HELLO! This is the last chapter for my story. Amazing, right? If you want information about what's going to happen after this, it shall be posted at the end of the chapter. Now, I would like to thank: MrsFredWeasley21xx, BookKailei, Isabella Lupin Nyte, alb33, , Kat, Takara Matsudaira, harrypotteraddict101 for reviewing; Charmed899 for adding this story to their favorite story list; sci-fi-rocks for adding this story to their story alert subscriptions. THANKS A BUNCH!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I own only Willow as well as a few other people, places, and things. But that is all.
Much to my amazement, Muriel continued to be nice to me, or well, not be mean to me. Either way, I was grateful. Fred barely let Daphne out of his sight since we got back. Daphne loved the attention and would no doubt become incredibly spoiled by it.
"Dada! Dada!" She would yell, whenever he entered the room. He would scoop her up in his arms and shower her with affection and love.
Things seemed to be getting scarier and scarier each day. More people were being killed and it seemed like there were more and more sightings of Voldemort. I never let Daphne anywhere near the doors or windows, just to be safe.
Daphne was busy playing with her stuffed animals while I was reading. Nothing out of the ordinary. Fred was in the back of the house with George, working on more mail orders.
"Willow." I looked up and saw Fred standing in the door way, looking grim. I set the book I was reading down and walked over to him. He shut the door almost completely behind me.
"What's wrong?" I asked, worried something bad has happened.
"Harry's at Hogwarts and You-Know-Who knows he's there, or at least he's gonna know real soon. They need us over there."
"Alright," I said, slightly freaking out. I knew this moment was coming, but I just didn't know when. "I'll get a hold of Tiff and have her watch Daphne for us-"
"No," Fred said, cutting me off. "You're staying here."
"What! No! I'm coming with you!" I shouted, shaking my head. "I have to go with you!"
"No, Willow, please. You have to stay here and watch Daphne. It's too dangerous. You have to stay put." He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.
"Fred," I choked out and he pulled me into a hug.
"It's ok, Willow. Don't cry. But you gotta stay here, love. Daphne needs her mummy," he whispered in my ear.
"She needs her daddy too!" I sobbed, holding onto him for dear life.
"She'll have her daddy," Fred whispered, stroking my hair. "Please, Willow, we both know I have to go."
I shook my head. "No! Please! Stay here!" Then I added softly, "I can't bare the thought of losing you."
"You won't lose me. I promise I'll come home. And when I do, this war'll be over and we can go and have our own place and settle down. We can get married and give Daphne a few siblings."
I continued to hold onto him. "But you don't know that! What if something happens?" I didn't want him to go. I didn't want him to leave me. He's my everything and if something happened...if I lost him...
"Willow, I'm sorry, but I have to go. Nothing's going to happen. I'm Fred Weasley; it takes a lot to take me out." I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but I didn't want to hear it. What I wanted to hear was him telling me he wasn't going to go anything. I wanted him to tell me that he was going to stay here with me and Daphne so I knew he would be safe.
He pulled away from me and wiped away my tears before giving me a gently kiss on the lips. Then he opened the door to the library to say good-bye to Daphne.
"Dada!" she yelled and ran right toward him. He picked her up and held her close.
"Dada loves you so much, Daphne. You're my little Princess and no matter what happens, I will always love you," he said as I watched from the doorway, wiping away more tears. He placed a tender kiss on her mouth, nose, forehead, cheeks, and everywhere else. "Can Dada have kisses?" he asked her.
Daphne's kisses have changed since she first learned how. Instead of just placing her lips against your skin, she now licked and you ended up with a face covered in baby slobber.
She kissed, well licked, both of his cheeks and he set her down before coming back over to me. "I'll be back," he said. With tears falling, I wiped the evidence of Daphne's kisses off his cheek and then wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Please come home," I whispered to him. He pulled away, kissed me once more, then left.
Then the waiting began. I hated the waiting. It felt like hours had past but when I checked the clock, it had only been five minutes. I didn't know how long this was going to last, probably too long.
I paced and paced the library. Daphne was playing with her stuffed animals but after my third lap, she started watching me. I tried to stay calm, but I couldn't help it. I was really worried and poor little Daphne could tell there was something wrong with Mumma.
