It Is Never Over

Kingsley was the first one to Marysia's side, helping her to her feet and cleaning her up. He was greatly concerned that a hex, jinx or curse might have hit her when he saw her down on the floor. Marysia was very grateful for his kindness, but confused as to who he was until he removed the befuddlement from her mind. She gasped in shock and horror, swaying as all the hidden memories of the last twenty-four hours hit her suddenly at once.

Fred, out on the balcony, was giving the Death Eater a few extra zaps – adding the Tickling Charm and Itching Jinx to the deformed, tentacle-covered body. The Death Eater was laughing and trying to roll and scratch the best he could, all the while growling insults at Fred.

"Oh, you want to threaten me?" Fred growled back. "I'm not a nice... sweet girl... unprepared... to take you... on you... inept... disgusting... troll," he stammered, emphasizing each part of his sentence with a swish and flick of his wand, levitating and then dropping the Death Eater. He proceeded to bounce the revolting lump several more times until finally George, laughing so hard he could barely speak, had to stop him.

Marysia, standing inside looking out the open doorway, was completely stunned by the appearance of her attacker and amused by the bouncing, laughing, wiggly, tentacle-covered blob he'd been reduced to. Even Kingsley stifled his laughter watching the last few bounces, trying to maintain an authoritative professionalism when he was ready to remove the Death Eater from Marysia's flat.

As soon as Fred and George re-entered her room, Marysia went over to them quickly, hugging Fred, then George, kissing both on the cheek, then embraced Fred again, kissing him soundly. Fred deepened the kiss and heard her muffled exclamation before she relaxed in his arms. He set her back onto her feet, noticing with relish that she had to catch her breath as well as her balance.

Marysia blushed a few shades of pink before she glanced at George expecting him to comment. George instead stood there with his arms wide open, grinning wickedly, and ready for his next turn. Marysia laughed at him, her eyes sparkling, and gave him another hug and demure peck on his cheek.

Together, Fred and George helped Marysia as she searched the mess of her room for the papers and books thrown around by the Death Eater during his search for the elusive diary. Some of the old parchments and several of the books needed repairing. Many them were beyond fixing and would have to be painstakingly either taped back together or simply recopied. Eventually, everything Marysia wanted to salvage was boxed.

Fred and George did what they could to repair some of the damage to her room. But the flat, she admitted to herself with a heavy sigh, I'll have to hire someone to come in here to fix the major damage. She picked up an armrest of her favorite chair, still barely attached to one half of the seat and one leg. George picked up the other two parts of it, and together they managed to reassemble it back to its original shape. "Well, if my chair can be fixed, so can the rest, right?" she said, trying to sound hopeful.

"It will be fine. It will take some work, but it'll be fine," George said reassuringly.

"Marysia, you are going to have to come back to our flat tonight," Fred insisted. "No excuses."

"Definitely. Who knows what that lousy biased slug said to his pals. You won't be safe here. Not for a while at least," George stated, equally insistent. "If one of his friends tries to get at you, we will be there to handle him, or we can get hold of Kingsley again."

She ran her hand on the back of her chair. "I could just go stay with my brother," she said, with a deep sigh. "Romauld, Sebastian or Michael's, any of them. You have already done so much. I don't want to become a burden."

"That's not a problem at all. But Marysia, this Death Eater was aware of your brothers," George said, shaking his head. "He made sure you couldn't tell your brothers anything."

"And may know where they live. Kingsley said he'd have to check on them," Fred pointed out.

He is right. The Death Eater made sure that I couldn't say anything to any of my brothers, or to my father. I wasn't able to tell them he was in the shop, in my room – nothing, except that I was 'fine' and not to worry. Marysia was too shaken to protest further and numbly nodded.

Once back in the flat, Fred held out a large piece of chocolate for her. "Here; eat this, it helps," he said, remembering how many times professors had to give chocolate to the students in his fifth year.

Eyeing the innocent looking square, Marysia asked warily, "And will I get feathers?"

