Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Fred Weasley Story

Chapter One

((Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters except for Alexandra, and my OC had PTSD before meeting Fred…He doesn't beat her or anything… *sniggers*))

"Ben, I'm home!" I called as I opened the door to my living room. I looked to the couch expectantly, but my older brother wasn't there. I figured he was in his room. I threw my book bag onto the couch and the books "Extraordinary Housekeeping for the Extraordinary Witch," and "Need to Know Spells for the Aspiring Healer," came out, as well as "Hexes and Curses to use on those that Molest You." Everyday at school I raided the library, searching for books that I thought Ben would find interesting. Ever since he got sick last year he was unable to attend school or even leave the house.

"Beeeeeennnnnn!" I sang as I entered his room, which was across from mine. But he wasn't in there either. "He better not be in my room," I muttered to myself angrily as I opened my door. He found it quite humorous to hide in there and pop out when I least expected it. I crossed my arms and stood there, daring him to jump out, but he didn't. My mind flooded with disbelief. He always did like a good joke, but this was too far. I walked away and ran my fingers through my light blonde bob. I cautiously entered the kitchen. He wasn't anywhere to be seen. In a moment of desperation I began to open every cupboard in hope that he'd be crouching in one and laughing at my face. I wiped the fearful tears out of my eyes, and suddenly I knew.

"Oh my god," I groaned. "He's in the stupid basement." I trudged down the stairs and sighed in relief. He was sitting with his back to me, and his shoulders were shaking- laughter. I felt myself giggle.

"That wasn't funny! I was so freaked out!" I said as I finished running down the stairs. He nearly jumped out of his chair when he heard me. He turned around quickly, and then I noticed he wasn't laughing. Tears of anguish were streaming down his beautiful face. His eyes pierced my flesh with anger and wild desperation. I hardly recognized him.

"Ben…?" I whispered.

"Miss! Miss!" a man was saying over and over as he was shaking me gently.

"Wha…? What is it?" I mumbled as I sat up. I noticed that tears were stinging my eyes.

"You…you kept shouting about some bloke called 'Ben.' You didn't sound so good so I…" the British man explained.

"Oh! Oh… well thank you. You're Tom, right? The innkeeper here?" He nodded. "Thank you very much, Tom." He smiled at my sympathetically.

"Would you like a cuppa tea? You sounded right frightened, you did," he asked as he patted my arm.

"Uh… Sure," I answered, "That would be wonderful." I smoothed down my hair, which had grown since the dream. Everywhere I looked I saw eyes. His eyes. They were wide and dark, and so bone chillingly cold that they haunted my dreams. They were so sorrow-filled and angry, yet so empty at the same time that every fiber of my being screamed in protest when I thought of them. They didn't belong to the Ben I knew and loved. He wasn't my cheerful and strong brother whom I idolized and adored. "He was sick," my dad would say. "There was nothing we could do." But that answer never satisfied me, and it never will.

"Honey?" he said in a comforting tone. I looked at him with a look of horror on my face. Honey?! He held up the bottle for me to see.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, blushing deeply. "Yes, please."

"Uh…If you don't mind me asking, who is this Ben fellow?" he inquired as he handed me my glass.

"My brother," I said curtly with a note of finality. He didn't dig deeper into the matter. I took a sip of the tea and cringed. It seems that every English man figures I don't take tea with milk simply because I am American.

"Oh…okay," he responded, ignoring my face. "So…I heard you go to the book store often."

"I really appreciate what you're trying to do for me," I said as I placed my cup on a coaster, "But you neednt bother. I'm all right. Really. I'm going to bed now." I left him staring at my retreating figure in awe.

===Blahhh===

I awoke the next morning to a tapping on my window. I groaned and flipped over to see my barn owl, Soren, whom I named after an owl in a book I read as a child, outside with a mouse in his beak.

"You just had to come now," I muttered angrily as I swung my legs over the bed. I stretched on my bed like a cat before getting up to let Soren in. He hooted happily and went to enjoy his mouse on his perch. "Might as well stay up," I grumbled. I grabbed a skirt and blouse and jumped into the shower. Once I had finished in there I grabbed my book bag and slung it over my shoulder.

"Good morning, Alexandra," said Tom as I made my way downstairs.

"Alex," I corrected him, "And good morning." I grabbed a piece of toast and left to Flourish and Blots like usual.

"Hey Alex," said Mr. Davis, the store manager.

"Hi," I said brightly. "Find anything interesting?" He smirked as he handed me a rather thick book. "Wacky Ways to Charm Prince Charming," I read with a grin. "Ever met that perfect guy, but he just won't take notice of you? Tried every trick up to your sleeve, but to no avail? Well, in Wacky Ways to Charm Prince Charming, there are hundreds of methods that have been lost to the times that are sure to work." I stopped to giggle. "Wow, there's a spell to clear your body of methane so you don't accidentally fart in his presence. Useful," I mused as I handed him the book. "But I think I'm okay in that department."

"Fred! George! This is no time to be looking at prank books!" an angry woman's voice cracked from behind us.

