Semper - Fred Weasley

Chapter XVI

„When I saw you lying on the ground at the Quidditch World Cup, I panicked, but I couldn’t risk anything. So I made sure Barty Crouch Jr. didn‘t touch you.“

„Hang on. You were at the Quidditch World Cup? That was your voice that I heard?“ I interrupted my father and he nodded.

I took a deep breath. My head‘s spinning.
„Go on.“

„The plan was to sabotage the Triwizard Tournament to bring the Dark Lord back. Penny, believe me, if I could have prevented Cedric’s death, I would have done it.“

My stomach turned.

„And then it happened, Voldemort had returned, and I got the dark mark. I’m not proud of it! I didn’t want it to get it this far. I wanted to avenge your mother’s death and found myself in an inevitable situation. But it was me who provided the evidence of Sirius‘ innocence. I witnessed a conversation in which Wormtail confessed everything, I extracted the memory and sent it anonymously to the Ministry. And to my surprise, it was enough for them. I can’t explain why, and to be honest, it was too easy, but it worked. I’ve got myself into a no-get-away situation and I can only apologize for it. I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizing to you, for all the years I’ve taken from you.“, I saw the tears welling up in my father’s eyes and couldn’t prevent my own.

„Penny, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I deeply regret my decision. I was blind, I left and wanted to destroy everyone who was attached to the Dark Lord. But I was powerless. I know that I failed miserably, but I beg you for a second chance, let me get to know you and show you that I’m not a bad person. Dark times are ahead but when it’s all over we can be a family again.“

Fred held my hand the whole time. I felt his pity while my father spoke. I had learned a lot, but none of it made sense. He didn’t have to stay, nobody knew about him. He could have come back.

„I don’t understand, are you listening to yourself? It doesn’t make any sense what you’re saying. Why did you stay with them all these years?“ I tried to keep my voice calm, he shouldn’t hear how briefly it was to break.

„I don’t know,“ he looked at the floor. I couldn’t forgive him and a voice inside of me said that I couldn’t trust him.

„It’s time for us to go. I’ve heard enough, I need time.“ I said dryly, took Fred’s hand and left the man who called himself my father standing in the clearing.

I turned one last time and I was startled. Was it a reflection or was someone with him? No matter what it was, I started to run faster. I just wanted to get away, away from it all.

Fred and I snuck back into the common room, where I collapsed crying. Fred held me, he said nothing and just let me cry until there were no more tears.

„Do you believe him?“, I was lying in Fred’s arms on the couch, he caressed my back and gently hummed a melody. I lifted my head and shifted my position so that I could look at him, my head propped up on his chest.

„No, I don’t trust him.“, He replied and tucked a strand behind my ear.

I nodded.
„His story has gaps and logic errors. It all makes no sense.“

„I agree. The only question is, why should he lie or tell you only half the truth?“, Fred played with the strand that he had tucked behind my ear shortly before.

„I don’t know if I want to find out,“ I muttered into Fred’s chest. „Hey Freddie?“

„Hmm?“ He hummed.

„Do you think he might have something to do with the letters?“ I couldn’t figure it out myself, but the question was on the tip of my tongue.