It's a quiet night for Robbie and me, even though it is Hallowe'en. Every night we share is mostly quiet. Neither of us has preferred anything loud and bubbly. Even at Hogwarts, we blended into the background. I didn't go to any after parties after the Yule Ball. From what I can tell, neither did Robbie. I'm not even sure she had a date.

"Who did you date at Hogwarts?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

She looks up at me. The soft smile on her face fades away. "Don't worry about it."

The brush is enough to push me away. It occurs to me that Robbie and I might not even be friends. Acquaintances at best. Does she trust me? Does she judge me for running after Silas at the wedding?

"Do you think I'm a bad person?" I ask.

She blinks, burying her nose in the prophet. I don't have any sense to read that thing, knowing that Elora works for them. Robbie cannot help it. She watches on with a morbid curiosity, and every morning she briefs me on the state of the world.

Her job at St. Mungo's is done, and no one is willing to hire a Muggle-born right now. It would be too embarrassing to ask Fred and George if we could crash at their place, especially since it would leave Robbie sleeping on the living room floor. I've been working double-time at the Ministry, especially since they are stockpiling Veritaserum, and I'm one of their best brewers. Hopefully, it'll be enough to keep Robbie and me afloat.

"No," she points out. "We're just complicated."

There is a knock at the door, and I wait a second. We aren't expecting anyone. Robbie darts out of the room, grabbing her wand and hiding in the back. I get up on my feet and answer the door.

On the other side is George, waiting. He looks at me, then looks behind me. "Hey."

"Hey," it takes me a second to register him. Earless, before me, most certainly not his brother. I take a step back and let him in. I haven't seen or heard from either of them since my birthday. I'm trying to give them time and space.

"Is Robbie home?" he asks.

I pause and look him up and down. He's dressed oddly. He wears a muggle labcoat and a top hat. To be honest, he looks quite silly. "Tell me something only George would know."

He sighs. "I don't need to rehash the first time Fred told you he loved you, do you?"

"Lupin could know that," I point out. Although, no one could wish Robbie harm that would know that story.

"Well, I'm not Lupin," he points out, putting his hands on his hips. There is a twitch of a smile on his face, but he brow is knitted. "I'm Dr. Jekyll."

When I look on incredulously, he continues. "Like, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It's a Muggle thing. Is Robbie home?"

"Robbie!" I call out behind me.

Eventually, she comes out from around the corner, sneakily. "Sorry."

George rushes over to her and wraps her in a hug. "I thought they might've snatched you."

"Snatched?" I ask. "What do you mean?"

"Snatchers," he elaborates. "They are rounding up Muggle-borns for questioning at the bar. I was... I was worried they might've caught you."

"Where's Fred?" I ask, heading towards the door. "Still at the bar?"

"The Green Dragon," George explains. "He wouldn't leave with me."

I take in a deep breath, nerves filling me as I put my shoes on. Then, I apparate away. I land on the steps of the Green Dragon. Though I expected a line-up, there is none. Instead, I see a group of cloaked men, each looking dirtier than the last. They are muttering amongst themselves, holding a blonde girl who sobs in their arms.

I look between them, and then at the Green Dragon, and quickly run in.

Inside, there are a lot of people chatting and hushed whispers. The band has stopped their set, and they simply stand on top of the stage holding their instruments in their hands. Through the crowd, I can see a top hat. Thank God that Fred is so tall.

I get to him, where he sits at the bar, pounding back a firewhiskey.

"Hey," I manage. I didn't think I'd get this far. What exactly am I supposed to say? "How're you?"

"I'mjust fantastick," he slurs, shaking his head back and forth and laughing. He downs the shot before taking another.

He can't apparate back like this. His shoulders are weighing down on the bar, helping his swaying body stand.

"You're going to fall over," I tell him.

He looks at me, turning his head. "Have you brought mewand?"

Someone bumps into me and glares. It's only then that I realize how strange I must look. I'm wearing a comfy cloak and skirt, rather than a Hallowe'en costume. His face is covered in a thin layer of grey make-up, and he is wearing red contacts. His suit is very old-fashioned, and looking at him, you cannot tell what he has dressed up as. Maybe, if you are clever enough, you will realize it's a Muggle character.

"You need to take off that costume," I tell him. "There are Snatchers outside."

"YeahIknow," Fred says. "Georgie stole my wand, so Icouldnae fight. Larkin, why didn'tya try to find it for me?"

This is going to be much harder than I thought.

"Let's leave," I am trying not to beg him. "I'll explain at my flat."

"It's cause you donae have a good anwser, huh?" he asks. "It's cause you wuoldn't fight to save thatgirlthe Snatchers took."

People are beginning to file out. Fred turns away from me and snaps his fingers, ordering another shot. When he gets it, I debate wrestling it out of his hand. He downs it before I can reach forward.

"I don't think you'd be of any use fighting this sloshed," I point out.

"Some people can't be saved," he says, turning to me. His eyes burn bright red, and for a second he has some clarity. I can't tell if he's talking about her or Silas.

Then, he stumbles into me and I catch him.

If I could, I would try to prove him wrong. I'd go outside and free that Muggle-born from the Snatchers. However, if the Daily Prophet is right like Robbie says, blood-traitors are the next to be snatched. I'm not risking myself and Fred, especially when he is without a wand.

"Let me at least save you, just this once," I plead.

Fred nods, putting down a shot glass and beginning to walk with me out. People are leaving around us, but we are near the back of the pack. Once we are outside, I realize that most of the Snatchers are gone. I keep my head down, looking at my hands.

Fred's grip on me tightens. I can feel him about to bark out something, but I shush him. For the first time maybe ever, I try to bring him into my world. One of silence and averted eyes. We don't get to fight or stand up for what we believe in. We don't get anything.

"I hate living like this," he whispers. It seems the cold October air is doing some good in sobering him.

"Well, you cannot fight without a wand," I point out, even though I'm sure he knows. Every step is delicate and careful against the cobblestone. My flat is only a few blocks, and we walk in silence until we get a bit farther.

"Why was Silas's life more important than my family's?" he asks.

I hadn't realized he saw things that way, I stay quiet, pursing my lips together. I don't think I was wrong, but I am sorry. Both Silas and Fred are two of the most important men in my life. I ruined Silas by providing him with the recipe for Amortentia.

"Well?" he asks.

"I thought you would want me to fight for Silas," I point out. "I put myself in a lot of danger by letting my guard down in front of him. I was wrong that I could save him, but I don't think I was wrong for trying."

Fred stumbles and I go to catch him, but instead, we trip and fall onto the street. He lies beneath me, and I hold myself over top of him.

"When you were gone, I thought they had taken you," he leans in close to me, his freckled nose tilted up at me. Our lips are centimetres apart. I won't close the gap. I want him to make that choice. I want him to choose me.

"I'd die before going with them," I tell him, and I mean it.

He leans up and kisses me. Quickly. Tentatively. I lean into it, but I let him pull back.

"It would be so much easier for me if I could stop loving you, Larkin," he brings his hand up to my cheek and caresses it. He takes a strand of my hair and twirls it between his fingers.

"Loving you is the only easy thing in my life," I smile back.

~~~~~

We are getting close to the end of this book. By my calculations, there should be less than ten chapters left. I mean, that seems like a good 20% of the book left.

Also, there will be a sequel (prequel of sorts) following somethings from Robbie's perspective, and I am excited to get to work on that! Let me know if you are interested in hearing about her!

I can't wait to see you all soon.