Fred Weasley x Reader (slow and Steady)

Ch 78: And So We Go to War

Lupin's voice spoke through with a hushed tone, "The time has come, apparate to the Hog's Head Pub in Hogsmeade, there you will meet a contact who will usher you safely into the school. We'll see you there." It did not stay long enough to repeat the sentence, once he finished talking the patronus disappeared, leaving the group of us in silence.

The thudding of footsteps echoed loudly in the house as George fumbled down the steps heavily breathing as he grabbed the doorway, his body lurching forward as the momentum carried his body for a few seconds.

"The" he breathed, "The signal, they did the signal over the radio." He finally let out with uneven breaths, his shoulders raising and lowering quickly.

"We know," Arthur nodded.

"What? How?" he looked at his father confused.

"Lupin sent one as well." Fred noted, his thumb pointing to the now empty air.

"Ah," he noted, "What now?"

"Now, we leave." Arthur stood up from the couch, brushing off his pants. "Go get your sister." he looked at the boys.

Nodding, Fred gave my hand one final squeeze and ran up the stairs with George dashing to the room Ginny had taken as her own. Arthur and Molly looked to one another, worry spread over Molly's face as her hand reached for her husbands'.

"It'll be alright darling, just like old times." he mused.

"I don't want it to be like old times, we lost so much." She worriedly replied, now getting up to stand alongside him.

"We won't, we have a larger group aiding us." He smiled encouragingly.

"Do you think so?" She asked.

"I'm sure the school won't need to be persuaded too hard to help us," I noted, "Especially the other teachers."

"She's right." Arthur pointed out.

"And the children?" Molly questioned. "Will they fight?"

"No, I highly doubt the staff or anyone else will allow any underaged witch or wizard to aid us in the battle. It'll be too dangerous for them." he shook his head.

"Everything will be fine," I spoke, my hands balled into fists, my throat had tightened from the worry; it had taken every fiber of my willpower to not let my anxiety run free, the cup nearly running over.

Noticing my nerves, Arthur's eyebrows creased in concern. The twins and Ginny jogged down the steps moments later meeting us in the living room, now standing in a full circle.

Once everyone gathered together, Arthur nodded and began, "Now, I'm not going to lie and say this will be easy. Battles as big as this is probably going to be are messy, it's not going to be a walk in the park. There is an incredibly high chance that things can and absolutely will get messy. If we're lucky, it'll just be a messy fight. But there is always a chance we're unlucky."

"What happens if we're unlucky?" I asked hesitantly, the answer felt so obvious yet I asked.

"Lets just hope we're lucky." Arthur replied instead, which was enough of an answer to my question. There would be no survival if we lost, not in a world where he reigned in control. "Alright everyone, you heard the patronus. Once we get to the tavern, we stick together, do not go alone anywhere."

With a stiff nod, one by one we all apparated; the solid floor ripping away from underneath me as the world spun around, for a brief moment, the nerves had seemed to whisk away. Perhaps to stay in the small little home they were just moments ago.

Seconds later, the solid ground made contact with my feet once more, grabbing ahold of Fred's hand we squeezed tightly. I had left my bag at home, taking it here wouldn't be of any help and it would be more dangerous to bring it along with me than leave it back there. Plus, leaving it there was almost like a promise to myself, I was going to go back for it, we'd survive. I was sure of it.