When Darkness Falls

Chapter Three

I was in the library of an unfamiliar house. But I was surrounded by very familiar people.

My sister-in-law, Ginny Weasley was putting Sammie to bed. I sat downstairs a few minutes after I'd left my house and Fred still hadn't shown up.

"What happened, Angie?" my best friend Katie Bell asked softly. She was sitting next to me, patting my hand.

'We were just about to leave when Draco Malfoy showed up," I said quietly. "Apparently a bunch of Death Eaters found out Fred was a spy and decided to kill us all in one swipe."

I looked at Katie fiercely. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Katie looked over at Oliver Wood, a guilty expression on her face. She turned back to me and forced a smile. "If you'd known, you'd have been an even bigger target."

"And how is that?" I demanded.

Hermione Granger coughed loudly. "You would have insisted on seeing him secretly to make sure he was all right, and don't say you wouldn't," she continued matter of factly.

I felt cold inside suddenly. Everyone I knew kept it hidden from me. Even my best friend. How could they?
"Since when was Draco Malfoy a spy? I thought he was his father's little Death Eater," I said in a dull voice.

"He's been a spy for six years now, Johnson. Get with it," a new voice drawled out.

I turned in the direction of the voice and recognized Blaise Zabini. Slytherin's turned good? What in bloody hell was going on? I didn't get to dwell on it for too long because the door burst open and in came my darling husband and his buddy Malfoy.

I got and jumped into his arms. He hugged me tightly, as if he never wanted to let go. I felt like I was home.

"I swear to God," I whispered loud enough for only him to hear. "If you ever leave me like that again, I'll kill you with my bare hands."

Fred laughed shakily at my threat of violence and held me even tighter. "I promise, I won't."

"What's going on?" Ginny stood framed by the doorway, looking very confused. She recognized her brother and launched herself into his arms. Not like I was there already or anything.

"It's so good to see you, Fred," she said, pulling away from him. "I've even missed your practical jokes."

Fred raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief. It was common family knowledge Ginny hated being the butt of his and George's jokes.

"Well, I did," she argued defiantly.

"I didn't think you'd be here, Weasley," a cold voice broke in.

Ginny jumped and her face was painted in shock, but she composed herself before turning around. "Considering it's my family, I should hope so. I'm just surprised you'd step anywhere near muggles, Malfoy."

He sneered at her but didn't reply. I didn't think Ginny even knew who Malfoy was. Fred had a lot of explaining to do later. I looked at the both of them more closely. There was some definite sexual tension in the air.

Hermione glared at Malfoy, then cleared her throat. "Okay, we have the book, but has anyone found the spell to destroy it?"

Harry Potter shook his head vigorously, while my brother-in-law Ron looked sheepish, and I vaguely wondered if he'd tried getting into Hermione's pants again.

"Why don't you just use it to destroy Voldemort?" I asked.

Nine heads turned to look at me like I'd just grown another head. They all started talking at once in hurried whispers.

"It doesn't work like that," Fred said gently, loud enough for everyone to get the hint and shut up. "The book would only make him stronger."

"Okay," I said slowly, a thought forming in my head. "Then where has Sammie been hiding it?"

Fred cleared his throat. "You remember that necklace I gave her the day she was born?"

"She's been carrying it for four years?" I said in a dead calm voice.

He nodded sheepishly. "It's the last place You-Know-Who would have thought to look. Why would someone give it to a baby? The Death Eaters thought you were hiding it. From me, to make sure I wouldn't give it to their master."

I plopped down in the nearest chair and crossed my arms over my chest. I gave everyone in the room my meanest scowl. "You put my daughter's life in danger? What kind of father are you? She could have been killed!"

"Not with you around," Oliver spoke up. "We knew you would have fought to the death to make sure nothing happened to her."

"And if something had happened to me?" I snapped in response.

Katie tilted her head slightly and nodded towards Wood. "That's why we're here. Just think of us as your own private secret service."

I eyed her and Wood warily. He looked back at me with a forced smile. He glanced quickly at Katie with a look I'd never seen in his eyes before, then shifted his eyes to Fred.

"Can I have a word?" Wood asked quietly, nodding to the door.

Fred looked at me questioningly. "It won't take long. And you're dead on your feet," he added.

A wide yawn escaped my lips before I could stop it. My legs felt shaky and my head heavy. Everything just seemed to catch up with me at once.

"It's been a long night, and we should probably get some rest," Hermione said in a neutral voice. "And we have a big day ahead of us.""

Everyone grumbled loudly, but started to stand up. Wood leaned down and whispered something in her ear that made her blush, then stood up. Fred gave me a quick kiss and followed Wood out. Hermione left the room abruptly, bumping into Ron in the process. He followed a few moments later, confusion written all over his face.

Zabini, who had been sitting quietly in her chair, took the moment to launch herself at her fiancée, Draco Malfoy.

"I missed you so much!" she practically squealed as she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Malfoy allowed himself to be mauled and even hugged her back. "Missed you too, Blaise."

Ginny and Harry were both watching the scene with odd expressions. Gin looked as if she'd love nothing more than to scratch both their eyes out. Harry just looked hurt. He began systematically piling up the parchment on the desk, turning his back on the couple in the corner talking.