After almost an hour, I couldn't take it anymore. I packed up a few things for Daphne and Apparated to my grandparents. I didn't bother saying good-bye or anything to Muriel, not that she really cares what happens to me.
I didn't even have to knock on their door. It was almost like they expected me to come. As soon as I was on the porch, my grandma opened the door. "I knew you would be coming, Willow Tree," Grandma said, stepping aside and letting Daphne and me enter their home.
"Grandma, there's-"
"I know what's going on, darling, and I know why you're here. Of course your grandfather and I will watch young Daphne. She's always a delight," Grandma said with a smile.
"Is that Daphne?" I heard my grandpa call from the kitchen. A few moments later he appeared with a big smile on his face. "You were right, Katrina."
Grandma held open her arms and I handed her Daphne. It had been awhile since Daphne had seen them and was therefore fussy. "Mumma!" she yelled and reached for me.
"Mumma will be back later with Dada, ok sweetie? Mumma loves you so much." I kissed her forehead. "I promise I'll be back, Daphne. Promise." I turned my attention to my grandparents. "Thank you so much for this," I said.
"Don't worry about it, darling. You do what you need to do," Grandma said. I turned to leave but she stopped me. "Go to The Hog's Head. Find the picture of the girl and tell her you need to get into Hogwarts."
"Grandma, how do you-?"
"Grandma knows things, Willow Tree. Now go. Your Fred needs you." She smiled her all-knowing smile. I don't know how she does it, but I did as she said.
I had never actually been in The Hog's Head, so I Apparated just outside it. When I landed, an alarm went off but other than that, nothing happened. No guards came running as I expected. Maybe they're all fighting.
Without giving it another thought, I ran inside The Hog's Head, and quickly found the picture my grandma told me about. Well, it was the only picture in the place so I assumed it was the right one.
"Um, hi," I said to the picture. She smiled at me. "I need to get into Hogwarts," I said, just as Grandma instructed me. The picture smiled again and swung open, revealing a long tunnel. "Thank you!" I said and hopped into the tunnel. I took off running down it, as fast as my legs could carry me. My wand was grasp firmly in my hand, just waiting to curse any Death Eater that came my way.
After what seemed like miles, I finally reached the end of the tunnel and threw open the door. The room it led to was small and appeared to have scorch marks on the wall. I didn't give it much thought as I ran to the opposite side and threw open yet another door.
This time I was in Hogwarts. Where exactly? I couldn't tell. I did the only thing I could do; run. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had to get there fast.
As I ran, Death Eaters were coming from all sides. They weren't after me, exactly, they were just after people in general. They would shoot curses and hexes as they pasted just like I did. I narrowly avoided the death curse several times.
Across the hall, I could hear familiar voices. "You actually are joking, Perce..." That was Fred. I scanned the room and found him dueling. I started running toward him. "I don't think I've heard you joke since we were-" Right where Fred was, an explosion took place. Small stones were thrown toward me, hitting me in the face, but I kept running. I needed to get there now more than ever.
The dust cleared and I could see a figure laying on the ground. Fred. "NO!" I screamed as I ran faster than I ever have. I knew the other's around me where speaking, but I couldn't hear them. I couldn't really see them for that matter either. Dust and tears filled my eyes, making it almost impossible to see.
I threw myself on Fred's body, begging him not to be dead. I felt people, trying to tear me off, but I wouldn't let them. Fred can't be dead. He just can't be! I need him! I love him! He can't be dead!
My mind was racing. There has to be something I can do! Then it hit me. The book Erika had given me several years ago. He wasn't completely dead...yet. The window of opportunity may have already passed, but I had to try.
Remembering what I had read, I quickly cleared my mind of all negative thoughts and focused solely on my love for Fred and how much I needed him in my life. My intentions and heart had to be pure in order for this to work. I took a deep breath.
I remembered that I needed to call upon the elements. They and they alone were my only hope for saving him. "Air," I whispered, "please, save him. Fire, please, save him. Water, please, save him. Earth, please, save him." Nothing seemed to happen. I tried again, this time completely relaxing, letting the words flow out of me life a childhood nursery rhyme.
"Air, element of the east and knowledge, fill him with life. Fire, element of the south and beauty, fill him with life. Water, element of the west and tranquility, fill him with life. Earth, element of the north and nature, fill. Him. With. Life!"
