

I wasn't able to sleep at all, but Fred had quickly let slumber take him. I waiting until he was in a deep sleep before I slid out of bed, dressed myself again, and snuck out of the Burrow. I aparated back to the manor, in my own bedroom, and climbed back into a bed. I was sad I wouldn't wake up with Fred by my side, but fell asleep nonetheless.

The manor gave me nightmares. Maybe it was the aura of the whole place, but I woke up screaming and sweating with Draco trying to calm me down.
"Just breath." He rubbed my back, and I tried to calm down from the dream.
"This place can drive you bonkers if you let it." He told me, sitting against the pillows upright with his hands held in his lap. His eyes closed as he leaned his head against the wood.
"I'll stay here, if you'd like. Fight off the dream monsters." He chuckled, opening his eyes to look at me.
"You can stay here if you tell me why you're such a git." I frowned, scooting to the other side of the bed and sitting criss cross from him.
"I'm not a git." He defended himself.
"You're certainly not good to me." I fought back.
"Well, I'm sorry." He said quietly, closing his eyes again.
"I can't do anything with you. I'm with Fred." I said, taking my spot beside him under the covers.
"I won't touch you. I'll just sit here." He assured me, and I closed my eyes once more, letting the darkness take over for the night.