Part Five: Acceptance

Love can move you take you deeper every time
Can make the darkest moments feel like heaven's come alive
Love can move you to a place inside your heart
Where you can fear no evil and acceptance is a natural part of life

Love Can Move You-Savage Garden

Bill and Charlie are clapping and cheering. Ginny is jumping and giggling. Ron is shaking his head in disbelief. Percy is holding his mum and saying reassuring things in her ear, and Molly is watching through her fingers.

"You're doing great keep it up Arthur." I yell.

Arthur is riding a bike. A bike I got for him during one of my trips to Beckworth for ballet lessons. Whenever I passed the bikes displayed in the shop window of the building next door I'd remember the car that Arthur had enchanted and Ron and Harry left it to run wild in the forest. I'd brought the bike on a whim I reckon it would be much safer than the car.

Since being back at the burrow I've really bonded with Arthur. He likes asking me about Muggle things. Whenever I go into Hampton for ballet I bring Arthur something back. His favourite is a book I brought him on aviation. I'd forgotten what it was like to have a father. My aunt and uncle just took care of my physical needs, but they weren't parents to me. They weren't mean to me either they just treated me like a tenant. The Weasley's are different they hug and kiss. They say I love you. They get together every Sunday for dinner. This is something that started after the war.

This Sunday we are all gathered round back to watch Arthur. It didn't take very long for me to teach him how to ride the bike. After all flying on a broom means you've already got the balance. The hardest thing was actually getting Arthur on it. He was too busy being awed by the spokes and the breaks. After a couple of spills he got the hang of it.

I wish both Fred and George were here to see this. This would be absolutely something that the twins would have loved. Like their father the twins liked Muggle things too, not as much as their father, but their were certain things they could obsess about. George loved Muggle music, and still does, but Fred loved Muggle dances. It was the one thing we had in common. Fred had found out about Muggle dances when he discovered my laptop I kept under my bed, and cache of dance movies.

There was a scene in a movie called Hellzapoppin that Fred particularly liked.

"What kind of dancing is that?" Fred asked me enraptured by the dancing on the screen.

"Lindy Hop."

"We must dance like that at the Yule Ball. We must. We must. We must!" Fred said. He'd so eloquently asked me to the ball the day before. "So help me Merlin we're going to set the ballroom on fire."

I had just laughed as Fred twirled me around the common room. We made up a routine and pratised it everyday until the Yule Ball. We stuck our routine at the Yule Ball. I don't think Hogwarts was ready for Lindy Hop, but Fred was an excellent dancer. I miss that about him. I smile at the memory of Fred flipping me up over his head and parting the dancing crowd like the Red sea. For the first time in a long time I can think of Fred without crying. I don't feel like I've been shoved down the bottom of a well and have to climb out anymore.

I sit next to Fleur on the back porch. She is smiling serenely at Victoire and rocking her gently. "Bill will want to get on zat crazy thing next." She says shaking her head but laughing.

When Arthur gets off of the bike Charlie yells that he's next and runs for the bike. Bill pushes Charlie out of the way. Charlie stumbles but catches up with Bill and trips him. Bill goes down, and Charlie tries to run on but Bill grabs his ankle and pulls him down. Everyone is laughing even little Victoire although she doesn't know what she's laughing about, she's just laughing because everyone else is.

I miss Fred's laugh, no doubt wherever he is- he had a good laugh about dying with a smile on his face. Only Fred Weasley could pull that off. He had been so young, cocky, and headstrong. I'm sorry that I won't get to see him grow into a mature man. I'm sad because he'll never become a father or husband. I got to know him though. I got to be his friend and his lover. I'll always have known Fred in a way that others only wish they did.

I get up leaving everyone outside without excusing myself, I go and sit in Fred and George's room. It's finally been emptied of their things, but you can still tell it was their room. The char marks on the floorboards. The missing bits of plaster on the walls. The posters stuck to the wall with a unsticking charm. Fred and George are all over this place.

I remember coming over and playing in this room, loud screamy childish play. Molly used to make us the best lunches. I remember playing "healer" in this room. I remember our epic third year fight in this room. I remember getting felt up in this room. I remember feeling like I was home in this room. I know this room is both of theirs but for some reason I feel Fred the strongest here. I know it's because he was my first love and we spent most of our time here as boyfriend and girlfriend.

