PROMISE
NOTE: Fluff and Angst
Background song: Champagne Problems - Taylor Swift (instrumental)
Y/N - Your name
Y/F/N - Your full name
This was their heaven.
She watched as Bill and Fleur dance at the center of the tent, lights flickering like patronuses, each with their own happy memory. Fleur glided gracefully around the dance floor in her white dress while Bill spun her around. The Polyjuice potion was wearing off and Y/N could see some familiar faces, one of which she was dying to be with. She scoured the tent trying to find the tall, lanky, “better-looking” ginger (as he described himself to her) in the sea full of gowns and dress robes.
There he was near the entrance, looking up at the night sky. Y/N smiled, this was the first time he saw Fred Weasley all day and couldn’t wait any longer to dance with him. She approached him with a bounce in her step.
Then suddenly, he was gone. Confused as to what just happened, Y/N turn around to look for her boyfriend for seven years in the crowd. She eyed her redhead, talking to Ginny and George on the table laughing awkwardly. Weird, Y/N thought to herself. She tried again to walk towards him but without warning, he strode off and vanished.
Time and time again, Y/N was chasing Fred and with every inch of getting closer, he would walk or apparate to god-knows-where. It was like playing a never-ending hide-and-seek. Confused and annoyed, Y/N slumped on a chair and watched as couples danced under the night sky.She looked at the dancers with a heavy sigh. Even Ron and Hermione were having a great time. Y/N fiddled around the ends of her periwinkle dress. She examined her skirt and remembered that this was also the dress she wore to the Yule Ball with Freddie.
Y/N looked around to see if she can find him one last time and then there he was, in the corner, talking to Charlie intently. She thought she could try to approach him again, ask him to dance, then suddenly Fred turned and caught her eye. He looked at him with seriousness that Y/N sunk to her chair even more in dismay.
What’s wrong with him? She thought. Of all the Weasleys, shouldn’t he be the one who’s partying loudly by now? Fred would’ve made a ruckus with Y/N on the dance floor and yet here he is, out of reach. Teary-eyed, Y/N got up and before she could walk out of the party, a familiar voice interrupted.
“Dance with me, Y/N?” George said, smiling from ear-to-ear. He looked so much like his brother but different at the same time. Y/N examined the young man in front of her and sighed. Better dance with as near as her boyfriend than to not dance at all, she thought. She took his hand and let him pull her to the dance floor.
“Might as well, George! I don’t think your twin would ever want to dance given the fact that he has been avoiding me all evening.” She gloated and complained to her boyfriend’s twin.
“Mind my brother, Y/N, he has two left feet. Besides, I may have one ear but I’m the better dancer.” He was the better of the two, Y/N admitted to herself. No toes were harmed as George flung her from left to right. They were smiling and laughing as songs passed through them one by one. Unfortunately, Y/N couldn’t admit it enough that she was having a good time. She was missing Fred.
Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat.
“Mind if I take her from you, Georgie?”
There’s the familiar scent that make Y/N turn to jelly. Fred finally came up to the dance floor and swooped Y/N out of George’s hands. George gladly stepped out and left the dance floor to Fred and Y/N.
“Sorry, I’m late, Y/N.” Fred whispered to her ear while they swayed through the dancefloor. She focused on him and thousands of questions came buzzing in her mind. Then, she saw that mischievous flicker in his eyes, and she knew they were alright.
“Tell me, my boyfriend for seven so-so years, why the bloody hell are you avoiding me?” she jokingly asked.
“I’m trying to be a tease, love. After all, we’ve been together that long.” Fred replied as he spun Y/N, trying to be suave.
“Yeah, I suppose we need a bit of spice in our romance. You-Know-Who and Deatheaters trying to kill us is actually a bore!” Y/N replied, riding the joke. “But seriously, Fred, what’s wrong?”
“Relax, Y/N. It’s nothing. We were just planning to prank Bill one last time before his honeymoon. Sibling banter!” He was an awful liar, to her anyways. He could trick anyone but not Y/N.
