3 months later…
George strode through the halls of the ministry of magic, searching for the information desk across the giant entry room. He had received a strange summons around 11 that morning and replied that he would arrive at two. He didn't know what they needed him for, he hoped it wasn't regarding his latest batch of color-changing trap rugs, because he had all the proper warnings on the boxes, and a good lawyer. In any case, he stopped in front of the desk clerk, busy officials passing him this way and that.
"Excuse me, I received a summons this morning?" He began, and the clerk looked up from behind spindly silver glasses.
"Name?" She yawned widely, her hair poking out in different places from a knot behind her head.
"Uh, George Weasley." At this she raised an eyebrow before paging through a records book.
"Oh yes. Department of International Magical Cooperation. Floor five, department 2, room 5778." She told him in a monotone voice before handing him a slip with the information on it. He wrinkled his forehead in confusion. International cooperation? What, were people taking his goods out of the country or something? He shrugged before hurrying towards an elevator. He stepped off at the correct exit and made his way to the room. An official was waiting for him outside.
"Ah, Mr. Weasley. Yes, you are the spitting image of one another. But protocol must be followed," he said, and George eyed the man quizzically.
"Ah, forgive me, I've been awake far too long," The man rubbed his eyes before offering George some paperwork.
"Now, just go in there and take a look, and if you think the man is your brother, you just sign here," The man pointed to the form, and George gave him a bewildered look. What was he bloody talking about, 'if the man was his brother-'?
Suddenly his eyes widened, and he paled, the papers dropping from his hand as he threw the door open and strode inside. A redhead about his height, and about his build (though a little on the thin side) sat at the table, looking at another official. His hair was grown out and unkept, and a beard about three inches long fell from his jaw. He looked ragged, and tired, but the resemblance was unmistakable. When George entered, he glanced up and smiled.
"Hello Georgie," he said. George knew that voice, that face. He couldn't quite believe what he was seeing, but before he had reasoned it through, he was crossing the room and enveloping his twin in a hug.
"Hello? That's all you've got to say you bloody idiot?" He choked gruffly as he knocked his head against Fred's and clasped his arms around his back, assuring himself that this was, in fact, real.
"Well, I thought "you looked better in my memories" would be a little rude so," Fred joked, but George could feel his twin shaking, belying the confidence he showed. They stood in the embrace until one of the ministry officials cleared his throat.
"Why don't you just sign here Mr. Weasley," he said with a soft smile, offering the form to George. He nodded quickly and began to scribble something on the line.
"I don't understand, when did you- where have you-" he began, trying to wrap his head around what was happening. He'd been looking for Fred for so long, and now he was here, but it was all so sudden and hard to fathom.
"I'll tell you everything, mate," Fred assured him before looking at the ministry officials.
"You're free to go," one of them said, and Fred nodded before grabbing his copy of the paperwork and heading out of the room with George.
"How is everyone?" Fred asked George the moment they entered the elevator. George blinked, so desperate for his own information that he forgot Fred must be feeling the same.
"Good. Fleur's pregnant, it's a girl," George began, and he laughed.
"Really? Bill, a father? I'll definitely have to tease him about that. And mum?" He asked.
"Oh elated. It's nauseating," He joked and Fred grinned.
"First grandchild syndrome. I'm glad it's not you and me who have to endure the fussing." But at this, George felt his face squeeze up as he thought about Delilah and Celine. He wondered how he should deliver the news to his twin.
"And the others?" Fred pushed on as they exited the elevator, not noticing George's conundrum. They had now reached the ground level of the ministry and began making their way towards the exit. As they walked, people turned and started to stare.
"Is that Fred Weasley?"
"Wasn't he pronounced dead?"
"He's back!"
"Oh, how wonderful!" And the crowds parted for the two brothers miraculously as they gossiped and smiled. Fred lifted his eyebrows at George but he just grinned.
"You've been gone a long while Freddie. You'll find you're somewhat of a celebrity." George teased, but he kept glancing every few moments at his twin, as if to assure himself that he was really there.
