Soldiers
A/N: Not mine. Just scooping things around in the sandbox JKR gave to me as a child.
Molly Weasley thought herself to be a sensible woman, understanding and knowledgeable, particularly in the fields of children and war. She had seen her brothers die in the first war, and had raised her children through the lull and as the second war began, continued and ended.
The speeches were made about what had happened, Minerva McGonagal gave a short lecture on the future of Hogwarts and its education, Kingsley on the Aurors and the Ministry in general, a young woman on the future of the banks. And now, the main event was about to begin.
Ron, Harry and Hermione were called to the stage and Kingsley began the commendation ceremony that always preceded the Order of Merlin award. He spoke of their bravery, of their talent and of how much they had given up in order to fight.
As she stood in the crowd and watched her youngest son and his two best friends receive their Order of Merlin, First Class she bit her lip. The soft, round faces that had been so excited at the Quidditch store (or in Hermione's case, the bookstore) had morphed into the strong features of young adults. The bright and curious eyes had hardened into the calculating stare of someone who had seen too much in a lifetime.
Yes, Molly Weasley had known war. Lived and loved, taught and learned as her family had grown and kept growing. She knew children (She had raised enough of them) but standing here as her biological and adopted children were honored as adults made her eyes water.
In their short 18 years of life, they had lost friends and family, had lived and loved and learned and lost. They had grown into wonderful people, and had killed in order to protect those who needed it yet never forgot exactly why they were fighting. They had seen more in less than two decades than most people ever saw in a lifetime.
As medals were draped around three necks and smoothed over three strong sets of shoulders she couldn't help but begin to tear up. Her three young children had brought around a peace that hadn't been known since before Voldemort's rise. They had changed the world.
A/N: Just something I thought up while talking to a friend who is currently in Afghanistan serving in the US Army. He's 18 and already in war, and it breaks my heart to hear what he's facing. Recently he told me how elated he was about us clearing out of Iraq, and about how he thought the Iraqi people would be able to flourish. Here's to hoping, and to you JDM. Thanks for the plot bunny, listening to me write it in my mind and using your Skype call on me. :)