Epilogue

Charlie was looking through the kitchen window. His nieces and nephews were playing with some infant Welsh green dragons. Fleur and Angelina were watching them worriedly but Bill and George were still enjoying the Rumanian beer Charlie had served them with their meal.

"I can't believe Victoire is already in her second year at Hogwarts." Charlie said and joined his two brothers at the table. "She's only just started walking."

"Another reason you should come back home." Bill said. He and George (and their respective families) had arrived this morning for a spontaneous visit before their children had to start school again at the end of the summer.

"The shop is huge now. You could always work there. I'd love to fire Ron." George chimed in with a smile on his face.

Charlie returned his smile but didn't say anything. For the past 15 years his family had tried to convince him to move back to England. Charlie had remained stubborn. He hadn't set foot in the country since the Hogwarts trials and he never would. It had taken him way too long to seal the pain away and he was not going to rip it open again by going to a place where everything reminded him of her. Charlie shook his head to stop that train of thought and took another sip of his beer. George and Bill shared a long look but Charlie ignored it.

"Well, think about it. Right, George, we better round them up. The portkey is going to activate in fifteen minutes." Bill emptied his bottle and stood up. George followed suit.

His brothers called for their children and were promptly ignored. The dragons were too exciting, even for Victoire, who usually felt too grown up to play with her younger siblings and cousins. But after a sharp word from Fleur and Angelina they gave the dragons a last cuddle and then joined their parents in Charlie's living room. Charlie hugged his nieces, shook his nephews' hands and received plenty of kisses on the cheek from Fleur and Angelina. George almost crushed him with his hug and Bill also gave him a big hug and randomly whispered "Read the paper." into his ear. Charlie frowned but before he could comment on his brother's strange words, Fleur had pulled out a tattered looking teddy bear from her handbag. Charlie walked outside with them and watched them gather around the pretty French woman. Bill gave him one last grin and then they were gone.

Charlie watched the sky for a long while after they'd disappeared. He only ever felt lonely after a visit from his family or friends. There was a squeak and then the infant dragons galloped out of his garden and took flight, clearly wondering where their playmates had disappeared to. Charlie chuckled softly. He had dragons.

He went back into his house and cleared the table. Charlie swung his wand and the dishes began to wash themselves in the sink. He grabbed the empty beer bottles and put them in a box by the door. He'd take them out later. When he returned to the table his gaze fell on a copy of the daily prophet. Read the paper.

Charlie picked it up, the copy was from last week. There was a picture of Kingsley Shacklebolt on the front page, as well as the rebuild Hogwarts castle. The picture was surrounded by the names of the fallen. Charlie spotted his brother Fred's name as well as those of Remus and Tonks. It still hurt. Charlie smiled a sad smile.

The article was about a memorial service that had been held at the castle as it had been the battle's fifteenth anniversary. Charlie read it quickly, not wanting to think about her. Why had Bill been so keen for him to read the paper? Why had he left it there for him?

He skimmed the rest of the paper and stopped cold when he got to the politics section. It was an interview with Hermione Granger, his sister-in-law, who was talking about the rehabilitation of prisoners, a muggle concept, which involved looking at the convicts' crimes and their behaviour whilst incarcerated. And deciding who would be suited for reintroduction into society. Hermione said that they had released a number of prisoners in the past year under this new scheme. They had been put under house arrest and had to agree to meet up with their assigned auror weekly, to start off with, to discuss their progress. She didn't name any of the released prisoners. She didn't have to. Charlie's mouth suddenly went dry. Why else would he have told him to read the paper? He went to the sink and filled a glass with water that he drank eagerly. His heart was beating at twice its speed. Charlie put down the glass, opened a cupboard and got out a bottle of firewhiskey. He filled the glass half-full and emptied it in one long gulp. Charlie didn't dare close his eyes. Because he'd see her. He thought back on the day Bill and him were watching her trial. He listed her crimes in his head. They still disgusted him. But the feeling of disgust was nothing compared to the other feelings that were starting to spread out in his body. Longing. Need. Love.

Charlie stood in front of the massive wooden doors. It was a hot summer day and he could feel a trickle of sweat forming on the nape of his neck. He took a deep breath in and knocked.

"Took you long enough." Marcus Flint grumbled. He opened the door further and waved Charlie in.

"I only found out yesterday." Charlie said, his voice much shakier than he thought it'd be. He suddenly felt very nervous.

Marcus Flint regarded him for a moment. There was the sound of a child laughing and then a toddler came running down the stairs. A pretty blonde-haired woman was running after the little boy. "Marcus, your son is the worst." She said, her voice full of mirth. "Can you get him dressed, please? We need to get to my mum's." Then her eyes fell on Charlie. "Oh. Hello. You must be Charlie."

Charlie nodded hello. Marcus was looking at his son and the woman, who was probably his wife. Charlie had never thought he'd see the Slytherin with such an expression of love on his face. Times really had changed.

"I'll get him dressed." He turned to Charlie again. "She's in the garden."

Marcus grabbed the toddler who was squealing in delight and the three of them walked up the stairs. Charlie watched them until they'd disappeared and then walked down the hallway, opening doors as he went along to see which one would lead him to the garden.

Eventually he entered a south-facing living room and there was an open glass door. Charlie walked through it and found himself in the garden. Or grounds rather. The grass was green despite the pressing heat and he could hear a brook somewhere in the distance. But the beauty of the garden paled in comparison to the person who was sitting on a bench under a big willow tree. Charlie's heart was beating so fast he thought it'd burst through his chest any moment now. He walked up to her, but stopped short a few feet in front of her. She was reading a book, her hair was in a loose braid. It was still dark, almost black, but with a few strands of silver running through it. She didn't look as thin as when he had last seen her. And then she looked up. Her eyes were still a lovely pale blue. Her mouth was still full and red. Obviously she looked older but she was still beautiful. She was still the most beautiful person he'd ever seen.

"Holly." He whispered, his whole body overwhelmed with the love he was feeling for the woman in front of him.

Holly put the book down and slowly stood up. A single tear ran down her cheek. "Charlie." She said and it was all that he had ever wanted to hear. His name coming out of her mouth again. He rushed up to her and wrapped her in his arms. He held her as tightly as he could and then he kissed her. It was wet, both of them were crying now. Charlie held her, his Holly, and he'd never let go of her again.