"The others are good though. Ron and Hermione finally got together, Harry and Ginny are going strong, Perce is done being a miserable git." George joked, and Fred grinned.
"Now that's what I like to hear." He remarked with as they reached one of the outer alleyways. Then his face grew more serious.
"And Del? Is she…well?" He asked, a current of emotion hidden in his eyes. George gulped. How am I-what do I say?
"She is. She's been waiting for you all this time," he told him slowly and Fred nodded.
"Do you mind if we…?" He didn't finish but George could see it in his eyes. He wanted to see her. And that would be the best thing. He could have Kreacher go to the burrow and other places to tell the rest of the family. And her villa would be a quiet venue, away from prying eyes, with enough room for everyone
"Yeah, come on, I'll disapperate us. She has your wand too," He mentioned before taking Fred's arm and transporting them to the beach a mile's walk from the villa.
"Uh, I'd hate to ask a stupid question, but why are we on a beach?" Fred asked aloud, shivering in the December air.
"Well, I was going to apparate straight to the villa, but then I thought it might shock Del to pop straight in on her," He admitted, turning toward the path that led back towards the road.
"The villa?" Fred raised his eyebrow, but George didn't respond. I should tell him now in case he's super shocked, he thought.
"Listen Fred, I feel I should give you a heads up," he said, facing him in all seriousness. He returned the expression, listening with apt attention.
"Before you left… Delilah, she was pregnant… She didn't find out until about a month after you disappeared, and she's been raising the baby for a while now. He said. Fred stared at him blankly.
"A baby?" he asked, in shock. George nodded.
"A little girl," He confirmed. Fred glanced at the ground with rapidly blinking eyes, trying to adjust to this new concept.
"Thanks Georgie," He said, seeming to wrangle himself together and having an even greater resolve, "which house is hers?" He asked thickly.
"Take that path," George pointed to a dirt road leading from the beach, "it's the first gate on the right," And then Fred was running, across the sand, up the dirt, and up the pathway of the first house he saw. Sure enough, up ahead, he could see the woman who had occupied so many of his dreams. He slowed as he got closer, watching her for a moment.
She stood inside a white picketed fence, looking over a garden, as perfect as he remembered, her brunette-colored hair rustling in the winter breeze, and cheeks tinged pink from the cold. As he watched, a little bundle -less than 2-and-a-half feet and just as wide- came toddling up to her, although its girth appeared to be from the hulk of jackets it was wrapped in. George's voice played in his head again, "You have a little girl,". Then he was walking up the pathway and creaking the picket gate open.
Delilah had spent an eventful morning editing a few potion recipes from the fifth volume of her textbook release and went outside to harvest Bitter Root and Arnica when the temperature warmed that afternoon. She had chosen this time because Ceci wanted to play in the snow. They'd had their first snowfall two days ago, and another last night. With about two inches on the ground, it was just enough to interest the child without overwhelming her. So, Del had bundled her up, along with heat charms in her gloves and shoes, and they'd come out about fifteen minutes ago.
Delilah's little garden had slowly entered into hibernation in the past few months, but bitter root and arnica thrived in the late November, mid-December chill. The batch she was harvesting today was probably the last she would bother with until March. She thought this next year she might invest in a greenhouse and expand the garden, but she wasn't sure if she would need the additional materials or not.
"Sow 'sow!" The girl cried, offering her hand which held the precious powder. Delilah smiled at her.
"Yes, I see that," she told her daughter, who giggled and promptly walked off behind Delilah, towards the front gate. Del performed a spell to pull up the next few roots when she heard the gate creak.
"Ceci, we're staying here today," she said, turning around to stop her daughter from wandering off. But when she turned, it wasn't her child who stood in front of the gate, but a tall, broad-shouldered redhead, with mischievous eyes, a warm smile, a full beard, and tanned skin. She dropped her wand, causing the roots in the air to fall as well in her shock.