"No," Fred said, pushing an errant strand of hair from her face. "It's just chocolate. You've been through enough today." She looked up at him to see a glint of mischief flash in his eyes. "Unless... you'd like feathers? I'd hate to disappoint you if you had your heart set on them," he offered. She simply shook her head, made a demure smile, and bit into the chocolate.

George pulled out the stew from the night before, and Marysia made grilled cheese sandwiches the Muggle way for each of them, occasionally stirring the pot of stew.

Fred sat at the table, watching her as she cooked. This time she wasn't whistling as she had before, just quiet. She served them first before finally sitting down herself. She smiled politely and placed her napkin on her lap before picking up her sandwich and taking a bite. Somehow Fred knew. She just isn't ready to talk about what happened. She seems to be handling it okay, but he wanted her to talk to him. Although she was sitting right next to him, she seemed kilometers away.

Throughout dinner he and George talked between themselves, making suggestions for products, product enhancements and stock items they needed. Fred noticed that she played with her food as she ate, listening, wistfully smiling occasionally in response to their conversation. Several of the product suggestions even made Marysia laugh or shake her head. Humor is the best medicine, Fred thought, mentally checking off which ideas made her laugh.

George gathered up the dishes afterward and magicked the dishcloth to begin washing them. Fred guided Marysia to the living room, pulling her hand to sit with him on the couch, as George followed with three glasses of elf wine.

Marysia sighed as George handed her a glass, remembering her wish only two nights ago. Marysia nestled against Fred on the couch, wishing she could just lay her head on his chest and listen to his heart beat reassuringly under her cheek. She wanted to scream at herself for being so stupid, cry, curl up next to him... just let everything go...

"Do you want to talk about it?" Fred asked softly, wrapping his arm protectively across her shoulders. Marysia shook her head and sipped on her wine.

George sat in his big comfortable chair, kicking his feet on the coffee table. "Are you sure? It might make it easier for you, getting it out."

Marysia shrugged. "I... didn't know he was there," she said softly, "in the room. It was cold... but... he was behind the door – and trapped me!" She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, shakily, trying to stay calm. "I shouldn't have gone in there, but... Oh, he was furious. I thought he was going to let the... De-de-mentors g-et me," she choked on her last words. "He would have... they were going to..."

Fred gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I should have gone upstairs with you, but I'm glad I didn't," Fred said, as Marysia gaze snapped to his, "otherwise, it would have been you and me against that guy and two Dementors."

Marysia looked up at George. "What I want to know is how you knew? How did you... the Dementors?" She shivered, the memory of the Dementors hovering over her still too fresh in her mind.

"It wasn't so much seeing the Dementor. It was a movement in the shadows and seeing the climbing clematis vine outside your shop dying from frost that told me that the Dementor was there." George explained. She cocked her head and furrowed her brow, not understanding. "Our fifth year, when Fred and I would walk on the school grounds, we would see the plants freeze around us just before we could actually see the Dementor. You mentioned shadows bothering you... and then seeing the vine freeze... I realized what was happening. Besides, I saw a shadow in the upstairs window when I made the night deposit. I thought it might have been you and Fred, until I saw him on the street."

"But you know – you fought them? How did you make them leave?" she asked, impressed.

"We learned how to in school," George said in his usual bravado.

Suddenly, a woman with red hair, wearing an apron over her robes, burst into the room from the Floo, in hysterics, screaming that a clock told her that her sons were in mortal peril. "Couldn't believe it!" she practically screeched as she entered the room. "I had to hear it from an Auror... You two! The worries you give me. What were you thinking – and Kingsley said you attacked them – all – by – your – selves! You're not – in – the – Order! Taking on dangerous wizards! With no regard, no regard at all... Just rushed right in, he said. How could you have been so reckless? Brave, he said... " She seemed to repeat most of what the Fred and George had done, except coming from her it sounded horrid!

Fred had removed his arm from her shoulder when Mrs. Weasley appeared in the room. He squeezed Marysia's hand discreetly as she sat paralyzed in shock. "It wasn't that big of a deal, Mum," George tried to interject, getting up.

