Lexus felt the monster of a headache before she even woke up. She was having a pretty dream about walking down the peaceful streets of Paris with a glass of wine in her hand when the headache invaded.

This was far worse than any hangover she had ever had. Even then she had a potion to cure that. She did not have a potion to cure this.

She groaned, rolling over to see Fred's eyes already on her. The Weasleys had moved the couches from the L shape to side by side. It must have been easy to take care of their patients that way she assumed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Shh." She begged, covering her eyes as the light was way too bright. It was early morning now, based on the sun shining through the windows.

"Headache?"

She just groaned, putting a pillow over her head to block the light. Maybe if she pushed hard enough she would pass out and be relieved from the headache.

"My mom left this, take it." Fred lightly pushed a vial into her hands. Her fingers fumbled slightly but she uncorked the bottle and drank the contents.

In just a few seconds, the headache broke down into just a dull pain behind her eyes.

She took the pillow off her head and looked over at him and his sleepy hair, the light that she hated just seconds ago agreed with him so much. It was unfair. "How are you?"

"I'll be fine."

"How bad is it."

"Don't worry-"

"Stop it. Tell me."

He sighed, lifting his blanket to show the wrap around his ribs and what she believed was just the start of the bruising on his side.

"Bloody hell, Fred." She mumbled. Lexus was flooded by the memory of how they got into this mess. "This is all my fault." 

"It was my bludger hit." He defended.

"I let my guard down. I should have been prepared. You shouldn't have protected me." She tried to explain but knew his hero complex was too large to agree.

He countered, "And watch you fall from the sky?"

"Better me than you." She insisted, making him roll his eyes. It was truly a gift how often they always found a way to argue. Even over who should have gotten to save the other.

"If you fell I wouldn't have been able to perform the spell that you did." Fred shut her up.

Lexus swallowed hard, remembering the spell made her head pulse. "Lexus wandless magic is..."

She cut him off, "Reckless, risky, dangerous-"

"Next to impossible." The words rolled off his lips almost like a compliment. "Lexus you might be the most powerful witch."

"Of our age, likely but-"

"No. The most powerful." Now it was her turn to dismiss him with an eye roll. Lexus realized Fred must have seriously shaken his brain with that fall. "The only people my family knows to use it was Dumbledore, Voldemort, and Remus Lupin on very small things."

"Malfoy can too, that bastard," Lexus said bitterly, ignoring his amazement. "An inherited trait from Narcissa."

"Flint, do you understand how rare it is?" 

She need him to stop gushing before she threw up. She needs some sense of normalcy, a tease or even a small joke would work. Most of all, she needed him to stop looking at her like she was the sun, the moon, and the stars.

"Of course, I do, Weasley." She hissed, holding her head in pain. "I know all the things you are telling me. But there is a reason I cannot broadcast that very strength. Malfoy shut one door wandlessly in class and there were three betrothal request letters on this mother's desk before she could stir the milk into her tea."

"If it ever got out, if my mother ever found out, I wouldn't just be a pureblood. I would be the most powerful incubator for the Sacred Twenty-Eight's next generation. I have no doubt my heir would be the pureblood's chosen one." She rubbed her eyes. "My mother entertained the idea of marrying me to Draco after hearing he did one small act of wandless magic. The both of us? I'd be forced to wed my cousin within the fortnight. A spiteful part of me wishes to marry a half-blood or a muggleborn just to let my mother boil her brains over it."

Fred looked at her with sad eyes, the girl in front of him had powers some could only dream of, but would never be able to show her talent or take pride in it because of those who had power over her own life. The most powerful witch, broken and hidden by her own blood.

"Next time, let me fall." She stupidly requested.

He shook his head simply. "I wouldn't be able to."

"Why?" She smirked, a little part of her dancing with the possibility of what he could answer.

He reached over, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "You're far too smart to play dumb, Little Flint."

--

A day passed, Lexus and Fred likely did not need to stay on the couch for another night but no one had a good enough reason to move them, so they stayed there. The next day, Ginny woke up earlier, getting ready to go on her morning run when she found Lexus curled up on the same couch as Fred. No sign of pain on either of their faces.