I loved Fred. Loved being his girlfriend and wearing his jumpers because they smelled like him. I love how because of him I could roam around Hogwarts at night as if it were my own home. I love how he felt he had to be protective of me. It's a shame the world had to lose such a good man, but it's a gift that I got to know him.

"There you are." A voice says and I jump. "Lunch is ready Fleur made ratatouille." Ginny says. I follow her downstairs everyone is seated at the table it's apparent that they were waiting for me before they started eating.

"Sorry I was just-."

"It's ok dear." Molly says with understanding.

Lunch is wonderful but slowly everyone starts leaving, things to do, people to see, but everyone promises to be back before dinner. I go to Diagon Alley to check the joke shop is OK, and to pick up a few things I need. I'm at Scribbulus Writing Instruments when I hear a familiar voice call my name.

"Oliver how are you?" I ask.

"I'm still broken but I'm doing better." He says. "Can we go back to my place to talk about things?"

I think back to that day at St. Mungo's when I remembered what Montague had done to me. It was Oliver that saved me from him and instead of thanking him for it I got angry at him.

"Of course." I say.

I follow Oliver back to his place. Its very clean and manly looking A lot of leather a lot of chrome and wood.

"Would you like a cuppa?" Oliver asks me.

"I'd love one." I say setting my bags down.

"Please have a seat don't be a stranger."

"No stranger than usual, Ollie." I counter and he laughs.

"Been a long time since I've had you round, only I guess now you don't have much of a reason to come round to see me." He hands me a cup of Earl Gray he always likes to drink.

"I'm sorry." I say.

"For what?"

"For everything."

"So that means you're sorry for being with me then?"

"No. I'll never be sorry for that. I'm still your friend that will never change."

Oliver nods as if what I've just said has affirmed something for him. "That night during the Battle of Hogwarts I had to carry Colin Creevey's body. He starts. "I had to tell his parents that he was dead." He hangs his head. "It was the worst thing I'd ever done in my entire life." He runs his hands through his hair and some of it is left sticking up. "I'll never forget the looks on his parents faces. His dad looked like he'd been kicked in the gut, and his poor mum just screamed, and Dennis threw up."

I look out the window, the night seems to be swallowing me up. I can't look at Oliver and he can't seem to look at me either.

"Then I found you, and I thought you were dead, and at first you looked dead. I picked you up and held you close to me and you felt so damn cold. I thought another dead body- I can't take this. How many more bodies of the people I care about am I going to have to pick up tonight?"

I say nothing. All this time I had no idea. No idea at all.

"Then you opened your eyes and you looked at me."

"I think I'm going to die." You said.

"No you're not you're going to be OK." I said. You grabbed my sleeve you could barely keep your eyes open and you weren't breathing right. You were shaking all over, but you held on tightly to my sleeve. "Please don't leave me Oliver. I don't want to die alone." I ran you to the infirmary as fast as I could and stayed up all night just to get reports on you."

"I'm sorry I didn't know. I'm sorry I never properly thanked you for saving my life that night." I look him in the eyes finally. "Thank you."

Oliver doesn't say anything only nods. "I can't forget the way your voice sounded when you asked me not to leave. I've never heard you sound like that before. After that I couldn't leave you."

"I wish I could remember or maybe I'm better off if I don't. I almost killed Montague." I confess. "I would have done if George hadn't stopped me. I was so angry and I felt so violated in that moment I wanted him dead."

"I'm glad you didn't kill him. I had to kill a Death Eater and though I don't feel bad for killing him; there's a part of me that feels bad for not feeling bad if that makes sense. Nothing feels right about taking a human life, no matter how worthless that life might be."

"I'm glad I didn't kill him either." I say standing up. "You killed that Death Eater because you didn't have a choice. You're a hero. It's time for all of us to stop beating ourselves up and start living. We survived the war and that isn't a crime." I pull Oliver in for a hug. "It's getting late I'd better finish up my shopping and head back to the Burrow. They worry if I'm gone too long."

"I know we weren't the one for each other, but I still wouldn't change what we had."

