literature

FireNIce II: Fill Me In

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Draco opened the door to the spare bedroom in his wing in Malfoy Manor. The room was pitch dark, save for one single flickering white candle on the bedside table of an extravagant four poster bed. He waked over, crouching down over a lifeless redhead in the center of the plush Slytherin colored duvet. Draco leaned down and brushed his hand lightly across his guest's forehead. The young man jerked his awake, his eyes glancing about wildly before they focused in the dimly lit room.

“Draco?” The man asked. Draco sighed in relief. “Yes, Thank Merlin. You are awake. Your fever has gone down, quite a bit, which is a very good sign.”

“Fever? What? Was I sick? Where am I? What happened?” Fred groaned as he sat himself up slightly against the dark mahogany finished headboard.

Draco smiled slightly. “Let's just say that you have been on a long Journey.”

Fred sighed, and swallowed twice. “Let's just cut the cryptic shite shall we?” He reached a slender hand for the glass of water that sat next to the single candle. He sighed in frustration as his fingertips touched the glass, then fell in exhaustion.

Draco stepped forward and set the glass to Fred's lips. Fred gave him an appreciative glance and drank his fill. After he was content, Draco waved his hand, and the overhead chandelier flashed a bright column of prisms toward the ground, then shined a bright light around the room. Fred cried out loud and covered his face with his hands.

Draco looked sheepish. “I am so sorry. I forget you guys don't adjust to the light so fast.”

“Who is 'You guys'?”  

Draco took a deep breath, and conjured up a leather armchair. “I will tell you what has happened, but you have to promise me that you won't ask any questions until the end. Agreed?”

Fred nodded. Draco took a big breath, and continued, "You... died. The Death Eater known as Agustus Rockwood rounded the corner, after you and George were trying to get Ginevra to safety. I just pulled you from the Veil of Death, located in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic."

There was a long silence.

Fred took a big gasp of air, "I died?"

At Draco's nod, fred asked, "How long?"

"A Year to the day. You have been asleep now for three days, which worried me. Most of the others-"

"Others?" How many people died? how many have you pulled back?"

at Draco's glare, Fred silenced. Then Draco continued, "You would be the third person I saved. The first was a young Gryffindor named Colin Creevy, who foolishly didn't listen to his superiors, and a Miss Lavender Brown, Who died from blood loss after an encounter with Fenrir Greyback."

Silence again. after a while, Fred Spoke, "MY family? What has happened to them since-"

Draco smiled sympathetically as Fred choked on the words I died. "I knew you would ask me that question, so I did a little persuasive interviewing. It's not as if your family and mine are open books to each other after all. would you like for me to start at the top?"

Fred nodded, and Draco then began:

"Your mother and father have survived. Your father is now the Minister of Magic's Head Auror, and your mother has started a Bakery in Diagon Alley. I have actually sampled her Raspberry Tart, It's quite marvelous." At Fred's Grin, he continued. "Bill is tucked away in a French Chateau somewhere. Somewhere near Nancy, I'd imagine. He is living with his beautiful bride, and raising their second child. their first was a girl, I believe. Anastasia, Yes. Their second was a boy named Nicholi. He takes his Wolfsbane Potion on time, every month, according to Horace Slughorn."

"Wait!" Fred coughed, "I am an...  UNCLE?" He grinned slightly.

"A couple of times over." Draco announced. Fred's smile broadened, but he didn't say anything. "Charlie found a rather intelligent and wonderfully charming witch in the realms of India, where he went to further his study of Dragons. I believe Harry and I went to school with her younger siblings. Her name is Indira Patil. Percy, took your Death, and Harry's Maurauder's Map as an Inspiration for his life. He got out from behind the bookshelves, and is now in the process of creating a wristwatch sized device that will telepathically tell you where your enemies are."

"Sweet!" Fred said, and looked to Draco expectantly. Draco sighed, "George..." and he stopped, looking into Fred's anxious face. Fred's face fell a little more with each passing second. "GO on." HE urged. Draco sighed, "Alright. George, as far as one could assume, took your death the worst. He got married shortly after the war to Katie Bell, but they divorced shortly after. He sold his half of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and now lives alone in his loft, with his savings, and a daily dose of Firewhiskey to his door. I am so sorry."

Fred cried. He cried for the loss of the carefree brother he once had. He cried for the impact the loss of him had on his family. Once his tears had subsided, a linen handkerchief was handed to him, a bright green DM embroidered on the bottom right corner.
“Thanks.” He muttered quietly and Draco nodded. He blew his nose, and tried to hand the kerchief back to Draco. He waved his hands dismissively, and leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. “Would you like to hear about the last of them?”

Fred nodded, setting the hanky to the side.

“Ronald is living his dream job. He is now the Keeper for the Chudley Cannons. He has a small little flat in London, but he is hardly ever there. His girlfriend travels with him. You remember Cho Chang, of course. She is a Cannon Chaser. I have seen them play and I have to say that the team has improved greatly with the addition of those two.”

Fred chuckled softly behind his tears, “ I always thought he would end up with Hermione Granger in the end.”

