May 4th, 1998. 2:34 A.M.
Makeshift Infirmary, Hogwarts Castle
All day staring at the ceiling
Making friends with shadows on my wall
All night hearing voices telling me
That I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good for something
~Unwell, Matchbox 20
Few were awake at this hour. The battle had long since ceased, and families had retired to dormitories and common rooms to sleep and mourn in private. There was one last task Mr. Weasley had to complete before he could retire as well. A task he would gladly have given to someone else, but he was oddly suited for the job.
The infirmary was nearly empty; most patients had either been healed up, sent to St. Mungo's, or moved out in body bags. The room itself smelt of death and broken dreams. In the far left end of the row of beds lay young Lavender Brown, and another figure outstretched over her limp body. Magic could not awaken people from comas. But it was not Ms. Brown that he was concerned with.
He had never actually spoken with Parvati Patil before, and he hated to introduce himself like this. His steps slowed as he approached her. She was kneeling by Ms. Brown's side, her gaze fixed on her. Arthur did not know her, but he appreciated what she was doing. Her body shifted a little as she heard him come in. Her robes were disheveled and matted with blood. Regardless of spending so much time in the infirmary, she had not sought medical attention. She turned her head around to look at him. There was a faded bruise on her cheek, a few on her arms, and a vapid look in her eyes. He coughed a few times, mentally steeling himself for the conversation to come, but she cut in before he had the chance to begin.
"She's gone, isn't she? Something happened, and she isn't coming back?"
Arthur was surprised by the firm resignation in her voice. He moved to put his arm around her, but she flinched away.
"I am sorry, sir. I guessed when you walked in. It has been hours since anyone has come visit. Even Madam Pomfrey tucked in for the night. There was no other possibility. Plus, I think I knew."However he was expecting the conversation to turn out, it wasn't this. It wasn't defeat. He looked at her, really looked, and he knew there was something missing.
"Ms. Patil, I don't think you understand. Your sister was-"
"Killed. I know. I have known. Part of me feels gone, the better part." Parvati had stood up now, and started walking out of the infirmary. As she was walking off, her words echoed through infirmary. "Padma was always the better half. Tell Ginny and everyone I am sorry. The D.A. were the best of friends and the best of people."
Her latest words, although kind and touching, reminded him altogether too much of a last goodbye.
He retired to the common room soon after that, with a growing feeling of unease. His family had spread out among the chairs and couches, his wife and all his remaining children asleep but for one. Ginny was reclining on the couch with her eyes open, staring at the fire. He decided to take the seat next to her, hoping he would not startle her too much.
In the next few moments, he felt her flinch, and felt the cool feel of a wand against his neck. He listened to her whispered apology, and wrapped his hands around her. He was thankful to have his daughter with him, finally, after they had fought so hard and lost so much.
"Ginny, what do you know about Parvati Patil?" He couldn't help but ask her. She nodded in understanding, not bothering to find the motive behind his question.
"She has a heart with a lot of room for love. She's grown up so much this year, but she will be crushed by Padma's death."
"And her parents?" Ginny waited a few moments to answer.
"I have never met them and the twins would barely mention them. But, they seemed very cold. Not at all like you and mum." Arthur found himself nodded his head, but desperately wanting to disagree at the same time.
Fred's death was tearing at his family, but at least they had a lot of love and warmth to go around. They would grieve, and it would be tough, especially on George, but he knew his family would survive. He felt grateful for that.
"Ginny, if you can, I want you to look after her here. Especially when her parents come. I know you are hurting, I know it's asking too much-" Ginny interrupted him, the fire returning to her voice.
"But Lavender is in a coma and may never wake. Hermione wasn't here this year and barely knows her. She's got no one else. " He smiled a little smile at her. He had seen his daughter grow up this year, painfully at times, and he really was proud of her.
May 4th, 1998. 10:02
He woke up rather late in the morning, feeling surprisingly refreshed. The war was over. Although the pang in his heart for Fred and Lupin and Tonks was still there, he knew they were happy and laughing together somewhere beyond the horizon. He glanced around the room again, a little bit dazed. The majority of his family was absent, he assumed to begin rebuilding and repairing the castle. George was still there, though. His son gave him a wane smile, but the laughter was gone from his eyes. He spoke in a soft voice, "Mum and Bill are working out arrangements for Fred and the Lupins, Charlie went on a stroll, Percy is talking with Shaklebolt about future plans for Hogwarts and the Ministry, Ron and Hermione are 'talking', Harry is God knows where, and Ginny is meeting with family members of the D.A." George had put air quotes around talking, and Arthur was sure he saw a hint of a smile. George made a strained face, as if trying to remember something, and added "Ginny said to look out for Parvati's father. She had to meet with Colin's parents. I could tell she didn't like him, she had that Weasley look in her eye."
Arthur nodded, buttoning up his shirt and cleaning his clothes with a flick of his wand. Scourgify didn't seem to do anything for the grime left over from the battle. He wondered if he would ever be clean again.
"Would you mind coming with me to look for Parvati? I want to make sure things are all right, and I think it would help for you to be there." George nodded in affirmation, placed his wand in his back pocket, and walked out of the portrait hole.
It didn't take long to locate Parvati, on account of a very loud shouting match between her father and her. Well, him shouting and her saying nothing in response. He didn't want to intrude on such an intense family discussion, but he didn't want to leave Parvati either. Something about her situation, not just losing her sister but everything. He had a father's sense about this. He motioned for George and him to stand against the wall, in order to assess the situation. His son rapidly pulled out a pair of extendable ears and handed them to him. Even after losing his twin brother, George remained a step ahead of him.