"Tell me! What – were – you – thinking?" Mrs. Weasley's voice raised several decibels and an octave. Fred and George's heads bowed as she raved. "You could have been killed! An Auror in the street and you two have to take on Death Eaters all on your own! You could have died! Both of you – I could have lost you!"

"Aw, Mum, it was just one," George said, not really looking his mum in the eye.

"And he wasn't really all that much of a threat," Fred added, rising too.

"Not much of a threat? It was a Death Eater! Could have called for help, but nooo – you take on a Death Eater yourselves, with no concern for the dangers! All by yourselves! Not even thinking, were you?" Mrs. Weasley roared. "When your father told me what you'd done! I couldn't believe it! I just couldn't! I just don't know what I would have – if I lost you! If you had been seriously hurt! If he'd – killed you! How could you – be so reckless?" she ranted.

"We managed him fine," George said, trying to reassure her.

"Yeah, Mum, we handled him. We won after all," Fred said, trying to sound reasonable.

"He was a Death Eater!" Mrs. Weasley's voice was so loud the neighbors could probably hear her.

"And two Dementors," George said, as if that would make things seem better! Fred shot him an 'Oh-no-you-didn't-just-say-that' look.

"Dementors? Here in Diagon Alley?" Mrs. Weasley looked taken aback. "You were attacked by Dementors? Here!" Apparently neither Mr. Weasley nor Kinglsey had told her about the Dementors.

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Fred tried saying in his most reassuring tone. He wanted to say, No, Mum, across the street, but stopped himself before he did. She'd flip over that too.

"Molly, the boys are fine. Kingsley said that they had the situation all wrapped up by the time he got there," Mr. Weasley said. He, however, looked at Fred and George with pride and then cowered under Mrs. Weasley's angry stare.

Marysia hadn't even seen him come in! She stood to greet him, following her well-ingrained manners, and then froze as Mrs. Weasley turned to her husband. "Arthur, they could have been seriously hurt! They could have been outnumbered! They could have been killed!" Mrs. Weasley continued in her scalding tone.

"They were lucky?" Mr. Weasley shrugged, except he looked proud, rather than displaying the indignation that was showing on Mrs. Weasley's face.

Suddenly, Mrs. Weasley turned on Marysia, who fully expected to be remanded next for getting her sons in trouble. "Hello, dear, I'm Mrs. Weasley," she said pleasantly, with a warm smile. Marysia reeled on her feet in surprise.

Fred laid a hand on Marysia's back to steady her, as George held back a laugh. It's hard enough for family to take Mum when she gets all wound up, never mind meeting her in that state, Fred thought. And Mum had been good and wound up the moment she came through the Floo!

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Weasley," Marysia said trying to steady her voice. "Hello. I am very pleased to meet you, ma'am." Falling safely into formality, she shook Mrs. Weasley's hand. "I am very honored to meet you. I am Marysia Duncan." Fred and George, watching her face, both had to suppress a chuckle. Marysia looked terrified of their mum, but was trying her best to be polite.

Mrs. Weasley turned her attention back on the twins. "Well, you two could certainly learn a bit from this young lady on manners!" she said, her voice rising, pointing at each in turn.

"Yes, Mum," they both said, heads bowed to hide their smirks.

The story was told several times. Even Marysia was expected to give her account before Mrs. Weasley felt calmer about the incident. Soon it became very late, and Mr. Weasley had to practically pull Mrs. Weasley to the fireplace to go home.

"Do be more careful. Watch out for each other. Stay out of trouble. Oh, the worries you two give me," Mrs. Weasley kept saying as she hugged and kissed first Fred, then George, twice each. "It was lovely to meet you, dear. You're welcome over to our home anytime," she said to Marysia as she gave her a hug too.

