Twenty-Eight: Letter of Intent

                                    

                                          
Fred awoke to the familiar scent of lavender and a hint of vanilla wafting from the bed next to him. He turned over and buried his face in the dark curls that caused his heart to flutter. When he wrapped his arms around her middle she stirred and he pecked a kiss on her cheek letting her sleep. 
                          
    He heard the pitter-patter of small feet coming down the hall of an unfamiliar room. The door creaked open to reveal a small girl with long dark hair running down her back. She jumped into bed onto Fred's lap and hugged him tightly. 
                          
    "Father!" the small girl whispered loudly.  "When mummy wakes up, will she have a tea party with me?" Fred looked over to Gia who opened one eye and let out a loud pretend snore. "Mummy! Will you please have a tea party with me?"
                          
"Did you ask your brothers?" Gia looked to the door where three boys stood, waiting for her to assure them they could come over to her. 
                          
"Yes! They said they were too old for tea parties." The girl whined. She hugged Fred tighter and he rubbed circles on her back. The two smaller boys ran over to Gia and pecked kisses on either side of her face. They were the spitting image of a Weasley. Wiry red hair, stronger build, one boy had bright blue eyes that looked like Arthur, Bill, Percy, and Ron's eyes. The others were Molly, Charlie, Fred, George, and Ginny's dark chocolate that shimmered gold in the morning sun. 
                          
"Because we are." The first boy said.
                          
"You expect us to have tea and scones with a baby." The second boy rolled his eyes and looked down at the little girl who curled in her father's arms.
                          
"I'M NOT A BABY AND YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU WERE BORN!" She yelled as she lunged at the boy who was twice her size. She pulled at his hair and bit him hard on the shoulder which earned a yelp.
                          
"Rue?" Gia asked Fred. 
                          
He shrugged and nodded. "She learned it last night at the movies,"
                          
The tallest boy pulled his younger sister off the boy. The other twin stood by laughing as his brother got severely pummeled by a five-year-old girl. "I will have a tea party with you, Guinevere. Now please let's give mum and dad some time."
                          
"Thank you, darling. I love you."
                          
"I love you too, mum, and you dad." 
                          
Fred nodded at the older boy. 
                          
He stirred awake and placed his hand on the empty left side of the bed that was usually occupied by a small witch curled up into a small ball. The covers were still neatly tucked at the corners and unmoved. He banged his hand into the covers and let out a dry sob. He stomped to the closet and threw his clothes and other personal items out. 
                          
In a fit of rage, he pulled the covers off making her pillow fly off the bed. Before it could hit the floor he levitated it over to him and pulled it into his chest. His knees gave  as his lungs filled with the familiar scent of lavender and cedarwood and the slightest hint of vanilla. He caught the scent of cinnamon that made him more upset. 
                          
He picked the sheets from the floor and saw a green and grey Slytherin jumper sitting on the floor. He pulled it to him and stomped out of the dorm and up to the Gryffindor common room. 
                          
When he reached his dorm, Lee, George, and Ginny sat at the end of his empty bed waiting for him. He held the pillow near his chest as a single tear ran down his freckled cheek. 
                          
"Hers?" George asked. He got up and took the trunk from him, which seemed to be holding all of his weight. He collapsed to the floor and buried his face into the pillow.