"I'll help you take this up to your room, Harry," Gin said a little louder than necessary, an acidic tone in her voice. And I'm sure she did it on purpose.

Katie stood next to me and we watched in amusement as Harry and gin made their way to the library door, blatantly ignoring Zabini and Malfoy's looks of genuine surprise.

We grinned at each other as the kids left the room. Katie linked her arm through mine. "Come on. I'll show you where your room is."

~*~

I literally sank into the bed. I could have been lying on a bunch of rocks, and it would still be as comfortable as a feather bed. Katie plopped down next to me, causing me to shift.

It was quiet in the room, but it was a comfortable silence. Like the ones we had at Hogwarts after Quidditch practice. Katie, Alicia and I had this ritual. After Wood was done with us, we'd just lie on one of our beds for an hour or so and we'd talk about stupid girl stuff, like boys and clothes.

"So Alicia is really alive?"

"Yeah," Katie replied, a yawn coming out at the same time. "No one knows exactly where she and George are, but they're both doing well. At least that's what the Ministry's told us. They're even going to get married when this is all over with."

My chest felt light for the first time in months. My best friend and brothers-in-law were all okay. Now I could worry about other matters.

"I think Ginny's got it bad for Malfoy."

"What gave you that idea?" Katie asked dryly. "The fact that if she could, she would've happily torn Zabini in two?"

"I think it's kind of sweet. Hopefully Ron hasn't figured it out yet."

Katie snorted. "He's got his face to far up Hermione's bum to notice his sister engaging with the enemy."

I let out a soft sigh. "To be young and in love."

"Relationships and anything on that level, like love, is bloody rubbish."

I smiled, tilting my head at her. "So what you and Wood have is bloody rubbish?"

A blush crept up her neck, stopping at her cheeks. "Wood and I are partners. Nothing more."

"Katie, I know you better than anyone. Why else would you sleep with him if you didn't love him?"

She turned her head away from me and laid a hand on her stomach gently. A thought flashed brightly in my head.

"Does he know?" I asked simply.

Katie shook her head fiercely. "No. And I'm not going to tell him." Tears filled her eyes.

I patted her need. "He has a right, Kat. It's his baby, too."

"He doesn't want it."

"How do you know if you haven't told him?"

She let out an exasperated sigh. "He doesn't even want a relationship! He doesn't want to be tied down! Why would he want a baby?"

We fell silent again, and I looked over at Sammie sleeping peacefully in her bed. My joy, my reason for getting up in the morning.

"Are you going to keep it?"

"Of course!" she answered quickly. She looked appalled at me for even thinking anything different. "I already love this baby so much, I wouldn't let anything happen to it. Even if Oliver kicks us both out of his life."

I smiled gently as tears filled her eyes. I shifted so we were side by side and put my arm around her shoulder. "I'll help out anyway I can, Katie. I promise."
"I'm so scared, Angie." She let me hug her for a few minutes, then sat up straight, wiping the tears from her eyes. "So what's going to happen between you and Fred?"

I couldn't help but laugh. Leave it to Katie to make a strained situation even odder. "I honestly don't know yet. I guess we're going to take it slow."

A loud noise just outside the door made us both jump. And the same thought crossed both our minds: we were under attack.

Katie rushed to the door, wand in hand, and pulled it open. She visibly relaxed and beckoned me to join her.

Not even two feet away, in front of the bathroom door, stood Zabini and Harry, a tangle of limbs and mouths. In basic terms, they were snogging the hell out of each other. And they didn't take any notice of the fact that they were being gawked at.

I guess Katie and I are deprived, because we stood there for about two minutes, not moving. We didn't actually move until we heard a pair of heavy footsteps stomping up the stairs.

The two of them sprang apart as we ran back into the room. We looked at each other as we both started laughing.

"Well, that's quite a development," Katie commented. "The Boy Who Lived, snogging a Slytherin. I wonder which is stranger. Him kissing her or her letting him do it."

We laughed over it again and I wondered if they were caught.

"I'm glad you're here, Angie," she said after a moment.

"You're not the only one," a voice commented from the doorway.

We both turned and saw Fred leaning against it casually, grinning at us.

"Hullo, Fred," Katie exclaimed happily. She jumped up suddenly and pretended to yawn. "Well, I should be going. Need to get lots of sleep. And I'm sure the two of you have a lot of catching up."

She gave us a non too subtle wink as she left the room.

"I'm sure Oliver's already waiting," he informed me as he closed the door soundly behind her.

"Yes," I agreed. "They aren't really trying to be discreet. You would think that while they're partners, they would try-" the words died in my throat as Fred turned to me, a predatorial look on his face.

He strolled over the bed quickly. He leaned over and put his face close to mine. "You look beautiful, Angel." His voice sounded breathless as he placed a hand on my cheek.

I smiled up at him as the old familiar shiver took over my body brought on by his closeness. "I think we do have a lot to catch up on."

"We'll talk later," he promised softly, as his mouth claimed mine, moving over it softly at first, then deepening as he climbed on the bed over me. His mouth searching out my neck and I closed my eyes in bliss.

I tugged at his shirt and grinned wickedly. "Definitely later."