Dinner at the Burrow
'Harry's coming over tonight.'
'That's great! It's been a while now… almost three months since his last visit.'
'Yes well… we can't blame him. It was not a success…
'He's moved again.'
'Again! Who found-'
'Daily Prophet. Bloody Skeeter cow. She got to the porch.'
'Impressive.'
'How is the poor soul? He must be feeling awful all alone and so far away. Probably having take-out every day too. Not a decent meal in ages…'
Ron
and Hermione were having tea with Mrs Weasley when Ginny joined them,
carrying a redheaded three-year-old.
'Harry's
moved? I wanted to ask him to bring more of the thing with him. The
parmiwhatchamecallit. The cheese. Jake really loves it.'
'He
lives in Russia now. Reckon it's way harder to track people down
when they're all wrapped up and wearing funny hats. You can't
even tell the difference between a bloke and a broad wh-' 'Ronald!'
'And I
was hoping for pizza tonight…' Ron grumbled.
'Well
I'm cooking tonight; Harry has to take two portkeys and apparate
all the way from France.' Ron brightened immediately. 'So what
are we having?' But the twins chose that instant for a loud
entrance which the boy in Ginny's arms took for a cue to start
crying for its meal.
'Good
afternoon Weasleys and wives!' Fred greeted. 'What a pleasant day
for a family gathering,' George fell in. 'What's for dinner?'
they chorused.
Molly
tried to answer again but was interrupted by the arrival of Bill and
his family followed immediately by Percy and his wife.
Everybody
started getting up greeting, hugging and kissing one another.
Children with brown, blonde but mostly red hair popped up from out of
nowhere and started yelling for their cousins and siblings. Chairs
were conjured when people ran out off sofa to occupy and
conversations were taken up and interrupted.
After
hugging several of her grandchildren Molly sighed contented, happy
she had her family around her for Sunday dinner.
Almost three years after Voldemort's demise, people were taking control of their lives again. Families were reunited, houses rebuilt and Hogwarts opened its doors again.The war had been terrible: thousands of casualties just in England, families were ripped apart, never to be whole again. Death and destruction everywhere. Fighting had reached Greece before the Order was finally able to put a stop to it all. Actually it was Harry who did. He ended the war by killing the Dark Lord, getting rid of Snape, Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange and putting 13 other Death Eaters behind bars (of an entirely reformed prison that is).
The
entire Order of the Phoenix, out in the open, were wizarding heroes
now. Everyone received not only Order of Merlin first class but also
the newly established Order of the Phoenix third, second or first.
Her own
Arthur, God rest his soul, has his painting hanging in the Minister's
office as well as in the Burrow. He died in the final battle,
protecting Hermione, murdered by Lucius Malfoy.
Charlie
she lost too. He succumbed to his injuries at St-Mungo's. He saved
23 children that day. He was escorting them to a safe point when they
were attacked. His wife died giving birth two days later.
And now people were finally able to mourn.
The
Ministry of Magic, completely demolished very early in the war, has
been rebuilt and several new offices and funds were established.
Even
Hogwarts had changed: besides being the world's most famous
wizarding school, it was now the largest orphanage in Europe.
Three years after the end of the war everybody could breathe again.
'Uncle Harry!' Jake yelled.
…
Well not everybody…
