A/N: Hello my lovelies! It's about time I updated this story for your reading pleasure. This is the final chapter of this story and it's rather like a filler that ties off some loose ends. But, because I am weird and can't stand odd numbers (unless they are divisible by 3 or 5 or are the number 13), I will probably do an Epilogue before really calling this story over.

I thank all of you for your support – even you quiet ones! So, here's a reward.

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Selena stood just outside of the burial grounds of the final fallen victim of the war her father had caused. She had not been invited to the funeral - the fallen boy's family had requested that she not come close to them in their time of grief. With a heavy heart and an apology that fell on cruel deaf ears, Selena had paid for the best funeral that she could, considering the rapidly shrinking amount of her wealth. Everyone who had died had been given a hero's funeral and the Death Eaters had been burned, their bodies never touching the hallowed ground that so many others had been laid in for their Eternal Slumber.

At the thought of Death Eaters, Selena's hand touched the spot where her father's Mark had been for years. There was still an upraised scar where the cursed Mark had been. It was small and burned occasionally, but Selena was content to let it heal on its own. It was a reminder of her past and all that she had done.

As the fallen boy was lowered into the ground, Selena turned and Disapparated with a whispered prayer of healing. She reappeared outside the gates of the Malfoy manor where the Weasleys had taken up residence with the remaining Malfoy duo. No longer was it a place of darkness and evil – Molly had seen to that the moment she stepped into the manor. Narcissa had opened her home to those who had been displaced – inviting Half-bloods and Muggle-born witches and wizards to take up residence in her home, something that Lucius had never allowed. She liked to think that such an action was making the bastard roll in his grave.

Selena put her hand on her firm stomach as she stepped through the gates. It had been two and a half months since the last battle and she was starting to feel the movement of the child within her. Her eyes often misted with unshed tears when this happened – in memory of her first child, Lea, whose presence was still felt in the heart of the witch and her husband. She was positive that nothing would go wrong in this pregnancy - she wouldn't let anything take away her child.

As the young witch stepped into the manor, the cat that she'd been given wound his way around her legs as if in greeting. Selena's stomach was too round and firm to comfortably bend down to pick up MJ, something that the cat didn't seem to realize. He mewed and circled her, his soft fur brushing against her legs. With a soft greeting, Selena walked past him and further into the manor which smelled of warm cinnamon.

"Selena dear," Molly's voice came from the kitchen. "Is that you?"

It had taken a couple weeks after Percy's and Ron's funerals for Molly to look Selena in the eyes. The older woman did not blame Selena for what happened to those two sons or so she said. Percy had been admittedly easier to get over since he'd been gone for many years and had taken the side of the Dark Lord. Ron was much harder to get over – there were times where Selena wondered why there was so much chicken in the house or thought about something that he'd said that made her want to punch him again. And yet, she couldn't. She couldn't believe the boy who she loved to torment, as any sister would, was gone.

"Yes Molly," Selena said, making her way into the kitchen. She stopped when she saw that McGonagall and Narcissa were also in the kitchen. "Oh…"

Narcissa, who never looked healthier than she did now, offered a wan smile. The woman had become a close friend to Selena, often being as motherly as Molly tended to be. The love that these two women showed her was something that she'd never experienced as a child. It made her heart do funny things…

"Good afternoon Selena," McGonagall said, looking at the younger woman with calculating eyes.

"Um…Good afternoon?"

The older woman's eyes flitted down to Selena's stomach. "How is the child?"

"As well as can be expected," Selena muttered. "Is the construction work on Hogwarts done?"

"Yes, it looks as good as new," McGonagall said. "Better than it did in its former glory." She gestured at the island in the kitchen where a large piece of parchment laid. "Speaking of which, I have come to talk to you about the choices that Mr. Potter gave you after the battle was over…Have you made a decision?"

Selena nodded and stepped closer to the island, one of her hands resting on her stomach. "I will work at Hogwarts, if you'll let me," she said quietly. "I know that if parents find out that you're letting a former Death Eater who is related to Voldemort teach their children, that there may be a mass exodus from Hogwarts…And the students may not be as tolerant too."

"That will not be a problem," McGonagall assured her. "The wizardry community knows that you have reformed from your old ways and that you have taken up the responsibility of your actions – making it your duty to help the people and to give back to the community…Your past actions may cause some muttering, but you will not cause an exodus. No matter where you go."

Selena's green eyes flitted in the direction of Molly and Narcissa, the two mothers that she had had to go through Hell to find. She loved each of them in different ways and they supported her decisions when they were on the right path.

"Selena," McGonagall said, holding out a black quill.

The young witch took the quill and scrawled her name at the bottom of the parchment. Narcissa and Molly moved close to her and each signed the bottom as witnesses to the contract. Selena watched as McGonagall rolled up the parchment.

"You will start as the Potions Apprentice in three weeks," McGonagall said briskly. "Severus will guide you through the appropriate ways to teach and once he has observed that you are capable and ready to instruct on your own, he will relinquish his title as Potions Master to you."