It was the most amazing feeling I ever experienced. It was like warmth spread though every cell in my body. My eyes had cleared and I could see his perfect face below mine, staring up and me blankly. All too suddenly, the warmth left me and I felt very dizzy and faint. I collapsed onto of Fred, my face resting near his. Right before I passed out, I felt a gently breeze tickle my cheek...
xoxo
I didn't know where I was. Whatever room I was in was way too bright. I shielded my eyes, trying to block out the bright white light that surrounded me. Thankfully, the light faded and I realized I was in the middle of a forest. Confused, I began to wander about. "Hello!" I called. "Is anyone there?"
"Willow Grace Weasley," I heard a voice call from behind the trees.
"Um, it's Lamel," I called back, looking around.
"Ah, but for long it won't be." This time, the owner of the voice stepped out into view. It was a woman, and old woman but the look of her. Her skin was extremely wrinkly, but her eyes twinkled in the light.
"That's very true," I said. "How did you know?"
"I've been watching you ever since you were born, Willow Grace. I knew there was something special about you. Your grandmother knew that too," said the old woman.
"Who are you?" I asked, taking a step closer.
"My name is Daphne Isobella Crest."
"That's my daughter's name. Well, her middle name is Marie, but her first name is Daphne," I said.
"And where do you think you got that name from?" she asked with a smile.
"I don't know. It just popped into my head and I liked it."
"My dear darling daughter, I put that name in your head."
"But...?"
She smiled and again and stepped closer to me. She didn't walk like she was old, in fact, if it wasn't for her wrinkly skin, I would think that she was an average aged adult. "Allow me to explain. I'm your great times many, grandmother. I was the last generation of witches to perform the magik you just did. That magik is ancient, very very old indeed. It's almost completely died out. Only those blessed with heritage in the Ways of Old can call upon the elements. But those ancient techniques have died out and hardly anyone uses them. Most people have tainted their hearts and even if their blood was right, their magik would turn out wrong."
I listened as she spoke, questions flooding thought my mind. "What do you mean? Ways of Old?"
"Magic wasn't always what it is now. Back in my day and well before it, was had pure magik. If we wanted to do something, we called upon the elements for assistance. They helped us in our day to day life.
"But there was always the other magic. That magic is what you're use to now. Waving your wand and saying a few special words and things would happen. Of course, anyone, who was blessed with the ability to do it. But the Ways of Old were different. If your heart was impure or if you were going to use the elements to harm, nothing would happen.
"Life was also different back then. We didn't have threats like there are today. There was no Voldemort, no Grindelwald. Was there still evil? Of course. That's what really brought wand waving magic to popularity. With that and the rise of the Unforgivables, the Way of Old soon fell out of favor. It was just too easy to just wave a wand and get whatever you wanted.
"Of course, the Ways of Old never truly died out. It simply went missing. I got buried deep inside, and those who were blessed with never even knew it. Your father, who you believe a squib, possesses the magik to do what you did not too long ago."
I blinked, absorbing all this information. "Can everyone who's muggle do those things?" I asked.
"No. Some can, depending on their ancestry. If you have a true witch down the line somewhere, then yes. Once a you have a witch or a wizard in the family every child after that becomes a witch or wizard, though they may never know. The powers of old don't show sings like wand waving magic. You don't make things appear or cause things to break when upset. The Ways of Old were taught from parent to child.
"Of course, there are ways to sever the ties to the Ways of Old. The Unforgivables are named so because to use one is unforgivable. If one does perform one of the curses, they lose their true magikal heritage and their children after them will lose it as well. Of course, if a child is bore before the use of the curse, then the child is safe. But once the magik is lost, it never comes back."
"And is this," I said, looking around the forest, "something that always happens after this kinda magik is used?"
The old woman laughed. "No. This is simply because you used so much strength to keep your love alive, that you passed out. I thought that visiting you now would be as good of time as any."
"I still don't full understand," I confessed. This was all so much to take in, it almost didn't seem real.
"You see this tree?" said Daphne, placing her shriveled hand against the trunk of a large tree. "Feel it. Press you hands to it and well me what you feel."
I did as she said and touched the massive tree. "I feel bark."
