SIXTY SEVEN

RORY HAD BECOME INCREDIBLY aware of how painful it was to simply exist over the next few days. It didn't help that there was nothing to keep her busy. Except of course, the twins creating an owl service for their products and sending out what they could to people. It was a very clever idea, but it didn't take up all her time helping out and most days, she was alone with her thoughts in a big house.

Rory came to the revelation that maybe she didn't like magic so much after all. She had always preferred to do things the Muggle way anyways. Perhaps she was just so caught up in the wonders of Hogwarts that because she was in the "real world", she recognized that it was all just a façade. Or maybe it was childhood that was the true veil and she didn't like being an adult so much. If she were in the Muggle world, she would have been at University, studying to get a cozy teaching degree and getting drunk on the weekends with her friends. But at the same time she would have never met Fred or her father or anyone else she cared for for that matter.

But still, she was curious what if. She couldn't go back and change the past, but maybe there was a way to have a new future. A future where she could keep all the people she cared for whilst giving up the one thing that seemed to cause all the destruction and heartbreak in her life.

She decided, what better person to talk to than a wand maker? The man who basically introduced her to magic, the man who knew more about it than anyone else... and the last person to see her brother alive.

Ollivander had arrived a few weeks after everyone else. She had only met him twice in her life, but when she knocked on the door to his bedroom one day, it was like they were old friends. He remembered her well it seemed.

"Miss Archer," he said quietly, "come in, please."

She smiled softly and walked over to where he was, hunched over a small desk, making a wand.

"For Miss Lovegood," he said, noticing her glance at his project. She nodded and sat down on the chair across from him. Her wand was in her hand, lazily held.

"Mr. Ollivander," she began, "My wand —"

"Yes, twelve and a half inches, unicorn hair core, and... dogwood, isn't it?"

She nodded, "Y-Yeah. You remembered —"

"Of course I remember. I remember feeling a particular sense of pity for you. Dogwood wands can perform some of the best magic, the most dazzling enchantments. But, they can be a bit mischievous and rather loud. Have you ever noticed you can't produce non-verbal spells?"

"I guess so, yeah," she said, "I always thought I was just no good at them. That I didn't have it in me."

He shook his head, "No, not at all. See, wands have a mind of their own. Your particular wand simply doesn't fancy the idea of that sort of magic."

Rory hesitated, "What would happen... if someone broke their wand, snapped it in half?"

"My dear," Ollivander said, "are you thinking of breaking your wand? I understand after what's happened to your brother that you might —"

"N-No!" Rory lied, "I was just curious."

"Well... wands can be mended – but that's unlikely, only the Elder wand is capable and of mending another. They can be remade, just as I'm remaking Miss Lovegood's wand. But people often purchase another. It still works just the same, the wand still chooses them. Using someone else's wand, that's what can cause problems." He explained.

"Well, thank you," she smiled, she paused, wondering if she had anything else to ask the man. Did she want to know about Aaron? About his last moments? Or perhaps ignorance was bliss. She decided on the latter and began to get up to leave.

He stopped her, "I have something I think you might want, Miss Archer."

"What is it?" She said, sitting back down.

He pulled out a white wand, one she recognized immediately to be her brother's.

"Ten inches, dragon heartstring core, Yew wood," Ollivander said, examining the wand, "Yew wood is a rarer type of wand. Unique, though. Miss Ginny Weasley possesses one, as well as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named... and your brother."

He handed her the wand and Rory let out a small gasp, "Well, does it mean anything?"

"Yew does not pick wizards with good or bad traits, just powerful ones. When a Yew wood wand owner is buried with their wand, a tree will grow to protect their grave. Yew trees are poisonous, but beautiful. What's certain, though, is that wands of Yew never chose mediocrity or timidness."

"Really?" Rory asked, "Aaron was always a bit quiet, I just thought —"

"Oh, but he wasn't timid. He was anything but. He was loud and brave. His heart was powerful, that's what is taken into account when it comes to wands."

That made sense. What was that cliche? The quietest people have the loudest minds? That was truer than ever when it came to Aaron.

"Lupin said... he said you told him Aaron fought until the very end..." she didn't think about the words before she said them, she just did. Perhaps it was because she really wanted to know, and ignorance was never good enough for Rory.

"He did," Ollivander said, "I'm truly sorry. I know this is difficult. He was great company for me. I'm not sure why they... did what they did to him. Maybe he had been there for too long, couldn't take any more."