"Do you know how long that will be Minerva?" Molly asked, waving a spoon at Selena's stomach. "Because it can't be too soon – she's very pregnant and she'd have to miss work if she had the baby when school is in session. You have a little over three months left, Selena."

Selena nodded and let her hand rest on her stomach. A soft smile crossed Molly's face, making the older woman's eyes sparkle with happiness.

"Of course, the child could come sooner," Molly commented. "None of my children came when the doctor said they would. Fred and George came two weeks before their due date."

"The sooner, the better." Selena said quietly. "I'd like to be able to touch my toes again. Hell, I'd like to be able to see them when I look down. And I can't even hug George anymore."

"Such is the life of a pregnant woman," Narcissa said with a knowing smile.

Selena looked at McGonagall. "Could you wait to make me Potions Master until after the baby is delivered? I don't think it'd be wise to change professors on the students because of something that will keep me away from the school for a couple months."

Molly's eyebrow quirked up at Selena's words. "A couple of months? You'll need more than that! There will be the nursing every two hours and –"

"I'm not nursing," Selena stated. "I don't want to have something feeding on me. The baby can have my milk from a bottle, not directly from the source." She folded her arms on top of her baby bump. "Jacqueline did the same thing and look how I turned out."

"But -!"

McGonagall cleared her throat, directing the attention back to her. "We shall see what happens during the first few months of school, Selena. It is, after all, up to you." She straightened her spine and looked at the women. "I shall be on my way. Thank you for your hospitality Molly, Narcissa."

"Any time Minerva," Narcissa said.

Selena waited until Minerva was gone before looking at the older women. "Do we have any strawberry Oreos?"

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George stepped out of the shop with his twin in tow, letting Fred lock up. The ginger twins looked at their rebuilt shop with proud grins. It had taken a couple weeks to get the shop up and running again, the process of making their products had caused many hours of no sleep and hard-work. Selena had paid for most of the repairs, despite the assurances of the twins that they didn't blame her for the destruction of their shop. She'd paid for the repairs of dozens of other stores in Diagon Alley as was her agreement with Harry, but she'd given a little more attention to their shop.

"It was a good day," Fred said, jingling the big bag of money they had earned that day. "Who knew that we'd go through so many Whiz-bangs? I might actually buy Hermione a couple of new books."

"Like she needs more books…"

Fred smiled. "She is a bit of a book nerd, isn't she?"

"In the dictionary, where it says the word "book" there is a picture of Hermione reading…"

"And for the word "nerd", there is also another picture of her."

The brothers chuckled and started walking away from their store. All the buildings looked good as new, some even better than they had before. George shoved his hands in his pockets and cast his eyes up to the heavens, wondering if little Ronnie-kins was watching over them. He wondered if Ron knew that Hermione and Fred had been going steady for a few weeks, that Hermione was being taken care of. In their grief, the two had become closer and every time little Alice saw the bushy haired witch enter the room, a bright smile crossed her face. They were shaping out to be a happy little family.

Wish you were here Ron, George thought.

"You remember how we made fun of Ron after he was forced to dance with McGonagall?" Fred asked, reading the subject his mind.

George smiled and looked at his twin. "Yeah…he was so mad afterwards."

"Hermione only got to dance with him once…"

"Because he was stupid about not asking her to the Yule Ball…"

"I would have asked her…"

"You had feelings for her back then?"

Fred scuffed the toe of his shoe against the ground. "Kinda…"

"Then why -?"

"He was in love with her," Fred said quietly. "Even if he didn't show it, he still loved Hermione. I couldn't take her away from him." He scratched the side of his face. "I kinda held her when she was crying on the staircase after the Yule Ball…"

"Really?"

"You were too busy with 'Lena to notice."

George ducked his head at the memory. "I guess I was….How'd Hermione take it?"

"She cried…"

"But did she feel something for you?"

"Not as much as she felt for Ron…" Fred looked at his twin. "Do you think he'd be mad at me?"

"No. You're taking care of Hermione's needs and keeping her safe…And she can depend on you." George smiled at his brother and wrapped an arm his shoulders. "I can't guarantee he'll be happy when we pass though."

Fred smiled for a moment. "Georgie, did you ever wonder about the Pettigrew guy who slept in bed with Ron for those three years?"

"Yeah…I just thought it was a flaw in the map…"

"I thought Ron was curious…"

"He was a little odd, wasn't he?"

"Totally friend-zoned Hermione for years…"

The twins sighed and looked out at the world without really seeing anything. A clock chimed somewhere nearby, it's sound echoing in the night.

"We should head home," Fred said, looking at his mirror image. "I hear Mum is trying out a new recipe…"

George nodded and cast one last look up at the darkening sky. Everything is going to be all right…but we still miss you, Dumbledore, Ron.

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A/N: I feel like this is a good way to end the last chapter because I'm lazy and I don't want to make it all mushy or cheesy. This has been an awesome journey and I have made some wonderful friends. Please read and review and know that even after the story is over, I still read and answer newer reviews. Thanks! ~Scarlet