You and Fred had been together for only a few months, but it already felt like you’d lived a hundred little lifetimes with him. The secret jokes, the midnight sneaking into the kitchens, the way he tugged you into his side whenever someone walked too close in the corridors. Everything with him had colour. Everything with him felt brighter.

So when Dumbledore’s Army began, Fred didn’t even ask. He just looked at you with that spark in his eyes and said you were coming with him. You didn’t argue. You joined. You stood beside him at every meeting, your elbow brushing his.

Harry’s lesson on the Patronus Charm was the one you dreaded the most. Patronuses weren’t just magic. They were heart-deep magic. Magic that exposed everything inside you. You’d always struggled with it.

“Don’t think too hard,” Harry reminded you gently. “Just focus on your happiest memory.”

When you cast your first Patronus, it flickered and formed into a small, silvery cat. Not strong, not steady, but it was there. Fred clapped like you’d just won the Triwizard Tournament and kissed your temple before Harry even finished speaking.

“See? Brilliant,” he whispered. “Told you.”

Weeks passed. Practices continued. Your cat became more solid, more sure-footed, and Fred always watched with this soft, proud expression on his face. One you weren’t used to seeing from him. One he saved only for you.

Your relationship grew like that too. Steady, certain and warm.

You didn’t realise how much until the night everything changed.

The Room of Requirement was packed. Harry walked everyone through Patronuses again, wanting them strong enough to fight actual Dementors if needed. You were tired, a little stressed, but Fred squeezed your hand as if to say I’m right here. Always.

You faced the open space and lifted your wand.

“Expecto Patronum.”

Silver light burst from the tip, brighter than you’d ever managed. It spun, gathered itself, and then shaped into something completely different.

Not a cat.

A magpie.

Fred’s magpie.

Fred’s wand clattered to the floor.

Harry looked stunned. Hermione looked thrilled. George looked like he was about to tease Fred for the rest of his life.

But Fred didn’t look at any of them.

He looked at you.

“Bloody hell…” he breathed, stepping toward the glowing creature like he wasn’t sure it was real. “Love, that’s— that’s mine.”