“Well, a lot of people did. They tried to date for about two weeks near the end of their second seventh years at Hogwarts, but it never panned out. Hermione actually is the Weasley family saving grace. When she heard that George was putting up a majority sale on the WWW stock and bonds, she bought him out. I mean outright. She demanded enough money for the shop as recompense for the War. She now owns Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. She sends a small stipend to your brother for food every month, and pays his bills still. she's an angel. She keeps her husband busy as well. He runs the sales floor while she creates new product, and runs the books. You would have never thought in a million years that Hermione Granger would become Hermione Potter someday, but she did.”

“Hermione and Harry? Really? “ George stroked his chin. “I can see that oddly.”

After a few minutes of contemplative silence, Fred asked, “What of Ginny? What happened to my baby sister?”

Draco's face lit up and he smiled, “Well Fred, you r sister is a full time journalist. She replaced Rita Skeeter at The Daily Prophet. She's grown into quite the firecracker. She loves doing exposes, and reveals on the local scandals. She is currently dating a dashing and handsome man who replaced Severus Snape as the Potions Professor at Hogwarts.”

“who?” Fred asked.

Draco smiled, “Me.”

Fred shuddered at the previous mentioning of 'persuasive interviewing'.

“Who's the Minister now? Scrimgeour died before the fight even began...”

Draco nodded, “Yes he did, and surprisingly a very unlikely candidate popped up after the war. Aberforth Dumbledore is now our Minister of Magic. He can get rather odd at times, but he means well.”

Fred's voice went quiet. “Who all did we lose? I am sure I am not the only one who died. Who else is gone?”

Draco took a sharp intake of breath. “Are you sure you don't want to wait a while for this? It has been a year to us, but to you it will feel like its only been a little while.”

At Fred's nod, Draco listed those who they lost. Tonks, the mother too stubborn to let her husband fight alone. Lupin, the father strong and true for the sake of his infant son. Lavender Brown, an unfortunate brave girl who got caught in the jaws of Fenrir Greyback. The list continued, fifty long, and Fred just hung his head.

“I couldn't help, all because I lost my focus over a damned joke that Percy said.”


Draco patted his hand. “It's not your fault you know. It was war. Mothers become Murderers, and brothers become enemies. It is just something that happens.” Draco took a deep breath and stood. “You should get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”

Fred frowned, “What happens tomorrow?”

Draco smiled, “The world finds out you aren't dead.” he walked out and looked down at a house elf. “He should be treated like he is your master, Understand?”

the small house elf smiled and gave a nod.

Fred leaned back, his mind still reeling. Marriages, births, and so much else happened in a year. He has a niece and nephew.  His brother's a deadbeat drunk, and it is all his fault. He put  his face  in his hands.  A tray appeared in his lap with a tin of biscuits and a pot of hot home brewed tea. He looked up to see the house elf, pouring a cup of tea, and adding two cubes of sugar to the cup  and stirring. She handed it to him and said softly, “Here Master Weasley, Have a cup. It helps me when I am feeling too much in my mind.” She then proceeded to pour a second cup, and add the last four cubes of sugar to it, and stirred. She conjured a stool next to the bed, and sat, sipping her sweetened brew.

“How is it that you as a house elf feel that it is okay to sit and have tea with me?”

The house elf's eyes went wide, “Do you mind it, sir?”

Fred shook his head no, “Well, no, but I have never in my life met a house elf with the freedom to be comfortable around wizarding folk.”

she shrugged, “It was Master Draco's first command as Lord of Malfoy Manor. When Master Lucius was sent to Azkaban for life, and Mistress Narcissa went to the french chateau, There was no lordship here, for three months. It was chaos. When a house elf is given no duties to perform over an extended period of time, they tend to do everything that they see, almost like the Muggles Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It was so bad that one of our older house elves, Silo, He had to be  taken to the Property for Elf Aging. That is a well medicated retirement home for House elves sir. He would panic and wipe the floors behind people, so that their footprints wouldn't scuff the shiny floor.” She shook her head, “Disgrace. When Master Draco came back, he gathered all the House elves, and he said that his first order was, 'When there is not a direct order given to you, you are ordered to have down time and allow yourself the freedom and amenities that wizards do, like food and drink and breaks.' So, here I am, enjoying a freedom that not many house elves get to experience, Tea and conversation.”

Fred smiled, “I appreciate that. I'm Fred, by the way. You are?”

She smiled, “My name is Peony, Sir, at your service.” She stood on the stool and curtsied a little.

Fred looked down and realized that he had emptied his glass of tea. His eyes widened, “What is in that brew? I have never really been terribly fond of sweet tea, but that was fantastic!”

Peony leaned and poured him another cup, “It is a brew passed down from one generation to the next in my line of house elves. It has been known to calm the mind, and relax the body. Is it working?”
Fred yawned, “Yes, I think it is.”

Peony put her cup down on the tray and magically floated it out in front of her. She snapped the light off and Fred asked quietly in the darkness. “Peony? Is it truly better out there now that Voldemort is gone?”

she turned and smiled at Fred, “Now that the Darkness is gone, the light shines brighter than ever. I think it is a beautiful wizard world now. “

Fred turned over in the big bed with the silken sheets, and sighed, “Good enough for me.”

Peony smiled and shut the door with a soft click behind her.
I finally felt inspired for the first time in almost two years to write on a HP fanfiction. As always, I dedicate this to you, my truest fans. I :heart: you!
© 2014 - 2024 Balthazorbaby
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audreydog02's avatar
Nice! You are a great writer! 😄