If This Isn't Love (Fred Weasley Sequel)

Still Saturday, May 2

Together, George and I dig through the rubble to find Fred's body.

He's still breathing, but covered in wounds. I mutter a few healing spells that didn't work for Susan, but slightly work on Fred.

I feel a pulse on his neck and pray this isn't as bad as Susan's wounds. After looking for the Death Eater that cowardly left with him, George and I pull Fred up and help him to the Great Hall, where several other students are fleeting.

For once, it's peaceful.

Sure, there are people in the corners and sprinkled all over the ground, crying over their dead loved ones, but at least there's no fighting. We set Fred on the ground and Molly and the other Weasley's immediately come to us.

Molly and Arthur, two very experienced adults, chant incantations with their hands out on the boy. I grab his hand and for the first time that time, I feel the tears slipping from my eyes.

Before I know it, I am wrapped on his body with George on his other side, also crying. I rest my head on Fred's chest, on my knees, crying my heart out. Soon, I think I don't feel his heartbeat.

He jolts up from the blanket we laid him on and I shriek in shock.

"Fred!" George I attack him with hugs.

Molly and Arthur let out a loud sigh of relief. I feel Fred's weak hand pat my hair and his low chuckle. "Shut up and sit back down," I mumble.

When he does, grumbling at it, I finally smile through my tears. "I didn't think- I didn't- I-" I wail into his chest. "Your heart stopped, I swear!"

"You idiot!" George cries at Fred, but grins anyway. "We both thought you were dead for sure."

"Same here," Fred admits, but coughs immediately.

"(Y/N)," someone calls.

I look up to see Hermione and Ron, both faces grim. Harry is not beside them, he must have gone to sacrifice himself. "He's going?"

"Yes, but that's not all. I think you should see this."

~~~~
"Professor!" I wail at the man's body. He is just barely breathing, almost on his last moment.

"(Y/N)..." Severus's smirk makes me cry even harder. I wrap my arms around his neck, surprising both of us. "The Manor is yours," he gasps.

"No, it's yours, remember?" I remind him.

"Not anymore. Please," he breathes. "Take it. It's not right for you- not to have a home." Blood drips from his lips and I press his bloody tower closer. "My fault."

"No," I say. "It's not. Don't you dare think that or I'll murder you."

His smile is genuine, but he closes his eye for the last time and says, "I'll haunt Weasley if he wrongs you."

"No..."

"Go. Win this."

"Severus." I shake him, but he doesn't respond. He's dead. "No, no, you weren't supposed to die. This is- you weren't supposed to die like this!"

After a year and more of not speaking or associating with each other, Severus and I are separated for eternity.

Hermione puts a hand on my shoulder and I almost forget she's there.

When we return to Susan's death, I don't cry. Rather, I hold Marlene in my arms while she pours her heart into my lap. "Shh," I hush. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She is force-fed a Draught of Peace potion until she sleeps in my lap.

When Voldemort returns to the school, I leave Fred's side and Marlene to see what he has to say. George accompanies me like the brother he is, with a hand on my shoulder.

"Harry Potter is dead."

That's it. We lost.

I promised Fred, I promised Susan and Marlene, and so many others. It's over, just like that.

I stare at the ground, shamefully listening to Voldemort's little speech about joining him. I try not to look at Harry's dead body, try not to think of it.

Neville steps out and I catch myself almost stopping him.

Several things happen all at once. Neville pulls a sword out of the Sorting Hat, Harry falls out of Hagrid's arms, everyone drowns in their own shocked gasps, and Death Eaters leave. We head back into the castle as soon as possible and I run straight to the Great Hall to tell Fred the news.

There's chatter in here and we pretend not to hear the castle breaking from immense force. I hope to Merlin Harry wins.

I don't see Hermione or Ron, so I find Fred and cradle him. "We're going to win. It's not over." I repeat these for several minutes.

He lifts his head and leans in to kiss me so I stop mumbling. I don't even mind the dirt or dust on his lips. It effectively calms me.

We intertwine our fingers while George talks to him about how lucky we are.

Just a few minutes later, we hear the news.

Voldemort is dead. Harry beat him.

We can finally go home, lay back, rest a few days away. I can properly mourn my friend's deaths.

Most importantly, Fred is safe. I'll make sure of it until the day he grows old and it is finally acceptable to die.

That's my vow. Until then, we can finally celebrate our victory.

~~~~
Published 5-18-20

Please don't cry too hard <3