She leaned over the back of the couch, "You too might wanna wrap this up before Mom and Dad get up."

They both jumped, coming out of their sleep quickly. Fred used one hand to push his little sister's head up, groaning for her to go away. Lexus laughed and ducked her embarrassed cheeks into Fred's chest.

But Ginny was right, Lexus had enough questions in her head and didn't need Mrs. Weasley adding more.

So Lexus unwrapped Fred's arms from around her, not without protest.

"You are pathetic brother," Ginny threw a pillow at him.

He held his forehead, looking at her through the sunlight in his eyes. "Why are you still here?"

Lexus tried to conceal her laugh as she walked upstairs, looking for a toothbrush and a shower before the six others woke up with the same thing in mind. Lexus was halfway through her shower when she realized what day it was. It was December 31st, New Year's Eve, one of her favorite days of the year. And traditions awaited her.

She dried off and dressed, putting on layers because she knew her travels would not lead her to warm sanded beaches.

By the time she descended the stairs, most of the Weasley clan was awake.

"Oh! Nice to see you upright dear!" Mrs. Weasley smiled, as multiple pans around heR flipped eggs, hotcakes, or homefries.

"I can't thank you enough for taking care of me." She walked into her open arms for a hug.

"Oh, it's not necessary darling." She squeezed tightly

"It's now twice that you have saved me from unimaginable pain." Lexus pointed out, not having the best record with quidditch injuries so far.

"Any mother would do the same," Molly said so full of hope and assurance.

But Lexus knew not every mother would. Her mother would leave her dead in a field if she fell from her broom during quidditch. She would then go to her funeral and give a speech on how she warned against women in the sport. Molly noticed the change in the girl too quickly.

She didn't say anything, she just hugged the girl. Molly carefully ran her fingers through her hair. She begged the heavens to protect this girl from whatever followed her from her past. She knew it in her heart, she could not deserve what Molly could not heal.

Molly Weasley was among the luckiest purebloods alive, originally a Prewett, her family's blood values were not put above her life. Her children and grandchildren would never have to see the horrid traditions they were born into. Molly felt she was back in the halls of Hogwarts, trying to help Andromeda out of the same family Lexus was in. Andromeda was a few years older than her, but even then she had confided in the younger girl while overwhelmed with distress in mourning Myrtle's bathroom.

If Molly's memory was right, Lexus's grandmother was a Black. A family name that had its own reputation. The fact that this girl was even in her arms was a mystery. Molly felt her eyes swelling, blinking fast so the girl would not see. But when she looked up, Fred's eyes were on her.

Fred was the most fearless of all her children, even more so than her little dragon tamer. Yet, when he saw the scene between his mother and his Little Flint, he was petrified with fear. Not only was Lexus in danger, but she was in the kind of generational danger that had not lost in centuries. Lexus wasn't powerful because of her magic, she was powerful because she had to be. The protection of wandless magic was just the product of her fear. Molly Weasley feared that she could not save Lexus from her blood. What scared her more was the look in Fred's eyes, that vowed to protect her, no matter the consequences.

--

Ginny returned from her run just in time for breakfast to start. She couldn't miss the opportunity to pass knowing looks to Fred and Lexus before sitting down.

Mrs. Weasley went around the table, asking each of the teenagers what their plans for New Year's Eve were. By the time she got to Lexus, breakfast was nearly over, "I'm heading to Paris, I have some errands I need to run."

"What errands, dear? It can't wait until after the Holiday?" Molly wondered.

Lexus could tell that Molly was the type to be surrounded by family for any event, even on the less celebrated holidays.

Lexus shook her head, "It's a bit of a tradition I have before heading back to school."

"Well, do you want company, surely one of the boys or Ginny would join you?"

"I'd come!" Ginny eagerly jumped in.

"Ginny, you have neglected your homework for two weeks now," Hermione commented, making Ginny frown. "McGonagall won't let you play quidditch if any of your work is missing."