"Well, thank you. It has been a pleasure to meet you," Marysia responded as Fred winked at her. "Mr. Weasley, it was lovely to see you again. Thank you ever so much for everything you did to help me. My family will be most grateful to you, really." Marysia almost wanted to hug him too, but remained poised.

Mr. Weasley blushed as he took her hand. "Well, yes, glad to be of help. Very glad everything worked out well." Marysia smiled and placed a slight peck on his cheek, which made him turn a deep shade of red.

As Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left through the Floo, Marysia walked over to the window overlooking the street. She stood staring at the glass doors of her flat and shivered, crossing her arms, rubbing them as she stared at the dark entry to her bedroom. It looked uninviting, and the memories of the Dementors and Death Eater were all still too real. Without turning she knew it was Fred who came up behind her before he wrapped her in his arms. "Knut for your thoughts?"

"You were amazing in there, just amazing." Her eyes never left the glass doors to her bedroom. "I couldn't even move... I was so scared. All those curses and jinxes you did and the Dementor! How did you know how to get rid of it? We did not have that in school?"

"Extracurricular activity," he said proudly, "and it was George who ran the Dementors off, not me."

"No, you were too busy with the Death Eater!" she said, turning her head, looking at him in amazement.

"He wasn't really all that tough actually. I've met tougher ones," Fred said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Truthfully, seemed a bit inept."

Marysia turned around in his arms to face him. "You have fought Death Eaters before?" Her look of admiration and surprise made Fred laugh.

"I'm not friends with You-Know-Who or any of his pals." He had an assured look in his eyes. "My whole family feels the same way. If we have to face him or them, well, then, we will fight."

Marysia cocked her head. "Right, your dad's in the Ministry."

"It's more than that." He wanted to tell her about the Order. With her ability with potions, she'd be a big help. "We sort of belong to a group that's fighting You-Know-Who. You have met six of them already."

She looked amazed. "I'd like to hear more about this group... but not tonight. I'm still shaking from my first Death Eater encounter." She shivered again. "Not to mention my fear of Dementors."

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked softly.

"Yes... no... I still feel like my worst nightmare came true. Actually facing a Dementor is my worst nightmare and there were two!" She shifted her weight and looked away. Fred kept his hands on her waist. "Then add in a Death Eater, being under his curses... I never thought I'd ever have to really face being under the Imperius Curse and..." she ran her fingers through her hair and looked back out the window. Fred wrapped his arms around her again, and she laid her head on his shoulder. "It's... easier when you read this stuff, and it's not you or someone you care about. When it's..."

"Do you want to stay here again tonight?" Fred almost held his breath as she turned to face him slowly.

"Yes, please. I would like to, if you don't mind my doing so?" Her habit of formality was amusing. Fred didn't answer, took her hand and led her to his bedroom.

Marysia changed into the pajama bottoms and tank top she had left folded on the foot of his bed in the bathroom, brushed her teeth and hair and walked back into Fred' s room. He had folded back the covers, changed into his pajamas and was hanging up his work robes.

She held his hand as she sat on the side of his bed and looked up at him. "Stay?" she asked timidly. "Stay. I don't want to be alone. Childish really, but..."

"Are you sure?" he asked, searching her face.

She let out her breath slowly and nodded. "I can't be alone tonight... with everything. I suppose... I'm still shook by it." She looked up at him imploringly. "I guess... I'm just glad you can chase Dementors away as well as Boggarts. I really just want you near..."

Fred lay next to her once again, cradling her in his arms. He spoke softly into her hair. "I'm not going to do anything tonight. But I'm not really this noble – you should know. And if you are ever in my bed again, don't expect me to be." He could feel Marysia's reaction of surprise and heard her sharp intake of breath. "Know this; if you are ever in my bed again, I am not going to restrain myself," he said, kissing her hair. She turned to try to see his face as he kissed her temple, warmly and sensually. "Now, try and get some sleep."

*~*****~*

Author's Notes:

I owe a big debt of gratitude to Phoenix for all her hard work and time in cleaning this stroy up and making it presentable. Thank you, Phoenix. I appreciate it more than you know.