This was a face she had imagined so often. A hope she knew she'd never quite be able to give up.
"Hello love." He said with his perfect, perfect smile. And she tried to smile too, she really did, even as her eyes welled with tears.
"Hello Fred," She greeted. A million words, a million emotions conveyed in that simple sentence. He ran to her, and she to him, and when he reached her, he laughed and twirled her up in the air. She smiled and joined in his laughter. When he set her back down, she linked her arms around him, hugging him tightly, and pressing her face into his shoulder to suppress her pounding emotions.
"Shhh, it's alright," He comforted, placing a hand on the back of her head. "I'm here now," he soothed, caressing her gently. She nodded in response, but didn't release him. So, they stood there in the embrace for what felt like forever and yet no time at all.
"Mmmm oppp!" A little voice called below them, as Ceci hugged the side of Delilah's leg and reached her arms out to be held. Delilah leaned away from Fred to look at the child, and then bent down to pick her up. Fred watched, his face written with curiosity, nerves, and wonder. Delilah glanced from the baby to him, and the child watched the strange man intently.
"Celine, say hello to your dad." Delilah told her child with a watery smile. Fred stepped closer.
"Hello darling. I'm sorry I seem to have missed a lot, but don't worry, I'll be here from now on, I promise," he said softly to the girl, who put her thumb in her mouth and continued to watch him curiously. Delilah's heart swelled at the image she had long thought she would never see. It was better than she could ever imagine. A moment later however, she shook herself and pushed back her shoulders, knowing there were many others who would want to hear that Fred had returned.
"You can come out now George, we know you're back there," She called caustically, and the redhead came bounding up the lane.
"Just thought I'd give you two some privacy," he remarked with an innocent smile. Delilah couldn't find it in her heart to make a conniving comeback, instead she turned to Fred.
"Come on, you're barely dressed for winter, you must be freezing, and it's been too long for Ceci too, let's head inside." She said, settling her daughter on her hip and taking Fred's hand with the other.
"Kreacher!" She called as soon as they entered the hallway. With a snap, the house elf appeared, and the baby laughed, clapping her hands at the display. Kreacher caught sight of Fred and scowled.
"So, you finally came back, did you?" The house elf growled, and Fred blinked.
"Kreacher, I thought you'd be dead by now," he told him with an angelic smile. Delilah shook her head in amusement.
"Likewise, Weasley idiot." Kreacher told him stiffly, before turning his gaze to his mistress.
"Kreacher, would you go to the burrow and tell Mrs. Weasley that Fred has returned? Gently, I don't want to shock her too much. And ask her to be at the villa in half an hour. Then go to the others at their jobs and tell them the same thing. Try to find Harry and Ron, but if they're out on a raid, don't put yourself in any danger." She ordered him, and he nodded before disappearing with a snap.
"And you," She said, turning to her lover, who raised his eyebrows at her assessing gaze, "a warm bath and some food would do you good."
"Watch Ceci for a minute, will you?" she said to George, depositing the child in his hands without waiting for a reply. The baby giggled, and patted her uncle's shoulder as Delilah took Fred by the arm.
She led him up the stairs and to the master bath, turning on the tap when she entered. He smiled as he watched her go into the connected bedroom and open her closet.
"I swear I have some clothes of yours in here somewhere… aha!" She exclaimed, pulling out one of his knitted sweaters from Mrs. Weasley, and a pair of jeans.
"You know I'm not going to break; I can do things myself-" He cut himself off when she pulled his wand from her dresser and strode over to him. She offered the length of wood, and he slowly reached out his hand. He swore he felt an electric tingle as he clasped the article, and he twirled it gently for good measure.
"Merlin, I sure have missed this," he said, before she rushed him into the tub and began cutting his hair.
That evening was one of the happiest the Weasley family ever experienced. Fred had returned home, in good health, from a long, long adventure. Different family members arrived in the next two hours and many tearful greetings were exchanged before Fred was forced to sit down and go through his whole story, albeit over beef stew, rice, cider, and fire whiskey.
