Harry had won, Voldemort was dead. Molly wasn't sure whether or not she was dreaming- She couldn't believe it was all over.
It was noon and Molly hadn't slept a wink after that exhausting night. She had spent the hours after Voldemort's death receiving the thanks from many of those who had lost a loved one to Bellatrix. In the eyes of those people, she was as much as a hero as Harry was.
"Nice one, Mrs Weasley," Neville Longbottom had said, grinning at her whilst holding the sword of Gryffindor. Molly remembered Harry holding that very same sword five years ago when he had saved Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets.
"Thank you, dear," Molly said smiling at him. "Well done to you, too"
Molly made sure to give him a big hug. She had remembered hearing the news about Frank and Alice Longbottom and she was certain that if they were in the right state of mind today, they would be very proud of him.
She spent the rest of the morning sitting at the house tables. But no one was sitting according to Hogwarts House anymore. They were all jumbled together.
"Are you okay, Mum?" Ginny asked, jerking Molly out of her thoughts as she sat down next to her.
"Yes, dear," Molly sighed. "I will be."
The pain of losing Fred left a hole in Molly's heart that she knew would take many years to fill. She still hadn't entirely gotten over losing her brothers Fabian and Gideon. But losing a son was more painful and Molly knew that the entire family would have to pull together to get through this.
"Thanks for finishing off Bellatrix," Ginny said quietly. "You were brilliant. I've never seen you fight before."
Molly had earned a lot more respect from her family after defeating Bellatrix. She was initially shaken up after killing her-. The thought of killing someone was never on her mind. But after seeing how many lives Bellatrix had taken, how many lives she had ruined, Molly couldn't have stood there and watched Bellatrix kill her daughter.
If she didn't stop Bellatrix, she would've gone on to kill more people, splitting more families. Bellatrix didn't know what it was like to be a mother. She didn't know what it was like losing a son. She didn't experience the joys that motherhood brought. The joys of holding your child for the first time, watching them take their first steps.
Bellatrix didn't understand any of that and Molly felt a sliver of pity for her.
"I was doing my job as a mother, Ginny," Molly said quietly. "It doesn't matter if you are sixteen or thirty-six. I will always be here for you."
"Thanks," Ginny said, resting her head on Molly's shoulder. "I appreciate it."
The two of them sat there for a while watching things unfold around them. Families were reunited or mourning the loss of a member.
Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were sitting with Parvati Patil looking very solemn. The poor Lavender Brown girl who Greyback had attacked was sent to St Mungo's earlier, her condition worsening. They didn't know if she was going to make it.
Horace Slughorn was pouring tea for Madam Pomfrey and her team of volunteers who all looked emotionally drained and exhausted.
Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout were talking with the newly named Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. All of them looked grim as they surveyed the damage to the castle.
Argus Filch wasn't sitting down. He was already sweeping the rubble, the large gash in his left arm bandaged up and Mrs Norris was at his heel. Molly had to admire his work ethic.
The three Malfoys were reunited together but looking unsure as if they were supposed to be there or not. Molly was pleased to see the Malfoys reunited with their son. There had been enough tragedy already. She felt no ill will towards Narcissa Malfoy who had a protective arm around Draco's shoulder. At least she, unlike her sister knew what it was like to be a mother.
She caught Narcissa's eye. She looked uncertainly at Molly and then to Ginny who was still resting her head on Molly's shoulder. She gave Molly a nod and a small smile which Molly returned. Molly could see in Narcissa's eyes the regret that she felt at Fred's death.
Molly looked at her family and her sense of pride overwhelmed her. Apart from Fred, they had all made it. It was as if it were yesterday when they were all little boys playing in the Burrow, climbing trees and de-gnoming the garden.
But those days were long behind them now. The boys she had raised were now men in their own right and Molly loved them all so much.
Bill and Charlie were both chatting together as Fleur was tending to a cut on Bill's arm. Molly smiled at the sight-. She felt ashamed of the way she had judged Fleur when she first met her. She clearly cared about Bill even when he was scarred by Fenrir Greyback, she remained at his side.
She was pleased to see Charlie with them. Because he was living in Romania, she didn't get to see him as much as the others and had missed him a lot. Molly noted with a pang of irritation, that he could do with a haircut.
Arthur and Percy were sitting at the end of the table, Percy's robes were ripped and he had a cut on his cheek but he and Arthur were chatting amicably. It was nothing but a miracle that Percy was back with them again.
A huge weight lifted from Molly's shoulders as all of that sadness and pent up anxiety lifted away.
George and Lee Jordan were sitting together, looking lost without Fred. Molly couldn't bear to look at George a second longer than necessary, but then Angelina Johnson joined them, said some words to George and then put an arm around his shoulders.
That single gesture of kindness brightened Molly's heart. Of all the people affected by the loss of Fred, George felt it the most. But he needn't suffer alone. He had many friends that could help him and for the first time in ages, Molly felt hope that things will get better.
Ron and Hermione were sitting a table away, their heads close together and Molly was sure that they were holding hands. Molly hadn't seen Ron for months. He had grown a lot. He looked more of a man than he did in August and it pleased her that he and Hermione were finally together.
She had watched them growing closer together for a long time and had been doing wonders on Ron's self-esteem.
Then there was Harry; the reason why everyone in this hall was still alive.
He was sitting a table away from Molly and Ginny with Luna Lovegood and he looked exhausted- the poor dear- He had spent the entire morning being thanked and his hand shaken by so many people.
He had come a long way from being that polite little boy who asked to get onto the platform. She had watched him grow over the years and he too became a man in his own right. She was as proud of him as she was her own children.
Ginny was also watching him, her head still on Molly's shoulder.
"Are you going to talk to him?" Molly asked. She knew how much Ginny cared for Harry. Ginny had told her of their brief relationship last summer.
"He looks like he could do with some rest," Ginny said. "There'll be plenty of time to talk. We'll have years."
Molly was pleased with Ginny's answer. There would be plenty of time to talk but for now, they had loved ones to bury and a world to rebuild. She hoped that they didn't have to go through another war.
She had had enough trouble for a lifetime.
Thank you for reading.