"Oh come on, mum," said a boy. "Everybody could use a laugh now, with Sirius Black and everything." I looked over at them and saw a plump red-headed woman pointing a finger at two identical twins with red hair like the woman.

"Don't you dare bring that into this!" she scolded, "Black is very dangerous and shouldn't be taken lightly!" Mr. Davis gave me "thelook." Whenever something like this occurred he usually had me help. I rolled my eyes and pretended to be browsing nearby.

"We aren't taking him lightly," said a twin, "We just reckon that people are too uptight and would benefit from a good laugh." One of the boys caught my eye. Smiling and blushing, I said,

"I agree. I'd love a laugh now." The woman, their mother I assumed, flushed red.

"Oh, alright," she said. But at their excited smiles, she added, "But don't tell anybody else."

"Brilliant!" they exclaimed in unison, grinning broadly. "We won't. Thanks mum!"

"Well, you're welcome. Now go to Olivanders. I'm sure your dad and Ron are still there," she said, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'll get the rest of the books." They nodded, and turned to leave. As they were going out the door one of the twins grinned and winked at me. I joined Mr. Davis on the other side of the room as the woman made her purchases.

"Here you are," he said as he handed me "Advanced Magical Healing" by some big shot Healer. "You've earned it." That's how my stay at Diagon Alley has been. I went to Flourish and Blots, and if I saved a sale Mr. Davis gave me a book of my choice.

"Thank you very much," I said as I tucked it under my arm.

"No, thank you," he replied. "Anything you'd like me to save for you?"

"A really good hex book. You can never have enough." I went over and sat in one of the cushy chairs. I read my book for what felt like hours, looking up occasionally and laughing when students from Hogwarts came in asking for "A Monster Book of Monsters." I had already gotten my school books for next year free of charge. As the sun set I made my way back to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hey Alex," called Tom as I entered the room.

"Hello," I said with a smile as I sat at the end of one of the long tables. As I did so the woman from the shop came in with the twins, two tall and lanky boys (one was older looking with horn rimmed glasses), a balding man, and a young girl, all of them having the same flaming red hair. They were accompanied by a small and thin boy with messy black hair and a girl with bushy brown hair.

"It's brilliant that you went to Egypt, Ron," said the black haired boy sounding bored.

"It was amazing! You should have seen it, there were all these disfigured skeletons, and-," Ron was saying. He went on and on enthusiastically as he sat with the two people who appeared to be unrelated to him.

"Give it a rest, Ron," said one of the twins from behind him.

"Yeah," said the other, "You'll bore them to death." The boy called Ron's ears went pink.

"Sorry guys," he murmered.

"Hey," said one of the twins as I reached for a bowl of mashed potatoes. "Aren't you the girl from Flourish and Blots?" I nodded.

"I am."

"Well thanks a load. The book is excellent," said the other. They pulled up chairs from either side of me.

"I'm glad to hear it," I said with a smile.

"So you're American?" asked the one to my left.

"Yeah, I am. I'm transferring to Hogwarts this year."

"How old are you?"

"14."

"So you're in your fourth year?"

"Fifth," I admitted sheepishly. "I studied ahead this summer and was approved to move up a year."

"Impressive," laughed the one at my right. "I'm George."

"Alexandra, but I prefer Alex," I said as I shook his hand.

"I'm Fred," said the twin to my left. "That's my mum, you can call her Mrs. Weasley, and my dad, and Percy, he's a git," Percy scowled, "and Ron, and that's Harry Potter, Ron's best mate, and Hermione Granger, another one of his friends. Though I reckon they're more than that," Hermione went red and the pink in Ron's ears deepened. "And that's Ginny, my little sister." I waved around at everyone.

"Where in the U.S are you from?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"San Diego, California," I answered.

"Really?" most people at the table chimed in disbelief.

"Yes? Why?" They looked at me like I was an alien.

"Why would you move from there to here? You must be mental!" Ron exclaimed. I was barely able to stop myself from snorting into my potatoes. Mrs. Weasley shot Ron a stern look.

"Here, have some steak," said Mrs. Weasley as she passed a plate to me with a large slab of meat on it.

"Oh! No thank you. I'm a vegetarian," I answered. I handed to George instead. He merely shrugged. Mrs. Weasley looked me up and down, probably trying to see if I were underweight or not.

"You sure, dear? What have you been eating instead?"

"This and that. I'm perfectly fine," I assured her. I dished myself up some salad and pasta to please her, and she looked satisfied. "What grades- years, I mean, are you all in?"

"Fifth," Fred and George said at the same time, Ron, Harry and Hermione were third years, Percy was a seventh year, and Ginny was a second year.

"Well it's been fantastic meeting you all, but I'm off to bed now. I have a letter I need to finish writing," I said apologetically.

"No problem, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "Would you like to go to King's Cross with us tomorrow?"

"I'd love to, but my dad was going to take me so we could see each other before I leave a little bit, but thanks for the offer," I said, blushing slightly.

"You're a sweet girl," said Mrs. Weasley. "Maybe we'll see you there. Goodnight."

"Goodnight everybody."

"Goodnight," they said. I caught Fred's eye as I walked up the stairs, and this time it was my turn to wink at him instead.