He told them of waking up in a desert after the battle of Hogwarts, with no knowledge of where or who he was. He detailed his venture from the Sahara to a small Moroccan village, and his recovery there for several months as his memory slowly returned. He confessed he'd spent two stints in prison during his absence, two months each. And he told them how the lack of magic had hampered his progress home.
It was a long, tiring tale, and by the end, they were all the more grateful that he had returned to them. But none more so than Delilah.
They in turn told him of the events that had transpired while he was gone, from different relationships to the ending of the war, promotions, ministry rulings, and new shops in Diagon alley. He teased Bill over being a father, as well as Ron for finally being man enough to take Hermione out. He congratulated Ginny on her appointment to the Holyhead harpies, and Delilah for her publication of the new wolfsbane potion that was making a huge impact on werewolf quality of life. And of course, he couldn't get over the little bundle of energy that laughed and fit into the family so well. The one that was his daughter.
Of course, she was put to bed before the festivities ended, their laughter, talk and joy lasting far into the night, when Fleur and Bill had finally hugged Fred and bade everyone goodbye, Percy departing right after them. Ginny apologized she couldn't stay longer, with morning practice the next day, but assured them she'd see them in a week for Christmas. Hermione departed to her flat, also saying she'd see them in a week, while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, George, Harry, and Ron Delilah put up for the night in the villa's guest rooms.
Finally, at about two in the morning, she and Fred had a quiet moment to themselves. She came down from the upper level after settling everyone into their rooms to find him sitting on the sofa, staring off into space.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked as she sat down by him. He shook himself and replied-
"Oh, too many things to name," he told her with a soft smile. She chuckled.
"You know, I think you're becoming boringly serious in your old age," She teased, and he scoffed.
"Me? Never." He protested, slipping an arm around her shoulders. They sat like that for a moment in companiable silence, before he glanced at her and said-
"What are you thinking about?" She cracked a smile at him.
"Celine's going to be up in five hours," She admitted with a dry laugh. He nodded.
"I've been thinking about that too." He said, and she eyed him in amusement.
"Oh, have you?" she asked, tilting her head in appraisal of him. He smiled mischievously, raising his eyebrows and puffing out his lips in a 'yes I have because I'm so great' kind of way.
"Yeah. We should get married." He said casually and she burst into laughter, tears flowing from her eyes in such mirth. He cocked a brow at her, feigning annoyance at her flippancy.
"I have missed you," she told him, her eyes softening, before giving him a kiss on the cheek and laying her head on his chest. He raised a hand to her back, rubbing it softly.
"I know, love. I know."
Delilah Rose Dursley and Frederick Gideon Weasley were married on the second of February 2000. He returned to the joke shop with his brother George, who got engaged to Angelina Johnson in the summer of that year, along with Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley.
Delilah went on to release 'Potions for Beginners: A Contemporary Guide to Potion Making for the First-Year Learner, Authors: Snape and Weasley,' along with six other textbooks following years 2-7 of a wizard's education. She also improved various other potions, including the draught of peace, and wrote extensively on magical theory research and realms of magic wizards had yet to even imagine.
Fred and Delilah had their second child, Cassian, in 2001, and had two more before they called it a day in 2005. Eventually, when Horace Slughorn retired in 2010, Delilah took over his job as potions teacher, and traveled every day to Hogwarts for the position, often taking her children with her. As Hermione Granger rose in the ranks of the ministry, Delilah frequently assisted her in researching certain issues and backed her with what little political clout she possessed. Hermione and Ron were married in 2002, and had their first child in 2005, around the same time Delilah had her last.
Severus Snape and Fred Weasley never quite got along and insulted each other incessantly but put aside their differences for their mutual affections: Delilah, and the four children. She maintained a close relationship with her old professor throughout her career.
Fred and Delilah lived out the rest of their days, together, and at peace.
The End