"Do you know who did it?" She asked, trying to hold back the tears swelling in her eyes.

He shook his head, "I'm afraid not, dear."

She nodded and stood up, taking her wand as well as Aaron's with her.

"Thank you, Mr. Ollivander," she said.

Well, she wasn't sure what to feel after that.

[][][][][]

THAT NIGHT, AND WELL — every night, Fred snuck into Rory's room. It was nice, whispering to each other even though the silencing charm was over the room. He would hold her as she slept. In his arms, she wouldn't have nightmares. Some nights she cried, others she laughed. They always talked for hours until neither of them could keep their eyes shut.

"I talked to Ollivander today," Rory said as Fred's hand were laced lazily through her hair, sending soft tingles down her body.

"Oh yeah?" He asked softly, "About what?"

"I was... I was wondering what would happen if someone broke their wand. Like, on purpose."

"Oh?"

She nodded, "Yeah... I was just curious. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like... without magic. Maybe after the war I could live a normal life. I dunno, just a thought. He, er, he had Aaron's wand. Gave it to me."

"Rory..." he said, moving his position and propping himself so his head was just below her chest and he looked up at her with coffee brown puppy dog eyes.

"I'm fine, really," she said, "Not sure what to do with it now, though. I might... bury it. Since we don't have his body..."

"That would be nice," Fred said with a soft smile. He planted a small kiss on her exposed stomach and trailed up to her lips with his kisses. She smiled, feeling at home in his embrace.

"You always know how to cheer me up, don't you?" She teased.

He nodded, burying his head in the crook on her neck. He was in an exceptionally needy mood that night.

"I love you, Rory," he hummer softly.

"I love you too, Freddie."

They were silent for a moment. Rory sighed, "Your mum has been really great. With all this... she knows what's it like, to lose a brother. And she's really patient with my dad, bringing his meals to him since he hasn't been leaving his room."

"She'd do anything for you," Fred said. Rory knew he was being truthful.

Another moment of silence.

This time, Fred spoke up.

"When this is all over, I'm going to take you anywhere you want... first New York City, you can see a proper Broadview —"

"Broadway."

"Broadway show. Then we'll go to Florence in Italy. You can see all sorts of Renaissance... stuff. Then, Greece. Once you get there, they'll start believing in goddesses again. Maybe we'll relax for a bit, somewhere on an island. Then we'll come back here, to England... find a sweet little cottage and settle down. You can start teaching, I'll have the shop. We'll have a proper spring wedding, and then I'll give you a child or two or three or four... all named after the best authors and poets in the world. Doesn't that sound nice?"

Rory nodded, "That sounds perfect. You got it all right. Every last detail..."

He truly had. He described her perfect future. All her dreams. Ever since she was a child, it was all she ever wanted. To travel, to settle down and start a career and then a family.

"That's because I know you, love," he said, pecking her on the lips. She smiled and pulled him back in for another, deeper kiss. He cracked a smile against her careful lips and kissed her back.

He began kissing her neck now, something she always liked.

"We cast the silencing charm, right?" She said whilst taking a heavy breath of pleasure.

He nodded, "Yeah but... think it'd be kinda fun to see if you can stay quiet."

Rory rolled her eyes at his cocky grin and cast the spell around the room just in case. Then, they continued. Passion and love filled the room for the remainder of the night.

That morning, Rory and Fred woke up early enough for him to sneak back into him and George's room without a problem.

Rory stayed in her room, getting as ready as she could for the day until she smelled breakfast. The girl went downstairs with the rest of the family and took her seat at the table. A very tired looking Cordelia came out of her room holding Emily and flashed a small smile as she sat next to Rory.

"Good morning, Rory," she said softly, "How'd you sleep?"

Rory nodded and bit back a giggle as Fred cheekily placed his hand on her leg under the table, sliding up her thigh to remind her of their night spent together.

"Good! How's Emily?"

Cordelia seemed to be very excited Rory had asked, "Shes alright! She's five months today!"

"Really?" Molly smiled, setting a plate of bacon down at the center of the table, "It's May first already?"

Cory nodded, "Crazy, right? Time really flies!"

Rory sighed in agreement. Time really had gone by both extremely fast and excruciatingly slow. The past month had been awful for her...

But don't April showers bring May flowers?

A/N:

i made an insta for my wattpad @/rxmione.wp !!!! go follow for sneak peaks, graphics, etc!