"I wouldn't either." I say. "Are you and George ever going to be friends again?"

"Sure, one day."

"One day you might not have one day." I say

We stare at each other for a long time. No matter what we'll always be a part of each other's lives. We will always be friends, how could we not after what he just told me.

"You were both Fred's friend he'd want you two to be friends again."

"I know but it's just going to take time."

"I know." I pull Oliver in for another hug. This one is long and heartfelt."I love you Oliver."

He stares into my face as if he's trying to remember every single detail about me in case he doesn't get the chance to see me again. He tucks one of my braids behind my ear and then kisses me full on the lips. Not overly sexual, but it's still hungry and far from innocent, but either way it's most definitely a goodbye kiss.

"I'm sorry." He says and presses his forehead against mines. A few seconds later I feel his wet tears.

I wipe his tears away and then softly caress his cheek. "Goodbye, Oliver."

"Goodbye Lina. I love you. I always will."

When I get back to the burrow everyone is gone, save for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who are reading The Quibbler.

"I'm sorry did I miss dinner? I ran into an old friend and-."

"It's OK." Arthur says cheerfully. "We've saved you something to eat."

"Oh, and Angelina." Molly says. "There's a letter from George."

She hands me the letter and I can't help but smile. Finally! I take the letter and thank Molly. "If you don't mind I'll take this up stairs." I race up the steps and flop down on Ginny's bed. I open the letter and trace his hand writing with my fingers.

My lovely lady Angie,

Thanks for the pictures and the letter you'll never know how much they mean to me. Wonderful news about the shop. I can't wait for it's grand re-opening. I'm gonna make Fred proud. I agree with Lee, Katie, and Alicia. I KNOW you're going to get that job. Hogwarts would be lucky to have you. You wouldn't believe it but I'm a shining example here at Pathways. I always volunteer to speak during group. I eat all of my food without complaint and do my chores without having to be asked. I don't know what it is about this place, but it's changed me. Must be all this holistic healing crap they keep banging on about. I've learned tai chi and if you want I'll teach it to you when I get back home. I reckon it could help you with your dancing. I'll watch any dance movie that you want me to. In case I've never told you I love watching you dance.

I think about you and my family all of the time. I think about how much I want to come home and run the shop again. Kiss you again. Do other things to you… but I digress. When I leave here I know I'll be ready to be the kind of man you deserve. Just so you don't forget me I've included an extremely handsome and seductive picture of myself.

I look at the picture. George is sitting on some rocks next to a still looking lake that is surrounded by rolling green pastures. Picture George points to his eye then makes a heart in the air with his fingers, and finally points to me. "I love you too, George." I say to the picture.

I didn't know what I was losing until I came here. So many people here have nothing to go back to, but I've got everything to live for. That first night I saw you crying on the train I knew I'd never forget you. If there's anything to come out of this war Angelina its me and you. We'll carry on for Fred. When we get back I'm buying you a house, and forget waiting let's just get married. You can put the money toward the sale of your house towards furniture for our new home. No time will be the perfect time. I think we've already proved we can take anything this world can throw at us. The future is ours!

Your soon to be,

George.

He's right I'm tired of waiting. I love George and he loves me, I couldn't love anyone else if I tried. When you know you just know, and I know without a doubt that I am absolutely hell over heels in love with George Fabian Weasley.

I'm back at Hogwarts once again in Minerva Mcgonagall's office still gobsmacked. I got the job! I'm going to be the new Hogwarts Muggle studies professor.

"You were by far the best candidate that applied. You will be an asset to the staff."

"Thank you." I say and shake her hand. She gets me started on the paperwork and there is loads. My hands cramp from all of the papers I have to sign. I'm also fitted for three sets of dress robes. Minerva gives me a tour of Hogwarts from the other side and it is a surreal experience. It almost feels wrong to be standing in the teacher's lounge I feel more like a student who sneaked in here on a dare rather than the professor that I now am.

Next I am taken to my classroom and office. "There are great changes being made to this room." Minerva tells me. "For the first time ever in the history of Hogwarts electricity will be used."

"Electricity, but I thought that was impossible."

