Chapter 7: “The Light and the Glass”

AN: You know that we have to go through the funeral. But in order to do that, the characters can heal. Lyrics provided by Coheed and Cambria. Tom and Kim make this story tolerable.

I'm going on a road trip and won't be back for a week! But I'll be checking my email. Give me love!

A distinct pop broke Katie Bell out of a fitful sleep. She woke quickly, brandishing her wand in fear, only to be faced with Fred Weasley.

“Fred! What the hell are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in hiding…” she whispered frantically, her breathy voice echoed against the wall of her small flat.

Fred silenced her with a deep kiss, cupping the sides of her face with his hands and sliding his tongue over her lips to deepen the kiss. She became caught up in his embrace quickly, melting her body against his and letting out a hungry moan. The sound seemed to break Fred out of his distraction and he leaned back to meet her eyes.

“I don’t have very long, this just, well George and I were talking…”

“For the last time, Fred! My breasts are real!” she said, smirking. She was being sarcastic, but she wanted to lighten the very serious look on his face. It worked. He laughed loudly, pulling her close to him. He pulled back and looked seriously in her eyes again. It took her breath away.

“Katie, we…I may not make it out of this war,” he said quietly, running a finger down the side of her face.

“Don’t say that!” she whispered frantically, fear gripping her chest tightly.

“It’s the truth. A fight is coming, and I’ll be a part of it.”

“So will I…”

“Of course. You’re my Gryffindor girl.” He smiled slightly, kissing her forehead. “That’s why I wanted to tell you something.”

“Well out with it!” she laughed, shocked by his bashful tone. She never knew him to be shy, and it was kind of cute.

“I’m in love with you,” he declared bravely, immediately searching her face for answers.

All of the breath seemed to leave Katie’s lungs. These were the last words she had expected to hear from Fred Weasley. She had thought she would have to wait for him forever. Her heart soared to know how much he cared, but in the same moment, it crashed again.

“Are you saying this out of fear? I don’t want you to say it just because of the circumstances of our lives right now,” she said, looking down at her lap.

His long fingers pulled her chin up to meet his light blue eyes. “I knew you would say that. But I’m prepared. Don’t worry, I’ll prove it to you,” he said, kissing her again and Disapparating into darkness.

Katie tried hard to fight waking for real, but it was an exercise in futility. She had fallen asleep on her sofa after a terribly trying morning visit to Angelina’s. Katie wanted so badly to go back to her dream, her memory, and tell him she loved him too, but the dulcet tones of Stubby Boardman’s tribute rang in her ears. The sounds reminded her that he was gone and she couldn’t do anything to change it.

Katie sighed and leaned her head back against the pillow, trying to find a way to get through her pain. She picked apart her brain, searching for a memory, and a hint of how Fred would have wanted her deal with this. Suddenly, Lee’s voice invaded her sitting room and she quietly listened to his opening, feeling solace in the voice of an old friend.

When the careful hum of Stubby Boardman’s guitar began to move Katie yet again to tears, she knew the best way to say goodbye to Fred. She walked with hope to her writing desk, her quill wiggled excitedly at her approach.

Slowly the pen touches paper

In the guidance of the words that you write.

Memories roll in; of the things you once did

And who you had shared them with

Is somebody thinking of you.

Katie Bell blew on the parchment with pride, drying the sleek black ink on the first draft of her finished product. She pulled out Manic Mike’s Mechanical Mic, a gift from Fred, and read the tag again.

For when you’re brave enough to finally share your gift with the world.

It was a microphone that recorded your voice for playback. It still had the pink ribbon Fred had attached.

She pressed the card to her lips, straightened her back, and began to sing the lyrics written to the tune of Boardman’s tribute.

With clenched fists,

And bright eyes,

He fought

.

With brave minds,

And steady hearts,

We won.

With selfless sacrifice,

He faded to naught,

And with instant valor,

He’s gone.

“Don’t cry,” he whispers,

“Don’t cry,” he pleads.

“I’m not worth it, I can’t stand it,

Don’t cry for me.”

We all are weary,

All walking toward fate.

Someday it will end,

All this suffering of late.

The pain is my prison,

His love his my chain.

Every night I dream,

Of his return in vain.

“Don’t cry,” he whispers,

“Don’t cry,” he pleads.

“I’m not worth it, I can’t stand it,

Don’t cry for me.”

I cry, I can’t help it.

His name on my lips,

I cry for the cold absence,

I cry for his kiss.

He’s alive in everything I see,

He’s contained in everything I touch,

I can’t stop the invasion of his memory,

I hurts me too much.

We cry

We all cry

We’re all crying

Trying not to say goodbye.

Katie listened to the playback accomplishment and a heavy heart. At the end, she grabbed the mic and stuffed it in her purse. Now all she needed was Lee Jordan, and she quickly Apparated to his studio.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Did I bother telling you this, with the words that cross teeth and jump lips?

A poor choice of words, in wanting to tell you anything.