"Try again. This time, close your eyes and let your senses connect with the tree. Let the words flow out like you did earlier."
Once again, I did as she told me to do. I pressed myself closer to the tree and tried to really feel it. Just like before, the words flew out of my mouth. "I feel the air, rustling the leaves, giving the tree what it needs to breathe. I feel with warmth of the fiery sun, helping the tree to eat. I feel the water being pulled up by the roots, helping the tree to grow. And I feel the rich earth that the tree now calls home, giving it life."
"Excellent. That's exactly what you should feel," she said. I opened my eyes and pulled away from the tree. "You can do amazing things, Willow darling. You have an amazing gift that you've finally tapped into. Raise your daughter to use her gift too. It's too precious to waste."
Slowly, the world around me began to melt. Daphne was fading away and soon I was left alone in the world of bright white light once more. The white was slowly fading to black and I could hear voices.
"It was quite amazing," said a voice I had only heard once before, but I knew instantly it was Percy Weasley. "It was like her body was glowing, then that glow left her and went into you."
"I wouldn't be here without her." I knew that voice was Fred. "I own her my life." I wanted to leap over and hug him, but I found it difficult to move.
"I'm going to go talk to Tonks and Remus before they leave. I haven't formally apologized with them for everything I've done yet," I heard Percy say and a moment later, I head the door close.
I really wanted to get up and throw my arms around Fred, but first I had to open my eyes. I don't know how long it took, but finally I opened my eyes and saw Fred sitting next to my bed.
"You're alive," I said, smiling. He smiled too.
"Thanks to you," he said, taking my hand in his and gently rubbing this thumb over it. "I was so worried about you, Willow."
"What happened?" I asked.
"Well you passed out after...well I'm not sure what you did. But I opened my eyes, well my eyes were already open, so I guess I just started seeing again. Anyway, I saw you laying there on top of me so I picked you up and rushed you somewhere safe. Everyone was pretty much gathered in the Great Hall by then, tending to wounds and saying good bye to the dead. We tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't budge."
"What happened with Voldemort?"
"Harry defeated him. He's dead and the war is finally over," he said with a huge smile. "It's all over and its safe now. We can go where ever we like, we can get married and really start a family."
"Oh!" came a voice from the door. I looked up and saw a Healer walking over to me. "You're awake. Good. I've just been going though your charts. You'll be glad to know that you and the babies are just fine."
"Um, excuse me," I said, "me and the babies?"
"Yes. Didn't you know that you're pregnant?"
I glanced over at Fred and he looked just as shocked as I felt. I had run out of birth control about two months ago and with everything going on, I never got more. Of course, just because I wasn't on the pill didn't stop Fred and I from going at it.
"So, so she's going to have a baby?" Fred asked, confirming what the Healer said.
"No, she's going to have two babies. Twins." The Healer smiled at us and left the room.
"Two babies," I repeated, glancing over at Fred. A huge grin broke out on his face and I couldn't help be smile too.
The war was over, Voldemort is dead, Fred's safe, and I'm pregnant with twins. We can finally get married and move into a proper house since there's no way we could stay at the flat anymore. We needed space.
With Fred holding my hand, I closed my eyes. For the first time in a very long while, I was able to fall asleep without having to worry about my friends or family. The only thing that was on my mind was my dream wedding with Fred and the two little ones growing inside me.
Well there you have it! The End! I'm not to do a sequal of Daphne going to Hogwarts, exactly. I'm going to do another one shot about what if Fred died, since I was considering doing that as well. Since I'll be going away to college in a few days (Crazy right?) I don't know how much time I'll have to do a legit sequel.
Because of this, I'm going to do kind of like a deleted scenes things. Moments that I didn't put in the story, either because they didn't fit too well with the flow of everything or because I thought of them afterwards. Those will consist of moments during the story and moments after the story finished. Of course if there's anything that you would like to know what happened, just let me know and I'll type it up and post it for ya!
Also, I know it might be a little cheesy and stupid the way I brought Fred back, but I really wanted to put some real life magik in there. That spell, so to speak, that Willow used to bring Fred back, was created by me. That is a legit spell that I use, well it's worded different obviously, and I've very proud to admit it. Please no steal :)
Until the next story, R&R!