Where The Sage Shrubs Grow,

Chapter 92

Sage's POV:
I stared down at the peculiar letter.
Are you ok?
-Fred
That's all it read. Had something happened? Was he alright? Was something going on?
"What are you looking at?" Hallie asked
I handed her the ominous letter.
"What do you think it means?" I asked
"I dunno." Hallie mumbled "Letter him and ask."

I set the letter on my desk and crawled into bed for the night.
"I already wrote my letter for tonight so I'll do it tomorrow." I yawned
"Sounds good, goodnight Sage"
"Night."

-

I woke up unusually early, a full two hours before my alarm. I took the opportunity to take a shower. I rolled out of bed only to find Hallie getting dressed.
"What are you doing up?"
She screamed jumping back, obviously she hadn't seen me.
"I-oh um-yes- I-I am going to... uhm... gonna meet Karl." She stuttered
"Why?" I asked
"To shag." She said rushing out of the room

She was acting strange. She wouldn't tell me that... why would they get up early for that? I shrugged it off getting into the shower making sure the water was hot. I hopped out only to hear whispering.
"Hallie?" I called "Is that you?"
"Uh- yeah-" she responded hesitantly
"Oh, ok."

I was so happy it was Saturday, as I slipped on a band shirt with high waisted shorts. Sometimes the uniform just got a bit too warm with the long robes. I used a random bandana that I had laying around to hold back my curls. I didn't feel like actually doing my hair.

"Hallie I'm coming out and if I find you shagging with Karl in your bed I'm throwing myself out the window!" I shouted through the door
My bare feet slipping slightly from the condensation on the floor. I slowly opened the door, slightly concerned for what I was about to witness.
"It's just me darling." Fred's voice cooed

I screamed almost slipping and falling backwards. Luckily I grabbed onto the counter. I froze, trying to comprehend what I had heard. I heard Fred's voice but I didn't see him. I slowly walked out of the bathroom only to find him snooping through my desk as he sat on my bed.
"FRED!" I cried tackling him in the biggest hug

I couldn't help but start to smother his face in kisses. I really had missed him. He laughed slightly at my reaction before I got off of him I stood up to admire him.
"Look at you! You look like a fancy business man. What are you doing here?" I asked
"What? A guy can't sneak into school to see his girlfriend?"
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming!" I said slapping his shoulder slightly
"It was supposed to be a surprise." He smiled gently kissing my lips

"I like what you've done with your bed." He smirked pointing at the letters that covered the whole of the bottom bunk. I has started pinning them there so I could see his words every time I woke up and when I fell asleep. "Look away, that's embarrassing." I said my cheeks warming slightly
"Gods Ive missed you." He mumbled

"You look so different." I commented "you've changed your hair-" I said running my fingers though his still soft ginger hair
"Is this a bad different?" He chuckled
"No! It's just different."
He sat me down next to him on my bed holding onto my jaw slightly.
"So why don't you tell me what's been going on."
"What do you mean? I've told you everything I think." I replied
"Why don't you start with the students who've been harassing you that just so happened to be left out of your letters." He said cocking an eyebrow at me

That's when it hit me. Hallie had sent him a letter. That's why she was acting strange this morning.
"Or maybe start with how you've started crying yourself to sleep? Hm?" He continued
My jaw dropped slightly. That was supposed to be personal information. I couldn't believe Hallie told him about that.
"I- pshhh, I have not been-" I tried blowing him off as if nothing was wrong
"You can't gif anything from me darling so just give it up."

"You know, I'm gonna kill Hallie." I mumbled
"Don't go after her, she was worried about you and rightfully so." He said kissing my temple "So just tell me what's been going on."
I explained everything to him. About what the students had been saying. For some reason it felt like getting caught. Probably because I had tried hiding all this from him only to find out that someone else told him about it.

"You know darling, it makes me less worried when you actually tell me what's going on instead of hearing about how you're fine in every letter. I knew something was wrong. Hallie didn't letter me. I lettered her, asking if you were actually ok."
"So you just paused opening your business, just to come see me." I said glaring at him
I was annoyed that he would put me in front of this important moment in his life.
"I would stop the whole world for you if I thought it would help."

I was upset. I was upset that Hallie told Fred what I asked her not to, I was upset that Fred had dismissed his responsibilities to come see me, I was upset that students wouldn't leave me alone, but most of all I was upset that after doing all the work to hide my emotional baggage I was still caught. Like a small child stealing cookies from the cookie jar. I kept my gaze pinned to the floor with my arms crossed.

"Look at me." Fred spoke
I refused to budge, I didn't want to look at him, I felt like a child.
"Look at me darling." He repeated using his finger to lift my chin
I turned my gaze slightly from the floor to meet his eyes.
"Good girl. You can always tell me everything ok?"
I nodded.

"Good." He said leaning in to kiss me again
Our lips had barley met when the door flung open
"Ew! Are y'all shagging?!" Hallie screeched
I looked at her with an unamused face. MC, Lee, Hallie, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all stood there
Fred laughed "No we aren't."
Hallie was lord over to me stand in front of me "So how's are ya?" She asked awkwardly
I glared up at her.

"I hate you sometimes." I mumbled
"Yeah, but you still love me!" Hallie said plopping down next to me
Everyone attacked Fred with questions. They wanted to know how everything was going. He had left rather abruptly. Ginny kept hugging Fred tightly. They had always been especially close, at least that's what Ginny told me.

It was almost dinner time by the time everyone had left to attend to their other engagements.
"I should probably go soon." Fred spoke
"I know." I said keeping my arms wrapped tightly around him preventing him from getting up
"I have to help George." He said
"I know."
"We can't lay here forever." He laughed
"I know." I sighed

I let him go rolling onto by back as he moved towns over me.
"I'll be back soon darling." He spoke softly
"I won't bet on it." I mumbled
He smiled sadly knowing I was probably right. Once the shop opened there probably wouldn't be any time for him to sneak into the school.

"If Darius speaks to you one more time-" he started
"Then I'll be sure to tell my old grandpa of a boyfriend who I'm apparently dating for the money to come and help me out." I remarked
He froze before bursting into laughter. I couldn't help but laugh with him
"I can't believe someone said that." He laughed

"Alright, get off me so I can kiss you before you leave me again." I said pushing him away from me
"Don't think I was going to leave without a kiss." He said
He grabbed his wand off of his desk, sticking it in his pocket before wrapping me in a warm hug. Despite the fact I had a bottle of his cologne, his real scent was so different. His cologne was only a part of it and his jumpers were no math in keeping me warm compared to the body heat he radiated.

I wanted to stick him in my pocket and keep him with me forever.
"Goodbye love." He smiled
"Bye." I replied
I pulled his face down so I could place one last kiss to his cheek.
"I'm going to miss you again." I mumbled into his chest
"I know. At least you graduate next year." He offered
"Maybe I'll blow up the great hall and leave early." I laughed slightly
"Just so long as I can come back to see it."

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