Fleur

The taste of salt hung heavy in the air as we walked - and I felt - our way ahead. Cool drafts of air were a welcome change from the chaos we had just escaped.

After having our beautiful wedding gatecrashed by death eaters, Bill and I had disapparated to the edge of water, where we anxiously waited for some news on the rest of our family's wellbeing.

It was after recieving Arthur's patronus, stating they were all safe, that Bill had conjured up a blindfold and informed me of a surprise awaiting me.

Walking uphill for few minutes, I felt him stop and his hand that was entwined with mine reached up to my shoulders as he stood behind me.

"You ready, love?" He asked with unmasked excitement in his voice and I teasingly replied, "aren't I always?"

Warm breath tickled my ear and neck as he bent down and playfully warned, "behave... Now, open your eyes."

He removed the blindfold took in an achingly beautiful cottage standing on the cliff of the Lavender sea.

The moonlight shone over the outer walls and the roof of the cottage that were embedded with beautiful seashells and white washed.

The sounds of crashing waves, along with calming, salty air and the view of the cliff where all I could see was sky touching the water, made me want to pinch myself and make sure if it was a dream.

As I took all this in, Bill watched me, his gaze reverently on my face and said, "welcome home, love."

Tears of joy filled my eyes and I jumped up in his arms, kissing the side of his face. Feeling the uneven skin beneath my lips stretch, I smiled huge m and looked up at him.

He chuckled and let me slide down his body, holding me close to him by my waist and saying, "so I assume you like it?"

"Like eet? I love eet, amour! Eet ees perfect! Oh Bill.. eet's so beautiful, " I happily sighed then yelped when he lifted me, bridal style and carried me up and through the threshold, entering our home.

Once inside, he flicked his wand, lighting the candles up as he went and I stared at the house in awe. The inside was as beautiful as the outside, with shells decorating every wall artistically.

So immersed I was in taking in everything that I didn't hear him come back until my eyes fell upon him and saw him standing in a doorway motionless, gazing at me in a way that made my heart race.

Prowling over to me, his eyes never wavered from mine, as he caught hold of my waist and pulled me to him. The candles flickered, casting shadows on his scars, making him look even more strikingly handsome and mysterious.

The kiss he gave me was different than all the other kisses we had shared so far. It felt like he was imprinting himself into the very soul of mine.

Picking me up again, he carried me to the bedroom, where not a single candle was alight. Moonlight filled the space, making everything in sight bathe in its enchanting glow.

Setting me down at the foot of the bed, he gently pulled Aunt Muriel's tiara from my hairs and set it on a side table, saying, "let's get this out of the harm's way, shall we?"

"What 'arm?" I asked breathlessly.

He gave me a wicked smile and said, "let me show you," before leaning over me.

2 years later

Bill

The smell of baking reached me before I could walk inside the house, instantly letting me know that mum was here.

Once inside, I made my way to the kitchen, and saw her standing by the hearth, adjusting the fire with her wand.

She looked thinner, her shoulders tired and slumped. She still hadn't recovered from the aftermath of the war. None of us had, but mum had taken it hardest.

Hearing me enter, she turned and I was surprised to see her face shining with happiness as she exclaimed, "You're home, Bill dear!"

She hadn't smiled like that since the war, and my heart lifted at the sight of it.

I went and hugged her, kissing her forehead and she put her palms on my cheeks fondly, like she used to do when I was younger.

Taking a seat by the table, I said, "This is a pleasant surprise, mum. I thought you and dad were going to stay in Romania a few more weeks this time round?"

Turning back to the hearth, she replied, "Oh, we came back early. Got an owl from Fleur while we were there though."

"Oh?" I asked curiously, wondering what could she have told my parents that made them cut their vacation short.

"Yeah.. she wanted us to get something special from there. And we just couldn't..." Mum trailed and her eyes filled with tears.

I bolted up from the table, and hugged her, my heart breaking at her suppressed sob. Ever since the war, crying was all mum had done.

And as much as each of us were hurting as well, we tried our best to console her through this time.

I soothingly ran my hand on her back, but she pulled back, and to my surprise, smiled up at me even through the tears.

"Don't you want to know what Fleur wanted us to bring back from Romania?" She asked, sniffing and wiping her tears.

I couldn't think why it would be so important for me to know that, but just to humor her, I said, "Um.. yeah, sure. What was it?"

Smiling, she patted my cheeks again and said, "go and see for yourself, dear."

And when I failed to move immediately, she shoved my shoulders, turning me towards my bedroom.

"Go, go go and have a look! And don't worry about me dear, I'll be letting myself out." She continued, and for a woman almost half my height, she was surprisingly successful in pushing me about.

Beyond bemused now, I throw one last glance at my mother, only to see her smiling and dabbing her eyes, and entered the room I shared with my wife.

Closing the door behind me, I looked around, spotting Fleur standing by the window that overlooked the cliff.

At the sound of door shutting, she looked over her shoulder, her usually expressive face vacant of any emotions.

Eying her, I said, "so, mum is outside. Behaving rather odd... There's obviously something going on here. Want to let me in on the secret as well, love?"

Giving me a faint smile, she fully turned around to face me, and as I watched, her eyes filled up with tears as well.

Alarmed, I rushed to her and hugged her close. Cupping her face, I worriedly asked, "what is happening? Why is everyone crying today?"

It was then, that she glanced down at her hands that were holding something between us. I followed her gaze down, and froze.

For in her palms, she held a tiny, miniature sized dragon hide boots, very similar to the ones I wore.

Glancing up at her, I saw my beautiful wife's face blur owing to the tears that filled my eyes, even as a huge smile spread on my lips.

"We are going be parents, love?" I asked, just so I could hear it.

"Yes! Yes we are, amour! Oh, Bill!" She threw her arms around me, and I lifted her up, twirling her a bit and she let out a happy squeal.

Carefully setting her down, I asked, "that's why mum and dad came home early?"

Beaming at me, she replied, "Yes. I wrote to zem as soon as I found out. I thought who better to share zis news weeth? Mum could use a reason to smile these days, no?"

She shrugged as if it was no big deal. But it was. She chose to share this news with mum before anyone else, even me. And here I foolishly though, I couldn't love her anymore than I already did.

Smiling huge, I kissed her and buried my face in her hair, feeling happier than I have felt in a long time.

And along with that happiness came a sense of peace. It was in the realisation that yes, the past had left us all scarred.

But if the present looked like this, I decided that the future was bound to be beautiful.