Although the conversation between the two was a bit wary, Fred and Y/N danced to their hearts content. In the corner of her eye, Y/N saw the bride and groom approach the dance floor again after a round of guest greeting.
Bill and Fleur were beautiful, no doubt, immaculate. Even after the stress and werewolf scratches, they can still take your breath away. But for some reason, they emanate the kind of beauty that’s rarely seen in these dark times. They were in love. True Love. Love that defines even the future, whether it be doomed or not.
Y/N stared at them, unconsciously longing for that unconditional love. She was happy with Fred but the fact that the war was coming sooner than expected made her feel that theirs was limited. Almost ending.
“Do you think we’d ever get to where they are?” She whispered to Fred. “Bill and Fleur?”
“Like what? All the frills and fringes?” Fred jokingly replied, looking at his brother and sister-in-law.
“The over-bearing family drama?”
“The melodramatic crying?”
“The cringey declaration of love?”
“Yeah… we’d absolutely love that.” Fred sighed, holding Y/N close.
“I know.”
“Wear whatever you like on ours! I won’t even mind if you walk down the aisle in a sack.” He laughed.“I’ll even put a Full Body-Bind Curse on Mum until it’s all over.”
“FREDDIE!”
“I love you, Y/F/N.”
“Ditto.” Y/N laughed then look at him earnestly. “I love you too, Fred Weasley”
A flashing blue orb suddenly appear. Kingsley Shacklebot’s Patronus.
“THE MINISTRY HAS FALLEN!” The last sentence made Y/N’s skin crawl. In an instant, red flashes were everywhere, scattering everything and everyone at the venue. Y/N flew through the room and had a blurred visions of panic and fire but no Fred. Where was he?
“FRED!” she cried. After a second, she called for him again. Panicking, she began running against the manic crowd. Everyone began apparating, leaving the remaining guests to fend for the Burrow.
“Y/N!” Fred screamed. There he is! She ran across the room where Y/N found Fred, his pants ripped, and a gash trailed along his bare leg. He couldn’t care less about what happened to him, Fred Weasley only cared about one person: Y/F/N “You alright?”
“LOOK OUT!” She screamed. A Deatheater apparated in front of them, creating fear and havoc. Wands at the ready, Fred and Y/N prepared to fight.
“Incendio!” the enemy conjured a wall of fire, enveloping the tent. The heat began to rise around them. Another one tackled Fred into the ground.
“Bombarda Maxima!” Y/N cried out, the man flew and toppled the chairs over. She helped Fred up.
“Stupefy!” He yelled, blasting the Deatheater across the room. An attacker almost killed Y/N if not for Fred.
They couldn’t see anyone. The fire made it difficult for them to locate their family. They had a glimpse of Ron, Harry, and Hermione apparating before a Deatheater could take them out. Bill and Fleur left their once wedding reception along with Molly, Arthur, Ginny and the Delacours. The battle is getting out hand already. Fred only had one option for all of them to survive.
“GEORGE!” He roared, calling his twin. George appeared in front of Y/N, dust and soot covered his face.
“On it! Protego Totalum!” he turned around and casted the hex. An invisible shield started rising from the ground. Try as they might, the Deatheaters could not attack them. George turned around smiling, satisfied with his accomplishment.
“Hello again! Fancy meeting you here, Y/N!”
“George, what’s going on?!”
“Charlie, now!” Fred called out for his older brother. A roar shook the earth and suddenly, a Peruvian Vipertooth launched itself towards the enemies and began thwarting them. A red-haired man was riding the beast, Charlie Weasley was fighting for his life. He jumped off the dragon and faced his family underneath George’s spell.
“What?!” Y/N was confused. What the hell is going on?
“Hey, Y/N! Want to get out of this place?” Charlie asked nonchalantly.
“WAIT, NO!” Y/N cried. “Fred, I am not leaving you!”
“I’m sorry, love, but you really have to. It’s dangerous here!” Fred held Y/N, urging her to go. It was the only way, he thought. Y/N looked at Fred, fear covered her face. She couldn’t leave him. Not now. Not ever.
