The Beatles, U2, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, The Beatles again.
Weasley Shuffle
LI. Come Together (The Weasley Family)
They are back together at last. (Well, Charlie isn't here yet, but the rest of them are damn sure he's on his way.)
But this wasn't the time or the place they imagined Percy coming back. Now they are on the brink of a battle in which they might all die. The entire wizarding world could fall apart tonight – or they could win, they could all somehow get through this, their lives could be normal again.
There is no time for explanations or apologies or expressed regrets. But there is time for forgiveness and hope and "welcome home".
Percy is back. Back with his family, back where he belongs.
They are splitting up, going their different ways for the inevitable fight that is coming, but in a way that isn't tangible they are together.
If one of them, some of them, all of them die tonight, they have had this.
They are together now.
LII. I Will Follow (Ron and Hermione)
They know that who they are is inextricably linked in everyone's minds with Harry. They are not Ron Weasley and Hermione Weasley (nee Granger). They are Harry Potter's friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger-Weasley. Two thirds of the bloody Golden Trio. The less important two thirds.
They didn't realise that of course when it started. They were just three kids making friends.
By the time things really took off, they couldn't go back. They were in too deep. Committed to Harry, and to each other.
They would follow him whatever the cost – into the Chamber of Secrets, to the Ministry, on a hunt that none of them really understood, into battle if they had to. Whatever he asked, they would follow him. Not always willingly, not always without argument, but because they were committed.
Because they knew that following Harry meant following what was right.
Really, they never had a choice.
LIII. Only the Good Die Young (Fred and George)
"What the hell are we doing running a joke shop, George? There's a bloody war on."
"Really? I hadn't noticed." George's tone is very dry. He looks up at his brother from his position on the floor unpacking boxes. "You know what we're doing. What we always wanted to do. If we give up on this, we're letting bloody You Know Who win. Aren't we?"
Fred grimaces. "I'd like to see you convince Mum that running a joke shop is our duty for the cause…"
George grins. "Don't you think she'd buy it?" He sobers abruptly. "Seriously, Fred, don't give up on me now. We need to do this. It's not like we're not fighting too. Snap out of it!"
Fred's mouth twists, and he shrugs. Sometimes he wonders if he and George ever had their priorities right, but what his twin said did make a sort of sense.
"So by having fun we're cocking a snook at You Know Who?" he queries.
George nods emphatically. "Yep. And probably keeping ourselves safe too. After all, only the good die young."
LIV. Hearts and Bones (Charlie)
It is quiet and shady here. It feels like a thousand miles from anywhere. There is the occasional noise of a Muggle car passing, children's voices from the playground down the hill, the church clock striking. But he feels as if he might be the only person in the world here and now.
He looks at the older gravestones first. They are easy. Gran and Grandad Weasley – he doesn't remember them at all. Granny and Gramps Prewett– Gramps died when he was only two, but he was nearly five when Granny died. He remembers her soft kisses, the way she smelt of roses and lilac.
Fabian and Gideon. His uncles and his heroes. The coolest people he ever met. Heroes in every sense of the world.
The newest gravestone is the hardest. It is the reason he is here, today, on his own. Trying to face the reality. (He knows it, but still can't quite believe it).
"Frederick Gideon Weasley"
Fred. His little brother.
Charlie sighs and conjures a wreath of Christmas roses and ivy for his brother's grave.
"His brother's grave."
It will never sound any easier.
He lets the wind and the sun dry the tears from his cheeks, and is grateful that he came here alone.
LV. And I Love Her (Arthur)
He turns and sees her walking towards him, and knows that the widest smile is on his face. But he doesn't care what he looks like.
In a few minutes Molly Anne Prewett, will be Molly Anne Weasley.
His for ever. To have and to hold, to look after, to protect. They will be each other's to love and to cherish, in sickness in health, in good times and bad, for richer for poorer.
Whatever happens, they will be together.
They belong together.
She looks straight at him and smiles.
He loves her.