Darling • Fred Weasley x reader

Chapter sixty one

The air is frigid, eliminating any warmth I'd contained in my body previously. I feel no urge to move, but my curiosity gets the best of me as I walk across the back road of knockturn alley. Draco isn't with me this time; no one is for that matter.

Feeling an eerie cloud begin to form above me, I hurry into the first shop I can find; Borgin and Burkes of all places. I wonder why I'd gone here alone, it wouldn't usually be like me, but I suppose now the mark on my arm serves as a detail of protection; even just the simplicity of my name alone.

The people of knockturn alley always seem to know things that they shouldn't, yet it's a silent rule to not ask where they'd acquired that information and to never go looking for answers. Normally, I'd be receiving intrigued glances and catching wandering eyes, but now they scurry past with their heads down.

The shop is seemingly vacant at this point in the day, every artifact lying on the shelves remains untouched since the last time I'd visited. A heavy mildew scent films the air and it's dim, the only source of light being a shattered window near the front of the shop and a half burnt candle lit on one of the tabletops.

I browse the cluttered area, antiques and dusted piles of books lining the walkway, but suddenly my attention flickers around the corner. I recognize the ceiling high cabinet from that night. It's secluded from everything else and I quickly realize the large cauldron that once sat beside it is no where to be seen. I hesitantly step toward it and graze the handle with my chilled fingertips.

On the interior there's nothing but a singular shelf, allowing the rest of the cabinet to be unoccupied space. After a few moments of my eyes analyzing it, a new source of light appears. A pale blue orb appears in the back of the rack and my gaze grows wide before scanning my surroundings. The exterior is glass and I realize that there's something engraved on the bottom reading 'Y/n Potter.'

It's almost completely identical to the prophecy that Harry had found in the Department of Mysteries last year. I flinch at the sound of a woman's voice that comes from it.

"Two should be born of an identical womb, but only one may survive at the hand of another. For none can live while the others survive."

I replay the words in my mind and reflect back to the Ministry. Harry said there were only two mentioned in the prophecy...

I abruptly feel a hand on my shoulder and my focus shoots in that direction, but there's no one around me. "Y/n?" Within the blink of an eye, I meet Ginny's gaze.

My surroundings morph into a scene inside of The Three Broomsticks although my fingertips still tingle from the chill of the glass orb. "We didn't mean to wake you." Maddie assures me apologetically from beside George around the circular table we gather at.

"Must be exhausted; you passed out once we sat down." He states with an airy laugh and I manage to mirror the action as I wrap my arms around my torso uncomfortably. Fred eyes me and reaches for my hand in which he cups it in his.

"You're freezing." He furrows his brows.

"I reckon it's almost too warm in here." Ginny comments from beside Dean, but I shrug it off as me being tired which is completely false. If anything I was wide awake after my dream; if that's what it was. It seemed almost too real to be one.

I recognize a voice near the front of the pub and spot Harry conversing with Professor Slughorn. "All hands on deck, Granger!" The older wizard shouts cheerfully after his drink splatters across the table.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to speak with my professor." I inform Fred and he gives me a sweet smile and a nod in understanding as I walk toward the trio.