9AN: Here's a new story for you guys! This is the fourth in the Larna/Fred series, and the penultimate story. I hope you like it! I'm uncertain of the exact direction this will go at the moment, so reviews and suggestions would be very much appreciated. Anyway, on with the story!
She could scarcely believe it had been nearly two years since she and Fred had first begun to see each other. Folding her clothes into her trunk for what she knew would be the last time - at Hogwarts, at least - Larna paused in a moment of reminiscence. This was a sad moment, she knew, and it was with a heavy heart that she would finally leave the school, which had been her home for seven years, on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow. Still, as one era of her life was ending, the Ravenclaw was secure in the knowledge that another was just starting. It was going to be a glorious summer; of that Larna was certain. After all, with Fred Weasley, the love of her life, by her side, how could it not be?
There was much emotion on Platform 9 and 3/4 on that Saturday, the 11th July 1998. Larna cried just like many of her friends; these were people she had spent a large part of her life with, and it was almost breaking her heart to bid farewell to them for the final time, even if she would see some of them again. The scenes were familiar all across the platform - people crying and hugging, wishing each other good luck with their NEWT results and waving tearful goodbyes. Larna saved her most heartfelt departure for her two best friends though. Just before she left, she clutched Luna Lovegood, who still had a year at Hogwarts, in a hug which the young blonde was sure would break her ribs. In her usual airy voice, full of optimism, she reassured her older friend, 'It's gonna be okay. You'll have much more time to spend with Fred now - and you'll see me again. Daddy says you can come and visit whenever you want; he wants people to try his new gyamaputt tea recipe anyway.'
A lump in her throat, Larna squeezed her friend tighter, if it were possible. 'Thank you', she whispered, so only Luna could hear. 'You mean so much to me, and I'm gonna miss you.'
Equally quietly, Luna replied, 'No, thank you. No one's ever said that to me before.'
Fresh tears sprung from Larna's eyes, and she let go, remembering she had to say goodbye to Hannah too. Smiling at Larna, Luna kept hold of her hands, before pecking her on the cheek and waving as she skipped off. The sight of one of her closest friends walking away was enough to make Larna sob, and in the same second, Hannah Abbott embraced her tightly, allowing the Ravenclaw to cry on her shoulder while she did the same.
'This isn't the end, you know', the Hufflepuff mumbled between sobs. 'You don't get rid of me that easily!'
Larna smiled gratefully, saying 'Quite right too', and squeezed Hannah before letting go and smiling again, brushing away her tears. Glancing behind her, Hannah saw her parents, and turned to face her best friend. 'I have to go. I'll miss you.'
Fresh tears appeared, and Larna struggled to hold them in. 'You too. W-write to me.'
Winking, Hanna replied, 'Try and stop me, before turning towards her mum and dad. Watching her as she left, Larna nearly collapsed with the emotional turmoil, and probably would have, had it not been for the strong arms which took a firm grip on her at that moment. She need not have turned around to see who it was - Larna would recognise that scent anywhere. 'Freddie', she sighed with relief upon seeing his face, and collapsed gratefully into his arms, whole once more.
'It's no good. I can't sleep.'
Larna rolled out of bed and padded across the room towards the window. Admiring the serenity of the street below, she closed her eyes, and wished for that kind of calm in her mind, but to no avail. With so many thoughts racing around her head, she had been tossing and turning for four and a half hours, and now, at 3:17 am, she had given up on any hopes of getting rest that night. Taking a deep breath, the eighteen-year-old resolved to fetch hot milk and cookies from the kitchen - such was her fatigue that she was willing to try anything.
Slowly, she made her way down the carpeted staircase and crossed the kitchen to the fridge. Just as she opened it, four knocks could clearly be heard on the window to her left. Simultaneously, Larna's hand flew to her pocket and she turned towards the source of the noise; she berated herself for leaving her wand upstairs, but stopped short when she recognised the familiar face hovering outside the window. Striding over, she breathed an audible sigh of relief, and fixed a frown on her face, intent on giving the figure a vigorous scolding. These thoughts melted away, however, when Fred Weasley captured her lips with his own as soon as the window was opened wide enough. The Ravenclaw relaxed, and after 20 seconds, both people had to come up for air. Larna took the chance to glare at her boyfriend with a mixture of irritation and reluctant admiration. Needless to say, it was ineffective.
'Are you going to invite me in then? I'm freezing my socks off out here!'
She giggled, then nodded. 'But you'll have to be quiet. Mum and Dad are asleep and I'd like it to stay that way. Silently, Fred saluted, winking. His girlfriend giggled again, before stepping back to allow him the space he needed to get through the window.
'I'm just making some hot milk; do you want some? Or hot chocolate, if you prefer,' Larna whispered.
'Hmm, hot chocolate would be great, thanks.' He smiled, then took a seat at the kitchen table, taking care not to scrape the chair across the floor.
After setting the milk to heat up on the hob, the Ravenclaw turned to face the redhead.
'I'm not trying to be rude, or anything-'
-'which means you will be,' Fred grinned.
'Oh shush you! I just... What are you actually doing here?'
Fred feigned a gasp. 'You mean you- you don't... want me here?' he stuttered, pretending to be hurt. For added effect, he included a dramatic sob.
Larna laughed. 'Of course I do. I'm just wondering why, at past 3 o' clock in the morning, you decided to travel from Diagon Alley to here.'
'Well isn't it obvious?'
'Erm... No. Not really.'
Fred sighed, in what he wanted to pass as exasperation. 'Blimey, I really am going to have to spell it out, aren't I? I came to see you! I won't bother next time, if this is all the thanks I get.'
After turning the hob off, Larna moved to Fred and wrapped her arms tightly around him. 'No, I'm really glad you did, I just... wasn't expecting it, that's all. Besides, how did you know I was awake?' She moved to finish their drinks as Fred answered. 'Oh, I knew you wouldn't be able to sleep. No one in our family has ever been able to on the first night after leaving Hogwarts.
'Ah.' This explanation seemed to satisfy the eighteen-year-old, and she changed the subject. The pair spent the next few hours at the table, chatting about anything and everything. It was there that Larna's mother found them the next morning, both fast asleep with their heads on the table and their fingers intertwined.