But words don't come with ease. They're forever my hurt.

Lee Jordan was still in disbelief as he carefully flicked the switches to end his latest radio show. The fact that Stubby Boardman had chosen his show astounded Lee. He was even more astounded that good old Stubby had thanked him! The excitement and honor had stifled his mood for at least a short while.

But his mood quickly deflated when he was sorting through his paperwork and found the business plan he had been working on for Fred. The twins had wanted to open up a store in Hogsmeade, and needed Lee’s skills in number crunching to help them figure out the capital they would need. Lee’s chest tightened at the possibility it would never happen.

Lee looked up at a framed picture of Fred and George at their shop’s grand opening and clenched his jaw. “Damn all of this darkness,” he said to himself, and for the next hour he finished up the business plan. He knew George would bounce back, and Lee intended to be ready as soon as that happened.

Would it really matter, if you were to count the days left with your hands?

Your focus secure and the loves you left; well

smiles staged in photographs here until...

A light tapping on his studio door made Lee jump. He was more than surprised to see Katie Bell standing there. She looked disheveled; her blonde hair piled lazily no top of her head, and her body swimming in a sweatshirt far too big for her. Lee always found her delicate features astoundingly beautiful, but now her beauty seemed tragic, like a waste of perfection. He couldn’t resist the urge to hold her. and she gladly accepted his embrace.

“Can I ask a favor of you, Lee?” she questioned, her red, puffy eyes brimming with anticipation.

“Anything…” Lee whispered, and he meant it.

“I wrote lyrics to Stubby’s song…lyrics for Fred. And well, I wanted to perform it at his funeral,” she said quickly, looking at her feet and blushing.

“That sounds brilliant,” Lee said, instantly pleased with the idea of a musical tribute written specifically for Fred. He wished silently that it might ease his own pain a little as well. “I’ll send an owl to Stubby, he only left an hour ago.”

Katie smiled and hugged him again. Lee felt warmth spread through him at her touch, and it brought a comfort he hadn’t felt for days.

Soon, Stubby was back in the studio, and tuning his guitar, while Katie paced nervously outside the door, reading her lyrics over and over again.

“If you’re this nervous now, how will you be able to do it this afternoon?” Lee asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s Stubby Boardman!” she exclaimed in a frantic whisper.

“For Fred,” he assured her.

Katie swallowed deeply, mustered up her courage, and walked into the studio. She shook the musician’s hand and they quickly settled down to business.

Lee watched anxiously as Katie and Stubby seemed to be selecting the proper key for her voice. He couldn’t hear her, as the studio was soundproofed and they hadn’t yet turned on the mics. Soon, Katie took a position at the microphone next to Stubby’s chair. Her soft grey eyes met Lee’s as she took a deep breath and flicked her mic on. Soon, she began to sing.

You, you left the light on.

There's a chance I might have tripped, girl

You were there to hold on.

Lee closed his eyes as her voice began to hum through the equipment in the sound room of his studio. He fought to not concentrate on her lyrics, as the gravity of the tribute was too painful, and only listened to the notes and cadences of her gentle voice. The sound flowed over him, calming and taking away his grief. He could hear the pain in her voice, the tragic wailing of the guitar, and yet he was at peace. It calmed him to know that there were still beautiful things in this post-war darkness.

Too soon, the song was finished, and Katie was staring shyly at Lee, looking slightly apprehensive. Lee ignored the slightly lovestruck look that the aging rock star was now giving her, and cracked a small smile. He clapped his hands and turn on his mic.

“Fred would have loved that. He always said he was the luckiest wizard in Britain,” Lee met her eyes as a tear fell down her cheeks. She mouthed the words ‘thank you’ as she went to wipe her eyes.

“You guys feel free to practice up for the next hour. I’ve got some paperwork to do,” said Lee, reluctantly leaving Katie to her task.

When the hour had passed, Lee returned to find Stubby walking out the door while Katie was quietly gathering her things.

“I had best be going, I’ve got to get ready for the…well,” she said, misty eyed.

“Want me to pick you up? We can Apparate together,” Lee suggested. He didn’t want to go through the day alone.

“I’ll see you at my flat in an hour,” she said, turning on the spot. Lee grabbed a small box, shoved it in his pocket, and went home to change into black robes.

The Weasley garden was almost as packed as it had been during Bill and Fleur’s wedding. Black ribbons donned the chairs where back robed mourners sat gripping black umbrellas in the sudden smattering of rain. The blackness turned Lee’s stomach. Fred wouldn’t have wanted doom and gloom.

“All this black,” whispered Katie. Lee looked over to find her lip quivering. He put an arm around her shoulders.

Lee could hear footsteps approaching with familiarity, and knew that George and Angelina were coming to join them. He turned, relieved to see George unbroken, and hugged him openly. Lee reveled in the relief that his best friend was still here, still well, and would make it. This thought consoled him, and made the pain of the day more bearable.