“Y/N, let’s go!” Charlie called for her again. The dragon roared in the night sky as it waits for its master. Y/N was frustrated with Charlie, George, and most especially Fred. There is imminent danger in front of them and all they cared about is taking her out of the battle. She could do so much more than leaving it behind. Y/N couldn’t leave everything she hold dear. Why were they so adamant of taking her out?!
Suddenly, Y/N realized what was happening.
The secrets. The diversions. Ginny being distracted. George dancing with her. Fred avoiding her all this time. This was it! Y/n couldn’t breathe, her eyes were filled with tears, her hands were shaking.
“THIS WAS WHAT YOU WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT?! YOU PLANNED THIS! You bloody made a pact protecting me?!” she cried, latching on Fred. Y/N was trembling, her knees shaking. How could he do this?
“I adore how smart you are, Y/F/N. That’s what I loved about you.” Fred said smiling.
“FRED WEASLEY! I know it’s all fun and games to you, but this is not a joke, this is serious!” Y/N cried out. “I can fight! You know I can!”
She pleaded for her to stay. Stay as much as she can, and Fred knew it. Fred knew she will stay and fight beside her. Fight her last breath as long as they stay together.
This was his fear. Losing Y/N from the battle.
“I know it isn’t a game, Y/N! Do you think I’d to let you in this wedding if I wasn’t sure, you’d be safe? I-I needed to be sure you’re okay, you’re fine, you are not hurt.”
He was crying. Fred laid his head on Y/N’s shoulder, stifling a sob. She held him tight, never bothered to let go. The chaos surrounding was nothing compared to the hurt they felt. It tore them but Fred had no choice. He’d rather live away from Y/N than live without her.
“But I can’t lose you, Y/N. I love you too much to risk it.” His voice quivered every word.
“Please don’t leave me, Freddie.” Y/N begged one last time.
Fred let Y/N go of their embrace, held her chin, lifted her head and looked at her. His eyes were red, fear and pain plastered all over his face, but his voice was firm.
“You’ll be safer with Charlie. I’ll come back for you once this is over.”
“Fred, a little bit of help here!” George cried out for his twin, struggling to keep the Shield Charm afloat.
“Y/N, the dragon can’t hold it any longer!” Charlie urged Y/N. The Peruvian Vipertooth cried out in agony as Deatheaters attack it mercilessly on each flank.
Everything was now in complete mayhem. The tent was burning on its final material. The chairs and tables are now turned to ashes. The once lively place for love and happiness is all up in flames. As much as she wanted to be with Fred, they only have this moment to get out. The only way they all be safe if they get away as fast as they could, as scattered as they can.
“Damn it! You bloody survive this mess, Weasley!” Y/N, despaired from the events, gave in. Fred cupped her face and kissed Y/N. His lips were soft and familiar. Underneath the ashes, Fred smelled like before. Y/N took him in closer and everything came rushing through. Like the time they skipped classes to spend their day at the Astronomy Tower. How Fred asked Y/N out to the Yule Ball, scattering petals of pink roses, her favorite, above the courtyard and stuttering on asking her out. How Y/N spent her entire Christmas together with Fred and his family. When he asked Y/N to be his girlfriend. When she said yes. Their first anniversary. Their first kiss.
She wondered if she would ever feel this familiarity again. So did Fred.
Fred wondered what their future would be. Which ring he would pick to propose. Who’s his bestman but he already knows who it would be. How they’d fight over the names of their kids even before they’d get born. How they bet on what house they’d be in, Fred would bet on Gryffindor always. How they’ll cheer for them on the Quidditch pitch. Their own house. Their 50th wedding anniversary. Their remaining lives together.
This was the future Fred wanted for Y/N. This was the familiarity Y/N wanted for Fred.
“I promise, my love. After this, it will be our turn.” Fred gave her one last kiss before Charlie took Y/N and flew together across the sky. Y/N looked below and saw him apparate into the unknown.
They both delve into the unfamiliar as Fred’s promise hung in the air. Y/N took his words by heart and waited for Fred Weasley to come back to her safe and sound. And after all the mess and torture and uncertainty, they’ll finally get their own happy ending.