Fred Weasley was not afraid of much. His friends and family dying? Absolutely. That is why the war had his heart in his throat constantly. He wasn’t much concerned with his own death as much as he was everyone else’s.
Until he almost died.
He can still feel the trembling of the floor and the sharp stings of the stones falling on him. Had it not been for the quick thinking of his older brother, Fred would have left the mortal plane with so much undone.
He would never have been able to see how successful his and George’s shop could really be. He’d never have seen the rest of his siblings get married and have babies. He’d never have watched his family and friends grow old.
And he’d never have been able to tell Harry Potter that he was absolutely positively head over heels in love with him.
Of course… he still hadn’t actually done that. Apparently, there was in fact something he was afraid of besides his family dying. Facing rejection from the man he had been carrying a torch for for years.
The first time Fred realized he had feelings for Harry was during the Triwizard Tournament and he heard about Harry asking Cho to the ball. His gut churned at the thought and he had immediately asked Angelina to go with him as a distraction from the nausea.
Later on at the ball, he and Angelina bonded over their respective crushes on their friends and teammates. She eventually confessed to Katie and they were living happily ever after.
Lucky bitches.
Fred watched as the object of his affection dated his own sister which was a special kind of hell that he didn’t wish on anyone. Thankfully, the two parted as friends and Ginny found love again with Blaise Zabini of all people. But Harry… Harry decided that he deserved to have fun and went on so many dates.
So fucking many. With so many fucking people.
It had been a couple years since the war ended and Harry had casually dated Daphne Greengrass, Adrian Pucey, Susan Bones, Theo Nott, Lily Moon, countless muggles, and the one currently causing Fred to want to punch a wall… Draco fucking Malfoy.
The two men surprised everyone when they announced their rivalry had turned romantic. But no one was really surprised that it was just as tumultuous of a relationship as the one from their school days. Fred had no clue what Harry saw in Draco. The blonde arsehole constantly put Harry down and made him feel like shit.
Case in point, Fred watched as Draco stormed off the dance floor of the club they were all at, while Harry trailed after him with a very blank look on his face. The two younger men leaned against the bar a few stools down from Fred and looked to be having a heated discussion.
“Oh Merlin, there they go again. What do you think it is this time?” Hermione asked, her voice slightly bitter. Ron had his arms wrapped around her, with his chin propped on her shoulder.
Fred shrugged even as his eyes kept darting in Harry’s direction. Harry was flushed with anger and his hands were waving wildly. Draco shoved a finger into Harry’s chest and hissed something that had Harry going still and pale. Even in the dim lights Fred could see the tears threatening to fall from those green eyes he adored so much.
He stood, unsure what to do as he watched Draco throw his head back and laugh cruelly before walking calmly out of the club. Harry stayed where he was, his knuckles turning white around his glass. His eyes were unseeing as he stood locked in place.
Fred felt someone push him and his head whipped around. George, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were all giving him very pointed looks and gesturing rapidly in Harry’s direction. He rolled his eyes and waved them away before downing the rest of his drink. As he approached Harry, his heart hurt at the look on the other man’s face. He wanted nothing more than to make those lips smile forever.
“Hey… you ok?” Fred rested a hand gently on Harry’s arm.
Harry scoffed before wiping roughly at his face. “I don’t know why I ever thought he and I were a good idea. I just…” He fell silent and gave a half hearted shrug before dropping his head in his hands.
Fred’s brow furrowed as he thought of what to do. He just wanted to make Harry happy again. But how?
“Do you want to get out of here?” Fred’s voice was soft and gentle.
Harry nodded and the two waved goodbye to their friends and made their way out of the club. As they walked down the street, Fred noticed that Harry was shivering slightly so he pulled off his coat and wrapped it around his shoulders. Harry pulled it tighter around himself and gave Fred a small smile.
They walked in quiet for almost ten minutes when Fred recognized a building. A lightbulb went off and he knew how to make Harry’s night better.
“Come on! I want to show you something!” Fred gripped Harry’s hand and pulled him to follow. They jogged around corners and down alleys until finally they came to a small park.
“Where… where are we?” Harry asked breathlessly.
“I was doing a supply run a few years ago and got lost. I ended up here. It’s small and cozy and hardly anyone comes here.” Fred led the way to a small patch of grass where he laid down, tugging Harry down with him, their hands still intertwined.
“So do you bring all your dates here?” Harry laughed.
Fred did not laugh or respond. Fred went still and decidedly did not look at Harry. He kept his eyes on the sky and ignored the burn trailing across his cheeks.
“Fred?” Harry’s voice grew concerned and he angled his body towards Fred.
Fred cleared his throat. “You’re um… you’re the first person I’ve ever brought here actually.” He turned his head to meet Harry’s gaze.
Harry looked shocked.
“Me?”
Fred nodded. His heart pounded as Harry shifted closer.
“Why?”
Fred closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. “Don’t ask me that.”
“Why not?”
Fred could feel the heat from Harry’s body against his and his breath shuddered out. “Are you still with Draco?” He asked instead.
Harry gave a bitter laugh. “Definitely not. He told me tonight that he never actually cared about me. He just wanted to see what lengths The Boy Who Lived would go to keep him. It was all a game to him.”
Fred’s eyes popped open in shock and anger. How dare that little ferret play with Harry that way. How anyone could betray someone so selfless and kind, Fred would never understand.
“Fuck him. He’s a prick. You deserve better.” Fred rolled on his side to face Harry.
“Yeah? You think so?” Harry’s voice was quiet and unsure. He started to shift to look away but Fred stopped him with a gentle hand on his cheek.
“I know so,” Fred said with a soft smile. “And when you’re ready, when you’re not hurting as bad… I would really like the chance to show you.”
Fred’s heart was in his throat as he waited for Harry to respond. It felt like forever that those green eyes stayed steady on his face, searching for something-Fred wasn’t sure what. But it seemed Harry found it because he gave a brilliant smile.
Harry rested his forehead against Freds. Their noses brushed and Fred could hardly breathe being so close to this man. He held himself very still not wanting to push or pressure Harry into anything knowing it had been an emotional night for Harry.
Still his heart rejoiced in the promise and hope Harry pressed into his lips, warm and soft.
“I think I’d like that very much.” Harry whispered against Fred’s mouth.
Fred Weasley was not scared of much but in that moment any fear he held onto that this was never going to happen went away. The man he had loved from afar was finally within reach and he was never letting him go again.