After spending a few moments assembling the eavesdropping device, and leaning aside so George could listen as well, they both held still. The words of the one-sided screaming match were not difficult to decipher.
"You selfish whore. Do you care nothing of your sister? You abandoned her, instead waiting for that foolish idiot you hang around with to wake up. News flash- she's dead!"
"Papi, I didn't know. I swear-" Arthur was astonished at the cruelty coming from the father's mouth. And the young Patil didn't even defend her honor. He had no right. He had abandoned his daughters.
"How dare you. It should have been you!" The man had stopped screaming, and a scuffle ensued. The unmistakable sound of flesh against flesh resounded out the ear. it was time to intervene. He had wanted to earlier, but he hadn't known if it was necessary.
When they reached the scene, the damage was mostly done already. Perhaps this was a one-time event in the Patil family, driven by anger and misplaced blame. He sincerely hoped this was so, but he knew deep in his gut that it was not. His scene previously with Parvati seemed to support this opinion.
Parvati looked a little worse for the wear. Actually, the longer he looked, the worse she turned out to be. Her robes were still grimy from the battle, and she looked like she hasn't seen a cleansing shower for weeks. Recalling that the D.A. had spent the last few weeks in the Room of Requirements, the dust was understandable. But she looked so skinny. Like Ginny was after the Holidays. There was no hope in her eyes. The slump in her shoulders, the hallow look of her face, and the bruises and other marks covering the visible parts of her body, not to mention the glances she kept shooting her father- all seemed to indicate he was partially to blame. And he was obligated to act.
But George, it seemed, had surveyed the scene and reached the same conclusion much faster than his father. His mouth was furrowed, his left hand clenched in anger, his right hand enclosed around his wand, held right up against Mr. Patil's face. He looked angrier than Arthur had ever seen him, even in battle.
"Mr. Patil." He spoke slowly, with disdain. "I am going to back up, and get my anger in check. Do not move."
Mr. Patil didn't move an inch.
"You have to understand, sir. I lost my twin brother today. I am angry, sir. Very angry."
"My apologies," the other man mumbled insincerely.
"You misunderstood me. The only thing keeping me from slamming my fist in your face is that lovely woman right there." He slammed his visit against the wall, right next to Mr. Patil's head. Point understood.
"That girl over there. Her name is Parvati. I don't know much about her, except that my sister, Ginny Weasley, told me she bravely stood up for little children this year. She withstood torture and isolation for the D.A. Her best friend got ravaged by Greyback. Her twin sister got killed after a cease-fire. And she is still here, still standing. That takes courage. That takes fire." He paused, letting the message sink in.
"She's got balls. And I am sorry that she didn't seen to inherit it from you, you coward. I am sorry for your loss sir. But right now, I kind of hate you." Arthur couldn't help but agree, and felt a tingling pride well up in his chest. With one last pointed look at his daughter, Mr. Patil stomped away from them down the corridor.
Parvati had turned from George an Arthur, as if trying to figure out what to say. He had just gained what he supposed was a rather honest insight into her family life. Victory may have come, but there were still many battles that needed fighting.
He found her hours later, once again by Lavender's side at the infirmary. Her small frame was seated at the ravaged girl's side. He watched for a few moments, wondering if he should just leave the poor child alone. She didn't say anything, she was barely moving but the tiny tremor in her back and shoulders seemed to indicate the presence of crying. Damn. He couldn't leave her now.
He cleared his throat and walked up to sit beside her, careful to give her plenty of space. He waited for her to speak.
"Sir, I was just saying goodbye. If I am not allowed in here..." Her voice trailed off. While speaking, she had gotten up and started for the door. She was speaking so quietly, his ears strained to listen to her. He shook his head and patted the previously occupied seat.
" I just wanted to make sure you were okay. And call me Arthur, please."
"Sir-Mr. Weasley- Arthur. There was no need. I was just saying goodbye. I am leaving, with my dad." He stared at her. This was not good news. She looked down, and he couldn't help but notice her knees had begun to shake as well. She continued, her voice steady.
" Padma, you never knew her, but she was the most brilliant witch I have ever known. She is- was- my better half." She took a long breath. "She was kind, and intelligent, and unselfish, and I promised myself I would look after her. I would protect her. But I failed." Her voice began to crescendo. " I killed her. So I am going to go home with my father. i will set things right, it is the least I can do." She was no longer trembling, and she could now look him in the eye. What he saw there scared him very much. A grim finality, almost fatality. No fear, no sadness.
"Parvati, your father today- he hit you." He wanted some kinder and gentler way to talk to her, but nothing came Into his head.
"That was just a disagreement. You came at the wrong time. It was no big deal."
"That's what concerns me about you going home, Parvati. The fact that to you, that was no big deal. Maybe you don't care that a dad hurts his daughter after she had just lost her twin sister. But I care. He is going to hurt you, possibly worse, and I can't let that happen."
She shook her head, confused. " but don't you see, I deserve it. All of it and more. Didn't you hear him? It should have been me. He is right."
"No!" He was nearly shouting. " it was not your fault. I lost a son out there today. It was my duty, my obligation to try to protect him. But it is also my duty to give him the freedom to make his own decisions. And Fred chose to fight and give up his life. I could beat up myself about it, or I could be proud that I raised such a selfless and courageous son."
"But it's different-"
"Parvati, you did protect her. You gave her part of yourself. You loved her. You still do. And she knows, I truly believe she does. She did the same for you." He put his arm around her, in what he hoped was a comforting fashion. She leaned her head against his, and her trembling slowed and came to a halt. She closed her eyes, her breathing slowed, and she feel asleep.
In the moment before consciousness and sleep, Mr. Weasley swore he could feel Fred sitting beside them.
