Redamancy

• Chapter 4 •

The loss of something he never had

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Nicolai sucked in a sharp breath just as he and Fred arrived at the entrance of the Great Hall.

"Fred, wait!"

Fred turned to look at the slightly smaller boy who now had a trembling grip on his sleeve, concern flashing in his eyes as he quietly waited for him to continue.

"There is something you should know before your family even considers letting me stay with them - "

At this, the gingers gaze softened into a knowing look and he slowly edged his hands towards a firm placement on both of Nicolai's shoulders.

"If this is about you being a Death Eater, then they already know, don't worry."

Nicolai kept his head down as he instinctively rubbed the clothing that covered the Dark Mark on his wrist, a permanent reminder of how he wasn't strong enough to fight against the evil that had taken over his family, consuming his mother.

"They don't blame you Nicolai, nor do they hold any spite against you."

"They should, I'm the enemy!"

"Well something tells me that mark wasn't given to you with your own consent, was it?"

Fred questioned although he already knew the answer, after all, no Death Eater would have saved him or his mother, or even have taken the time to make a potion during the conflict that would help him heal quicker so that he could once again fight.

"You're not a bad person Nicolai."

Nicolai cried in tearful frustration, not quite understanding how Fred could just say something that was so obviously untrue.

He had the Dark Mark.
He was a Death Eater.
He had tortured people upon the command of Voldemort.

Although none of that was done upon his own free will, he had still done it, and he had still made the choice of his life over the countless others that he could have saved.

In his own mind, Nicolai was selfish. He was a monster. Evil.
So he could even begin to understand why Fred disagreed. Yes he had saved his life, but he could have saved so many others as well.

"You don't know me!"

"I want to, though."

That was all Fred had to say for the brunette to look up, salty tears slowly beginning to fall.

'Oh' was all he thought in that moment, at a complete loss.

At this point, it was a miracle that Nicolai wasn't dehydrated from how much he had been crying. But Fred didn't seem to mind. Instead, the ginger just smiled and turned back around to walk into the Great Hall, dragging a dumbfounded brunette behind him.

Upon the two boys reaching the rest of the Weasley family, Nicolai shook himself out of his own head and smiled shyly, not quite knowing what to say to the family who had offered him, a complete stranger, a place to stay for the time being.

Molly Weasley chuckled at the expressions plastered onto both of their faces.

Whilst Nicolai seemed almost bashful, her son seemed slightly prideful and his lips where suspiciously quirked into what she recognised as his mischievous smirk.

'What is this boy up to now?' Molly internally questioned, secretly glad that the war hadn't taken this side of Freds personality away from him.

However, the ageing woman pushed her thoughts away to focus on the subject at hand and, deciding not to make things to awkward for the young boy next to her son, she got straight to the point.

"Everyone has collectively decided that, after everything that has happened, we are going to be staying in the Burrow together for a couple of weeks. Of course you are free to tag along until you can get yourself situated Nicolai."

Said boy replied with a grateful smile and a quite mutter of niceties in thanks before Molly continued, turning to look at Fred.

"Now, there will be quite a few of us, so me and your father decided to set up the expandable tent for anyone who can't fit inside. However, both Ronald, Hermione, and Harry have already opted for that option, and so you can stay in Ron's room if you wish to Nicolai?"

"I would like that very much if you wouldn't mind Mrs. Weasley."

"Please, call me Molly!" She laughed in delight, already enjoying this new presence.

'I can already tell that he will fit in just fine' the ginger woman reflected before clapping her hands in delight after getting a nod in return.

"Great, okay, well I guess I should be the one to inform you both that a funeral of sorts is going to be held in about three days to say our final goodbyes to everyone we lost." Her expression turned grim as she vaguely gestured around the room.

Fred grimaced as he turned his attention away from his mother and towards Nicolai who shifted slightly closer to the body of his father that lay just ten feet away.

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Thank you for reading the fourth chapter of Redamancy, I hoped you enjoyed!
This was shorter than usual because it was mostly a filler chapter before I can really move on with the story.
I'm sorry that it isn't as long as the others!

Word count: 875

EDITED = ?/?/?