"I'll go."

"You should be on the couch, my love." Molly corrected him.

"If I spend one more minute on that couch I may die of boredom, Mum. I'm fine." Fred pushed, "Besides, how much trouble can Flint cause in Paris?"

She hoped, none. But Lexus still searched her brain for an excuse to just go on her own. It was easier that way.

"Madam Flint and Monsieur Weasley, taking on the city of love." Ron attempted a lame french accent.

"It's the city of lights, Ron." Lexus corrected, seeing Hermione nod in agreement on the other side of the table.

"There's a Floo system directing in the French Ministry of Magic, it will take you right to the 6th District of Paris." Mr. Weasley added.

"Just give me a minute to change." Fred headed upstairs.

Lexus nodded, still no excuse for avoidance in her mind. Fred and her would go to the city of lights. Lexus suddenly dreaded the trip, not because she had to get supplies for her black market. She knew Adelaine might like Fred more than her. And Macro would hate him and question everything that she didn't need to question. She already hid so much from them. She didn't want another secret or lie.

--

Night had found Paris and Lexus expertly lead Fred all through the city. He held several small bags filled with ingredients he had never heard of. The other half of her things were sent right to her room at Hogwarts, even making a deal with a bar maiden for the alcohol that wasn't supposed to fly via owl. Each ingredient takes some part in potion magic that he didn't understand.

"We have one last stop," Lexus said more like a warning.

Fred nodded but Lexus stopped just before the end of a street turning to face him. He stopped in his tracks, "I have a great many secrets, this is my most precious, you will tell no one about this."

"About what, Flint?" He motioned to the dark alley that they were standing in, he had;t uncovered any breathtaking information. 

"Tell me, you'll keep this between us." She pushed.

"I look forward to unveiling each and every one of your secrets if you let me," Fred answered. "And I promise each and everyone will never pass my lips to another."

Lexus took a deep breath, a little smile gracing her lips before she turned back around. She opened the door to the corner shop, going in first.

A little bell chimed to welcome the girl in. Fred followed slowly, the wave of cookie scent hitting him first. Sweetness and powdered sugar filled the air. He might have burst with excitement entering a cafe like this as a child.

A larger man stood behind the counter, pulling a large sheet of colorful cookies out of the oven. He shook his hand as the heat fought its way up into his oven mitt. Without looking up, "Sorry, we are closed for the night."

Fred stopped, ready to turn around and leave but Lexus disagreed.

"I was hoping you would make an exception," Lexus asked and the man's head shot up.

"Lexus!" He said joyfully, hurrying over to her. He hugged her tightly and rocked her back and forth, "Mon amour! Lexus is here!"

Another set of shoes came barreling down the stairs, a small thin woman jumped with excitement upon seeing Lexus joining the rocking hug. "You worry me, child, showing up so late in the night!"

"My apologies, I had to see the city after being gone so long." She told them.

The older gentleman caught a glance of Fred over Lexus's shoulder. "Who's the boy then?"

"A friend, Marco." Lexus insisted. "This is Fred. Fred, this is Adelaine and Marco."

A friend, huh? You wound me, Little Flint.

"A boy that tall and that handsome is never just a friend, Mon Ange." The beautiful Italian woman shook Lexus's cheeks lightly.

"My épouse is never wrong. Listen to her." Marco told her.

"He should try to take his own advice. Our marriage would have had far fewer arguments." She walked over to me next with her arms stretched.

Fred made note of that and accepted the hug from the woman he didn't think would remain a stranger much longer.

She kissed both of my cheeks, "Welcome, come in, come in."

--

Little Freddy boy: "I will die for this girl. Anything for her, I don't care. I'll burn the world. She can treat me like absolute shit and I will still praise the ground she walks on."

Lexus on the other hand: "I know you barely think of us as friends but I'm very attracted to you and I don't think you do so here are ten excuses on why I shouldn't be in love with you to protect myself."

Second of all, CITY OF LOVE PEOPLE.

B