When the kids finally woke up, Sirius had already put breakfast on the table while Elle was preparing herself to tell the kids the most heartbreaking thing they will most likely ever hear.

The kids sat down and started to eat, all without a single word. They knew that something wasn't right. Deep down, they all knew that their dad wasn't going to walk through the door again.

It was silent for a moment before Dylan looked up. "Dad's not coming home, is he?"

Elle swallowed her tears. "No, love."

Reese and Brady came in through the fireplace. "Mum, what's happened? Why wouldn't McGonagall tell us anything?"

"Sit down, loves," Elle whispered, nodding her head to the empty seats beside Josie and Dylan.

"Where's Dad?" Brady asked, not sitting down.

Elle was silent for a moment. "Where's Dad, Mum?" He asked even louder.

"Dad's not going to be coming home. Dad's- dad's in a b-better place now," she stuttered out, managing to keep her tears at bay. She reminded herself to be strong for the kids.

Brady melt to his knees. "No! No! He- he said it would take more than just some Death Eaters to kill him! Mum, p-please tell me the D-Death Eat-Eaters didn't kill him!"

Elle's heart broke. She got up and put a hand on Brady's shoulder. "Come on, love. Let's go somewhere else to talk."

Brady nodded and followed her to their bedroom, where he went and sat down on Fred's side of the bed. "They did get him, didn't they?"

Elle sat down beside him. "Yes, love, they did. Your dad put up a brave fight. The aurors think he took down a majority of the men Marvello brought with him. Marvello got him with a poisoned knife, but before your dad- dad passed he sent a patronus. He said to make sure you knew how much he loved you. He wanted to make sure that you knew that you kids were his world. Brady, me and you are gonna have to be strong for your sisters and brother. I know it hurts, love. I know, trust me. For-for now we're just gonna have to cry to each other," she told him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

He nodded and buried his head in Elle's shoulder. She could feel the wetness of his tears as they soaked through her shirt. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. He looked just like Fred. He looked like him so much it hurt.

She cried as she held him. He wrapped his arms around her as well. They held each other as their hearts broke and their worlds came crashing down. They held each other as memories came flooding through their minds. They held each other together; kept each other from falling apart.

Elle sucked in a shaky breath. "Grandpa is going to take you guys to his house for a couple days while I settle everything. Pack whatever you'd like, love," she told him shakily, fighting to keep it together for him.

He nodded. "Could.... could I stay with you? I'm old enough, Mum. I don't want you to be alone."

She smiled sadly. "And I don't want you too involved. I was a tad older than you when my mum died and it was... terrifying. I wasn't even that involved. I don't want that for you."

"Mum, I'm a fifth year. I can handle it. I can help. Don't distance yourself from me."

She tried to bite back her tears, but one leaked out. "I'm not distancing myself from any of you."

"Yes, you are. I could tell when I got here that you didn't cook breakfast. You stayed in here until you knew you had to talk to Josie and Dylan."

"Brady, I had to prepare myself to tell them... I don't want you all seeing how broken I really am," she murmured, reaching up to mess with a strand of his red hair.

"I can help you, Mum. Let me help you."

He's just like Fred. Every part of him is Fred, Elle thought.

"I'll let you stay here on one condition," she finally said.

"Anything."

"If I tell you to step out of the room at any time, you will."

He nodded begrudgingly. "Okay."

She smiled and went back to holding him. He held her. Mother and son held each other together.
——
Sorry this is so short and it took so long to publish! Writer's block sucks!

I'm sorry for killing Fred. I literally cried writing it... it broke my heart just as much as it broke yours, I swear!

Bye!
-Drew