“Katie, can we talk?” George asked quietly. She nodded and followed him into the shade of a near-by tree. Lee looked quizzically at Angelina, but she just closed her eyes and shook her head.

“Don’t worry about all this black, it will be gone in a second,” Angelina whispered to Lee, smirking conspiratorially.

Just as George and Katie were returning, tears in both of their eyes, Angelina slipped a box into Lee’s hands. With hardly a word, George and Katie began walking through the crowd, slipping identical boxes into the hands of every member of the D.A. in attendance. Lee flipped over the package, noticing the new logo emblazoned on the front. However, upon reading the instructions on the back, he recognized the Wheezes product immediately:

Weasley’s Patented Wet and Wild Water Painter!

Simply go outside on a rainy day (don’t forget a coat!),

And levitate this box high in the clouds.

Once there, yell “Picasso” and voila!

The rain will color your world.

Lee smiled, looking up into the clouds as boxes began floating into the sky, and quickly levitated his own. George stood up, counting loudly to three, and a rousing chorus of ‘Picasso’ rang out across the Burrow garden.

Suddenly, every drop of rain became a push stroke, streaking all of the black with bright colors in every shade imaginable. Soon, everyone was standing, small children were splashing around in puddles sending spatters of red and blue flying in every direction. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were dancing happily, letting the colors cover them in memories of Fred. George and Angelina stood next to each other, looking up and letting the rain streak down their faces, their hands remained clasped. Everyone smiled in nostalgia, enjoying a release from the servitude of their own grief. Lee looked over to see Katie, her arms out and spinning in a small circle.

Ignoring the words of your obnoxious little brother;

kill or be killed spilled the words from your mother.

I'll lay awake for a while.

I'll leave the light on a while.

He acted on impulse, took her hands, and began to spin with her. Everyone in attendance at the memorial continued to enjoy the rain until Charlie Weasley stood at the podium and cleared his throat.

“This is a memorial, a day that we remember my brother, Fred, as we return him to the Earth. Let’s celebrate his life rather than mourn his death. As we can see, George has already gotten us started,” Charlie said, winking at him.

“I remember when I was leaving for my first year of Hogwarts. I tried packing a ton of sweets, as many as I could. Of course, Mum found them and made me get rid of them all.

“Well, when I went to unpack my trunk, I unfolded my socks, and a piece of candy fell out of every pair. I knew it was Fred, because the last sock held a note that said ‘Love, Fred.’

“It made my first year away from home easier, knowing that someone besides Mum was thinking of me,” Charlie wiped a tear from his eye and stepped off the podium.

Every Weasley had a story, as did many former classmates. Finally, Lee squeezed Katie’s hand and they walked to the area near Fred’s casket. Lee walked up to the mic.

“I get to talk to most of the Wizarding World every morning. You all know how I feel. So I’m going to give the platform to Stubby Boardman’s guitar, and Miss Katie Bell’s lovely voice,” Lee finished, anxious to hear the song again and really hear the lyrics.

The tie-dyed crowd was completely still, sitting with rapt attention as the voice and the guitar mingled in perfect melody and harmony. Lee closed his eyes where he stood, remembered Fred, and saying his goodbyes.

But you couldn't last a lifetime.

Caught between here and the days of it;

carving her name across your arm with every wish.

It's hit or miss... her.

I told you so.

I measured distance in lines departing the rest of my life.

But you, you, you... you had better things to do

Soon, it was time to carry Fred away to the Prewitt Family Plot. Lee stood with Bill and Percy, holding one side of the casket ready to Apparate, while George, Ron and Charlie took the other side. Arthur abstained, opting to follow behind and hold tightly to his wife.

Before he could blink, Fred was in the ground and the mourners were heading back to their homes.

Lee walked over to George and Angelina, just as Katie, Dean, and Seamus were approaching as well.

“Ron and Harry reckon some drinking is in order. You know Fred loves celebrations!” George said, looking to everyone to see if they were up for a party.

“Party at the Burrow!” Seamus laughed, Dean joining him with a quiet chuckle.

They all went to Apparate, but Lee took Katie’s wrist, quietly asking her to stay behind for a moment. She met his eyes, looking anxious at what he might say.

“I debated giving this to you, I didn’t want to see you more hurt. But, well, he bought it for you, and he would want you to have it,” Lee said, avoiding her cautious gaze as he fished in his pockets for the box. It was a simple black ring box, but there was a note attached in Fred’s handwriting.

For Katie,

Here’s my proof.

Love,

Fred.

She opened it and saw the sparkling diamond ring.

Lee let her cry on his shoulder for a good while before helping her slide the ring onto a silver chain on her neck. He clasped it, wiped a tear from her face, and they Apparated to the Burrow.

If you get put to sleep, like an old dog, you're better off.

If you get put to sleep;

I've been cautious with the words I extend.

Allow this year before the world starts to end.

Pray for us all.

Lyrics for Katie’s song written by me.