Ravenclaw Against Gryffindor!

Chapter eight: Wi(n)dow of opportunity.

I am a widow. Death Eaters have killed my husband after he was given the Dementor's kiss. At least he didn't have to suffer the pain of death.

I'm in the arms of my husband's older brother Charlie. Hmm... I have to admit he's quite handsome. His touch is rough from his work with dragons... but it reaches me somewhere where Percy couldn't touch. Is this what Padma meant... is this what is meant with true love?

Padma is leaving the room, she needs to feed the babies. I still don't know what possessed her to take the babies with her to such an event it's highly unfavourable. Children should keep away from such a place. It places a too heavy a burden on them.

I think I'll ask Charlie to lead me away. He just nods and leads us to a more private chamber.

"Are you all right!" he asks.

"I am. I just don't want to stay here, with all these memories..." I answered. It wasn't even that far from the truth.

"You can stay in Romania with me if you wish!" he offered.

"I'd like that!" I said sobbing onto his shirt.

"We Apparate first thing tomorrow, then!" Hmm... I like it when a man takes the lead.

"Ok! I just have to tell Padma! I'm still the twins' godmother!" She won't understand. But she will also know that I'm not going away, because of the death of my husband. My marriage had been just a farce; since he first cheated on me, since he became a Death Eater! This is my window of opportunity. Life gives me a second chance, and I'm going to take it. I don't know how much good a holiday with Charlie in Romania will do, but at least I will be away from the memories... Not all the memories though, as Charlie is Percy's brother... He probably is much like him in many ways... I wonder how much.

I know he would never do anything to hurt his family, nothing to hurt me as I'm part of that family already! I hope for my sake that he doesn't keep seeing me as his brother's widow, although I will always be Percy's widow. That is something I cannot change. He's part of my life, has been a significant part of my life ever since I was sixteen years old.

But I'm ready to start over again, even though Percy isn't buried yet. I leave that up to Padma. She may bury him. I'm 'too emotional' to attend the funeral. Really I am, I just found out that he had cheated on me with Padma and fathered her newborns! But I'm not too emotional to feel roused by the firm arms that hold me tightly. I need Charlie. I need him to hold me. Maybe I need him to hold me forever and ever. I don't know anymore. But I know I will find out if this is my destiny, if this is where I'm meant to be!