"We all did, but as it turns out a group of muggle borns, whose parents were electricians, took it upon themselves to find away to make the impossible possible. They'd been using magic and electricity together for years. During Voldemort's rein someone tipped off the Wizengamot hoping to get those muggle borns jailed in Azkaban, but when Kingsley took over as Minister of Magic he approved the use of magic and electricity and hired those who'd gotten the two to work together so successfully to set up electricity in this classroom."

I am speechless. I feel even more intimidated by this job now. I'm going to be the first person to introduce magical born students to electricity. There is sure to be a lot of parents who won't be happy about this especially since Muggle studies is now a compulsory subject.

"I know it seems a great responsibility, and it is, but one of the main reasons that I chose you for the job is because I know you and I know you're up to the task."

My fear has not dissipated but I can't help but smile. If Minerva has faith in me then I have to have faith in myself. I refuse to let her, my students, or myself down. When I'm done here I think I'll head to the library in Muggle England and check out books on electricity.

"Do you have any contact information on the witches and wizards that got magic and electricity to work together successfully?"

"You see, Minerva Mcgonagall says, her mouth turning up into something that can almost be called a smile, you're already thinking like a professor."

I am at Hogwarts for most of the day. By the time I get back to the burrow I am so tired that I fall asleep with my clothes still on. When I wake up my owl Godric has a message for me. I scratch his head, give him a treat, and take the letter.

"Congratulations Professor! We told you that you'd get the job. Now get off your arse and get down to the Leaky Cauldron and meet us for food, drink, and dancing." I don't have to ask who us is. I just smile and get ready. I'm long overdue for some fun with my friends. After I get dress I tell Molly and Arthur where I'm going.

"Wait!" Arthur says. "We got something for you."

"Thank you, but we didn't have to."

"Don't be silly." Molly says. "Of course we had to get you something. It's not everyday we have a professor in the family."

I grin stupidly after she says that.

Arthur holds up a gold necklace. On the chain is a golden bell; the kind that teachers use to ring back in the day to summon students to class. There's an A for Angelina etched on it.

"I hope you like it." Arthur says. "I read how Muggle teachers used to use these."

"I love it." I say. "Thank the both of you so much. For everything." I hug them both.

"Go on now." Molly says. "The last thing you want to be doing right now is hanging out with an old married couple."

As soon as I step into the Leaky Cauldron I am greeted with a chorus of for she's a jolly good professor. Lee puts a butterbeer into my hand. The pub has been decorated with all the houses colors from Hogwarts.

Katie and Alicia run up and hug me.

"How does it fee to be gainfully employed, Professor?"Alicia asks.

"Strange. I think I need a little more time for it to sink in."

"Yeah, but you went to school with Fred and George. I reckon there's not much that the students can do to you that you haven't seen." Lee says.

"There is that." I say.

"If you bring the same energy you had when you were quidditch captain no one will dare to cross you." Harry says and Ron nods in agreement.

"I don't want to be known as the mean professor." I say.

"You'll be more like the sexy professor." Terry Boot says and a couple of guys wolf whistle.

"Hot for professor." Someone in the crowd calls out.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I want; a bunch of first years fancying me."

"Well we all fancied Lockhart." Katie points out.

"Don't remind me." I say.

"Lockhart sure can't!" Seamus says and everyone laughs.

"We all pitched in to get you a gift." Ginny says. She and Harry point their wands at a big box that's sat right in the middle of the pub. All four sides of the box fall down to reveal a chair, but not just any chair it's one of those fancy leather massage chairs.

"It's for your office." Katie says.

"It plays music too." Harry tells me.

"Oh my god! Thank you all of you."

"We gave it a few magical enhancements." Hermione says. "It's self cleaning, stain, tare, and tamper proof."

"It converts into a bed as well in case you're feeling knackered between classes." Ron informs me.

"Go ahead sit in it." Oliver encourages.

I do and even without turning it on it feels like heaven to sit in.

After so many bad days it feels beyond amazing to have a good one, and with the friends that I have I know that there will be plenty more. The only thing that would make this night even better is if George was here with me, but he will be soon enough.

"Well. I say, popping out of my chair and pointing my wand at the wireless causing music to pump through the speakers on the wall, the night is young and so are we. Let's get this party going!""